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.
Niel Wade-Owner (1963-1967)
Penny Wade-Owner (1967-) Lisa Miller Hughes-Owner (1965-)
Amanda Holmes (1965-)
Elizabeth Tabolt-Worker
Natalie Bannon-Employee (1976-1978)
1963-
Fashions, Ltd. is a boutique owned by Lisa Grimaldi. 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.
Metro is a bar owned by Kit Fowler 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.
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.)
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 passed away. 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.
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.
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.
Jennifer Munson Foundation (In memorium of Jennifer Munson)
Rose Foundation (In memorium of Rose D'Angelo)
Luke Snyder Foundation
Medical
Business
Workers
Dates
Oakdale Memorial
Dr. Bob Hughes - Chief of Staff Dr. Chris Hughes - Head of the Research Dept. (2007), Interim Chief of Staff (2007-2008) Dr. Susan Stewart
Lucinda Walsh - Board Member (1999-present)
Eli King - Genetics Lab Technician (2007)
Evan Walsh - Biological researcher
Iva Snyder Benedict-AIDS contribution director
Dr. Doug Campbell-hospital administrator (1979)
Marcia Campbell-board member (1979)
Joyce Coleman-file clerk
Dr. John Dixon Chief-of-Staff
Karen Haines-nurse's assistant
Dr. Benjamin Robert Harris- doctor
Ian "Duke" Kramer-orderly
Camille Bennett-John Dixon's assistant (1997-2000)
Dr. Jeff Ward, M.D.-doctor & Chief of Surgery (1978-1984)
1956-present
Medical Clinic
Camille Bennett-Clerk
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
Case
Attorneys
Year
Outcome
Jeff Baker killing Al James
Christopher Hughes, Tom Pope
1958
Cleared of murder
Ellen Lowell fighting to get her son, Dan (Jimmy Cole) Stewart back
James T. Lowell, Doug Cassen
1961
Stewarts keep their son
Edna Rice's husband dying due to malpractice
Christopher Hughes
1963
Alibi and Doug Cassen has his job back
Ellen Cole killing Franny Brennan
Christopher Hughes, James Lowell
1967
They found out that Franny blackmailed her
Amanda Holmes killing Sara Fuller
Christopher Hughes
1967
Found out she was guilty
Tom Hughes killing Michael Shea
Unknown
1970
He was inocent and Miss Thompson was the killer
Natalie Bannon for Grand Larceny
Tom Hughes
1975
Cleared
John Dixon's marital rape trial
Maggie Crawford
1980
Ryder Hughes' trial
1996
Custody for Hallie Jennifer Munson
Tom Hughes
2008
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.
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.
Luther's Corner's Church is where many special events occur; most recently the wedding Craig Montgomery and Meg Snyder.
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.