Don't DisapPIER

What set has been used the most frequently over the years? The Pier. What set has disappeared from the screen since the Horton Town Square was built? The Pier.

One aspect of Salem that makes it unique is that it is near a waterfront. It has docks. It has a pier. And over the years it has been the setting that ties all of Salem together. Everyone meets at the pier. Everyone bumps into their friends at the pier. Everyone bumps into their enemies at the pier.

Clearly the pier is the most direct path to The Brady Pub from the DiMera Mansion. The pier is obviously on the way to the park from the Horton house. It's clearly the fastest way to Chez Rouge from the Kiriakis mansion. And you just have to pass by the pier when you are traveling to The Cheatin' Heart from Salem University Hospital.

And yet, after September in 2011, the pier has not been as busy.

Once the Horton Town Square was built, everybody started to take that route. The pier has not been traveled along.

With such an iconic setting, why has DAYS just dropped that set? Everything happens at the Town Square now. But does that mean that we ignore Salem's historic pier?

So many storylines have begun and ended at that pier. For example:

- Lexi taking Theo to watch the boats routinely
- Bope on the docked "Fancy Face"scenes
- Daniel and Philip beat each other up
- Marlena reunites  with "Roman"
- EJ proposes to Sami by fishing for the ring

Chandler Massey on the famous pier set 

- Chloe attempts suicide
- Shelle reunite after separation
- Bo officially meets Billie
- Jarlena admits that they still love each other
- Phloe's first "relationship" scene
- Tony DiMera dies
- Brady beats up EJ
- Carly told Daniel that Melanie was his
- Nicole was arrested for her baby stealing
- Gus beat up Chloe for being a prostitute
- Taylor and EJ meet: love at first sight
- DiMera and Kiriakis turf conflicts
- Madeline (Chad's mom) falls down stairs and dies
- Belle is pushed into the water when Claire is kidnapped
- Chloe falls for Daniel on New Years
- Maggie was shot
- Will meets Sonny

That's not even scratching the surface!


The pier's presence has provoked many storylines. Some of the characters have worked on the docks. The ferry to the Horton cabin takes off from there. Many romantic dates end on the water. The pier hosts shady deals, shootings, and New Years Eve parties.

On Youtube, where you can still view some of these scenes, people comment on how much they love those clips with the words "at the pier" in the title:

- On Marlena's return, "One of the best moments of days of our lives---it never gets old."&"classic clip"
- On Jarlena admitting their love in '93, "One of D&D's best scenes."
- On Chloe scene with Brady, "I love it! After a fight with Belle, Chloe finds comfort in the water."
-On Belle and Shawn scene in '03, "My all-time favorite Shelle!!!"

Personally, my favorite is that Phloe scene when they start to see each other in a new light. The water symbolizes change. And after that night, their relationships had changed forever. The water washes away their previous judgements about each other and they connect on a new level. So well-done and meaningful!

And curiously, no one goes by there anymore. Did they tear down the set? Did they build the Town Square in its place? Where did the Pier go?

My guess: with the budget cuts, they can only afford a few sets now. Oh, the decreasing production industry! Days has survived cancellation, and lower salaries, and the writers strike. But that does not make it easier.

The sets used most this year: The Horton Town Square, Sonny's Coffee Shop, The Brady Pub, The Horton House, and character apartments depending on the prominent storyline (Sami's, EJ's, Daniel's, ect.)

Another possibility: with the new writers, they made so many changes....so they cut so many sets or are using some minimally. Such as: the PIER, the police station, Chez Rougue, Titan, the Mansions (DiMera/ Kiriakis), the hospital, and switching the "Cheatin' Heart" to a coffee house! REALLY?????

These new writers clearly do not have the knowledge of the many iconic storylines that took place on that pier. If they can just cut it out entirely, they obviously have no regard or respect for its history.

All we, as devoted fans, can do is remember those classic pier scenes that touched out hearts. And recall those storylines set on the pier that got us hooked on this show.

And spend hours searching on Youtube for a clip featuring that old familiar pier.