GH: Luke: Luke Arrives in Port Charles/Luke Rapes Laura (1978-1979)

[@LuvTadnDixie]

I'll never forget Laura running through the park after the rape and her crying on the ground and this man comes up to her (turns out it was a cop) and she lets out this huge scream and BOOM, the show ends (have to wait until the next episode) . . . . my friend saying to me "Did you see GH today!!?" "I said, "Yes!" She said, "Wasn't it good!" I was like "OMG, I couldn't believe it! That's what GH was back then. It was absolutely riveting and then you would talk about it with your friends. In 1979 and 1980 General Hospital was the best a soap could possibly be. I wasn't crazy about 1981 when they started to get into the sci-fi crap and the freezing of Port Charles. But 1979 and 1980, whoa, it was incredible!

[@cidweinberg]

Me too. The rape had to be in the summer time because my older cousins babysitting us watched GH. I was 7… no control of the TV. Laura crying and running and Rise music are etched into my brain.

[@tracythehippiechick]

I think it was spring and my sisters ran off the bus to watch.

[@spyderd8165]

The Ice Princess story in ‘81 was originally supposed to be just a spy caper about man made diamonds, but then man made diamonds became a reality so then they went with a formula for Carbonic Snow in the base of the statue instead of the man made diamond formula.

[@staceytroffer8287]

I was a senior in high school in 1979 and I was absolutely RIVETED to GH. It was so good.

[@enak8405]

This is when GH was great!!

[@video728]

Rise will forever be synonymous with this scene.

[@crystaljewel1073]

Yep

[@DebNKY]

Exactly

[@CoopyKat]

@video728 LOLLL for a LONG time every time I heard that song Rise on the radio, it reminded me of this scene!

[@thecannonball1000]

True, but a shame, as that song is highly enjoyable

[@DebNKY]

@@thecannonball1000 I love the show and the song, no shame

[@butterfliesandfate]

I started watching General Hospital in 1980, shortly after this scene. My mom watched this and it was on when I'd get home from school. I was 13 when this aired. I was completely in love with this show by 1981. It was the best drama I've ever watched since. First time I saw Rick Springfield was on this show. Oh, the eye candy for the ladies!!!! I'd give anything to go back to this era.

[@TheHartsook69]

I think I was about 13 also I was switching channels on the TV and I saw these people on an island and it looked interesting and I just started watching it it was back in the 80s of course and it was Luke and Laura and Robert when they were on the island

[@jancramp8252]

Me too.

[@jeannenadreau5393]

We used to schedule our classes around GH when I was at college. It came on every day at 2PM. A couple years after this episode a young Demi Moore wandered into Port Charles. And John Stamos not long after.

[@SandraWade666]

I was 13 too! Such great memories

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

Me too … I was 10 when this started and my mom was also hooked.

[@michelleflores3956]

Rest in peace Jackie Zeman You will be missed!

[@raqueledwards6061]

Absolutely one of the most radiant and talented actresses of her time and a fellow Pisces may your soul find rest❤😢

[@janebeville7446]

I saw this episode. It was really disturbing. Watching it again brought out those same feelings. The acting. I'm just in tears. I've been transported back to 1979.

[@k53ss22]

Don't you just miss it? I was in 4th gr in 1979. I miss the 70s & 80s!

[@AmbivertsBeLike]

So sad..."Bobbi" died today. 💓

[@Purplenpinkk]

Crazy that the producers wrote a storyline like this where Luke rapes Laura and then they eventually get married and this was such a popular show and storyline. So sick when I look back it now.

[@arwenrivendale]

Yeah very disturbing and I forgot about that part but I was also a kid and not really looking at it from that angle. Who on earth thought of this. It’s kinda like hard core grooming and unfortunately this is how some women have been conquered. Crazy stuff. Dangerous really.

[@shannonwhite3721]

Exactly! It didn't settle well as an adult. Wonder what my mom and aunt thought watching it when I was a kid and the storyline was over my head 😢

[@GwenhwyfarB]

Same here, I was really bothered when I was old enough to realize how they got started. I watched it in the early eighties with my mom and didn’t know.

[@RevolutioXxNx]

agree with you 100%

[@brey1720]

🤢 oh god that's a sickening thought for anyone to marry their rapist. But it was definitely misunderstood then, & still is even to this day, the trauma it can cause

[@ellenjudge1611]

This was highly romanticized back then. I remember reading romance novels where scenes like this happened all the time.

[@missmgmnt]

Like every romance novel in the 90s featured romanticized rape storylines. 🤯 I used to love romance novels when I was younger. Only realized how messed up it was as I got older. 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@kat2878]

right - this story line sure wouldn't fly today !!!!

[@florencehenderson3707]

yes! I used to read my mother's! a lot of rape and oppressive racial dynamics in those books which fed into the fantasies... I wasn't sure what to think about it when I was about 8 and reading them. But I noticed it.

[@staceytroffer8287]

They still do. Woman overcome by man. She loves it but hates herself, and him for her pleasure. He continues his pursuit and woman continues to say NO NO NO……lengthening the storyline. But eventually succumbed to her desires saying YES YES YES……and they become the couple of the century. This is the storyline to every love novel ever written.

[@florencehenderson3707]

@@staceytroffer8287 I can see what you mean. But fantasy of course is not the same as reality.

[@steveifko255]

Luke and Laura saved General Hospital.

[@enak8405]

That they did! Then the early Sonny years saved GH later on.

[@traceydobesh5446]

And Denise Alexander saved GH in the early to mid 70's

[@freddiegrace3770]

@@enak8405 Yeah, but I really grew bored with Sonny after about 3 years.

[@loriefuller9541]

These are the clearest videos I’ve seen of these scenes. Don’t know where you got them, but hope you have more!

[@michaelbrantley.8628]

Rip too jackie zeman AKA Bobbie spencer on gh she was a great actress in movies especially on gh she will be missed gone but not forgotten about with the Lord 🙏 forever my condolences to her family and friends on gh.

[@robynheavner4689]

Rip sweet Jackie ❤🙏🕊

[@darrylskylar8757]

Rest In Peace🙏🤍🕊🙏♥️

[@feferosette]

Oh I didn't know she passed. 😢

[@freedomofspeech6095]

This is some sick crap can’t believe I used to be so hooked on this soap. Ouch. How evil this episode was

[@cathywhitehead2509]

We used to call it “Lauras rape theme” when we were in high school. I look back and that was terrible!!!

[@wilnerolivier7971]

It's somewhat surprising that Tony Geary with his distinctive voice didn't have a career as a voiceover actor!!

[@jackiemusgrove6956]

Can you imagine such a story line, now? He rapes her than eventually marries her?!😢

[@tonistark4169]

GH was my “addiction” in College where I skipped one class to get into nursing school my junior-senior year to watch this and One Life to Live. Looking back, it was a huge risk as there were not any second chances to get into nursing school. I made a “D” in that class so I had to repeat the class plus 22 hours that last semester of my sophomore year. I buckled down, and finally made it with excellent grades and a 22 hours class schedule to make up for the “D” and get into nursing school my junior year. I graduated with honors my senior year in 1978! To think that those 2 soaps almost derailed a 40+ career in nursing. To see this posted, brought all those memories flooding back. My parents, thank God for them, paid my tuition and I let them down by skipping class for 2 soaps! If that was the worst thing I did in college then I did pretty darn good! But at the time, my Dad threatened to pull me out of school because you had to have a “C” or better in any and all classes to pass and be accepted into nursing school. The better your overall grade average was what you got accepted with. I don’t blame him one bit! But they supported me through that one mistake and I did it to myself! 45 years later, and now GH and most soaps are off the air. What memories but that’s part of growing up and the lessons you learn from it are sometimes better taught OUT of the classroom! The University of Oklahoma College of Nursing did NOT play and for that I am grateful for my fantastic career.

[@claireclaire0166]

That is a great story.😊

[@tonistark4169]

@@claireclaire0166 thank you! If that was the biggest mistake in my life, I’m so lucky. 🤣😳

[@Goldengirl48]

Nowadays, to get into any nursing school, you have to have straight "A's". They have no clue how many wonderful women who would be wonderful, caring nurses they block out of their programs with that kind of attitude. Grades are just a piece of the necessary parts of being a nurse. Heart, caring for others, and the desire to help are even more important than straight "A's." It is a sad statement of where the medical field is headed when that is the most important criteria for being a nurse.

[@tonistark4169]

@@Goldengirl48 I went to the University of Oklahoma College of Nursing and graduated in 1978. At that time, it was always about “affirmative action” rather than grades it seemed. Back in the dark ages (lol), yes you had to have a certain GPA but they thought white female student’s were last to get chosen for their program. By the time it rolled around to get in, most of these affirmative action students had dropped out then as a white female, I was in. You’re 100% correct that they have knocked out those with great grades didn’t necessarily make a great nurse. Yes, grades are just a piece of nursing but being able to critically think on their feet made better nurses than grades were proven to be up to their standards. I taught nursing school at the baccalaureate level getting my masters in nursing education and administration. That was about 15 years ago and I remember a diverse class but those that didn’t make it grade wise did possess the critical thinking skills that would have made a fabulous nurse! I did everything I could to educate and get them a passing grade if they were struggling with taking tests to get a passing grade. Some had it easy with grades but I thought oh my, I don’t know if I’d want this nurse who passed on grades rather than being a critical thinker and didn’t possess an excellent bedside manner working on me. Nowadays, nothing you learned as a student taking tests and passing grades was actually what made you a great nurse as it was all book learning but they couldn’t apply it. Some of my best student nurses were ones with so so grades but did excellent in a clinical setting. You made great points here. Never give up. Keep applying and someone will figure out once in the clinical setting they were excellent and went on to be productive, critical thinkers and were actually great bedside nurses. Thank you for bringing up a flaw in the system. Believe me, in school grades are overrated. Thanks for responding and tell yourself or your friends that if they want to be nurses to never give up! ❤️

[@Goldengirl48]

​@tonistark4169 I started out as an LPN. I love bedside nursing and home care because I was able to get to know my patients and help them with their health care needs. As a hospital nurse, I had very little time with my patients. Most of the time, I was too busy trying to just get the basic care taken care of. The patient to nurse ratio was usually so high that it was difficult to get everything done in the time that you were there. Add in charting and emergencies and the day gets away from you very quickly. I went back to school to get my RN license so that could also do admissions. By that time I was working for Hospice full-time. I wanted my own territory and patients to care for from admission to either discharge or death. I graduated as a RN when I was 54 years old. I only worked for a short time before I broke my ankle and had to stop. It still hurts not to be able to work any longer. I miss my patients and their families.

[@GeminiJonson]

Wait,Luke raped Laura,but they ended up married,thats creepy AF

[@penni6432]

It was. The storyline was meant to make the viewers hate Luke, make Laura responsible because she didn't leave when Luke told her to, then put them together as a couple where viewers decided to love him. I wonder as actors what the two of them thought of the storyline.

[@bigbanknewyork3655]

30 million+ viewers turned into see the wedding. They all didn't think so.

[@empressink_]

Gloria Monty's brainchild. She gaslight the entire audience by playing it off as some twisted form of seduction but I think a lot of us knew what it really was. It's an interesting storyline really, I liked that it became a really good focal point of Lucky and Luke's relationship in 1998. One Life To Live tried to make a romance happen between Roger Howarth's Todd Manning and Marty Saybrooke but Howarth refused to let it happen.

[@KenMcMunn-bp5xv]

What if she had a knife and defended herself??

[@FischerFan]

It was Tony Geary's own idea to use 'Rise' as the music for the dramatic scene.

[@robynheavner4689]

I have Herb Alberta greatest hits! My parents had a restaurant for 36 years, I got to keep the 45's lps from the jukebox! Rise is one of them!

[@bsota8513]

@@robynheavner4689 Interesting!

[@bamagal4vr]

Ll

[@dietrichjoanne]

Do you mean the rape?

[@TrustJesus333]

I was not aware, while watching this in the 70s, that Luke was a malignant narcissist.

[@florencehenderson3707]

geez.... 🙄🤦

[@brey1720]

Not a lot was known about narcissist back then. So it could have been easily missed. But clearly it's evident he's still a bad person 😆 sometimes we forget details when we haven't watched certain things in quite some time. This seems like a very sad episode 🥺

[@darlenegattus8190]

When we are young we don't see a lot of things.

[@florencehenderson3707]

@@brey1720 oh I didn't mean to say "geez" because it was missed. I was saying that because this is the entertainment we have, celebrating narcissism...even last year I thought I knew about narcissism. Turns out I knew very little. But then especially as children we internalize this stuff so that's why I said that .

[@brey1720]

@@florencehenderson3707 accurate 👌

[@nwchrista]

When I was a kid, this came out and we were all crazy for the show BECAUSE of Luke and Laura. I missed this scene and always wanted to see the background of it. My parents forced me to work in the garage when the big fight happened to. So, I also missed that and was always disappointed. Now you can see it, thnx to KZbin.

[@k53ss22]

which big fight?

[@GinaSigillito]

I used to watch this with my grandma when I was a kid. It’s just amazing that this storyline wouldn’t be allowed now but it was so intriguing at the time. Bobby was my absolute favorite. I never really got what Laura saw in Luke, even when I was 8 or 9. It was the danger and bravado probably. Also, the leather jackets on these college “kids” are hilarious now.

[@thenightporter]

Luke is giving me incel vibes. His dialogue ("baby") is cringey and he's acting like a total stalker. I was 9 when this aired and Luke scafed me. "Shaun Cassidy NEVER would act like this!" I remember thinking.

[@debrablum3738]

That summer of Luke and Laura on the run was the best ever, wasn't it? ❤

[@jbjacobs9514]

Both summers on the run! On the run from Frank Smith and the lovable Hutch then the next year with Robert and Tiffany for the Ice Princess! I just watched an old video with when Alex first came to Port Charles. I did NOT remember she killed the guy and framed Laura for it back then. I only remember her with Luke and then freezing on the island with Tony Cassadine!

[@davewoods6673]

Yes!

[@michaelclyburn5858]

Anthony Geary /Luke Spencer is my favorite all time actor/Character. For example: Laura- "Luke if somebody is after you we can---we can get the police..." Luke--(coughs up drink) "The police?" 😄😄😄 Just the way he played that line, man!!! Genie is awesome as well.

[@Terri-Sue]

Another show minimizing SEXUAL ASSAULT. I LOATHE THAT STORYLINE.

[@mhenry4248]

Wow, thank you for posting this! I was 13 years old when this happened, but I had forgotten all the details that led up to it

[@maria7689]

I was 13 when I started watching and I never saw the rape. I started watching right before Luke and Laura went on the run in 1980. I was mesmerized! Fridays weee torture because we had to wait until Monday to see what happened!!!

[@TawnyC_]

It's all about him and what he wants and how he feels. He couldn't care less about her feelings. She's an object to him.

[@GeminiJonson]

That's most men.

[@annettehunt900]

@@GeminiJonson Who is this comment referencing to?

[@GeminiJonson]

@@annettehunt900 Figure it TF out

[@annettehunt900]

@@GeminiJonson Well, you’re either talking about Luke or somebody else I don’t know. You don’t have to be rude about it. Life is too short, respect people.

[@paulettegrant9996]

No she isn't an object to him, can't u see that. He's in love with her. He told her to go home. She didn't. She didn't have no business there anyway.

[@kristinscotbarryjames]

Then...Laura and Luke had one of the most watched weddings on TV...go figure

[@one-stopgodshop2171]

Thanks for this. It's amazing to see them so young. These characters were so much fun to watch back in the day.

[@julies634]

I was in the military stationed overseas when I saw the rape scene, it was actually nine months behind the United States because that’s how they distributed the soap opera tapes to the military base. So when I arrived to the United States to see that Luke and Laura were actually together, holy crap, she married the rapist? I still can’t get my head around it. I missed those months when the relationship turned around.

[@zt1053]

How is the highest rated soap episode of all time inspired from a rape

[@HufflinPuffs]

Strange, isn’t it? I wondered it too until I actually watched most of their story arc and now I understand the appeal even though I hate that this was apart of the story. And it wasn’t necessary to convey the complexity of their relationship. Her being married and conflicted was enough of a hurdle for them.

[@DavidSilverPrecious]

@@HufflinPuffs and people (original fans from what I could see in the comments) on ig go nuts over throwback pics of them. I scroll thinking, "didn't I read that the guy actually.... her?!" Came here to confirm, and yep... As you said, they could haven chosen so many other paths, other than that one to convey relationship complexities. I've had wild ups and downs with my s.o., but nope, absolutely not. That said, my mom has mentioned the popularity of this show. At that time she had my older brother at home, maybe a year or two before me, and this was just about the only thing on!

[@HufflinPuffs]

@@DavidSilverPrecious Thing is, post this SA, I actually do enjoy their story line, especially their story on the run is when it really shines. The writing is very good and Luke’s love language to her is the stuff of romance novels and is wonderful. What I’ve also learned that the reason for the complexity is a little twofold that also deals with behind the scenes issues. GH was on the brink cancellation and they brought Genie Francis (Laura) forward to bring in a younger crowd because she was an actual teenager. Tony Geary (Luke) was supposed to be a one and done character arc, who was to SA Laura and die for his transgression. But people loved TG, and LnL’s chemistry so the network made a choice to save Luke and bring them together by retconning it by saying it was seduction (complete lie but they couldn’t change what had already aired so they had to do something). Never to excuse what he did or what the writers did, still hate it, but I understand the front and back matters of the goings on at GH to where I can watch it objectively and find things to enjoy while despising character choices. And I do like at least the moments of regret he shows on what he did which is a big testament to TGs acting range. Still wish that SA wouldn’t have happened.

[@mayasstar]

What no one wants to admit to is that back then rape was greatly misunderstood. In fact there was a time when a husband couldn't be found guilty for raping his wife! Back then, rape could be an act of violence, but there was also this belief that if a man loved a woman as much as Luke did, he just couldn't help himself, and so it was also viewed as an act of extreme passion. And women ate that up and wanted to be that desired. (hence the Anthony Geary fans that held up signs that said "rape me Luke", which he put a stop to). No one wants to admit it, but those were the times we were living in. Also, I don't know why they didn't just blame it on the booze, or said he was drugs, because he was upset about having to murder someone that night. That would have been a much easier out later on.

[@yevettebamber4273]

@@DavidSilverPrecious It was not the only thing on. However there is no way you could understand because the relationship between L&L built up over time, and we all knew Laura had fallen for Luke. The chemistry was off the charts between them before "Night At The Disco". Trouble is until L&L exploded on the scene Soap Operas had super low budgets. Budgets were so bad they had to reuse film, and in interviews Genie, Ken, and others talk about often having to go live!! There is a LOT of footage lost, filmed over, ect. ABC had to take out ad's in big newspapers asking private collectors for L&L footage. By the time "Night At The Disco" happened the ratings had already blown thru the roof. But it still took ABC a little time to realize what they had and really invest serious money. Princess Di saw the show while in our Country and was hooked she had all the episodes mailed to her. Although VCR's were on the market they cost $700-$1200 (That's like $5000 today) and all you could do was tape shows. Movie rental places were not around yet. When the wedding happened in 1981 Princess Di sent them letters and champagne. Liz Taylor and a host of MOVIE star's were excited to make appearances. Many big stars in the 80's & 90's got their start on General Hospital because of the L&L story line. To this day their wedding is the highest rated television moment in daytime tv history. You are judging a story line you really don't know anything about. If you had seen it slowly develop over time before this you may or may not see it differently. Also that wedding was such a big deal that many areas in the U.S.A. ( Including Palm Bch County Fl where I'm from) had to just give up and cancel school classes. The reason was so many teachers & students called out sick. Many businesses changed their signs that week announcing the wedding. All the big local radio stations aired the wedding over those 2 days instead of music. Okay I will shut up now LOL.

[@janetjarvis1304]

There's a 15 year age difference between Genie Francis and Tony Geary. She was 17--A CHILD, by definition--and he was in his 30s when this was filmed. By any metric, then or now, that's just creepy. I'm sure off camera he was taken aside and told to be careful in how he handled it, and thank God you saw nothing of the rape itself (it was daytime, after all). But I was never a fan of them together. Both were/are excellent actors, and I credit her for portraying this situation so well...but I found the whole love story pretty disgusting; worse, they crafted Luke ultimately as some kind of hero and made Scotty into some kind of lowlife. But they're all legends now, and GH owes its very life to these two. Hard to believe it's been almost 44 years since this aired...October 5, 1979, to be exact. (Yes. I watched it.)

[@pamelasmith6221]

Too bad you missed out on an incredible situation. It’s called acting. Tony and Genie were awesome and made history.

[@janc8199]

@@pamelasmith6221 He raped her.. they romanticized a rape..I too found it wrong.

[@janc8199]

I am glad I wasn't the only one. I was team Scottie.

[@janetjarvis1304]

Oh I didn't miss out. I watched. And yes...I appreciate that it's ACTING, and gave props to the actors in my post. Tony and Genie are extraordinary, and they singlehandedly saved GH, no question. A lot of actors and other professionals practically owe their careers to them. But it's hard to celebrate the ultimate love L&L shared when it all began with her screaming "no" 7 times, and ending up in tears, with a torn blouse, smeared makeup, and trembling on the disco floor.

[@lauralarrabee7870]

@@janc8199I always felt Laura had Stockholm syndrome where she was excused and empathized with her abuser.

[@marylouvillarreal8262]

I missed work to see the Luke & Laura wedding!😂

[@maureenmeagher6415]

My mom and a few of her co workers and her boss left work early to watch Luke and Laura's wedding

[@KrystyneY]

I rushed home from class to see the wedding!

[@thenightporter]

If we would have had social media back then, you probably would not have gotten away with it because it probably would have been on social media that a whole bunch of people were missing from work and it wasn't even a holiday. Bosses would.figure it out😂

[@rosemaryspafalmouth2609]

The best General Hospital era ever!

[@jancramp8252]

I miss real storylines that meant something and were suspenseful. Loved that era growing up.

[@djr6876]

After this scene aired I thought ,”well that blows their relationship, can’t come back from that”. I guessed wrong. The scene controversial even back then and got a lot of criticism, but still was a ratings juggernaut.

[@dwhat6088]

See what you've done? Now I've gotta find these episodes! Oh, the memories.

[@mocuishle1028]

Multiple soaps use the “rapist turn hero” storyline. DOOL: EJ; OLTL: Todd. I hate it!

[@kaymuldoon3575]

I remember my friends and I were really into General Hospital during the Luke and Laura years. And then in the mid-80s I really got into Days of Our Lives.

[@pneeb419]

I think I liked the Bo and Hope storyline better than the Luke and Laura one.

[@HomewithNadineFlorida]

I grew up watching GH with my mom in the 80’s and 90’s 😊

[@brigidmartin]

This would never be written today

[@cg0682]

Luke raped Laura and the fact that some don't see it for what it was is nuts.

[@cherylmiller3285]

Iam 66 and I have watched GH for 60 years. Started out with my grandma, who had listened to GH on the radio, pre TV. She loved Dr Steve, and nurse Jessie. Think of people that got a break on GH, Demi Moore and Rick Springsteen to name a few.

[@864elle]

This is why GH has lasted over 60 years…..they have touched on a lot of issues.

[@empowerimpact6324]

I'm a 12 year old kid watching this back then intrigued with Luke and Laura rape turn relationship the ice princess adventure & the Scorpio character forgetting it was just a Soap but wishing they would show reruns

[@robynheavner4689]

You can find it all on KZbin❤

[@dorothywilder1010]

Wow Memories ..I was 17 watching this episode..

[@GeminiJonson]

My aunt was a faithful watcher and just listen to the background noise,I love it.

[@theresachiorazzi4571]

I used to watch general hospital and I’ll never forget Luke and Laura’s wedding ❤❤❤what ever happened to them ?

[@rebeccakleitz3177]

So fun to remember what a little rip Bobbi used to be. I miss Jackie soooo much!

[@kjjones3483]

Every time I hear that Herb Albert song it reminds me of Luke and Laura

[@intheredcold9216]

Luke without the poodle-do lol And apparently obsessed from the beginning. I dont know if I ever saw the beginning of the story line I was pretty young. I don't remember any of this.

[@cindypruitt9534]

RIP Jackie Zeman. I admit I haven't watched soaps in a really long time but I could always count on Jackie being there as well as Genie Francis. We are losing so many that I grew up with. This particular story line was so popular and my GOD I can't believe what they got away with. This subject matter was very offensive. I can't believe we loved it. I was real little so my baby sitter was obsessed but I was obsessed too. So funny !

[@carolynstewart8465]

Why did he get that atrocious perm ?

[@JaneDoe-ng3zm]

Becuz he was going bald and thought it might fill out the bald spots

[@cobaltmidnightoilamp6748]

I started watching General Hospital when I was in the 4th grade in 9/1979.

[@anthonydowdell2470]

I was in 3rd grade that year. So it after school everyday

[@kriskross21]

Jacklyn zeman was gorgeous. Rest in peace 🙏🏽

[@LaraCroftEyes1]

What?

[@Purplenpinkk]

@@LaraCroftEyes1 she passed away a few days ago.

[@80sgirl96]

The beginning of it all …

[@patriciasnyder6915]

Like many, I loved the teaming of Genie Francis and Tony Geary - but, I loved the pairing of Tony Geary and Jane Elliot. I thought they fit together better as a couple for that time in their lives.

[@glorialange6446]

I remember the 1980 drought and all of us young people, men included, watched Luke and Laura every day... riveting

[@maryjoanhill7847]

Best show ever

[@ianman15]

Must have been a tough scene to tape especially for Genie Francis, who was so young at the time.

[@Lala-4597]

Nice perm you got there, Luke.

[@larrytate4586]

All the women in my family watched this show and I came home one day and my uncle was watching it with them. I sat down and watched and was hooked until Luke and Laura was free from the mob.

[@cathyfutch5993]

I will never understand how she could fall in love with her rapist! How did this become such a love story when it began with rape!

[@jewgirl952]

I saw this so many years ago when it was first aired. GH was one of the shows I was addicted to. Only Laura would marry the man who raped her!

[@k53ss22]

super weird, right? only a soap opera could turn that around?

[@JaneDoe-ng3zm]

Stockholm syndrome

[@beck1365]

Luke was such a creep. Why she ended up with him instead of Scotty is still a mystery

[@mowthpeece1]

Not at all. You'd have to watch the slow burn like everyone else.

[@bethiannaggi3262]

Never liked that storyline or them as a couple. Sadly this is what the 80s soap opera taught teens in the 1980s, that guys who forced themselves on you loved you, instead of the truthh, that it was criminal.

[@cajayson8301]

I disagree. Luke/Laura were the only soap opera supercouple where the woman fell in love with her rapist.

[@GeminiJonson]

Sad,that gems like this has been replaced with trash tv

[@chocolatetownforever7537]

What is the name of the song in this scene?

[@chidorisnake22]

Rise by Herb Alpert. It's a classic.

[@shankarks3807]

Wtf, PATHETIC The victim falls in love with the rapist. This reminded me of some of the bollywood movies of 90s

[@janc8199]

And he was a pedophile..She was 17.

[@twistedhalo759]

Punky Brewster's adopted dad was on GH? Who knew??

[@debikaysims9389]

I watched from the beginning. Yep 44 years ago. The rape was not understood but implicated until Laura was found in the park. Laura continued to be friends with Luke, worked with Luke, got drawn into the mob with Luke, forgave Luke, ran off with him to decode the black book and returned with Luke. He was tender and kind and always professed his love for her. I will always love Luke Spencer and miss his face on the canvas. If you didn’t watch you can’t possibly understand all of that. 😎

[@cindyharper6292]

I too watched it 44 years ago and I couldn’t agree with you more I loved every bit of this story I love Luke

[@catneedham4913]

Robert Scorpio was my favorite character 😍🤩

[@nancyhillard6456]

I forgot how silly these soaps were 😂

[@frankrossi6972]

For those who are all "Yeah, but they got together and got married," marital rape is a crime, albeit a relatively new legal principle when this episode aired. (The Rideout marital rape court case got lots of media attention around this time, and helped draw attention to the legal principle, including through a movie about the case made in 1980 starring Mickey Rourke and Linda Hamilton). I got hooked on GH around this time when I was 10 and was home with chickenpox. I recall certain words were being tossed around in the media about this, with some terming it a "seduction." I haven't watched it since it first aired, but watching it now with 54-year-old eyes, it's clear she physically resisted and said "no" several times.

[@travisjames3517]

Laura and Luke are toxic together. They’ve caused death, drama, etc., since Day One when they got together.

[@whatadollslife]

I watched this with a room full of my in_laws back in the day hahahaha

[@shell81229]

I was 12 and I was the first time I heard the word rape

[@sunnydayzie1202]

Me too. I was 12 and remember there was a rape of a woman in our small town. The school told girls not to walk alone anywhere etc . My friends and I had no idea what rape meant, we just thought it meant attacked and roughed up. I'm sure that there were other kids in our school who knew what it was but my friends and I were so innocent. It was right around the time of this video. We were so innocent then. Nowadays kids get explicit material in kindergarten 😢

[@Purplenpinkk]

I was 11 when I watched this with my grandmother.

[@stacydetwiler1475]

Old landline phones. Lol.

[@juliemnm8273]

and it didn't cause Tumors either....

[@eemoogee160]

​@julie mnm yeah, we could jam them up against our ear without guaranteeing brain tumors

[@NicholasColvard-pm9hb]

This is why I’ll never understand why they made Luke a hero and Laura fall in love with him. It would never happened. The worst is that they had kids.

[@vandouglasjr1613]

Was there any couple on daytime cooler than Luke and Laura

[@mariefricchione437]

None ever and will never be again!! 🩷🩵💚💙❤️

[@EmpathDragon]

Yes! Victor & Nikki-Young & the Restless ♥️

[@LouiseTripp]

I am so disturbed by these comments.

[@janc8199]

Why? Because Laura was 17 and raped by a pedophile? I find the story line disturbing.

[@Purplenpinkk]

You would have been super disbursed if you had been around back when this aired and no one thought anything of it. I was 11 when I watched this with my grandmother and when I look back now, yes, it’s so disturbing.

[@jaquen1977]

This is gold!

[@todl.2478]

This episode is just as real as the ice princess episode. 😆

[@sueshiles1169]

I loved this soap opera...Guiding Light, too!! I was 14.

[@kimbeard756]

I saw this when it originally aired!!! Luke and Laura forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Chacolite]

This was epic. I too saw it the very day it aired. I was hooked on Luke and Laura.

[@LaBlueStateGirl]

We were just wired different back then. I was in the wrong timezone to be able to watch this show after school every day and I thought of soaps as a Mom thing, so I didn't follow the show until after the romance was a big deal and then only over the Summer. If only my family had been able to afford a VCR back then! Anyway, today, that scene would have been written so differently! If I remember correctly, and I could be wrong, Luke wasn't going to be around long and they just kept the character because of the chemistry and even then Rape=seduction wasn't exactly what they would have gone for.

[@HufflinPuffs]

@@LaBlueStateGirl you’re correct. It was supposed to be a “Shakespearean” tragedy with Luke eventually dying but with them still loving each other. But with the response for TG’s character, they “retconned” it to a seduction instead of rape which they should have done in the first place. Would be easier to swallow.

[@gigib.965]

I watched this show for years…Bobby used to be a hooker lol…(Luke’s sister Bobby) Bobby kept trying to break up Scotty and Laura lol…I remember when Luke and Laura got married…it was HUGE back then lol…such a great show…well, it was a great show…I stopped watching years ago lol

[@gigib.965]

Ps…do u remember the casadines and the weather machine?? That show was crazy lol

[@saltressX]

❤ 📺 GH R.I.P. BARBRA JEAN SPENCER FROM ELM ST. THANK 🥀 YOU FOR ALL THE MEMORIES‼️🙏😇💋💃🏻🕺🏻 👨🏼‍⚕️🏨👩🏻‍⚕️ 🥰

[@Shellbell170]

Somehow the writers were able to turn the terrible rape incident around by slowly leading us to believe lukes passion for laura and lauras confusion collided into a sexual desire they both wanted but it just got out of hand and we bought it and the rest was history!

[@jhonwask]

Too bad all those videotapes of the mid 1970'a to mid 1980's don't exist anymore. It was one of the best shows on the air at the time and helped revolutionize the soap opera genre, thanks to Gloria Monty.

[@joyglime1242]

Just rewatching this i am recalling how grossed out i felt at the time and now years later how disgusted i am with the writers!!!

[@florencehenderson3707]

I remember a similar scene between Eddie and Jo from 'Facts of Life'. These scenes gave me really heavy feelings back then... these scenes were framed like they "just happened", rape from people we love, and the guys being really bizarrely and creepily remorseful afterwards... like the guys were victims of their impulses that they couldn't control... creepy. I can still recall the scene with Eddie pretty clearly, really freaked me out and I won't watch any of these scenes again.. can't.

[@staceytroffer8287]

Oh for Pete’s sakes.

[@MrCraigblaze]

Can't believe Luke hit Bobbi !! I forget Bobbi was a TRUE shit to people once !! I believe this was when GH stared to catch up to Guiding light in the ratings !! Punky Brewster's dad !!

[@pkmcnett5649]

Okay, please refresh my memory. Luke and Bobbi played brother and sister, right?

[@vlsice663]

When did the greatest love affairs in history of soap opera history from a impossible situation they came one update times leading story lines in history

[@diamondtiara84]

If they had to do something like this, why couldn't they have made it that he tried to rape her, but she managed to get away from him in time? Before this, when someone got raped on a soap opera, it was a crime, but GH turned it into a (sick) "love story".

[@CajunGypsy77]

Because Anthony Geary only had a 13 week contract. He was suppose to die off. The show became such a hit BECAUSE of AG and GF that they changed the story line to keep him on.

[@beverlypotter3236]

Now this is something that GH never talks about or brings it up the writers Realized they messed up big time Luke and laura are the most famous Couple in the world the writers really messed up big time

[@lisaleftwich2040]

Oh wow I forgot about Scotty came before Luke 😅

[@theKANDEEGURL]

How old was luke & laura (& scotty) at that time? Luke looks so much older than her.

[@janc8199]

He was..She was 17, and he was 13 years older. So not only was she raped, but he was a pedophile. Don't get how this was accepted as being a love story.

[@batdave65]

@@janc8199 Absolutely 100% correct. He was a balding creepy man with a perm trying to look younger.

[@janc8199]

@@batdave65 Yes I thought he was gross too with that perm. Never liked them together.. I was team Scotty.

[@tobydean7097]

It does seem like Luke was in a dissociative state when he assaulted Laura?! But it was still wrong and he should be punished!

[@mcg1119]

When did Laura throw Luke's car keys into the canyon to stop him from doing the ordered hit on Mitch Williams? Was it before or after the last scene shown here?

[@ricileigh88]

I started watching GH after this time. When I found out Luke & Laura's "love" story started with rape I was so confused. Not a good message for teenage girls watching this.

[@seriejohnson698]

Bobbie recently passed away

[@toms4442]

How did Luke know Scotty?

[@maureenmeagher6415]

Because Bobbie told him about Scotty and that she wanted Laura out of the way

[@DrewKelleyTidwell]

This is the reason the wonderful Gloria Monty took GH from the brink of cancellation to the top of the ratings - all the while 30 million tuned into watch Luke and Laura's wedding 💒!! RIP Jackie Zeaman

[@sdavis5001]

Before bashing up the rape story……know the writing behind it. This scene was planned, while Tony was not supposed to be signed on for too long. It all took a turn and he stayed on, so then having to create something out of it. It was all about timing. Monty made it work. It was not purposely written ahead for it to happen ‘this way’.

[@kellym3356]

I never ever understood the attraction to Luke ! Laura so beautiful and sweet and young and Scotty SO handsome and in love with her !!!! Big mistake Laura !