The Young and the Restless 50 YEARS OF MEMORIES

THE STARS OF THE BELOVED DAYTIME DRAMA CELEBRATE THEIR GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

- Amanda Champagne-Meadows

More than 60 past and present stars of The Young and the Restless recently converged in Los Angeles to mark the show’s milestone 50th anniversary. “It ’s a remarkable achievement in television,” Beth Maitland, who has played Traci Abbott since 1982, proudly tells Closer. She credits great writing, high production values and a special connection with their audience for Y&R’s longevity. “There are people who tell me they have been watching since the very first day,” she adds.

Of course, things have changed in 50 years. When Y&R premiered in 1973, it was a 30-minute drama centered on the members of two families. In 1980, it expanded to one hour and new families were added. Although Y&R