The ALDEN Mansion

Loving's elegant Alden mansion was one of the most magnificient sets in daytime, exuding opulence and exquisite taste at every turn.

The set, home of the show's core family, Cabot and Isabelle Alden and their offspring, was built in 1983 for the primetime TV movie pilot that introduced the new ABC soap Loving to the world.

Since then, scores of grand balls, lovely weddings, elaborate formal dinners and sparkling cocktail parties have benn held in the Aldens' posh drawing room. Only the cream of Corinth's high society were invited to these lavish affairs to hobnob with their peers.

The two-tiered set is so large that it's never completely dismantled. Instead, the partially separated pieces sit on big rolling wagons that make it easy to put the set together again.

In 1992, about the time Celeste Holm became the third actress to play Isabelle, the Alden mansion set was entirely refurbished by Loving's talented staff.

Threadbare sheer curtains were replaced by costly damask draperies of blue and gold, and all the seating was reupholstered in rich damask fabric.

Loving's designer Boyd Dumrose, who's been at the helm since the show started, explains: ' We took the approach that the Aldens were old money and they weren't into following whatever the current fads were in decorating. they would stay with the 18th-century approach to decorating, enhacing their antique furniture and heirlooms".

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.......... The two-story drawing room has an imposing entrance, framed by floor-to-ceiling blue and gold damask curtains. Boy designed the oval glass window above the door and his talented crew built it. MORE ...