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Anne Howard Bailey

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Anne Howard Bailey(July 26, 1924 – November 23, 2006) was an American writer known particularly for her work as a screenwriter and operalibrettist.

Life and career

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Born and raised inMemphis,Bailey attendedRhodes College,where she graduated in 1945 with a bachelor's degree in creative writing. After college she moved to New York City, where she began writing for theatre and television. She was a regular contributor to theArmstrong Circle TheatreandAppointment with Adventureduring the 1950s and was one of the major writers forNational Velvetduring the 1960s. Her most successful work as a screenwriter was working as ahead writeron several different soap operas during the 1980s, includingABC Daytime'sGeneral Hospital(1983–1986) andNBC Daytime'sDays of Our Lives(1989–1990). She also created the short-lived 1970s soap operaHow to Survive a Marriage.[1]After being fired fromDays of Our Livesin 1990,Al Rabinwas quoted as saying:

[Bailey is] a wonderful writer before she got here. She was a wonderful writer here and she will be a wonderful writer in her next project. It's just that the emphasis shifted slightly from romance to adventure. Since we preferred the audience that we had, we will be shifting back.

ForGeneral Hospital,Bailey notably created such characters asFrisco Jones,Dr. Tony Jones,andFelicia Jones.She was the head writer for NBC'sSanta Barbarabetween 1987 and 1989, for which she won aDaytime Emmy Awardin her final year with the program. Bailey also wrote for prime-time television including work forBonanza,Moment of Truth,Beacon Hill,and87th Precinct.She also worked as a story editor forThe Adams Chronicles.[citation needed]

As an opera librettist, Bailey wrote librettos for four works. Her first libretto was forLeonard Kastle'sDeseret,which is about the life ofBrigham Young.The opera was commissioned for television by theNBC Opera Theatreand was first broadcast in 1961. This was followed by a second opera for television,Thomas Pasatieri'sThe Trial of Mary Lincoln,which was first broadcast onPBSin 1972. For this work Bailey won anEmmy Award.[1]

She collaborated with Pasatieri again for his first full-length operaThe Penitentes,which premiered at theAspen Music Festivalin 1974. Her final libretto was forKenton Coe'sRachel,an opera about United States PresidentAndrew Jacksonand his wife,Rachel Donelson Robards,which premiered atKnoxville Operain 1989.[citation needed]

Death

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Bailey died of congestive heart failure inRancho Mirage, California,aged 82.[1]

Filmography

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Films

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Year Film Credit Notes
1959 The Bloody Brood Screenplay By
1961 Aus Gründen der Sicherheit Story By

Television

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Year TV Series Credit Notes
1951-55 Armstrong Circle Theatre Writer 12 Episodes
1951-57 Lux Video Theatre Writer 11 Episodes
1955 Appointment with Adventure Writer 4 Episodes
Justice Writer 4 Episodes
On Camera Writer 1 Episode
Star Tonight Writer 1 Episode
1956 Rheingold Theater Writer 3 Episodes
1959 The Unforeseen Writer 1 Episode
1960-61 Surfside 6 Writer 4 Episodes
1960-62 National Velvet Writer 15 Episodes
1961 NBC Opera Theatre Writer 1 Episode
87th Precinct Writer 1 Episode
1963 Bonanza Writer 1 Episode
1972 NET Opera Theater Librettist 1 Episode
1974-75 How to Survive a Marriage Writer, Creator
1976 The Adams Chronicles Writer, Story Editor 6 Episodes
The Doctors Writer 23 Episodes
1977 Family Writer 1 Episode
1982-86 General Hospital Head Writer
1987-89 Santa Barbara Head Writer 177 Episodes
1989 Days of Our Lives Head Writer

Awards and nominations

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Daytime Emmy Award

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Wins

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  • (1989; Best Writing;Santa Barbara)

Nominations

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  • (1983 & 1984; Best Writing;General Hospital)
  • (1988; Best Writing;Santa Barbara)

Primetime Emmy Awards

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Wins

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  • (1972; Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy, Variety or Music;The Trial of Mary Lincoln)

Christopher Award

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Wins

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  • (1955;Armstrong Circle Theatre)

Head writing tenure

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Preceded by Head writerofGeneral Hospital
June 1982 – November 1986
Succeeded by
Pat Falken Smith
Norma Monty
Preceded by Head writerofSanta Barbara
(withCharles Pratt Jr.)

December 1986 – January 1989
Succeeded by
Preceded by Head writerofDays of Our Lives
March 17, 1989 – January 19, 1990
Succeeded by

References

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  1. ^abc"Writer Bailey dies at 82: TV writer, opera librettist remembered as head writer for 'Days of Our Lives'".Variety.December 1, 2006. Archived fromthe originalon November 12, 2012.RetrievedJune 18,2009.
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