When William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell first sat down to create a soap opera in the early seventies, they weren't just looking for pretty faces. They wanted grit. They wanted sex. Most of all, they wanted a stark contrast between the "haves" and the "have-nots." That is exactly what we got when the show premiered on March 26, 1973. If you look at the original cast of The Young and the Restless today, it is almost unrecognizable compared to the corporate juggernaut of the Newman and Abbott dynasties that dominate the modern screen. Back then, it was all about the Brooks family and the Foster family. Wealth versus struggle.
The Fosters lived on the wrong side of the tracks. The Brooks family lived in the mansion. It was a simple setup, honestly, but it worked because the chemistry was electric.
The Brooks Sisters and the High Society Foundation
You can't talk about the early days without mentioning the Brooks family. They were the heart of the show's social scene. Robert Colbert played Stuart Brooks, the patriarch and newspaper magnate. He was the anchor. But the real drama circulated around his four daughters: Laurie, Leslie, Chris, and Peggy.
Jaime Lyn Bauer, who played Laurie Brooks, was the breakout star. She was the "bad girl" before that was even a cliché in daytime TV. Laurie was a novelist, a schemer, and constantly entangled in love triangles that kept viewers glued to their sets. It’s funny because today’s fans think of Victor Newman as the center of the universe, but in 1973, Victor didn't even exist. The show’s pulse was Laurie’s rivalry with her sister Leslie, played originally by Janice Lynde.
Leslie was the refined one. A concert pianist. Their sibling rivalry wasn't just about boys; it was about identity. While Leslie was trying to maintain the family’s prestige, Laurie was out there tearing it down. This dynamic was the blueprint for every sister feud that followed on CBS, from Ashley and Traci Abbott to the modern-day clashes we see now.
Then you had Chris Brooks, played by Trish Stewart. She was the "good girl," often caught in the middle. Peggy Brooks, the youngest, was played by Patricia Luckey and later Pamela Peters Solow. The Brooks family felt real because they were flawed. They had money, sure, but they were miserable. It was the first time a soap really leaned into the idea that a silver spoon doesn't keep you from choking.
The Fosters: The Gritty Soul of the Show
On the flip side, you had the Fosters. This is where the original cast of The Young and the Restless grounded the show in reality. Bill Foster was the father who walked out, leaving Mary Foster to raise three kids on a shoe-string budget.
Mary Foster was played by the legendary Brenda Dickson (who later became a bit of a pop culture meme for her fashion videos, but let’s not get distracted). Mary was the moral compass—or at least she tried to be. She was overbearing, judgmental, and fiercely protective. She represented the working-class struggle in a way that resonated with stay-at-home moms across America.
✨ Don't miss: Why the Cast of Hold Your Breath 2024 Makes This Dust Bowl Horror Actually Work
Her kids? They were the ones breaking barriers.
- William Gray Espy played Snapper Foster. He was the handsome doctor-to-be who felt the weight of the world on his shoulders.
- Julianna McCarthy was Liz Foster, though most people remember the kids more than the extended relatives.
- Greg Foster, played by James Houghton, was the sensitive brother.
- Jill Foster, the character that would eventually become the longest-running role in the show's history.
Initially, Brenda Dickson played Jill. Later, the role was taken over by Deborah Adair and then, most famously, Jess Walton. But in the beginning, Jill was just a girl from the wrong side of the tracks working as a manicurist. She was ambitious. She wanted what the Brooks sisters had, and she was willing to sleep her way to the top to get it. Her affair with Derek Thurston was scandalous for the time. It set the stage for the legendary Jill vs. Katherine Chancellor feud, which is basically the gold standard for soap opera rivalries.
The Chancellor Introduction: Enter Jeanne Cooper
It is a common misconception that the Chancellors were there on Day One. They weren't. But they arrived so early in the first year (November 1973) that they are effectively part of the "original" DNA. Jeanne Cooper didn't just play Katherine Chancellor; she was Katherine Chancellor.
When Katherine was introduced as the wealthy, alcoholic wife of Gary Chancellor, the show shifted. It moved from a simple "rich vs. poor" story into a psychological deep-end. Katherine’s hiring of Jill Foster as her companion was the catalyst for decades of television. It started with a simple resentment and turned into a war over men, money, and eventually, the revelation of swapped babies.
Jeanne Cooper brought a level of gravitas that was rare for daytime. She was willing to look ugly on screen. She was willing to be the villain. Interestingly, the show almost didn't survive its first few years. It was the raw, unpolished performance of Cooper and the simmering tension of the Foster-Brooks divide that saved it from cancellation.
Why the Newmans and Abbotts Aren't "Originals"
If you ask a casual fan about the original cast, they’ll probably say Eric Braeden or Peter Bergman. Wrong.
Victor Newman didn't show up until 1980. He was only supposed to be a guest character—a villain who would be killed off. But Braeden was so magnetic that Bill Bell rewrote the entire show around him. Jack Abbott didn't arrive until 1980 either (played by Terry Lester before Bergman).
🔗 Read more: Is Steven Weber Leaving Chicago Med? What Really Happened With Dean Archer
The transition from the Brooks/Foster era to the Newman/Abbott era was a slow, painful process for some long-time viewers. By the early eighties, almost all the Brooks family members had been written out. They were phased out because the writers felt the "newspaper family" had run its course. The Fosters hung on a bit longer, mostly through Jill, but the show essentially rebooted itself.
It’s a bit of a "Ship of Theseus" situation. If you replace every plank on a boat, is it still the same boat? The Young and the Restless today shares the same name as the 1973 version, but the DNA changed significantly once the corporate warfare of Newman Enterprises took center stage.
Behind the Scenes: The Bell Vision
The creator, William J. Bell, had a very specific style. He loved "the slow burn." He would let a single conversation last three days. He focused on the psychological motivations of why a character would cheat or steal.
In the original cast, this was most evident in the character of Brad Elliot, played by Tom Hallick. Brad was the first person we saw in the premiere episode. He was a guy driving into Genoa City to escape his past. He was the audience's surrogate. Through Brad’s eyes, we met the Brooks and the Fosters. He provided the mystery. Why was he there? What was he running from?
This slow-paced, character-driven storytelling is what set Y&R apart from its peers like General Hospital, which was more about action and camp in those days. Bell’s Genoa City was a place where a look across a dinner table meant more than a car chase.
The Casting Philosophy of 1973
Casting for the show was handled with an eye for "classic" beauty but also theatrical experience. They didn't just want models.
- Jaime Lyn Bauer had a presence that felt sophisticated.
- Robert Colbert brought a "Golden Age of Hollywood" vibe.
- Julianna McCarthy gave the show its theatrical weight.
They also used music in a way no other soap did. The theme song, "Nadia's Theme," wasn't actually written for the show (it was originally for a film called The Blessing and the Children), but it became synonymous with the haunting, soap-operatic longing of the Brooks sisters.
💡 You might also like: Is Heroes and Villains Legit? What You Need to Know Before Buying
What Happened to the Original Actors?
It’s a mixed bag. Some stayed in the industry, while others vanished into the quiet life.
- Jaime Lyn Bauer eventually moved over to Days of Our Lives as Laura Horton.
- William Gray Espy left the show at the height of his popularity, a move that shocked fans, to pursue other projects.
- Janice Lynde had a long career across various soaps and primetime guest spots.
- Brenda Dickson's departure and subsequent legal battles with the show's producers became the stuff of tabloid legend.
The fact that none of the original Brooks family remains on canvas today is a rarity in soaps. Usually, you keep at least one legacy member. But the show’s decision to pivot entirely to the Newmans and Abbotts is what allowed it to survive for 50+ years. It evolved. It didn't stay stuck in 1973.
Legacy of the Original 1973 Ensemble
While the names have changed, the themes haven't. The rivalry between Jill and Katherine (which started with the original cast) defined the show until Jeanne Cooper’s death in 2013. That’s a forty-year arc.
The "rich girl/poor boy" tropes that Snapper Foster and Chris Brooks navigated are still being recycled today with characters like Tessa and Mariah or Sharon and Nick. The original cast laid the tracks. Everyone else is just driving the train.
Honestly, if you go back and watch the grainy footage of the first few episodes, the hair is bigger and the suits are wider, but the emotions are identical. The show was always about the restless nature of youth and the regrets of the old. It’s right there in the title.
How to Explore the Original Era
If you're a modern fan who wants to see how it all began, you aren't totally out of luck.
- YouTube Archives: There are several channels dedicated to "Classic Y&R" that host the first few episodes. Look for the 1973 pilot to see Brad Elliot’s entrance.
- The 50th Anniversary Specials: CBS produced several retrospectives that feature interviews with Jaime Lyn Bauer and other original cast members.
- Official Books: "The Young and the Restless: Most Memorable Moments" provides a deep dive into the Brooks and Foster era with rare set photos.
The best way to respect the show's history is to understand that the Newmans didn't build Genoa City—the Brooks and Fosters did. They provided the foundation of heart, scandal, and class warfare that remains the show's bread and butter.
To truly understand the show's trajectory, start by researching the transition years of 1979-1981. This is where the original "Brooks era" ended and the "Newman era" began. Seeing how the writers merged these two worlds will give you a much deeper appreciation for the storytelling craft that goes into daytime television. Try looking up old interviews with William J. Bell regarding the "Great Cast Purge" of the late seventies; it’s a fascinating look at the business side of soap operas.