Oakdale

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Oakdale is the setting of the television soap opera As the World Turns.

Location

For many years, the writers have been firm on placing the city in the state of Illinois. By all indications, the city is unrelated to the real Oakdale, Illinois. However, show creator Irna Phillips may have modeled her fictional hamlet after this city, due to the small size of both entities. A 2006 episode revealed Oakdale to be in the exact spot of Peoria (200 miles north of the actual Oakdale). However, Peoria is also mentioned as being a real city on the show. In 2007, Oakdale was paradoxically stated as being in Lee County, Illinois (70 miles north of Peoria). Oakdale has been depicted as being a half-hour- to forty-five-minute-drive from Chicago, given the relatively short travel time it takes characters to travel between the two cities.

Size

Though Oakdale is usually depicted as a fairly small town, it nonetheless is apparently large enough to have its own airport, a television station, a luxury hotel, three major newspapers, and a university, and its hospital is renowned enough to have attracted a number of world-class physicians, surgeons and researchers over the years.

In a 1960 episode of As the World Turns recently shown at The World of Soap Themes, several small skyscrapers could be seen through the window of Chris Hughes' law office, thus suggesting that at least as far back as that decade, Oakdale was a large enough place to have some sort of commercial district. The same view can be seen from a suite in the Lakeview Hotel.

Oakdale society

Places of interest

Businesses

• Rosie's Roller Palace was a beauty shop. It was owned by Rose D'Angelo.
• Burt's Garage was a car garage. Simon Frasier worked there.
• Get Real Fashions was a fashion show. Lisa Grimaldi was a parntner in it.
• Fashions Limited was owned by Lisa Grimaldi.
• Deesire perfume company owned by Karen Haines.
• Hollister Mine was a company owned by Bradley "Brad" Hollister.
• Cody Sullivan's Movie Company
• Street Jeans Mike Kasnoff was a model.
• Stricklyn Oil Josh (Snyder) Stricklyn worked there.
• Grimaldi Shipping is owned by Damian Grimaldi

Stores and shopping centers

• Fashions, Ltd. is a boutique founded in 1985 by Lisa Grimaldi, Kim Hughes and Barbara Ryan. Hughes left the venture in the early '90s to have time to focus on WOAK; Ryan sold her shares to Lisa in 2004, in order to pay her legal bills, and now Lisa is the sole owner. The store recently moved to Old Town in December 2007 taking the place of The Black Duck restaurant. Ariel Donovan was a model there.
• Old Town is a collection of restaurants and shops including Al's Diner, Java, Fashions, Ltd., a dance studio where Faith Snyder took lessons, a bookstore where Will Munson works, a jewelry store, and an ice cream parlor.
• Wade Bookshop was a bookshop owned by Wade. Natalie Bannon, Mary Ellison Hughes, & Penelope Hughes were employed there. Lisa Miller Hughes was a manager. Though presumably still in business, it has not been seen or referred to since the early 1980s.

Media

• 'Oakdale Now' is a TV show hosted by Brad and Katie.
• Patterns was a TV show hosted by Kim Hughes
• Oakdale 411 was a TV show hosted by Brad Snyder and Spencer McKay in 2008

Restaurants

Entertainment

• Metro is a bar owned by Henry Coleman and Carly Tenney and re-opened January 1, 2008 (actual air date December 28). Dusty Donovan was formally a partner in it. Aaron Snyder use to work as a bartender at Metro. The club was first seen in 1999 as Java Underground (so named because it was downstairs from the Java Coffee Shop), and was purchased around that time by Isaac Jenkins and Craig Montgomery; Lisa Grimaldi later bought Craig out, and she, Isaac and Bonnie McCechne ran the club together for several years.
• Yo's is a local bar. Lt. Hal Munson's memorial was held here in 2006.
• Caroline's was a nightclub. Douglas "Doug" Cummings was the owner, Kevin Gibson worked there, and Marie Kovac was a waitress. After Cummings' death in 1985, Lisa Grimaldi and Craig Montgomery purchased the property and reopened it as The Mona Lisa (Montgomery sold his half of the establishment to Lisa years ago.)
• Falcon Club was a club owned by Damian Grimaldi.
• Crash was a nightclub that Casey Hughes worked at.

Residences

• The Hughes House was the center of the Hughes family for many years and was also where many early storylines occurred. Chris, Nancy, Don, Penny, Bob and Pa Hughes originally lived here, Lisa also moved in when she and Bob married as well as their son Tom Hughes, however after she had an affair, she and Tom left. Don left after arguing with Nancy, Bob eventually moved out and Penny left in 1968. Pa Hughes also left in 1976 with his new wife but later died. Chris and Nancy decided to move to Arizona to look after the family farm in 1981 and the house did not appear after that. Chris and Nancy later returned to Oakdale again permanently in 1985. The house appeared from the first episode in 1956-1981.
• Fairwinds is a mansion owned by Rosanna Cabot and Paul Ryan. Originally built for Lily Grimaldi and Damian Grimaldi, later owned by Carly Tenney, closed for years and re-opened by Barbara Ryan after leaving her husband and family and suffering a fire, has been passed around since to the extremely wealthy. It is currently owned by Paul Ryan.
• Luther's Corners is where Emma Snyder's farm and pond, and Lily's mansion are located. Emma Snyder, Jack Snyder and Janet Ciccone Snyder are among the current farm residents. Lily Snyder, Holden Snyder, Faith Snyder, Natalie Snyder, and Ethan Snyder are among the mansion residents The farm was originally stated to be eleven miles outside of Oakdale, but now it is seemingly closer. Part of the farm is currently being developed by Paul Ryan and Mike Kasnoff. This is where Ethan Synder fell into a large hole after running away from home.
• Milltown is where Carly Tenny Snyder's house is located. Her and her son Parker Snyder, her daughter Sage Snyder live here.
• Cal Stricklyn's Ranchhouse
• The Penthouse John Dixon stayed there.
• Gunnar St. Clair's house held Burke, Ariel, and their son Dusty Donovan in the stables.
• Lowell Estate The Lowell estate was one of the original settings of the show. At first, Judge James T. Lowell, Jim Lowell, Claire Lowell and Ellen Lowell lived here, however after Jim died and Ellen moved out lived there with James Lowell however Claire later died after being hit and killed by a car outside the house. The house appeared on the show from the very first episode in 1956.
• Jane Spencer's StablesMargo Hughes was a stablehand
• Katie Peretti's cottage Nick Kasnoff lived there for a short time. Originally lived in by Katie Peretti, now Katie Snyder, and her then husband Simon Frasier. Then Katie and then husband, Henry Coleman. Next was Katie and then husband Mike Kasnoff. Katie lived there for a short while while in a relationship with Jack Snyder, but in early 2007, sold the cottage.

Houses

• Tom & Margo Hughes
• Bob & Kim Hughes
• Lily Snyder
• Susan Stewart
• Lucinda Walsh
• Brad Snyder & Katie Snyder
• Lucinda's guest house is where Gwen Munson and Will Munson, and Noah Mayer and Ameera Ali-Aziz stayed.
• Lisa's Penthouse was originally over the Mona Lisa, but when Maddie Coleman was staying with Lisa in 2005, the penthouse was referred to as being part of the Lakeview (though the same set continued to be used).
• Kim and Betsy Stewart

Apartments

• Kevin Gibson
• Glenn Harrington
• Bob & Kim's
• Marie Kovac
• Brock Lombard
• Oakdale Court is an apartment complex in Oakdale, and has been home over the years to Andy Dixon, Chris Hughes, Denise Maynard, Molly Conlon, Carly Tenney, David Stenbeck and (briefly) Katie Peretti.

Volunteer foundations

• Jennifer Munson Foundation (In memorium of Jennifer Munson)
• Rose Foundation (In memorium of Rose D'Angelo)
• Luke Snyder Foundation

Medical

Law and correctional

• Oakdale Police Department is the local police force headquarters with Lt. Margo Hughes, Det. Jack Snyder, and Officer Dallas Griffin. Dr. Walker Daniels was the medical consaltant in 2003-2004. Simon Frasier worked there.

Trials

• Lowell, Hughes, and Colman (formally Lowell, Barnes, & Lowell) was a law firm in the early days. Grant Colman was employed there. Edith and Kim Hughes and Mary Ellison Hughes were secretarys. Christopher Hughes, Donald Hughes, and Tom Hughes were lawyers there. Tom Pope, Dick Martin
• Tom Hughes's Law Firm is a law firm. Jessica Griffin was employed there.
• Margaret Crawford Andropoulos Unknown law firm.

Amenities

• The Groves Country Club is complete with a pool and dining area. It has not been seen since summer 2005. Casey Hughes worked there in the summer.
• Falcon Club was a club owned by Damian Grimaldi.

Education

• Oakdale Latin is a private high school for Oakdale's teens.
• Oakdale University is an institution of higher education in Oakdale; includes on-campus dorm rooms. Current students include Luke Snyder, Noah Mayer, and Casey Hughes. Former students include Eric Hollister, Gwen Munson, Will Munson, and Elwood Hoffman.
• Oakdale High School is a school. Current students include Faith Snyder, Parker Snyder, and Liberty Ciccone. Former students include Hayley Wilson Hollister.

Places to stay

• The Lakeview is a luxury hotel, co-owned by Lisa Grimaldi (who runs it on a day-to-day basis) and Lily Snyder (who is more of a "silent partner). The Lakeview houses a bar, restaurant, and boutique. Current residents include Henry Coleman, Vienna Hyatt, Barbara Ryan, and Emily Stewart It is owned by Lisa Grimaldi and Lily Snyder. Current employess include Aaron Snyder. Former people to stay there are Dusty Donovan, Neal Keller Alcott (penthouse apartment over it) and Benjamin Robert Harris.
• Wagon Wheel Motel is where people who cannot afford the Lakeview stay. Recent occupants include Cleo Babbitt and Sofie Duran. Julia Larrabee stayed there and Pilar Domingo was a maid there and also lived there.
• Willows is a country inn owned by Bennett Hadley.

Newspapers

• The City Times is the daily newspaper owned by Lucinda Walsh.
• The Intruder is the local tabloid owned by Emily Stewart. Henry Coleman was the managing editor. Christopher Robert Hughes was a reporter.
• Argus is a paper formerly owned by Lisa Miller Hughes. Tom Hughes was a journalist there. Lisa sold the paper in 2002, when Tom decided to leave journalism and return to practicing law.

Other places

• Luther's Corner's Church is where many special events occur; most recently the wedding Craig Montgomery and Meg Snyder.
• Milltown Baptist Church was burn down by Christopher Hughes II
• Oakdale International Airport is the airport that everyone comes and goes from. Previous destinations include San Francisco, Montega, Malta, Montana, Seattle, The Dominican Republic, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Bermuda, etc.
• Chicago Scenic Shop - Owned by Gray Gerard

Basic Information

Weddings

Babies

Deaths

See also

• As the World Turns