LOOK AT ALL THE HAPPY SMILING PEOPLE
Before Rita became one of the nice people she just sat around and looked at them. Enjoying her company are Joe Chernack and future "Monkee", Mickey Dolenz.
It would be hard to squeeze all of the nice people of Peyton Place into Norman & Rita's tiny apartment - but they'd all be far too nice to complain...
The nice people, in order of appearance, are:
Constance MacKenzie Carson
(Dorothy Malone) Ol' Connie didn't start out the series too badly. With the arrival of handsome Dr. Rossi in the first episode, it quickly became obvious that he knew a dark secret about her past. It turned out that the picture of the man on her fireplace mantel, who she had always claimed was her husband who had died shortly before her daughter's birth, had never been married to her. That meant that eighteen year old Allison was (Gasp) illegitimate! Mike Rossi knew this because he had been an orderly at the hospital in New York where Connie had given birth. But, as luck would have it, Mike had been in love with her ever since her contractions began and had no intention of spoiling their budding romance by letting the cat out of the bag.
Then Elliot Carson was released from prison and returned to Peyton Place. Connie began to sweat. You see, the picture of the man on the fireplace mantel was apparently just a magazine model - Elliot had been her married lover and he had fathered Allison! Elliot's wife had then been murdered and Elliot was unjustly accused of the crime and sent to prison. Well, Elliot proved his innocence, Connie fell back in love with him, Allison accepted him as her father, Mike was left high and dry - and Connie became Mrs. Elliot Carson.
And thus ended anything interesting Connie was ever to do. She fretted as Elliot tried to find himself after so many years behind bars. She fretted over Allison's love life, coma, amnesia, breakdown, haircut and disappearance. She fretted over her new baby, Matthew. She fretted over the girl she moved into Allison's bedroom to replace her. Finally, she just fretted herself right out of town.
Allison MacKenzie
(Mia Farrow) The original fragile heroine - with enough mental baggage to go on a world cruise.
Click on Allison for her profile
Matthew Swain
(Warner Anderson) Without question the most boring character ever to wander the streets of Peyton Place.
He was the editor of The Clarion and the paper seemed to be every bit as dull as he was. He was Connie's dear friend and privy to her past secrets. Allison called him "Uncle Matt" and wrote poems and stories for the paper. He left town shortly after the wedding of Connie to Elliot Carson. I don't think anyone noticed.
Norman Harrington
(Christopher Connelly) Norman was the younger brother of Rodney and as weak and ineffectual as his brother was strong and charasmatic. He had a strong attraction to Allison MacKenzie, but didn't put up the leat resistance when Rod muscled in. Only he truly mourned the death of his horrid mother. Then he met the fabulous Rita Jacks. Rita was from the bad part of town and was the girlfriend of the town hood, Joe Chernack. But Rita was good and immediately found herself drawn to the awkward Norman. Norman saw the good in Rita and soon they were in love. None of this sat too well with Joe, however. He couldn't stand the thought of Rita bettering herself and so he pestered her and abused her. Norman confronted Joe, but was no match for his strength. It was left to Rod to defend both Norman and Rita, which led to Joe's death.
During Rodney's murder trial, Norman married Rita. 
Both his father and grandfather protested the union, but finally Norman stood his ground. He was essentially disinherited, but neither he nor Rita cared. They moved into Rod's bachelor pad above a store and made it into a warm and loving home.
The main gist of Norman's part from then on was deciding what to do with his life (College or work) and his resistance to having children (which Rita desperately wanted) Norman was afraid, after finding out how insane his mother had been, that it was hereditory.
Julie Anderson
(Kasey Rogers) The very attractive mother of Betty and battered wife of George Anderson. She was Leslie Harrington's secretary and was having a rather tepid love affair with him. It was Rodney's discovery of this in the first episode that caused him to abruptly end his relationship with Betty and turn to innocent Allison (ha! If only he'd known her mother's past!) After George was finally carted off to the loony bin, Julie and Leslie decided to marry. But Julie then found out that it was against the law of the state to divorce a mentally impaired spouse. Poor Julie. Ultimately, George was reported to be much improved and Julie went off to help him.
Laura Harrington Brooks
(Patricia Breslin) Sweet-natured Laura was the sister of Leslie Harrington and the widow of Dr. Donald Brooks, the physician Mike Rossi replaced. Her attraction to Mike was immediate. She offered to be his assistant and to integrate him into Peyton society. Unfortunately (for her), Mike's romantic interests lay elsewhere. He was always fairly cold and indifferent to her (perhaps it was better than leading her on), but it was a shame as Laura was far better suited for him than Connie. Her marriage to Donald had been a loveless one (not even producing a child) and she didn't care much for Leslie, either. She knew he had married Catherine Peyton for her money and was really pretty envious that his loveless marriage had paid off. She was a great help to Mike when he was being accused of causing Catherine Peyton's death, uncovering the truth about the favor Dr. Bradley owed Robert Morton. But still Mike rejected her, so she got drunk on New Years Eve and then left town to tour Europe. I like to think she met a swarthy Italian and lived happily ever after.
Eli Carson
(Frank Ferguson) Elliot's kind old pop and the owner of the General Store. Eli was always on hand to dispense wisdom and give understanding to the misunderstood. Fortunately for Eli, there was always someone in need of wisdom and understanding. After Elliot and Connie left town with his precious baby grandson, Eli found comfort and happiness in a new wife.
Nurse Choate
(Erin O'Brian-Moore) The tough head nurse at Peyton General. Originally on hand to give Betty a hard time when she thought that Betty was being given preferential treatment by Dr. Rossi because of her looks. She didn't approve of young Betty and wasn't about to give her an easy time. But by the time Betty was being dismissed for rifling through employee files to dig up dirt on Stella Chernack, Nurse Choate was pleading Betty's case. Nurse Choate could be good and bad, but her absolutley beautiful speech about her cocker spaniel revealed a heart of pure love.
Dr. Claire Morton
(Mariette Hartley) The lovely young doctor was the estranged wife of the famous Dr. Vincent Marham, a disease specialist doing untold good in Peru. She and Mike Rossi were instantly attracted to one another. But then Vincent blew into town, revealed his true heart to her and, once more, Mike Rossi was on the rocks.
Dr. Vincent Markham/Kenneth Marham
(Leslie Neilson) Steven Cord is yaking to a stalwart stranger on the bus, when suddenly the bus crashes and the strangers head smashes through the window. Thus is Dr. Vincent Markham intoduced (Not a life threatening injury, by the way). Vincent is a great doctor who has come to town to reclaim his lovely wife, Claire. But Claire thinks he is - get this in 1965 - frigid! Then Vincent's twin brother strolls into Peyton Place. Kenneth Markham is a successful business man - neigh, a very corporation! The two lookalikes have apparently always been in rivalry with one another. When Vincent is diagnosed with a fatal disease with a rather vague life expectancy, all obsticles to love are removed and brothers and lovers are reunited.
Rita Jacks Harrington
(Patricia Morrow) From the moment Rita is introduced as Joe Chernack's girlfriend, you know there's something special about her. Norman Harrington knows it, too, and before long it's young love. Rita didn't have it easy. Her father ran away when she was a child. Her mother runs the town bar. She always mixed with a bad crowd. But life has better things in mind for our Rita. As the relationship with Norman grows more serious, Joe grows more resentful. Soon he is constantly bothering Rita, culminating in a form of date rape (Joe kisses her really hard). When Rodney Harrington is sent to trial for Joe's death, Rita is pulled through the meet grinder by both sides - her past being used as an excuse for both Rod and Joe! Norman stays by her side and marries her. Initially, both Leslie Harrington and Martin Peyton disapprove of her, but her strength and goodness eventually wins them both over (Though is the dying throes of WASP elitism, she is never truly considered good enough for Norman to be Martin's cheif beneficiary).
Rita is involved in an extended storyline when her no-good pop returns after sixtenn years.
She is also obsessed with having children, though an early pregnancy results in a dangerous miscarriage.
Though Rita is THE nice person of Peyoton Place, it is a testament to both the character and the actress that she is never annoying and always tremendously likeable - she's just Rita!
Ada Jacks
(Evelyn Scott) Rita's devoted mother and one helluva good bartender. With her flame red hair and pear-shaped figure, Ada is the very picture of the mature good time gal. (Not to mention her endless collection of matching accessories!) Though uneducated and busy behind the bar to keep them fed, Ada was a good mother and Rita loves her very much. Ada never has a love interest, which I find unfortunate, but she's always the first person everyone runs to when they want to dig up scandal from the past. When her husband, Eddie, returns after many years she gives him a job even though she doesn't trust him an inch. Ada's instincts are seldom wrong!
David Schuster
(William Smithers) David is brought in to run the Peyton Mill and take over the Peyton house by Martin Peyton as a punishment for Leslie. He brings with him his spoiled big city wife, Doris, and his deaf daughter, Kim.
Kim Schuster
(Kimberly Beck) The deaf 6-year-old daughter of the Schusters. She is severely withdrawn until Allison helps break through to her. Then she witnesses the fight between Rodney Harrington and Joe Chernack. Shortly after this, she and her mother leave for an institute in New York.
Theodore Dowell
(Patrick Whyte) Attractive older lawyer who is Steven's senior partner. Eventually retires and hands the practice over to Steven.
Dr. Russ Gehring
(David Canary) The doctor who both helps Allison from her hit-and-run coma and sleeps with the married hit-and-runner. But he is a good doctor and works with children.
The FALSE Constance MacKenzie
(Lola Albright) For a few months in late '65, the ailing Dorothy Malone was replaced by Ms Albright. The timing was particularly amusing as Allison was just waking up from her coma with amnesia. Allison would ask her mother questions about the past and mother would look pretty darned unsure herself!
John Fowler
(John Kerr) The powers-that-be brought in a fairly big name actor to play the Peyton Place District Attorney and then promptly forgot to give him any sort of character to play. His only connection to the rest of the cast is that his father prosecuted Elliott. John prosecutes both Rodney and Lee Webber and loses both cases to Steven Cord (Though initially he does win against Rod). His beautiful wife cheats on him, runs over young girls, and all John can do is scowl. After the Lee Webber case he disappears.
Chris Webber
(Gary Haines) Chris takes a break from college, where he is studying to be a lawyer, to visit his brother, Lee. Chris is blind and Lee works to send him through school. As luck would have it, Ann Howard also returns to Peyton Place. It seems that as children Ann pushed Chris off a bluff and caused his loss of sight. But Ann just doesn't remember it. There are many confrontations bewteen the two before Chris suddenly realizes who did push him off - his lovin' brother! He confesses this to Allison, with whom he is quite smitten, and Allison can't keep it to herself. Chris is furious and calls Allison an emotional cripple who is only interested in him because he's safe. Well, that's the last rock Allison's glass mind can take and she leaves town. Meanwhile, Ann Howard has fallen from the same bluff as Chris and died. Chris claims to have been in the vicinity and heard his brother arguing with Ann. We never really know whether he is lying or not. Finally, Chris attempts to assasinate Lee but is stopped by Steven. Chris is put on the next bus out of town.
Rachel Welles
(Leigh Taylor-Young) A wild, terrified girl is discovered by Norman and Rita while camping. Upon bringing her to Peyton General, it is discovered she has in her posesseion Allison MacKenzie's bracelet! Where did she get it? How did she get it? Who is this scared girl? The stage is set for the story of Rachel Welles, one of the show's most involved and psychological plotlines.
Rachel has run away from her abusive uncle (by marriage) shortly after the death of her aunt. Her parents were killed in a fire when she was a girl. Her uncle, Jack Chandler, comes to town to reclaim her, but Mike Rossi refuses to hand her over. She goes to live with the Carsons and helps look after their newborn son, Matthew. Naturally, Elliott and Connie want to know how she came to have their daughter's bracelet, but Rachel remains adamant that she merely found it. Elliott never believes this. There is a connection between her and Rod (Like the Carsons he, too, sees her as a "new" Allison), but her heart belongs to the good-looking doctor who protected her. Mike fully returns the feeling, but is too scandalized by their age difference to act on it.
Jack Chandler kidnaps Rachel. It is during this abduction that it is made known that Chandler picked up Allison after she left town, brought her home and attacked her. THe extent of this "attack" is never fully reveled, nor is how much of it Rachel was actually aware of. At any rate, Allison fled and lost her bracelet in the process. Chandler threatens not only to tell the Carsons this, but also that she started the fire which killed her parents, unless she agrees to stay with him and look after his needs. She whacks him over the head with a candle stick and escapes.
Ultimately, Rachel takes baby Matthew and pretends to have been kidnapped again (She wants the police to hunt Chandler down and kill him). When her hoax is exposed everyone loses patience with her and once more the good people of Peyton Place drive a young girl out of her mind. Convinced she is Allison MacKenzie, Rachel is taken to a sanitarium by MIke. On the way out of town she spies Elliott and has the car stopped. She hands Elliott the bracelet that began it all and tells him to look after it for " his daughter ".
Carolyn Russell
(Elizabeth "Tippy" Walker) Another pretty, wild girl - though mentally stable, for a change.
Marsha Russell
(Barbara Rush) Carolyn's very attractive mother and yet another victim of spousal abuse. After her seperation from Fred, she becomes romantically involved with Mike. They are later wed, but then Fred turns up dead...
Rev. Tom Winter
(Bob Hogan) A good servant of God with an alcoholic wife and a temtped libido.
The Miles'
(Percy Rodgriguez) Dr. Harry Miles (Ruby Dee) Alma Miles (Glynn Turman) Lew Miles
Peyton Place's very own black family. Dr. Miles was a respected surgeon (No doubt his sister was Julia) with a lovely wife and intelligent son. This being the 60's, that's as much as "Peyton Place" could cope with. There was some mild racial tension; nasty Fred Russell was livid that his daughter was involved with Lew - in a science project!! (Good Lord, what if their test tubes touched?!) Perhaps if the series had made it into the 70's, the talented actors might have been given actual characters to play.