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1966: Dark Shadows' David was angry with his father.

1984: Guiding Light's Josh and Reva got heated in the hot tub.

1988: Days of our Lives' Salemites through Kayla a surprise shower.

2010: One Life to Live's Viki plotted to reunite David and Dorian."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1965: On General Hospital, Angie Weeks (Jana Taylor) asked Nurse Jessie Brewer (Emily McLaughlin) for advice.

1966: On Dark Shadows, David Collins (David Henesy) told Victoria Winters (Alexandra Moltke) that he hated his father, Roger...

1966: Dark Shadows' Roger crashed due to a missing bleeder valve.

1985: John Aniston debuted as Victor on Days of our Lives.

1990: General Hospital's Wendy was murdered.

2010: Scott Clifton debuted as Liam on Bold and the Beautiful."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1940: The first episode of radio soap opera The Carters of Elm Street, written by Mona Kent, aired on the Mutual Network.

1966: On Another World, Pat told Alice (Jacqueline Courtney) she thought Lee identified with Hope Bauer (crossed over for a year...

1982: Guiding Light's Justin deal with the Jackie's death.

1991: Days of our Lives' Frankie and Eve left Salem.

2007: One Life to Live's Jessica and Nash were married.

2010: On ABC.com's What If, Erica Kane met Sonny Corinthos."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On The Guiding Light, Ed (Robert Gentry) found Bill (Ed Bryce) drunk at a bar.

1966: On Dark Shadows, Roger (Louis Edmonds) encountered Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) on Widows' Hill and told her the story of its legend and history. Meanwhile,...

1966: Dark Shadows' Burke gave Carolyn false info on his return.

1991: Another World's Cass saved Kathleen, then took her on a caper.

1992: Aaron Spelling primetime soap Melrose Place premiered.

2002: Days of our Lives' Gemini Twins were rescued."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1935: Radio soap opera Girl Alone premiered. Betty Winkler starred as Patricia Rogers. The cast included future Days of our Lives patriarch Macdonald Carey.

1949: The radio version of The Brighter Day, which premiered on October 11, 1948, aired on NBC for the final time.

1995: The exorcism of Days of our Lives' Marlena began.

1997: General Hospital's Monica wanted to shoot Pierce.

2001: All My Children's Anna heard her daughter's voice.

2006: Days of our Lives' Sami met Ej Dimera."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1938: Radio soap opera Joyce Jordan, M.D. debuted on the Mutual Network. Elspeth Eric was the original actress to play Joyce, who worked at Heights Hospital. Other cast members during the show's run included Bill Johnstone and Agnes Moorehead. Note: Three decades later...

1986: Capitol's Clarissa found a voodoo doll in her bed.

1994: Gh's Bobbie & Tony mourned Bj on her birthday.

2010: The "Train Crash" episode of Emmerdale.

2011: One Life to Live's Cord & Tina revisited the past."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Dark Shadows, Burke Devlin (Mitchell Ryan) told Carolyn (Nancy Barrett) that Roger Collins (Louis Edmonds) may have kept the expensive fountain pen for himself on the night Bill Malloy died.

1970: On Another World, Rachel (Robin Strasser) cried to Steve (George Reinholt) that their sick little boy, Jamie, would die as punishment for her sins.

1982: Guiding Light's Justin deal with the Jackie's death.

1991: Days of our Lives' Frankie and Eve left Salem.

2007: One Life to Live's Jessica and Nash were married.

2010: On ABC.com's What If, Erica Kane met Sonny Corinthos."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On The Guiding Light, Ed (Robert Gentry) found Bill (Ed Bryce) drunk at a bar.

1966: On Dark Shadows, Roger...

1966: Dark Shadows' Burke gave Carolyn false info on his return.

1991: Another World's Cass saved Kathleen, then took her on a caper.

1992: Aaron Spelling primetime soap Melrose Place premiered.

2002: Days of our Lives' Gemini Twins were rescued."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1935: Radio soap opera Girl Alone premiered. Betty Winkler starred as Patricia Rogers. The cast included future Days of our Lives patriarch Macdonald Carey.

1980: Edge of Night's Draper was sentenced.

1981: Gh's Sarah raised Jeff's suspicions.

1986: Y&R's John confronted Jack.

1995: AMC's Will shocked a Pine Valley courtroom."Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."

― Machiavelli

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1941: Radio soap opera We Are Always Young premiered on the Mutual Network. The show told the story of a serious composer who worked...

1967: Roger burned David's painting on Dark Shadows.

1981: Guiding Light's Alan showed up at Jennifer's trial.

2009: Gl's Olivia kissed Natalia.

2010: As the World Turns' Reid had no time for Luke."Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."

― Machiavelli

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1956: Actor Charles Dingle died at age 68. He played Conrad Overton in Irna Phillips' daytime soap opera The Road of Life.

1978: One Life to Live and General Hospital each

expanded to an hour."History is a vast early warning system."

― Norman Cousins

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1958: On The Edge of Night, Mike Karr (John Larkin) warned Toni Fescina of the danger if she tried to get hush money from Roy Benson.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Sam Evans (David Ford) woke up and tried to put out the fire, burning his hands in the process. Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott ) came in and put the fire out, as Sam frantically claimed that Laura Collins (Diana Millay) burned his hands. Roger (Louis Edmonds) believed booze to be the culprit in Sam's accident.

All My Children has been off the air for several years, but that didn’t stop Erica Kane from holding court on Thursday’s Home & Family.

The long-running ABC soap’s central character — and a bunch more — were the focus of the Hallmark Channel morning show as part of Susan Lucci‘s week-long co-hosting stint. In addition to regular hosts Debbie Matenopoulos and Mark Steines, La Lucci was joined at the top of the show by former castmates Peter Bergman (who played Cliff), Kim Delaney (Jenny), Lawrence Lau (Greg), Eden Riegel (Bianca), Kathleen Noone (Ellen), Eva Larue (Maria), John Callahan...

Dark Shadows fans are getting a Halloween treat. In honor of the show's 50th anniversary, several of the original castmembers are reuniting later this month in Hollywood.Created by Dan Curtis and developed by Art Wallace in 1966, the gothic soap centered on the lives of the wealthy Collins family. Soon, the series introduced more supernatural elements, like that of Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid), a 175-year-old vampire who wakes up in the present day. The cast also included Joan Bennett, Louis Edmonds, Nancy Barrett, Thayer David, and John Karlen.Read More…...

Sink your teeth into this. Fifty years ago today, ABC debuted the gothic soap opera Dark Shadows.

Created by Dan Curtis and developed by Art Wallace, the drama centered on the lives of the wealthy Collins family. Soon, the series introduced more supernatural elements, like that of Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid), a 175-year-old vampire who wakes up in the present day. The cast also included Joan Bennett, Louis Edmonds, Nancy Barrett, Thayer David, and John Karlen.

Read More…...

Cue spooky music because Barnabas Collins has risen from the grave once more, but the Johnny Depp starrer was not its first attempt at a film series. The original Barnabas comes off better as a movie since it doesn.t have a split personality. Willie Loomis (John Karlen) is looking for buried treasure, but what he finds is a coffin. When he opens it he unleashes cursed vampire Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) from his 150 year slumber. Barnabas returns to his ancestral home with Willy as his slave and ingratiates himself with his relations, Elizabeth (Joan Bennett), her daughter Carolyn (Nancy Barnett), and her brother Roger (Louis Edmonds), but poses as a long lost cousin and moves into the...

Happy Halloween! To celebrate our favorite holiday, we at FM (along with Warner Bros. Home Video) are happy to announce an exclusive giveaway of four horror releases! All you need to do is Scroll To The Bottom Of The Page And Leave A Comment Showing Your Enthusiasm and you’ll be entered to win not one, not two, not three, but Four Blu-rays! Prizes include: Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows, Oren Peli’s Chernobyl Diaries (out today, 10/16!), as well as a taste of the original Dark Shadows with House Of Dark Shadows and Night Of Dark Shadows, which are coming to Blu-Ray for the first time on October 30th! You have until 11:59 Am (Pst) on Monday, October 22nd to get your comments in… at which time a winner will be selected at random from those who entered!!

Dark Shadows

After being turned into a vampire by a jilted lover,...

Even immortal vampire Barnabas Collins himself would find it a Herculean task to wade through all 1,225 episodes of the original "Dark Shadows" TV series. To put it in perspective, a new complete coffin-shaped DVD box set boasts a runtime of 30,000 hours, and that's without bathroom breaks.

The supernatural soap opera, which ran on ABC from 1966 to 1971, is now getting the full-on feature film treatment. "Dark Shadows" (the movie) has all the big-budget trimmings courtesy of director Tim Burton and his muse Johnny Depp as Barnabas. Before you devour the May 11 release, we've created an easy-breezy introduction to all the things you'll find lurking in the "Shadows."

Welcome to Collinwood

Even though bloodsucker Barnabas is the everlasting icon of the show, he was not introduced until the 211th episode of the weekday soap. Up until that point the central character was a naïve young woman named Victoria Winters, a foundling with...

This article originally ran here at We Are Movie Geeks in January of 2010 but with everyone gearing up for Tim Burton’s hotly-anticipated update opening May 11th, we’re re-posting and keeping our fingers crossed that this excellent 1971 feature film, based on the show, gets a long-deserved DVD release.

Dark Shadows, the gothic daytime drama that premiered on the ABC Television network in 1966, was distinguished from other soap operas by it’s presence of vampires, werewolves, witches, and ghosts. The show was a cult phenomenon and there were soon Dark Shadows board games, jigsaw puzzles, model kits, and other merchandise aimed at kids, even though it was adult women and college students who comprised it’s core audience. The breakout star of Dark Shadows was Canadian actor Jonathan Frid who played Barnabas Collins, the 200-year-old vampire and heir to the Collingswood estate (where the show took place) constantly in search...

Dark Shadows 2012 poster Tim Burton's Dark Shadows, a film version of the popular television series of the late '60s/early '70s opens on May 11. Please scroll down for the special-effects-laden, uncontrollably campy trailer. Now, are you old enough to remember Dark Shadows? No? Neither am I. All I can tell you is that Dark Shadows has nothing to do with The Munsters or The Addams Family — though don't feel bad if you get Burton's Dark Shadows reboot confused with either comedy series. Looking at the above poster, my first impression was: "Oh, Johnny Depp will be playing Morticia … in Dark Shadows? Something is off." The white-powdered faces also made me think of the Cullen Clan in the Twilight movies. I'm assuming that was intentional, so as to make clueless moviegoers think they'll be watching a sneak spring preview of Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in Breaking Dawn Part 2. Or maybe not.

Carol Burnett has been a long-time fan of "All My Children" - so much so that creator/writer Agnes Nixon created a role for Burnett almost 30 years ago. "Verla Grubbs" made her debut in April 1983 as the long-lost Langley Wallingford (the late Louis Edmonds) who caused trouble for her stepmother Phoebe Tyler-Wallingford (the late Ruth Warrick). Burnett appeared multiple times on the show in the early 1980s.

Burnett reprised her role in 1995 for the 25th anniversary and again in a cameo role in 2005 for the 35th anniversary of the ABC soap. Now Burnett is back as part of the last few weeks leading up to the series finale on Sept. 23.

"It is our honor and pleasure to welcome back Carol Burnett to Pine Valley. Verla Grubbs is a beloved member of the 'All My Children' family and we look forward to reprising her character," says Julie Hanan Carruthers,...

Fans will never forget Kathryn Leigh Scott's run as four different characters on cult-horror soap opera Dark Shadows during the show's run from 1966-1971 (Maggie Evans, Josette du Pres, Lady Kitty Hampshire and Rachel Drummond). The beloved actress will be appearing in the upcoming Tim Burton/Johnny Depp movie version of the cult soap as well. Aside from her acting career, and years as a Playboy Bunny, she's also written a number of nonfiction books and had huge success with her publishing company, Pomegranate Press.

Earlier this week, she released "Dark Passages," a new fiction novel telling the coming of age story of a young actress and Playboy Bunny in 1960s New York, who happens to be a real vampire starring in the popular show Dark Passages.

We Love Soaps TV recently spoke with Ms. Scott about her career, the new book and much more.

We Love Soaps TV: In looking at your career,...

Legendary Carol Burnett will reprise her role as Verla Grubbs on All My Children for a few episodes to air in September, ABC has announced.

Burnett's Grubbs first appeared in Pine Valley in 1983 as the long-lost daughter of Langley Wallingford, played by the late Louis Edmonds. The comedian/actress has been playing Grubbs on and off for years. In 1984, she teamed up with Elizabeth Taylor in an AMC scene, and most recently Burnett played Grubbs again for the show's 35th Anniversary episode in 2005.

ABC says in a release that Burnett "will now play Verla Grubbs one last time" opposite Susan Lucci (Erica Kane), and Jill Larson (Opal Cortlandt).

Another notable resident of Pine Valley will be making a surprise return to All My Children to help bid farewell to the sudser. ABC announced today that Carol Burnett will return for a few episodes this September. She’ll reprise her role as Verla Grubbs, who first appeared in the fictitious soap town in 1983 as the long-lost daughter of Langley Wallingford (the late Louis Edmonds).

Burnett returned to AMC in 1995 for the show’s 25th Anniversary. She’ll play Verla opposite Susan Lucci (Erica Kane), and Jill Larson (Opal Cortlandt) for one of the show’s final episodes this fall.

‘Dark Shadows’, the gothic daytime drama that premiered on the ABC Television network in 1966, was distinguished from other soap operas by it’s presence of vampires, werewolves, witches, and ghosts. The show was a cult phenomenon and there were soon ‘Dark Shadows’ board games, jigsaw puzzles, model kits, and other merchandise aimed at kids, even though it was adult women and college students who comprised it’s core audience. The breakout star of ‘Dark Shadows’ was Canadian actor Jonathan Frid who played Barnabas Collins, the 200-year-old vampire and heir to the Collingswood estate (where the show took place) constantly in search of fresh blood and pining for his lost love, Josette. In 1970 Dan Curtis, the show’s creator and producer, teamed up with MGM to make a theatrical feature spun from the show, and the result was House Of Dark Shadows. It was a huge success, spawning a sequel, Night Of Dark Shadows,...

Here’s a list of some of the new movie and TV shows coming to DVD and Blu-ray this week that we’re looking forward to seeing. Also, there’s some classic, and not-so-classic, movies hitting Blu-ray for the first time this week as well.

Of all the new releases, we’re particularly interested in the Blu-ray versions of movies and TV shows like Army of Darkness, Hero, An American Werewolf in London, The Big Bang Theory Season Two and Bonanza. Yes, some of us are even excited about the debut of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which drops today on Blu-ray.

Check them out.

Movies

An American Werewolf in London (Full Moon Edition) ~ David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Griffin Dunne (Blu-ray)

Army of Darkness (Screwhead Edition) ~ Bruce Campbell, Embeth Davidtz (Blu-ray)

Bionicle: The Legend Reborn ~ Dee Bradley Baker, Jeff Bennett, Jim Cummings, and Michael Dorn (DVD)

Child’s Play ~ Roslyn Alexander, Jack Colvin,...