Good Morning New York-May 1981 Genie Francis/Tony Geary

This show was the precursor to Live with Regis and whoever here in New York, and on this day, it was hosted by Spencer Christian and NYC anchorman Bill Beutel.
I believe this was either the day of, or the day before the 1981 Daytime Emmys.

[@mmort55]

There will never be another Tony Geary and Genie Francis!!

[@maria7689]

You can tell that they genuinely love one another as friends. Beautiful❤

[@dalemclean5103]

he did her

[@maria7689]

@@dalemclean5103 ???

[@GalinaUlavana]

I don't think so. She was very young and married and stayed together since 1984. @@dalemclean5103

[@GLBizzie]

Now Mister Geary can’t stand GH anymore and LnL lol

[@maria7689]

@@GLBizzie I read that

[@carmenrosa8495]

Let’s start a petition for a Hollywood star ⭐️ for Tony Geary !!!!!

[@debrahubbard763]

He is not looking well, and seems to be a bit depressed. I think it would REALLY cheer him up! I would sign a petition!

[@carmenrosa8495]

@@debrahubbard763 where did you see him?!

[@debrahubbard763]

@carmenrosa8495 just Facebook pictures, but they can tell a lot. He looks a little bit too "retirement casual. " I still would LOVE to meet him!!!

[@carmenrosa8495]

@@debrahubbard763 me too 🥲🥲🥲 can you post the pictures here

[@Karen-wv2bd]

😅 in​@@debrahubbard763

[@yevettebamber4273]

In MANY interviews he holds her hand. He was very protective of her back then.

[@Luv2u01]

Omgosh look how sweet they are here. God bless them and best wishes to them in their life.

[@butteheadbuttrack4728]

I love how protective Tony is of Genie.

[@ReneeBamber-vv6mz]

They never really got to go forword n do other things. L&L were far bigger, n long lasting then they expected it would be. Im sure that caused some unhappiness. My lord 45yrs later we r still watching n drooling over them.

[@sandyjuntunen4088]

My goodness Genie is so young! Hard to believe now she was just a kid, we were all kids ourselves then. She certainly has aged beautifully. They both have such exceptional talent, pity soap stars don't get the money and acclaim as big screen artists do. They sure deserve it.

[@christineadams1284]

Sandy Juntunsen Yes, Soap actors & actresses worked Very hard, I feel even more so than the ones on the big screen. They had so many lines to remember and they could not just say "cut", like Genie said they had to just keep going. It Was hard work and it took serious dedication being a day time actor/actress.

[@yevettebamber4273]

Well fact is the actors/actresses on GH made damn good money in the 80's. Of course Tony and Genie had the biggest paychecks. Even Genie said that overnight her paychecks went from meager to WOW. Gloria Monty I think made sure they got paid well. Thing is GH had so many great ppl & stories running back then ( I can't list them all) that payroll must have been huge.

[@labannaosullivan4601]

You can’t beat the actors and actresses back then on GH, they were the bomb❤

[@sallymiller1359]

These are two young people already at the top of their game and it is in a daytime drama, love them both and have so much respect for their abilities. Genie is only 19 here and carries herself so well. Tony is a pro, thank you both for all the hours of quality entertainment!

[@yevettebamber4273]

Hold on, Genie is not 19 here, she's 37. This was in 1999, 20yrs after "Night At The Disco". But crazy what an amazing actress she is. She was only 17 when they did "Night at the disco".

[@aamanpour3630]

@@yevettebamber4273 Lol she was not 37. this was 1981 and she was 19... isn't the hair on the audience gals alone enough to tell you it was FARRRR from 1999 lol? ( 1999 hair, think Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jlo) Luke, by 1994 even was gray haired and looked middle aged and Genie looked much different too.

[@yevettebamber4273]

@@aamanpour3630 I stand corrected !!! LOL

[@7bear]

This is adorable! Love them together always :)

[@user-ve5ln5le9y]

Watching in 2021. 40th anniversary. I am a bit shocked at the intrusive nature of some questions but I don’t blame people for asking about them together in real life. And I love Tony’s responses - basically ‘we’re keeping that to ourselves’ ❤️ All the while he is tenderly holding Genies hand LOL. I don’t know what their relationship in real life was, or if they were ever more than costars but I love the fact they are holding hands during this interview showing the obvious respect and affection they have for each other whatever they’re offscreen life was ❤️😌

[@yevettebamber4273]

I Love Tony and as a young girl I was just sure this relationship could NOT be faked!! My Mom use to laugh and say I hate to break it to you baby girl but Tony would be more likely to be in a relationship with Dr Drake Then Laura. It was years before I found out Tony was such an amazing actor we never had a clue he was a gay man (Forgive me if thats not politically correct). I love the story he tells about meeting Rosanne Barr and asking her to marry him and her response in typical Rosanne style was.......I thought you were gay?! Tony said i asked I asked her, Oh is that a deal breaker?! LMAO. I wish ppl would STOP saying he admitted to having an affair with Liz Taylor. He insinuated but he never actually said it and even then it was because Liz got her feelings hurt when he said they didnt sleep together. she called Tony and said "Thats the worst thing anyone ever said about me"!!! Ya gotta love Liz! I'm glad we didn't know then, because ppl were so close minded back then.

[@s.hopkins4490]

Liz Taylor loved hanging with the gays… Monty Cliff was her bestie for years. It’s so obvious now he’s gay…even if people struggle to accept that. He’s living his best life in Amsterdam. Good for him. I feel his frustration for being such a gifted actor, but being stuck in a role with people refusing to let him do anything else because he was so good…

[@phylliss2517]

@@yevettebamber4273 Sorry but Anthony did have a two year romance with Elizabeth Taylor

[@missboss8759]

@@phylliss2517 Yes, he admitted to it because he said SHE DID. It was on Oprah.

[@missboss8759]

At the most he MAYBE bisexual.

[@anniefenter8697]

There would probably be no General Hospital these days without Luke and Laura. It was on the brink of Cancelation in the late '70's. Yes, there have been some other great pairings, but L & L were pure golden magic. I watched their story play out in real time and it was months and years of real romance, so much love and exciting intrigue. I will always love them for that!!!❤❤

[@GLBizzie]

Everyone saying that but where is the proof? Yes the ratings were going up because of LnL but it was never down in ratings. It had higher ratings than most of them in late 70’s

[@kellysisney1383]

These two fit good together as actors

[@sussezq]

Thank you very much for posting! Funny that that lamp in the sticky door era scene wasn't supposed to fall off the wall... always figured that was the case... they did a great job acting around it. I always appreciate that they keep their private lives private.. well at least back then! Great acting team... so desperately want to see them work together again!

[@user-wz4mb6yh1p]

MISSING LUKE AND LAURA EACH DAY. THEY ARE IN MY HEART. LOVING THIS OUTSTANDING COUPLE,IN DAYTIME DRAMA. THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER,"LUKE AND LAURA". 🌹❤️💞😍🤗

[@amyjamison188]

Just love them so much❤️

[@lynnebraun4845]

I remember an interview with both of them where Tony said he was very protective of Genie....He was much older than her (he never looked it!!)

[@libertystate7088]

What a beautiful interview. 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@christineadams1284]

This is Fabulous, thank you so much for sharing. 💞💞💞

[@PeggyMcQuay]

I am surprised they didn't walk off the stage! Some people's questions, were too nosey and rude!! Kudos to Anthony and Genie, for staying and putting up with rude and tasteless questions!!!

[@ChristopherIGomes]

I love the soap audience then... they loved their stars!!

[@kristalwilliams4626]

Aww, so cute they are holding hands....

[@mrs.847]

Genie reached out to him cause she thought he was nervous and he held onto her.

[@lynnmoore7029]

I personally think they were dating at the time, watch their body language.

[@SoulShines4U]

@@lynnmoore7029 - They were not dating. Tony is 15yrs older than Genie and always felt more protective of her than anything else and frequently said as much in interviews. There have been rumours for decades that Tony Geary is actually gay. His sexual orientation doesn't matter in the least today of course but back in the early 80's (the height of L&L hysteria) it probably would've been career suicide for him to come out publicly. There's no denying that Geary & Francis have off the charts amazing chemistry together but I honestly think the hand holding is a protective gesture in what was probably a very uncomfortable situation for them both. TG was (and still is) an *extremely* private person and doesn't like discussing his personal life at all. Interviews like this were probably excruciating for TG as well as the still very young GF.

[@lynnmoore7029]

@@SoulShines4U you may like to watch soaps in quarentine with tony geary. It changed the way I see TG. 🤷‍♀️

[@Sam-cg6rv]

Slgigi may I agree

[@CatchupGirl71]

Thanks so much for this sharing video. What a great treasure. I thought I had seen every video of Tony and Genie from this period, and I never saw this one before. Love seeming them interviewed together, it's always so special

[@donna515]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I have another clip somewhere of TG talking about the sticky door scene, from the Merv Griffin show from this same time period. I'll post that as soon as I track down the tape, lol.

[@ritamontanini3170]

Where is the video that you promised... Give us please...

[@labannaosullivan4601]

Did you ever find that interview with TG from the Merv show from this time period, I’d love to see it. Thanks

[@libertystate7088]

Beautiful, and tasteful.

[@Blindfaith77713]

Liberty State true class displayed by both TG&GF.

[@lilwinged5291]

Overly Nosey people.. but I loooooove that Luke and Laura were connected and to this day ,even as Jeanie is married. She uploaded a recent farewell Tony message and in it she said she loves him and he'll always be her soul mate 💙.. guess her husband just understands she loves Tony or something. 😁

[@lynnmoore7029]

These 2 are awesome! They should have stayed together. This is when I think they were dating, for a short time. Everyone says that he is gay and he may be now but he wasn't then. I think he loved Genie, but after she got married he was over it. I think if they would have stayed in touch things might have turned out different for him. People are really gonna wanna argue with me over this but I don't care. Each to his own.

[@ritamontanini3170]

I think so...

[@yevettebamber4273]

LOL hate to break it to you, Tony and Genie NEVER dated. He always knew he was gay. He had no problem with his sexuality, but he knew much of the public would take issue with it. She DID date Ken (Scotty) in real life. If you watch her Bio she says that if they had at least kept Scotty on the show she likely would not have gone thru the hell she went thru after he left (When he left she was the only young person really left on the show). I love his story about meeting Rosanne Barr and asking her to marry him. Rosanne said, "I thought you were gay"?! His response? Is that a deal breaker? By the time he told that story it was years later and the world had come a long way. When he visited Amsterdam he decided to move there because he felt at home there and it was the first time he felt like he fit in. Which makes sense, because there is no judgement of ppl in Amsterdam. Gay, smokes pot, and because GH never aired there he feels like a normal everyday person there.

[@ritamontanini3170]

What do you think abito love story of Tony and Elizabeth Taylor?

[@lynnmoore7029]

@@ritamontanini3170 I think that was for Tony to become more famous. I do believe they had a short affair. If you are asking me.

[@yevettebamber4273]

@@ritamontanini3170 If you pay close attention he never actually say's they slept together. In fact he said Liz heard he denied they had an affair, and she called him upset. She said that's the worst thing you could say about me LOL. Gotta love Liz! So I don't think they slept together, but i do think they spent 2yrs together having fun and traveling together. Liz enjoyed her young gay boytoy's, and they loved her. You can have an emotional "Affair", that does not end up in bed.

[@butteheadbuttrack4728]

Ty for upload.

[@christineadams1284]

Jack Albertson, "Chico and the Man". Yes, Tony's first contract was only 13 weeks, he was supposed to be killed off. But the chemistry with Genie was off the charts so Roy (Asher Braun) was killed off instead. I was sad when Roy was killed off, I had such a crush on Roy. I felt Roy was Bobbie's best match, they both came from the same back ground.

[@franceslarsen4037]

giggles 1987 I think I noticed that Genie moved over towards him to take his hand at one point, because she sensed his being uncomfortable with one of the questions. They had noted in a separate interview that the holding hands was for "moral support." Though sometimes, due to some off screen photos I've seen of them in a video, it would maybe appear (????) we'll never know, as he said, but it would possibly appear that they may have at least had a crush on each other in some of the early time. Because of the way they were smiling at each other and these photos were not acting. But who knows...

[@paigecat9104]

Actually I read she said when she got nervous during these interviews she’d take his hand for comfort of course they both were doing drugs af this time I know she did cocaine

[@libertystate7088]

Just realized how precious their privacy is.

[@mrs.847]

@@paigecat9104 Poor thing I'll bet Tony got Genie on the stuff cause he was older and more experienced. Lucky she found a nice guy later to marry.

[@michelleabad1874]

Never saw this interview before. Yes they both partied and used cocaine or drank a lot. I don't think Tony got Genie into it cause she was dating Ken Shriner (Scotty) at the time. I recall her admitting years later to being hooked on it and saying that others in the cast were doing it and encouraged her to do it. I think it was Ken & the other young cast members that introduced her to it.

[@aamanpour3630]

@@michelleabad1874 I read she was devastated about things not working with Kin ( and also being a teen among older adults she felt isolated)... and someone suggested something to make her feel better. She tried it and it made all the pain and loneliness go away and her addiction took off.Tony also admitted his addiction to coke nearly destroyed him. Thank goodness both of them are alive and healthy. So many stars are lost to drug use :(.

[@ghfever4445]

I thought the same thing when the woman asked about "advancing their careers". TG and GF can't get any better. They are phenomenal actors. TG is right. It doesn't get any better than this. IMO TG seems kind of sad here.

[@shaunrahmey7058]

Hi! I happen to be the "woman" you refer to as asking the question about advancing their careers. I was 16 years old at the time and extremely nervous. What I was trying to ask was if they were planning on doing other things beside GH like movies or plays or other TV, so I can look forward to seeing them somewhere else. I meant no disrespect.

[@lynnmoore7029]

@@shaunrahmey7058 I knew what you meant, that was a good question. So you are saying that you were there in the audience that day? That was a really good interview, the best one that I've seen so far with both of them. Is Genie Frances really as petite as she looks on tv and is Tony Geary as tall as he looks? Tony seamed a little nervous.

[@lisanealy1703]

@@shaunrahmey7058 wow! That was you? Cool😮

[@aamanpour3630]

@@shaunrahmey7058 Aaaaaw, that was awesome!! You were adorable too, so pretty! I could sense your anxiety.

[@labannaosullivan4601]

Lucky you being in the audience that day. Oh how I would have loved that. Yes, I agree, Tony did seem a little nervous. I guess he was wondering what sort of questions were going to be asked. I love them both

[@colleenr7268]

Actors are never content...but when they are they retire to Amsterdam 🙃

[@heniroos]

Thank you for posting this gem! Is it just me, but Genie seemed to get a bit annoyed with that last question!?!

[@dz7a756]

TG was more annoyed first, and gave that sarcastic remark about being on a show called GH and it gets no better than this 🤢😳😒!!! GF tried to diffuse (quite well for such a young age) but of course a little frustration was expressed by her. But her comment of actors not being content was spot on for most actors I am sure. After that was said, you can tell TG was still a little "hot" by the way he had to take a sip of water, shift in his seat, and looked like someone took the air out of his bicycle tire 🚴‍♂️😏.

[@christineadams1284]

You have some of the best AMC videos on your channel. 💞 Just wondering if you ever found the VHS interview of Tony on the Merv Griffin show? Thank you. Thank you for this upload. 💞

[@CatchupGirl71]

meant to say "seeing" them together. Sorry for the typo.

[@samanthawade9356]

They both are just too perfect

[@teresafaulkner5199]

I thought Tony's favorite co-star was genie francis

[@mrs.847]

Genie felt uncomfortable with Anthony hanging onto her hand for so long. You can see her fidget.

[@missboss8759]

@@mrs.847 I totally disagree, she reached out to him first.

[@thomasdonohue1833]

It was quite obvious Genie and Tony had no desire to be there. They were obviously forced to do the talk show circuit by ABC. Tony is visibly aggravated by the questions

[@aamanpour3630]

Drugs could have had something to do with that... perhaps he was coming down.

[@deannharris2424]

They definitely had a relationship and they're keeping that to themselves. It's sad that their age difference played a major factor. I wish one of them would admit it but I can't remember which soap actor hinted at their relationship. Even Robert had to tell them to cool it on the kissing scenes when they were on the Island. They were pretty steamy! Did you notice Tony's expression at the end when Genie said, that actors do not become content because when you become content, you die? He didn't like that comment. He knew he had to let her go.

[@betsykeller9096]

Watching this at 5:24 they spelled her name wrong. Yikes. Whomever down below that stated Tony Geary is gay. I don't know. I've never met the guy, so making an opinion on his sexuality would be wrong for me. Did you meet him, and he said he's gay? I always felt as an audience it was not our place to comment on star's lives unless we know them personally. Otherwise, they really were adorable in this interview, and it's sad we don't have them together onscreen today. And, it's just plain scary how long ago this was, when it seems like just yesterday for me.

[@mrs.847]

He couldn't have been gay if he dated Elizabeth Taylor but perhaps she covered for him cause he does come across as feminine.

[@pepper1188]

He dated Ron Glass for years

[@pepper1188]

@@mrs.847 there are lots of beards in Hollywood decides that he was straight you would have seen him with more than just a Lizabeth Taylor for a year or two

[@mrs.847]

@@pepper1188 They don't look like a good couple whatever his sexuality was.

[@janetmyles8764]

@@mrs.847 TG later admitted that the thing with Liz Taylor was a lie in People Magazine.

[@donnalindsey611]

😍🙂🌻🌹

[@lynnmoore7029]

I believe they did date even if only for a short while. Watch the body language.

[@gingerpuff764]

They were wonderful together, but GF is looking very bloated here. The both of them and many people on the GH set had a big drug problem. Many years later they both said how bad it really was. This would have been around that time. That was the 80s and the culture. I will love GF and TG forever.

[@jbird4754]

I PRAY that they did it in real life! 🙏🙏🙏🤪

[@deja_vu..]

I would definitely have to do some research with private rehearsals!

[@missboss8759]

Lol

[@richardobieta]

They were a perfect on screen couple. They only rivaled commander Riker and counselor troy from Star Trek the next generation

[@giggles1987]

why are they holding hands... for so long? camera even zoomed in.

[@mrs.847]

Anthony probably saw the hand holding as an attention grabber for him.

[@eddiecater1429]

I was thinking the same thing, but I really think they are very close.

[@lynnmoore7029]

I think that this is the period of time that they were dating in real life, just briefly. IMO.

[@christineadams1284]

Slgigi may They never dated, Tony dated Ron Glass from Barney Miller, he prefers men. Watch the new interview in Quarantine, he will tell you why he fell in love with Amsterdam in the 80's. He felt more accepted and was able to be himself. Listen closely, he doesn't come out and directly say it but the other Soap actress "Knows", watch her facial expressions, body language and pauses as Tony is describing why he Loves Amsterdam. It was a dead give away in this interview and we Never saw him with any woman but Liz. She loved gay men because they expected nothing from her but friendship. One of her first friends in hollywood was gay before she ever married.

[@user-ve5ln5le9y]

It doesn’t matter why, I love it ❤️

[@richardobieta]

Does Luke and Laura rival Commaner Riker and counselor troy?

[@lilwinged5291]

Tacky crowd ,inappropriate questions...

[@clair8776]

That audio is so bad even the closed captions can't understand it.

[@pattygarcia3504]

No one’s asking genie a single thing it’s rediculious

[@donnalindsey611]

🤔🤔🤔

[@richardobieta]

I wish genie francis would be in the star trek franchise is some form or another preferably as a lost love interest for captain Riker

[@deannharris2424]

If they weren't dating, all they had to say was, "No!"

[@GLBizzie]

Yet Genie was treated poorly and left a few months later lol

[@georgeroundy8408]

Genie was high AF in this interview.

[@HelloooThere]

I think he was a bit too…

[@carmenrosa8495]

You can tell she was infatuated with him but he not so much …

[@wobby1aful]

No, they never dated. Tony Geary is gay. Genie and Kin Shriner (Scotty) dated for a few years, though.

[@christineadams1284]

wobby1aful Yes, Genie & Kin dated in real life. I do know most men & women in hollywood go both ways and many are "Beard Marriages". But not Genie though, she is one of a kind and she never took "The Check" (sell her soul) either so she wasn't in the "In Crowd", this is why she did not win the awards she deserved. Tony did spend time with Elizabeth Taylor and it was, just time.

[@lynnebraun4845]

Christine Adams You are so right!! There are lots of pics out there of Tony and Elizabeth on dates. I believe he was mesmerized by her!!Lol He was just amazing on GH. I am Genies age and will always be in love with Tony!!! 💗

[@softyme63]

Genie was dating Kin at this time I believe-can you imagine if the audience found that out? It would have affected the “magic” or fantasy of Luke and Laura

[@pepper1188]

Tony they did the actor Ron Glass for years. He may have hung out with Elizabeth Taylor but I'm pretty sure that's all they did...

[@christineadams1284]

Pepper1188 Yes, I believe Tony & Liz were just great friends but no more than that. People seem to think they had this hot passionate love affair but Liz enjoyed being around gay men. One of her first friends in hollywood, before she married was gay. She could be herself, have fun and not worry about being lusted over or judged. I have read articles that Tony and Ron Glass, from "Barney Miller" were together for a while. And, he never married and we Never saw him with a woman..

[@ChristopherIGomes]

I don’t think Tony is gay!! Come to find out -Tony is gay.. Lol!!

[@mrs.847]

Anthony wasn't handsome though, i think Genie helped make him famous.

[@a.b.sproductionsllc]

My best friend who watched GH at the height of the Luke & Laura days said she never knew what was so hot about Anthony Geary. I always felt like he would win Emmys when there were so many other male actors were more talented.

[@Blindfaith77713]

Mrs. Greene I agree with this statement. I think TG is extremely talented and he helped GF become a better actor. But GF was key in his success on GH. They compliment each other well. I was too young to watch GH during the early 80’s but have recently started watching their old 1979-1981 KZbin videos. I’m amazed with both their acting skills and love watching how well they improve together. They appear in the early episodes as if they are truly enjoying themselves while working together.

[@christineadams1284]

Mrs. Greene Yes, I feel the same way, just my opinion. Had Tony & Genie not been such a huge success Tony's career would not have been what it turned out to be. Tony did do other things but I do not know what they are, I only know him as Luke Spencer. I loved Luke & Laura but Tony did nothing for me.

[@budderkupp1282]

Anthony Geary is not handsome?? Perhaps not but..he is HOTTER THAN FRICK!! Ooh Yah..Baby!! SEXY as HELL..Tony is HOT HOT HOT!!

[@mrs.847]

@@budderkupp1282 I thought he looked girlish with all those long curls.

[@karencarman8336]

I can’t believe that worked! He was so ugly and she was so beautiful!

[@marathonfortruth4768]

To each his own. Millions of women find him sexy and very attractive. Me included. As far as the Luke character, it's mostly in the behavior: vulnerability he doesn't hide, the unabashed love he spreads around for friends and family, bravery, general cool attitude, romance that he brings with Laura which is off the charts. Very compelling. Can't not watch and get emotionally involved.

[@dalemclean5103]

tony plowed genies field big time 😛

[@PapagenoMF]

He's gay actually.