Pam Long
Encyclopedia
Pamela K. Long is an American
actress and writer
, most known for her stints writing the CBS Daytime
soap opera
Guiding Light
, from 1983 to 1986 and from 1987 to 1990.
Before she started in show business, she won the title of Miss Alabama
in 1974. At the time, she was attending the University of North Alabama
, and was involved in the Phi Mu
sorority. After graduation, she went to New York City
and played Ashley Linden on Texas
from 1981 to 1982. She had almost no acting experience when she landed the part: one small paying role in a dinner theatre production of Play It Again, some television commercials and an appearance on local television in Alabama were her only previous jobs.
In 1982, Long also became Head Writer
of Texas
. The show began to improve in quality, but the ratings in the United States remained in the basement. The show was more popular North of the US border. In Canada, Texas topped the daytime ratings charts for many weeks. The last episode of Texas
aired on December 31, 1982.
In 1983, Long became Head Writer
of Guiding Light, while former Texas Executive Producer
Gail Kobe
joined her.
Both of her stints were well regarded and provided a renaissance for the aging show , at one point pushing the show's ratings to the #1 spot for three weeks in the summer of 1984 , dethroning then-powerhouse General Hospital
from the top ratings spot. Long created some of GL's most memorable characters, like vixen Reva Shayne
, haughty ice queen Alexandra Spaulding
, and rough-around-the-edges ingenue Harley Davidson Cooper.
Long was once married to actor Jay Hammer
and was credited for a time as Pamela Long Hammer. They have two sons together, Nick LongHammer and C.J. LongHammer
One Life to Live
Santa Barbara
Search for Tomorrow
Texas
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, most known for her stints writing the CBS Daytime
CBS Daytime
CBS Daytime is a television programming block on CBS. It's the branding for the CBS Television Network's late morning and early afternoon programming. The block has historically encompassed soap operas, game shows, and talk shows...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Guiding Light
Guiding Light
Guiding Light is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running drama in television and radio history, running from 1937 until 2009...
, from 1983 to 1986 and from 1987 to 1990.
Before she started in show business, she won the title of Miss Alabama
Miss Alabama
The Miss Alabama competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the U.S. state of Alabama in the Miss America pageant.Miss Alabamas have performed strongly at the Miss America pageant, particularly in the early 21st century, when the state produced their third Miss America, a first...
in 1974. At the time, she was attending the University of North Alabama
University of North Alabama
The University of North Alabama is a coeducational university located in Florence, Alabama, and the state's oldest four-year public university....
, and was involved in the Phi Mu
Phi Mu
Phi Mu is the second oldest female fraternal organization established in the United States. It was founded at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. The organization was founded as the Philomathean Society on January 4, 1852, and was announced publicly on March 4 of the same year...
sorority. After graduation, she went to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and played Ashley Linden on Texas
Texas (TV series)
Texas is an American daytime soap opera which aired on NBC from August 4, 1980 until December 31, 1982. Created by John William Corrington, Joyce Hooper Corrington, and Paul Rauch, the show was a spinoff of Another World...
from 1981 to 1982. She had almost no acting experience when she landed the part: one small paying role in a dinner theatre production of Play It Again, some television commercials and an appearance on local television in Alabama were her only previous jobs.
In 1982, Long also became Head Writer
Head writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
of Texas
Texas (TV series)
Texas is an American daytime soap opera which aired on NBC from August 4, 1980 until December 31, 1982. Created by John William Corrington, Joyce Hooper Corrington, and Paul Rauch, the show was a spinoff of Another World...
. The show began to improve in quality, but the ratings in the United States remained in the basement. The show was more popular North of the US border. In Canada, Texas topped the daytime ratings charts for many weeks. The last episode of Texas
Texas (TV series)
Texas is an American daytime soap opera which aired on NBC from August 4, 1980 until December 31, 1982. Created by John William Corrington, Joyce Hooper Corrington, and Paul Rauch, the show was a spinoff of Another World...
aired on December 31, 1982.
In 1983, Long became Head Writer
Head writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
of Guiding Light, while former Texas Executive Producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
Gail Kobe
Gail Kobe
Gail Kobe is an American actress and producer.-Career:During the 1950s and 1960s, Kobe made dozens of guest appearances on such television programs as Felony Squad, Ironside, The Outer Limits, The Twilight Zone, Dr. Kildare, Gunsmoke, Daniel Boone, Mission: Impossible, The Untouchables and Mannix...
joined her.
Both of her stints were well regarded and provided a renaissance for the aging show , at one point pushing the show's ratings to the #1 spot for three weeks in the summer of 1984 , dethroning then-powerhouse General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
from the top ratings spot. Long created some of GL's most memorable characters, like vixen Reva Shayne
Reva Shayne
Reva Shayne O'Neill is a fictional character on the long-running CBS daytime soap opera Guiding Light played by emmy-award winner Kim Zimmer from November 28, 1983 to July 1990...
, haughty ice queen Alexandra Spaulding
Alexandra Spaulding
Alexandra Spaulding is a fictional character on CBS's daytime drama Guiding Light. Beverlee McKinsey was the first actress to play the role, which she did from February 10, 1984 to August 1992...
, and rough-around-the-edges ingenue Harley Davidson Cooper.
Long was once married to actor Jay Hammer
Jay Hammer
Jay Hammer is an American actor best known for his long run as Fletcher Reade on CBS Daytime's Guiding Light from March 1984 until March 1998. He returned briefly in the Spring of 1999...
and was credited for a time as Pamela Long Hammer. They have two sons together, Nick LongHammer and C.J. LongHammer
Positions held
Guiding LightGuiding Light
Guiding Light is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running drama in television and radio history, running from 1937 until 2009...
- Head WriterHead writerA head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
: 1987 - 1990 - Co-Head Writer: 1983 - 1986
One Life to Live
One Life to Live
One Life to Live is an American soap opera which debuted on July 15, 1968 and has been broadcast on the ABC television network. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to primarily feature racially and socioeconomically diverse characters and consistently emphasize social...
- Head Writer: April 1998 - December 1998
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara (TV series)
Santa Barbara is an American television soap opera, first broadcast in the United States on NBC on July 30, 1984, and last aired on January 15, 1993. The show revolved around the eventful lives of the wealthy Capwell family of Santa Barbara, California...
- Head Writer: 1992 - January 15, 1993
Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow is an American soap opera which premiered on September 3, 1951 on CBS. The show was moved from CBS to NBC on March 29, 1982. It continued on NBC until the final episode aired on December 26, 1986, a run of thirty-five years. At the time of its final broadcast it was the...
- Executive Story ConsultantCreative consultantCreative consultant is a credit that has - particularly in the past - been given to screenwriters who have “doctored” a movie screenplay. It is often given by producers in lieu of official credit. Those given this credit in the television field work closely with an Executive Producer, Head...
: 1986 - December 26, 1986
Texas
Texas (TV series)
Texas is an American daytime soap opera which aired on NBC from August 4, 1980 until December 31, 1982. Created by John William Corrington, Joyce Hooper Corrington, and Paul Rauch, the show was a spinoff of Another World...
- Actress: 1981 - December 31, 1982
- Head and Script Writer: 1982