A TV producer, Monty was hired to try to save an ailing daytime soap opera, and was given 13 weeks to improve its ratings. She adjusted the story line to appeal to a younger audience, hired younger actors, sped up the pace, and freshened the sets.
With that help, General Hospital went from a tired old show to a must-see series. In 1981 a Monty-directed story line brought an audience of 30 million people to watch the fictional wedding of characters Luke and Laura (Anthony Geary and Genie Francis), which revitalized the entire daytime soap segment. Under her leadership the show was the Number 1 daytime show for five years, and won a scad of Emmy Awards. Monty died March 30 from cancer at her California home. She was 84.