Today in Soap Opera History (August 3)

1981: GH's Robert tried to steal the formula from Victor.
1984: Eileen Fulton returned to As the World Turns as Lisa.
1992: ATWT's Margo was raped.
2007: Passions' Sheridan decided to electrocute Theresa.

"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...

1922: Schenectady, New York radio station WGY aired a staged dramatic play for the first time. This tryout was a hit which led to weekly studio broadcasts of full-length stage plays.

1971: On The Guiding Light, Ken tried to intervene in an argument between his mother, Barbara (Barbara Berjer), and 18-year-old sister, Holly (Lynn Deerfield).

We Love Soaps Interview Archive: Eileen Fulton (October 2011)

Legendary As the World Turns actress Eileen Fulton turns 85 today. Back in October 2011, We Love Soaps spoke with Ms. Fulton in a three-part interview about her career in conjunction with the release of the first Soap Classics DVD collections. Read the interview below:

Part 1 - Ms. Fulton shared a spooky Douglas Marland story, and her thoughts on some of the episodes on the As the World Turns Classics DVD including Bob and Kim's 1985 wedding. "These weddings were shot mostly in the studio, and it took forever to film them!"

Part 2 - Ms. Fulton shared some of the ups and downs from her run including the writing regime of Stephen Black and Henry Stern. "I called them Black and Decker," Fulton joked. "Or Frick and Frack."

Part 3 - Ms. Fulton shared her thoughts on the ending for Lisa on As the World Turns. "Leaving Lisa standing alone in the hotel was disgusting," she said. "That was their 'Up yours!' to Lisa."

Today in Soap Opera History (August 3)

1981: GH's Robert tried to steal the formula from Victor.
1984: Eileen Fulton returned to As the World Turns as Lisa.
1992: ATWT's Margo was raped.
2007: Passions' Sheridan decided to electrocute Theresa.

"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...

1922: Schenectady, New York radio station WGY aired a staged dramatic play for the first time. This tryout was a hit which led to weekly studio broadcasts of full-length stage plays.

1971: On The Guiding Light, Ken tried to intervene in an argument between his mother, Barbara (Barbara Berjer), and 18-year-old sister, Holly (Lynn Deerfield).

Television Academy Unveils New Online Portal for 'The Interviews: An Oral History of Television'

The Television Academy Foundation has launched its new website for The Interviews: An Oral History of Television, featuring never-before-seen interviews with many of television’s most beloved stars, show creators and behind-the-scenes innovators.

It is the world’s largest such collection available online.

For more than 20 years, the Foundation has been recording and preserving the first-person stories of television’s creation and its evolution, amassing the largest oral history archive on the medium and, since 2008, making it available online.

That website houses a curated and fully searchable, cross-referenced online archive of over 4,000 hours of uncensored interviews with icons from television's earliest days to current stars and visionaries. It’s an unmatched collection of in-depth conversations with industry professionals from many disciplines and in all genres in television.

Today in Soap Opera History (May 18)

1960: Eileen Fulton debuted on As the World Turns.  1979: Pat
struggled to get past his religious differences with Nancy on
Ryan's Hope. 1990: The final episode of Falcon Crest.
1994: General Hospital's Maxie received B.J.'s heart.

"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...

1960: Eileen Fulton debuted in the role of Lisa Miller on As The World Turns. She would play the iconic role for most of the next 50 years until the show's cancellation in 2010. The character was also was used as the focal point of the primetime spin-off Our Private World in 1965. Read our 2011 interview with Fulton here. And check out our 25 Biggest Blunders in Daytime Soap Opera History list where we chastise ATWT for the pitiful way the show ended the character of Lisa.

1967: On Days of our Lives, Tom (Macdonald Carey) called Susan (Denise Alexander) to get her back to the hospital because there were complications with Dickie.

Richard Barclay NYC Tribute Show to Feature Soap Opera Legends Eileen Fulton & Ilene Kristen

In October, the entertainment industry lost a powerful friend, Richard Barclay, a celebrated singer/actor and producer/director who passed away after an eight-month battle with pancreatic cancer. On May 26, Richard Skipper is presenting a celebration of Barclay's life and reuniting two soap opera legends in the progress. The Richard Barclay Memorial show will feature Frank Basile, Julie Budd, Eileen Fulton (Lisa, As the World Turns), Richard Holbrook, Ilene Kristen (Delia, Ryan's Hope; Roxy, One Life to Live) sharing memories and musical entertainment, led by musical director Rolf Barnes.

The Saturday night show will start at 8 p.m. at Don't Tell Mama in New York (343 W 46th St). There is a $25.00 cover charge and a 2 drink minimum per person. Proceeds will benefit Career Bridges. Reservations can by made after 4 p.m. daily at (212) 757-0788 after 4 PM or online at donttellmamanyc.com.

Barclay was more than a great artist ... he was a kind, compassionate, and generous mentor.

Richard Barclay started his long career in the 1950s as a dancer performing with Mitzi Gaynor and Lisa Kirk in their club acts. He took over - at the last minute - for an ailing Darryl Hickman (who had replaced Robert Morse) as J. Pierpont Finch in the Broadway production of "How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying." After that, Barclay played Albert Peterson opposite Chita Rivera and Brenda Lee in "Bye Bye Birdie"; appeared with Nanette Fabray in "No, No Nanette"; Carole Cook in "Kismet"; and with Eileen Fulton in dark musical, "Carnival," the beginning of a very long friendship between the two.

By the early 1970s, Barclay teamed with Bob Deubel to form Concepts Unlimited, which produced several documentaries for film and television. He produced the documentary, Norman Rockwell's World, winning an Academy Award for the Best Documentary Short Subject. He and Bob also produced the TV documentary, The American Woman, narrated by Patricia Neal and featured Celeste Holm, Helen Gallagher, Frank Langella, Claudia McNeil, Joanna Miles, Melba Moore, Kate Mulgrew, Lois Nettleton, George Rose and Jamie Ross. They also produced Verse Person Singular, starring Richard Kiley, and shown on PBS' American Playhouse.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 3)

1981: GH's Robert tried to steal the formula from Victor.
1984: Eileen Fulton returned to As the World Turns as Lisa.
1992: ATWT's Margo was raped.
2007: Passions' Sheridan decided to electrocute Theresa to save Luis.

"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...

1922: Schenectady, New York radio station WGY aired a staged dramatic play for the first time. This tryout was a hit which led to weekly studio broadcasts of full-length stage plays.

1971: On The Guiding Light, Ken tried to intervene in an argument between his mother, Barbara (Barbara Berjer), and 18-year-old sister, Holly (Lynn Deerfield).

Today in Soap Opera History (May 18)

1960: Eileen Fulton debuted on As the World Turns.  1979: Pat
struggled to get past his religious differences with Nancy on
Ryan's Hope. 1990: The final episode of Falcon Crest.
1994: General Hospital's Maxie received B.J.'s heart.

"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...

1960: Eileen Fulton debuted in the role of Lisa Miller on As The World Turns. She would play the iconic role for most of the next 50 years until the show's cancellation in 2010. The character was also was used as the focal point of the primetime spin-off Our Private World in 1965. Read our 2011 interview with Fulton here. And check out our 25 Biggest Blunders in Daytime Soap Opera History list where we chastise ATWT for the pitiful way the show ended the character of Lisa.

1967: On Days of our Lives, Tom (Macdonald Carey) called Susan (Denise Alexander) to get her back to the hospital because there were complications with Dickie.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 3)

1981: General Hospital's Robert tried to steal the formula from
Victor. 1984: Eileen Fulton returns to As the World Turns as
Lisa. 1992: ATWT's Margo was raped. 2007: Passions' Sheridan
decided to electrocute Theresa to save Luis.

"If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree."
― Michael Crichton

"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...

1922: Schenectady, New York radio station WGY aired a staged dramatic play for the first time. This tryout was a hit which led to weekly studio broadcasts of full-length stage plays.

1978: On Another World, Susan threw Liz (Irene Dailey) out when she harped on Olive and Dan.

1981: On General Hospital, Heather (Robin Mattson) told Joe (Doug Sheehan) he wasn't a man at all, just a puppet, with Captain Ramsey pulling all the strings. Meanwhile, Robert (Tristan Rogers) tried to get the formula from Victor's (Thaao Penghlis) wallet from under his pillow but was stopped every time from a restless Victor. Hearing a noise, Robert rushed out just as Tiffany and Victor woke up. Victor saw Max wandering the deck and immediately suspected he tried to steal his formula.

Today in Soap Opera History (May 18)

1960: Eileen Fulton debuted on As the World Turns.  1979: Pat
struggled to get past his religious differences with Nancy on
Ryan's Hope. 1990: The final episode of Falcon Crest.
1994: General Hospital's Maxie received B.J.'s heart.

"History never looks like history when you are living through it."
― John W. Gardner

"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: Eileen Fulton debuted in the role of Lisa Miller on As The World Turns. She would play the iconic role for most of the next 50 years until the show's cancellation in 2010. The character was also was used as the focal point of the primetime spin-off Our Private World in 1965. Read our 2011 interview with Fulton here. And check out our 25 Biggest Blunders in Daytime Soap Opera History list where we chastise ATWT for the pitiful way the show ended the character of Lisa.

1967: On Days of our Lives, Tom (Macdonald Carey) called Susan (Denise Alexander) to get her back to the hospital because there were complications with Dickie.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 3)

1981: General Hospital's Robert tried to steal the formula from
Victor. 1984: Eileen Fulton returns to As the World Turns as
Lisa. 1992: ATWT's Margo was raped. 2007: Passions' Sheridan
decided to electrocute Theresa to save Luis.

"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again."
― Maya Angelou

"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...

1922: Schenectady, New York radio station WGY aired a staged dramatic play for the first time. This tryout was a hit which led to weekly studio broadcasts of full-length stage plays.

1978: On Another World, Susan threw Liz (Irene Dailey) out when she harped on Olive and Dan.

1981: On General Hospital, Heather (Robin Mattson) told Joe (Doug Sheehan) he wasn't a man at all, just a puppet, with Captain Ramsey pulling all the strings. Meanwhile, Robert (Tristan Rogers) tried to get the formula from Victor's (Thaao Penghlis) wallet from under his pillow but was stopped every time from a restless Victor. Hearing a noise, Robert rushed out just as Tiffany and Victor woke up. Victor saw Max wandering the deck and immediately suspected he tried to steal his formula.

Today in Soap Opera History (May 18)

1960: Eileen Fulton debuted on As the World Turns.  1979: Pat
struggled to get past his religious differences with Nancy on
Ryan's Hope. 1990: The final episode of Falcon Crest.
1994: General Hospital's Maxie received B.J.'s heart.

"History never looks like history when you are living through it."
― John W. Gardner

"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: Eileen Fulton debuted in the role of Lisa Miller on As The World Turns. She would play the iconic role for most of the next 50 years until the show's cancellation in 2010. The character was also was used as the focal point of the primetime spin-off Our Private World in 1965. Read our 2011 interview with Fulton here. And check out our 25 Biggest Blunders in Daytime Soap Opera History list where we chastise ATWT for the pitiful way the show ended the character of Lisa.

1967: On Days of our Lives, Tom (Macdonald Carey) called Susan (Denise Alexander) to get her back to the hospital because there were complications with Dickie.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 3)

1981: General Hospital's Robert tried to steal the formula from
Victor. 1984: Eileen Fulton returns to As the World Turns as
Lisa. 1992: ATWT's Margo was raped. 2007: Passions' Sheridan
decided to electrocute Theresa to save Luis.

"To believe what has not occurred in history will not occur at all, is to argue disbelief in the dignity of man."
- Mahatma Gandhi

"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...

1922: Schenectady, New York radio station WGY aired a staged dramatic play for the first time. This tryout was a hit which led to weekly studio broadcasts of full-length stage plays.

1978: On Another World, Susan threw Liz (Irene Dailey) out when she harped on Olive and Dan.

1981: On General Hospital, Heather (Robin Mattson) told Joe (Doug Sheehan) he wasn't a man at all, just a puppet, with Captain Ramsey pulling all the strings. Meanwhile, Robert (Tristan Rogers) tried to get the formula from Victor's (Thaao Penghlis) wallet from under his pillow but was stopped every time from a restless Victor. Hearing a noise, Robert rushed out just as Tiffany and Victor woke up. Victor saw Max wandering the deck and immediately suspected he tried to steal his formula.

Today in Soap Opera History (May 18)

1960: Eileen Fulton debuted on As the World Turns.  1979: Pat
struggled to get past his religious differences with Nancy on
Ryan's Hope. 1990: The final episode of Falcon Crest.
1994: General Hospital's Maxie received B.J.'s heart.

"The whole past is the procession of the present."
- Thomas Carlyle

"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: Eileen Fulton debuted in the role of Lisa Miller on As The World Turns. She would play the iconic role for most of the next 50 years until the show's cancellation in 2010. The character was also was used as the focal point of the primetime spin-off Our Private World in 1965. Read our 2011 interview with Fulton here.

1967: On Days of our Lives, Tom (Macdonald Carey) called Susan (Denise Alexander) to get her back to the hospital because there were complications with Dickie.

NEWS: Deidre Hall, Kin Shriner & Robin Mattson, Eric Braeden, Eileen Fulton, Trevor St. John

DAYS OF OUR LIVES star Deidre Hall Previews John and Marlena's Reunion
What happens in their first scene together? And exactly where does it take place?

"I'm going through the park," previews Deidre Hall (Marlena) in character. "I stop to do something in my handbag, and I hear, 'Doc.' We all get chills, because nobody else calls her that."

"We had one scene where I turn on him and go after him," recounts Hall. "He tries to involve himself in something that's not really his business, and I turn on him. 'Where were you? Why weren't you here? I have so many reasons to be angry at you...'"

EDITOR'S NOTE: Deidre Hall is nominated for Best Supporting Actress - Comedy at the 5th Annual Indie Series Awards.

NEWS: ABC's Motion Denied in Prospect Park Lawsuit; Civil Rights Drama Being Developed For AMC; Eileen Fulton; Taylor Miller, Kevin Alejandro, Barry Watson

ABC Fails To Trim Prospect Park Soap Suit
Deadline.com reports that a judge has denied ABC's motion to strike a component of Prospect Park's amended complaint against the network (in which PP requested an extension for its license to AMC and OLTL and to be excused from its payment for the license). "I'm going to let them leave it in," Judge Robert Hess said, per Deadline. ABC has 20 days to respond to the amended complaint.

TRUE BLOOD Alum Developing Civil Rights Drama For AMC
BOMBINGHAM takes place in the city that was the epicenter of the modern civil rights movement. The storytelling will shift time frames between past and present to tell the story of a murder that is discovered 50 years later and threatens to upend the fragile peace in the city between whites and African-Americans. The title refers to the city’s nickname in the black community, which suffered a slew of racially motivated bombings and other violence from the late 1940s through the 1960s.

Kevin Alejandro To Co-Star In CLEMENTINE
The ABC drama centers on troubled 28-year-old psychic Clementine Ross (Sarah Snook) who sees her life begin to change in unexpected ways when she decides to stop running from her past. Alejandro will play Charlie Madsen, Clementine’s ex-boyfriend and father to her young daughter, Lucy, a former bad-boy who transformed into a responsible man when he realized he was going to have to raise Lucy on his own due to Clementine’s personal struggles.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 3)

On this date in...

1918: Future soap legend Larry Haines, best remembered for his 35 year run as Stu Bergman on SEARCH FOR TOMORROW, was born. Haines died on July 17, 2008 at age 89.

1922: Schenectady, New York radio station WGY aired a staged dramatic play for the first time. This tryout was a hit which led to weekly studio broadcasts of full-length stage plays.

1978: On ANOTHER WORLD, Susan threw Liz (Irene Dailey) out when she harped on Olive and Dan.

CAPITOL stars Carolyn Jones (Myrna) and
Constance Towers (Clarissa)

1983: Actress Carolyn Jones died at age 53. Best known for playing Morticia in THE ADDAMS FAMILY, Jones starred as Myrna Clegg on the CBS daytime soap CAPITOL in its original 1982 cast, playing the role into 1983 despite having been diagnosed with colon cancer in 1981. She had aggressive treatment for the cancer, but it returned during her time on CAPITOL and she was told it was terminal. Jones told her sister that she wanted her epitaph to say, "She gave joy to the world."

1984: Eileen Fulton made her first appearance on AS THE WORLD TURNS as Lisa after being off the show for a year and a half Lisa arrived home and found her husband, Whit McColl, dead on the floor.

Today in Soap Opera History (May 18)

On this date in...

Eileen Fulton

1960: Eileen Fulton debuted in the role of Lisa Miller on AS THE WORLD TURNS. She would play the iconic role for most of the next 50 years until the show's cancellation in 2010.  The character was also was used as the focal point of the primetime spin-off OUR PRIVATE WORLD in 1965.  Read our 2011 interview with Fulton here.

1967: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Tom (Macdonald Carey) called Susan (Denise Alexander) to get her back to the hospital because there were complications with Dickie.

CLASSIC CLIP: Michael Forest in AS THE WORLD TURNS (January 1980)

Actor Michael Forest is celebrating his 84th birthday today. His seven decade career includes soap opera stints as Nick Andropoulos in AS THE WORLD TURNS and Jim Davis in THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS. Check out a rare clip of his AS THE WORLD TURNS introduction in January 1980 below with the legendary Eileen Fulton playing Lisa Colman. Nick and Lisa had a fun chemistry, but Nick eventually married Kim Stewart.

Happy 57th Anniversary, AS THE WORLD TURNS! (Rare Classic Scenes)

AS THE WORLD TURNS premiered 57 years ago today on April 2, 1956. To celebrate the occasion, We Love Soaps presents four rare classic scenes featuring some of the most beloved characters in the show's history. Check them out below: