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1976: Ryan's Hope's Delia searched for evidence against Frank.

1978: All My Children's Erica Kane married Tom Cudahy.

1985: General Hospital's Robin Scorpio arrived in Port Charles.

2011: All My Children's Erica met Verla Grubbs."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...

1948: On radio soap opera Claudia, Claudia (Dorothy McGuire) had opening night jitters.

1976: On Ryan's Hope, Delia Ryan (Ilene Kristen) lied to her husband, Frank (Michael Hawkins), when he found her searching through his things

1976: On Another World, Sharlene Frame (Laurie Heineman) confessed her...

1960: Alan was unhappy with Susan on The Secret Storm.

1984: Jonathan had Nola Star Trek style fantasy on Guiding Light.

2000: Jensen Ackles made his last appearance on Days of our Lives.

2006: Jeffrey Carlson debuted as Zarf on All My Children."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...

1960: On The Secret Storm, Bryan Fuller (Carl King) was invited over for dinner with Susan (Mary Foskett) and Alan Dunbar (James Vickery), who was less than thrilled about it.

Find out more about The Secret Storm in Remembering Woodbridge: A History of the Late,...

1974: Another World aired a one-hour special.

1983: Peter Reckell debuted on Days of our Lives.

1991: The Dallas series finale aired on CBS.

2013: Jeanne Cooper's final Y&R scene aired."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...

1968: On The Doctors, Ralph Anderson (Al Hinckley) held Matt (James Pritchett), Althea (Elizabeth Hubbard) and Nick (Gerald Gordon) hostage in Matt's office. As Maggie (Bethel Leslie) banged on the door, a gunshot went off.

1974: Another World broadcast for one hour for the first time in honor of its 10th anniversary.

1977: Ryan's Hope's Maeve tried to reason with her son-in-law.

1983: Guiding Light's Silas held Quint at gunpoint.

1997: The final episode of ABC daytime soap opera The City.

2008: Guiding Light's Gus crashed his motorcycle."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...

1955: On Hawkins Falls, reporter Mitch Fredericks (Jim Bannon) and Millie Flagle (Ros Twohey) persuaded the biggest donor to the town's fair, Andy Anderson, that he had psychic powers. Once Andy was convinced of his abilities, Mitch got him to predict that Hawkins Falls would become a booming industrial city,...

1981: Another World's Cecile announced she had married Jamie.

1987: One Life to Live's Tina went over a waterfall to her "death" in Argentina.

1987: Another World's Donna & Michael married.

2007: Ashley Abbott arrived on The Bold and the Beautiful."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...

1953: On Love of Life, nine-year-old Ben "Beanie" Harper (Dennis Parnell) and his roommate planned to escape from the boarding school.

1970: On Dark Shadows, Carolyn Stoddard (Nancy Barrett) told Jeb Hawkes (Christopher Pennock) she could not go through with the wedding.

1965: Peyton Place's Elliot learned he was a grandfather.

1971: Dark Shadows' Gabriel stabbed Kendrick.

1989: Another World's original Donna Love returned.

2004: All My Children's Bianca remembered killing Michael."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...

1962: On The Edge of Night, Louise (Mary K. Wells) learned about Phil's (Ray MacDonnell) car crash, unaware that he had been replaced by a double, John Lambert (Ray MacDonnell).

1965: On As the World Turns, Chris (Don MacLaughlin) told Pa (Santos Ortega) about a rare disease that Dan had contracted,...

2008: All My Children's Greg and Jenny married.

1986: Another World's Felicia and Zane tied the knot.

1991: Guiding Light's Beth and Phillip were finally married.

2002: Atwt's Nancy felt her late husband's presence in a special Valentine's Day episode."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...

1967: On Peyton Place, Chris began a new journey, gunfire brought police to the Webber house, and Constance made plans with Edward.

1975: On Another World, Mackenzie Cory (Douglass Watson) married Rachel Davis Matthews Clark Frame (Victoria Wyndham) at Mac's New York City townhouse.

1968: Susan Seaforth debuted on Days of our Lives as Julie.

1979: Atwt's Lisa faced off with Hester at The Willows.

1995: Another World's Donna sang to a suspicious Matt.

1998: Brooke's Bedroom made its debut on B&B."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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Peter Dalton (Stephen Elliott) won the election by a landslide.

1968: Susan Seaforth (Hayes) debuted as Julie Olson in Days of our Lives. She has been nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards for her work on the soap.

1981: Luke and Laura were married on General Hospital."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...

1971: On The Doctors, Dr. Althea Davis (Elizabeth Hubbard) warned Dr. Maggie Powers (Lydia Bruce) to keep her eyes wide open when it came to Dr. Karen Werner.

1979: On The Edge of Night, Steve Guthrie (Denny Albee) confessed to Deborah Saxon (Frances Fisher) he still loved her.

1981: On Another World, an argument ensued when Larry Ewing (Rick Porter) accused his wife, Clarice (Gail Brown), of leading Jerry Grove (Paul Tinder) on before her rape. Later, they made peace and comforted each other.

1972: Emmerdale Farm premiered.

1985: Atwt's Holden introduced himself as the new stable boy.

1985: Theo died on Days of our Lives.

1992: Days of our Lives' Isabella died."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...

1939: Irna Phillips' The Right to Happiness, a spinoff of popular radio soap opera The Guiding Light, premiered on the NBC Blue Network. The show initially focused on the character Rose Kransky from Guiding Light but eventually Carolyn Allen (played first by Eloise Kummer and then Claudia Morgan) took center stage. Carolyn remained the central character of the program until the series...

1953: Valiant Lady premiered on CBS.

1979: As the World Turns' Lisa was spooked

1981: David Canary debuted on Another World as Steve Frame.

1993: Days of our Lives' Jack Deveraux left Salem."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...

1950: NBC aired the final primetime episode of Hawkins Falls, one of network television's first successful soap operas. The show premiered in June 1950 as an hour-long weekly nighttime drama in a summer replacement slot but was cut back to a half-hour in August until the end of its run. Hawkins Falls returned to the air in April 1951 as a fifteen-minute weekday soap for NBC.

1976: Ryan's Hope's Delia searched for evidence against Frank.

1978: All My Children's Erica Kane married Tom Cudahy.

1985: General Hospital's Robin Scorpio arrived in Port Charles.

2011: All My Children's Erica met Verla Grubbs."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...

1948: On radio soap opera Claudia, Claudia (Dorothy McGuire) had opening night jitters.

1976: On Ryan's Hope, Delia Ryan (Ilene Kristen) lied to her husband, Frank (Michael Hawkins), when he found her searching through his things

1976: On Another World, Sharlene Frame (Laurie Heineman) confessed her sordid past to a devastated Russ Matthews (David Bailey), then downed a bottle of pills.

1960: Alan was unhappy with Susan on The Secret Storm.

1984: Jonathan had Nola Star Trek style fantasy on Guiding Light.

2000: Jensen Ackles made his last appearance on Days of our Lives.

2006: Jeffrey Carlson debuted as Zarf on All My Children."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...

1960: On The Secret Storm, Bryan Fuller (Carl King) was invited over for dinner with Susan (Mary Foskett) and Alan Dunbar (James Vickery), who was less than thrilled about it.

Find out more about The Secret Storm in Remembering Woodbridge: A History of the Late, Great 'Secret Storm'.

Patty Weaver1966: On Another World,...

1973: The Doctors' Althea and Carolee caught up.

1979: Another World's Janice tried to be understanding.

1996: All My Children's Trevor could not feel his legs.

1999: One Life to Live's Nora and Sam awaited DNA test results."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...

1941: On The Guiding Light, the day of Mary (Sarajane Wells) and Ned's (Ed Prentiss) wedding finally arrived.

1966: The very first scenes for Dark Shadows were taped.

1974: Another World aired a one-hour special.

1983: Peter Reckell debuted on Days of our Lives.

1991: The Dallas series finale aired on CBS.

2013: Jeanne Cooper's final Y&R scene aired."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...

1968: On The Doctors, Ralph Anderson (Al Hinckley) held Matt (James Pritchett), Althea (Elizabeth Hubbard) and Nick (Gerald Gordon) hostage in Matt's office. As Maggie (Bethel Leslie) banged on the door,...

1977: Ryan's Hope's Maeve tried to reason with her son-in-law.

1983: Guiding Light's Silas held Quint at gunpoint.

1997: The final episode of ABC daytime soap opera The City.

2008: Guiding Light's Gus crashed his motorcycle."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...

1955: On Hawkins Falls, reporter Mitch Fredericks (Jim Bannon) and Millie Flagle (Ros Twohey) persuaded the biggest donor to the town's fair, Andy Anderson, that he had psychic powers.

1981: Another World's Cecile announced she had married Jamie.

1987: One Life to Live's Tina went over a waterfall to her "death"

in Argentina. 1987: Another World's Donna & Michael married.

2007: Ashley Abbott arrived on The Bold and the Beautiful."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...

1953: On Love of Life, nine-year-old Ben "Beanie" Harper (Dennis Parnell) and...

1965: Peyton Place's Elliot learned he was a grandfather.

1971: Dark Shadows' Gabriel stabbed Kendrick.

1989: Another World's original Donna Love returned.

2004: All My Children's Bianca remembered killing Michael."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...

1962: On The Edge of Night, Louise (Mary K. Wells) learned about Phil's (Ray MacDonnell) car crash, unaware that he had been replaced by a double,...

1986: Aw's Felicia married Zane. 1991: Gl's Beth and Phillip

were finally married. 2002: Atwt's Nancy felt her late

husband's presence in a special Valentine's Day episode.

2008: Singer Pat Benatar visited Y&R."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...

1967: On Peyton Place, Chris began a new journey, gunfire brought police to the Webber house, and Constance made plans with Edward.

1968: Susan Seaforth debuted on Days of our Lives as Julie.

1979: Atwt's Lisa faced off with Hester at The Willows.

1995: Another World's Donna sang to a suspicious Matt.

1998: Brooke's Bedroom made it's debut on B&B."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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Peter Dalton (Stephen Elliott) won the election by a landslide.

1968: Susan Seaforth (Hayes) debuted as Julie Olson in Days of our Lives. She has been nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards for her work on the soap. Check out our 2010 in-depth interview with Mrs. Hayes and her husband and Days co-star,...