Later writers and powers-that-be could not fathom what gave all of us longtime fans such joy in these shows, and it was not the "Sweeps Week" stories, not back in the day. It was the quieter daily moments when our favorite characters sat around on the porch together; swapping baby clothes; talking about their day as good friends; seeing them simply being embraced in the arms of a loved one. We could relate to that. In those times, those scenes fed our love of the show and the characters in it. It was these "little moments" that made such a big impact, especially over the long haul. Tragic that later showrunners couldn't embrace the slower pace but richer shows that character-driven writing and acting can give. Mary Fickett had some big moments, certainly. However, I would argue it was those "little moment" scenes, the ones echoing everyday life, the ones that later powers-that-be couldn't seem to write for or understand the importance of, that made such a big impact on each of us who grew up and grew older with these shows. Regardless...thank you, Mary Fickett, from each All My Children fan who enjoyed those daily moments of simple joys with you over the years of viewing the show. We so loved the glory days of soapdom, and your contribution to those happy years won't be forgotten by us.
It's a testament to their craft how much of an effect it has on us when we lose a member of our Pine Valley community. Kate (Catherine "Kay" Campbell), Mona (Frances Heflin), Langley (Lois Edmonds), Phoebe (Ruth Warrick), Myrtle (Eileen Herlie), Palmer (James Mitchell), and Ruth (Mary Fickett) - thanks for the wonderful memories. We will always remember and celebrate you.
The early days of All My Children were so special. Joe and Ruth and Charlie and Phoebe, ets. I'll always treasure those. I used to tape them on my VHS and watch them when I came home from work.
Mary Fickett was phenomenal in the role of Ruth. You NEVER for one minute thought anyone was "acting" -- you were 100% sold that there was a Ruth Martin. They gave her some of the hardest lifts and toughest moments on AMC for a reason. She, Joe and Kate were the moral and common sense core of the show and sold it to us as if it were effortless. But it was not. She took on TOUGH storylines -- rape, adoption, late-life pregnancy, infidelity. And she did it head-on. The elder Martins were the rock-solid foundation upon which the more flamboyant characters -- Phoebe, Erica, Billy Clyde, Opal, Palmer, Edna, Myrtle, Tad, Brooke, Jesse, Natalie -- stood. I was amazed how young she and Joe looked in the very early clips. They actually aged quite a bit just from the early '70s to the late '70s and early '80s when I started watching. Given the heavy material they often played and how they poured themselves into it, you can see why.
The scene at 2:42 to 2:58 is probably one of THE most emotional scenes on this clip, for me. This was when Tad was back on the show, after having had amnesia for 2 years. He was presumed dead in Nov 1990. He turns around, looks at Joe and Ruth and says, "Mom ... Dad." You can see what he's saying by reading his lips. Then they all embrace -- because despite his memory loss, he could never forget Joe and Ruth. Simply beautiful!
What an impact they can make with their work. I saw this soap from the beginning watching with my grandmother in the summer school breaks to my lunch hours in college on the job. RIP to Mary and all the others that preceded and followed her.
Mary Fickett's Ruth Brent Martin was so sweet, maternal, and compassionate without being saccharine;, and Fickett imbued the character with beauty, dignity, warmth, class, and strength. Ruth, along with her husband Dr. Joe and her mother-in-law Kate, were the characters who treated everyone in Pine Valley with love, compassion, and respect. A fall 1981 AMC promo mentioned "the love of Cliff and Nina" and "the excitement only Erica can bring", but also mentioned "the wisdom of the Martin family."
Wow, this is indeed so sad. Losing Mary and AMC in the same month. I will always remember the joy you brought every weekday afternoon. A true soap legend, RIP Mary.
There are some roles that just should never be recast -Mary Ficket in every since of the word was a DIVA -Grace ,beauty style and class -she and Ray Macdonald had so much great chemistry and she was a magnificent actress -to the person who arranged this tribute you chose a beautiful song and it was a great tribute -Thank You
To me Mary Fickett will always and forever be the one true Ruth Parker Brent Martin on All My Children. She reminded me so much of my maternal grandmother Shelby Jean Fisher Coeburn Lynch. Love, Dancefreack16/Holly Marie Coeburn.
THAT was beautiful!!! So respectful and I love how the poster showed them aging so gracefully and lovingly. I am BAWLING! Seriously well-done. And yay to a great show even tho I only watched it in the 70's as a teen I STILL LOVE IT!!
i wish that all my children come back on tv we all out there miss watching all my children we always look farward to watching the show every day on tv at 1 pm now taking off tv we all out there really miss watching it
Some people consider these scenes as old fashioned but I say that we could use some of this so-called 'old fashion' sensibility right about now. We are supposed to live in a better world but we are living in constant fear. Give me old fashioned anytime.
I remember when she was replaced. The announcer said Lee Merriweather will be playing the role of Ruth Martin. I thought it was temporary. After all those years on the show, she never came back. Later I read an article she had developed altszeimer.
I don't know how this is the first time I've seen this. Thank you for posting this. It's lovely.
Later writers and powers-that-be could not fathom what gave all of us longtime fans such joy in these shows, and it was not the "Sweeps Week" stories, not back in the day. It was the quieter daily moments when our favorite characters sat around on the porch together; swapping baby clothes; talking about their day as good friends; seeing them simply being embraced in the arms of a loved one. We could relate to that. In those times, those scenes fed our love of the show and the characters in it. It was these "little moments" that made such a big impact, especially over the long haul. Tragic that later showrunners couldn't embrace the slower pace but richer shows that character-driven writing and acting can give.
Mary Fickett had some big moments, certainly. However, I would argue it was those "little moment" scenes, the ones echoing everyday life, the ones that later powers-that-be couldn't seem to write for or understand the importance of, that made such a big impact on each of us who grew up and grew older with these shows. Regardless...thank you, Mary Fickett, from each All My Children fan who enjoyed those daily moments of simple joys with you over the years of viewing the show. We so loved the glory days of soapdom, and your contribution to those happy years won't be forgotten by us.
It's a testament to their craft how much of an effect it has on us when we lose a member of our Pine Valley community.
Kate (Catherine "Kay" Campbell), Mona (Frances Heflin), Langley (Lois Edmonds), Phoebe (Ruth Warrick), Myrtle (Eileen Herlie), Palmer (James Mitchell), and Ruth (Mary Fickett) - thanks for the wonderful memories. We will always remember and celebrate you.
The early days of All My Children were so special. Joe and Ruth and Charlie and Phoebe, ets. I'll always treasure those. I used to tape them on my VHS and watch them when I came home from work.
Beautiful
Mary Fickett was phenomenal in the role of Ruth. You NEVER for one minute thought anyone was "acting" -- you were 100% sold that there was a Ruth Martin. They gave her some of the hardest lifts and toughest moments on AMC for a reason. She, Joe and Kate were the moral and common sense core of the show and sold it to us as if it were effortless. But it was not.
She took on TOUGH storylines -- rape, adoption, late-life pregnancy, infidelity. And she did it head-on. The elder Martins were the rock-solid foundation upon which the more flamboyant characters -- Phoebe, Erica, Billy Clyde, Opal, Palmer, Edna, Myrtle, Tad, Brooke, Jesse, Natalie -- stood.
I was amazed how young she and Joe looked in the very early clips. They actually aged quite a bit just from the early '70s to the late '70s and early '80s when I started watching. Given the heavy material they often played and how they poured themselves into it, you can see why.
The scene at 2:42 to 2:58 is probably one of THE most emotional scenes on this clip, for me. This was when Tad was back on the show, after having had amnesia for 2 years. He was presumed dead in Nov 1990. He turns around, looks at Joe and Ruth and says, "Mom ... Dad." You can see what he's saying by reading his lips. Then they all embrace -- because despite his memory loss, he could never forget Joe and Ruth. Simply beautiful!
What an impact they can make with their work. I saw this soap from the beginning watching with my grandmother in the summer school breaks to my lunch hours in college on the job. RIP to Mary and all the others that preceded and followed her.
Mary Fickett's Ruth Brent Martin was so sweet, maternal, and compassionate without being saccharine;, and Fickett imbued the character with beauty, dignity, warmth, class, and strength. Ruth, along with her husband Dr. Joe and her mother-in-law Kate, were the characters who treated everyone in Pine Valley with love, compassion, and respect. A fall 1981 AMC promo mentioned "the love of Cliff and Nina" and "the excitement only Erica can bring", but also mentioned "the wisdom of the Martin family."
Wow, this is indeed so sad. Losing Mary and AMC in the same month. I will always remember the joy you brought every weekday afternoon. A true soap legend, RIP Mary.
There are some roles that just should never be recast -Mary Ficket in every since of the word was a DIVA -Grace ,beauty style and class -she and Ray Macdonald had so much great chemistry and she was a magnificent actress -to the person who arranged this tribute you chose a beautiful song and it was a great tribute -Thank You
Her role was recast and played by Lee Meriwether.
Ruth a great person god bless
To me Mary Fickett will always and forever be the one true Ruth Parker Brent Martin on All My Children. She reminded me so much of my maternal grandmother Shelby Jean Fisher Coeburn Lynch.
Love,
Dancefreack16/Holly Marie Coeburn.
Thank you so much for the wonderful tribute, Mary Ficket was fabulous.
Its amazing how Mary passed away 2 weeks before the last broadcast episode
Loved amc and the martins
This was truely lovely.
OMG! I can not believe that the original Ruth Martin is gone!
:*( R.I.P. You'll be missed...thanks for the memories, AMC legend!
I loved her. RIP Mary.
Did guys know that Mary ficket was on edge of night for 20 years before she be came Ruth Brent Martin
THAT was beautiful!!! So respectful and I love how the poster showed them aging so gracefully and lovingly. I am BAWLING! Seriously well-done. And yay to a great show even tho I only watched it in the 70's as a teen I STILL LOVE IT!!
@00:58 - Put your seat belts on, people!
i wish that all my children come back on tv we all out there miss watching all my children we always look farward to watching the show every day on tv at 1 pm now taking off tv we all out there really miss watching it
E too
Rest in Peace Mary. She will truly be missed. No offense to Lee Meriwether but Mary was the one and only Ruth in my eyes.
Ditto!
I agree 100% with you.
Rest in Peace.
rip Mary Fickett
Some people consider these scenes as old fashioned but I say that we could use some of this so-called 'old fashion' sensibility right about now. We are supposed to live in a better world but we are living in constant fear. Give me old fashioned anytime.
Gee, I didn't expect the water works today, but thank you ackgh73994.
I remember when she was replaced. The announcer said Lee Merriweather will be playing the role of Ruth Martin. I thought it was temporary. After all those years on the show, she never came back. Later I read an article she had developed altszeimer.
This is good.
Sad she passed.
Why did she leave AMC in 2000?
@adelgado75 Amen to that!