One Life to Live

July 15, 1968-April 1975

Original flames

The original One Life to Live title opening used from its July 15, 1968 premiere to April 1975. Featuring a roaring fireplace with the words One Life To Live faintly appearing and growing larger as the sequence concluded. The flames were supposed to be symbolic of a hellfire, as the show's title was supposed to be Between Heaven and Hell, but was changed at the last minute as sponsors felt the title was too strong and could engender controversy.^[2]

This opening was again seen on July 21, 2008 as an homage to the show's 40th Anniversary special.

Originally, One Life to Live's closing credits were done over a videotaped shot of an empty set or a mimed sequence between two or more characters. For the first ten years on the air, credits scrolled in the center of the screen in the same white Craw Clarendon Bold type as the title logo.

April 1975-Late 1980

Llanview sunrise

The fireplace opening was replaced in 1975 with a visual of an emerging orange and yellow mountain sunrise, concluding with the show title underneath it. The theme music was also changed to a melodious, semi-orchestral piece by Jack Urbont, mainly composed of violins, woodwinds and horns, but augmented by piano as well. During the first few months of this sequence, the title appeared in white, but it changed to yellow thereafter.

In 1978, end credit lettering was changed for the first time, to white Beton Bold. Credits were still scrolled in the center of the screen over the live-action character sequences. This setup would last for the next two years until the final months of this theme package. No later than May 1980, a new credit setup was introduced, that began with the title still & centered, which would then scroll up and run the credits on the left side of the screen while a live-action scene played on. An artsy, modern Bauhaus-inspired font was now used, still in white however, and not long after this format was introduced, copyright notice in small Arial font showed up for the first time under "Videotaped at ABC Television Center in New York" as the credits commensed.

Late 1980-December 14, 1984

Llanview sky

Toward the end of 1980, the sunrise opening was altered with a gray background and enhanced with a longer sequence which showed not just a mountain sunrise, but also shots of birds and a close up of the sun, and eventually the title superimposed over a shot of a blue sky with clouds. The theme music was rearranged as well.

Jack Urbont's full-length 1975 version of the OLTL theme would remain in use over the closing credits during the run of second "sunlight" visuals. However, the end credit format would continue to see numerous revisions in the next five years. The Bauhaus credit format introduced in the spring of 1980 remained in use for a couple of years into this package. Along the way, in late 1981, a closing display of the title returned to closings after an absence of a few years, and appeared above the copyright. Eventually, in May 1983, "All Rights Reserved" would be added to the copyright.

Around June 1983, the Bauhaus credit setup would be replaced as a result of Jean Arley's arrival as OLTL's new executive producer. The credits would again remain white, but would revert back to being centered as they had been years before. The font changed to a combo of small Helvetica (for production titles/character names) and larger Franklin Bold (for crew and actors' names).

In the fall of 1983, OLTL debuted the network-mandated copyright notice that nearly all ABC-owned daytime programs were adopting at the time. The copyright began to appear in an italicized variation of Century Gothic font; within the next year both the copyright notice, and the rest of the credits would appear with a more embossed black shadowing (as opposed to the transparency they had before). Also, during Ms. Arley's last months as executive producer, closing credit scenes would sometimes begin to feature stills from that day's episode, but the live-action scenes would remain. Paul Rauch took over as the new EP in August 1984.

December 17, 1984-December 31, 1991

Tour of Llanview

Production
In late October 1984, executive producer of OLTL Paul Rauch set out to create a new opening to bring One Life To Live into the 1980s. Production of the sequence began in mid-November 1984 and was completed the week of December 10-14, 1984.

Debut
On December 17, 1984, the new sequence designed by Wayne Fitzgerald debuted. It featured the new theme by Dave Grusin, with translucent headshots of the cast superimposed over Llanview locations, ending with the title superimposed on a tableau of cast photos. The title display at the end gave off a spectrum of colors within the lettering.

Full musical arrangement
In the first week of January 1985, the theme was re-done in an orchestral format, that was recorded in December 1984.

Vocal rendition and other changes
In February 1986, lyrics performed by Peabo Bryson in September 1985 were added to the previously instrumental theme. In 1988, the title display at the end changed to becoming solid white, embossed in black shadowing. By the end of that same year, the closing shot of the "Llanview" bridge was eliminated, leaving the title and picture tableau still as the sequence faded. The last head shot update to this opening sequence was in November 1991.

Closing credits during the entire run of these visuals began a trend that would remain with the program for years to come: a carded-credits only format over key visuals of OLTL's opening. In the case of these Rauch-era "Tour of Llanview" visuals, credits were run over a still, signature view of the Llanview bridge. A double-font combo was continued, this time utlizing a variant of Peignot type for actors and crew members (think Mary Tyler Moore Show font, only with all letters the same size), and Helvetica for crew titles & character names. However, the first letter of every word on the production title/character line would be in the Peignot variant. The credits' color would go from being dark orange in the early months, then yellow from mid-1985 to December 1987, bright orange during 1988, and finally yellow again from early 1989 until December 1991. Also, the font went from being semi-transparent in early months, back to very transparent during the latter half of 1985, and then semi-embossed again in early 1986. During most of 1988, the credits became extra embossed, but from the start of 1989 through the end of 1991, the black embossment was toned down to a normal level.

January 2, 1992-November 17, 1995

The new-age era

Production
In July 1991, new executive producer Linda Gottlieb wanted a new opening to bring One Life To Live into the 1990s. Production of the sequence began in late July 1991. She hired Lee Holdridge in August to compose the theme music and had it designed by the television computer artistry group of Greenberg and Schluter. It was filmed and produced in August 1991 at the ABC Television Center in New York City, NY and was set to be released the following January in 1992.

Debut
On January 2, 1992, the new title sequence emphasizing the romantic angle of the show debuted. In a condensed form, it featured a love story—using the elements of a heroine, Mr. Wrong/Mr. Right, love making, implied betrayal, a champagne bottle corked, and a newborn baby. It concluded with swirling, windswept satin sheets displaying the show title. Accompanied by theme music of Lee Holdridge, in a New Age-influenced arrangement.

Minor changes
The ABC logo was added sometime in late 1993 or early in 1994, as it is seen in all 1994 and 1995 episodes on the opening & closing title cards, as well as the commercial break bumpers.

November 20, 1995-December 22, 1999

Tour of Llanview II

Production
In October 1995, One Life To Live's executive producer, Susan Bedsow Horgan, decided to create a new opening sequence for the upcoming 7,000th episode celebration in November. She then hired David Nichtern to work alongside Lee Holdridge to compose it. From late October to early November 1995, video shoots of the Philadelphia and New York City vicinities were taken. Both Erika Slezak and Crystal Chappell were called to film opening poses, while the other contract members weren't during the second week of November 1995. Production of both sequences wrapped up on Wednesday, November 15, 1995.

Debut
On November 20, 1995, for the 7,000th episode, the new title sequence which featured posterized video headshots of each contract player and tinted action clips from the show superimposed over images of landmarks and city scenes (reminiscent to the 1984-1991 opening) made its debut, with Lee Holdridge and David Nichtern under the direction of then music supervisor Jamie Howarth, providing a new upbeat theme song to accompany it.

New alternate themes and cosmetic changes

November 28, 1995 removal of Todd from the opening

In the November 28, 1995 update to remove Roger Howarth, a new alternate theme debuted. It was updated in 1997, May 1998, Spring 1999], December 1999, April 2000, February 2001, Spring 2002, January 2003, and July 2003. On December 22, 1995, a piano version of the theme was used for the Christmas show and a different version on December 24, 1996 with an opera singer for the 1996 Christmas show. It was dropped for the 1997 Christmas season. In 1997, the theme's sound was slightly modified from the 1995 version and this version was used until May 1998. In March 1998, the sequence was seen prior to the first scenes of the show. In the May 1998 updates, the theme was modified a tad bit along with slight cosmetic retouching to the visuals. Sometime in the Spring of 1999 the opening sequence cast arrangements were not updated, but a slightly updated theme debuted along with another cosmetic refreshing to visuals and this format was used until sometime during the week of December 20, 1999, when the sequences were heavily changed.

Second generation

December 23, 1999
-June 11, 2004

On December 23, and December 24, 1999 the theme music's sound was slightly changed and the opening sequences were refreshed with more saturation and images became more opaque. Also for the first time since the debut of this opening, the version with Robert S. Woods
became opening A with his new posed image and Robin Strasser's
version became opening B with her image zoomed out a bit. The modified alternate theme appeared on December 30, 1999.

Digitalization and re-recording
After less than 4 months, in April 2000 a newly recorded Dolby Digital version of the 1995 theme debuted along with a complete revamping of the cast video shot positions. In February 2001, the theme was re-recorded with a few new notes. On May 7, 2001, the opening that Bo begins was updated, but the other version didn't air that week and this version was repeated until it was updated on May 15, to add Sam Rappaport. The other version finally debuted on May 16, 2001 with Roger Howarth's Todd leading the opening and all cast shots were moved around.

Third generation
In May 2002 the theme was again re-recorded and had a smoother/softer beat compared to the previous 2001 version. The appearance of the sequences was refreshed as well. Character names were added to the opening images starting in November 2002,. In early 2003 the opening music was again modified with a slightly quicker beat.

Last generation
In September 2003, five formats debuted with modified music and this was used until June 11, 2004.

June 14, 2004-2008

Llanview Collage

On June 14, 2004 (all ABC Daytime soaps revamped their titles this year), the latest opening premiered; it consists of live images of cast members (which had been previously used during bumper sequences) over a black background, ending with the title superimposed over the abbreviation OLTL. It is accompanied by an uptempo remix of the previous theme song.

With the June 16 and June 17, 2005 updates came a more smaller, less bold version of title card.

This opening has been noted to not feature certain contract members. To date, seven actors/actresses have not been included in the sequence. This includes Javier Morga (Tico Santi), Mark Dobies (Daniel Colson), Mike Jerome (Ted Osbourne), Chris Beetem (Tate Harmon), Portia Reiners (Britney Jennings), January LaVoy (Noelle Ortiz), and John Rue (Moe Stubbs).

Also noted, is the failure to remove certain cast members despite their exit. Though David Fumero (Cristian Vega) left in February 2005, he remained in the March update. This also occurred once more after Renee Elise Goldsberry (Evangeline Williamson) left in May 2007.

Starting on May 2, 2008, OLTL began crediting show creator Agnes Nixon underneath the main title card. This is due in part to the main crew credits being moved to the scene after the credits (these credits were originally seen prior to that day's opening starting in November 2003).

On May 8 and May 9, 2008, a re-recorded theme written and performed by Snoop Dogg aired, during his two day stint on the series.

On September 16, 2008, the show brought in the entire cast to shoot new headshots. Look for the updated opening to premiere sometime in the next few months. The opening will keep the current music and two-part set up, but it's possible the opening will feature the new logo and new transition graphics.^[10]