Duo who created famous ‘General Hospital’ super couple ‘Luke and Laura’

Port Charles, N.Y., super-couple Luke and Laura, and that controversial episode.

All parts of the soap opera “General Hospital,” which I watched for more than four decades; I got hooked during high school and would watch daily well into my 40s until the storylines went beyond ridiculous.

In its heyday, GH (which first aired in 1963) was the best of the best and was watched the world over by people like me who couldn’t get enough.

But later, as I aged, life got in the way, pets needing feeding, earning a living, and washing clothes took priority.

I do fondly remember those days being transported to another world and then being left with a cliffhanger until the next day. Oh, to be a writer on the show and create characters that the audience would love …

Interestingly, I recently learned that a married couple – Irving Stanton Elman and Mildred “Tex” Elman – were indeed major players on the soap.

Together, the Elmans’ most notable achievements came in the realm of daytime television, particularly work on GH (1977) and “Search for Tomorrow” (1976-77).

One of their most iconic storylines of course was the legendary romance between the characters Luke Spencer and Laura Webber on GH that captivated audiences everywhere. It is still considered one of the most memorable and beloved stories in soap opera history. The Elmans’ development of these characters played a key role in putting the soap opera back on the map after years of poor ratings.

Sadly, Irving who lived until 96, died Nov. 22, 2011, in La Jolla, of cardiopulmonary arrest while Mildred died at age 85 on May 10, 2006, at UCLA-Santa Monica Hospital of multiple organ failure.

EARLY DAYS

Born in Patterson, N.J., on June 28, 1915, Irving’s parents were Mother Hinde Nirenberg and Father Joseph Jacob Elman.

Before soaps he saw three of his plays staged on Broadway: “The First Million” in 1943, “The Brass Ring” in 1952, and “Uncle Willie” in 1957. The latter, a comedy set in the Bronx, written with Julie Berns, was the most successful with 141 performances.

Among his other plays was “Tevye’s Daughters,” an adaptation of Sholom Aleichem’s stories that predated “Fiddler on the Roof” by a decade and a half.

During the 1940s, Irving Elman turned to screenwriting, penning the scripts to eight films, including “Accomplice,” “Strange Journey,” “Backlash,” “Jewels of Brandenberg,” “The Crimson Key,” “Roses Are Red,” “13 Lead Soldiers,” and “Challenge.”

He also wrote for television, beginning in the early days of live television, among his credits were “Hallmark Hall of Fame,” “Studio One,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “The Brothers Brannagan,” “The Verdict Is Yours,” and “The Eleventh Hour.”

MRS. ELMAN

Mildred was also a screenwriter and English teacher at Santa Monica College who lived in Pacific Palisades, born on Jan. 18, 1921, in Houston. As mentioned, she served as co-head writer of GH and “Search for Tomorrow.”

In addition, she wrote scripts for the television series “The Eleventh Hour,” “The Brothers Brannagan,” “True Story,” “The Verdict Is Yours,” and the screenplay for the Israeli feature film “Redemption.”

MORE TV HITS AND BOOKS

Irving Elman also produced five television medical shows: “The Eleventh Hour” and “Ben Casey”; “Western High Chaparral”; the political drama “Slattery’s People” (for which he earned two Emmy nominations in 1966); and “Matt Lincoln,” about a psychiatrist. Elman also produced telepics “The Cliffdwellers” and “Roaring Camp.”

In his later years, he authored five published books: “So, You Want to Be a Scriptwriter” and “Make a Million Dollars?” “Abe Lincoln’s Doctor’s Dog,” “Bells on Her Toes,” “A Tango in Time,” and “Sherlock Holmes: The Naked Truth.”

AWARDS A PLENTY

In addition to his many accomplishments, Irving received numerous awards and nominations throughout his career, including:

• Daytime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Drama Series for “General Hospital.”

• Soap Opera Digest Awards for Outstanding Drama Series for “General Hospital.”

• Other industry accolades recognize his contributions to film and television production.
Married for 60 years the couple is survived by sons Jeffrey, a professor of cognitive science at UC San Diego, and Corey, a ceramic designer residing in Long Beach; grandchildren Emily and Jeremy; and sister Ava Jean Mears of Houston one obit said at the time of death.