xxx/xx xxx xxxBrad Maule in his office at SFA. After spending 22 years playing Dr. Tony on the soap opera “General Hospital,” Brad now teaches at the college he graduated from.

 

Dr. Tony Jones died on Feb. 10, 2006, but Brad Maule is still very much alive. After spending 22 years playing Dr. Tony on the soap opera “General Hospital,” Maule has put down new roots deep in East Texas soil.

Growing up in West Texas, Maule longed to be “where it rained and was green,” so he looked east to the Piney Woods and the shaded campus of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches.

After graduating from SFA, Maule moved to Los Angeles with, as he puts it, “only $600 and a dream of performing.” Six weeks later, he was down to only $11 and thinking about heading home when he landed a job with a singing group. The job kept him on the West Coast.

That eventually led to a year in Hawaii singing with Jim Nabors and backup vocals for Don Ho.

Restless, because he was not acting, Maule moved back to Los Angeles. He got his first break during the American Music Awards when he filled in for Andy Gibb singing “Arthur’s Theme.” The producer of “General Hospital” was in the audience.

The producer called Maule in to audition several times before hiring him for the show. His character initially was only supposed to last one year, but Maule’s convincing portrayal of the kind Dr. Tony resonated with the “G.H.” fan base and their loyalty to the character kept him on the show for more than two decades.

Brad was one of the most beloved actors on daytime television and received two Emmy nominations for his work. As a singer, he has several music CDs to his credit.

 

RADIO HOST

I first met Maule during lunch at Dolli’s Diner in downtown Nacogdoches. Dolli calls him “my most famous regular.” At that chance meeting, I set up a day to find out more of his story.

I asked Maule if I could follow him around for a day. He was game, so I met him one morning to begin shadowing. It was still dark when I pulled into the parking lot at KSFA radio station in Lufkin where he hosts his AM radio talk show, “Maule in the Morning.”

We chatted before he went on the air and I learned that his talk show has better ratings locally than radio giant Rush Limbaugh’s program.

After listening to him, I understood what makes Maule’s show appealing. He loves his audience. He listens to them, even when the subjects might seem mundane. He gives them a voice and a way to express their concerns, grief and joy.

More than once, Maule joined in the laughter that regularly punctuates his show. Watching him talk on the show with his regulars, made me realize he’s not hiding behind the microphone. He’s very much involved with projects in the community.

 

COLLEGE PROFESSOR

After the show, I headed to Nacogdoches and Stephen F. Austin State University where Maule teaches classes. The building that houses the college’s film school reminded me of a movie set. Brad’s office is at the top of a winding, creaky wooden staircase.

I couldn’t help but smile. This was a perfect place to spark the imagination of the next generation of filmmakers.

Surrounded by piles of paperwork, files and a bulletin board covered with notices, Maule looked very much the part of a college professor. While I was there, the longtime director of the SFA film program stopped in.

William “Bill” Arscott is a legend. Now a regents’ professor, Arscott established the film program and has been an integral part of the SFA art community for more than 50 years.

We headed down the dark stairwell to Maule’s first class, “Acting for the Camera.” The students were filming a crime-scene scenario and taking turns in front of and behind the camera.

Observing the class, I could see the respect and comfort he has for students. It also was evident in the way the students responded to Maule’s direction and encouragement. I was amazed at the improvement in the students’ performance after just a few of his suggestions.

He pours himself into his students, giving them the benefit of his experience. Maule and his students make several short films a year and one feature-length film. When talking about these film productions, his face lights up. He enjoys writing screenplays and has involved his students and many East Texas residents in his projects.

 

GENTLE SPIRIT

Maule never was too busy to stop and talk to people. When I asked if he ever signs autographs anymore, he smiled. “Yes. … Whenever I go to Wal-Mart, I usually get stopped by a fan or two. I’m happy to do it.”

After spending a day with him, I better understood his devotion to his craft and to his piney woods home. And, just like Dr. Tony, Maule is a nice guy.

I asked him to describe what it is like to live in East Texas.

“This place … it has a gentle spirit,” he said. “I fell in love with it. The people are just the sweetest – it’s like living in Oz before the curtain was pulled back.”

“Maule in the Morning” is heard 7 to 8 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on KSFA. You also can listen to the show on a computer or smartphone using the Radiopup app. He takes calls on the air at 936-639-1860.