Today in Soap Opera History (June 24)

1966: The final episode of Never Too Young aired on ABC.
1983: Guiding Light's Nola & Quint were married.
1987: As the World Turns' Iva blurted out the truth about Lily.
1999: A gorilla plotted to interrupt Cass & Lila's wedding on Another World.

"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...

1946: Procter & Gamble radio soap opera Life Can Be Beautiful moved to the 3 p.m. ET timeslot on the NBC Radio network. The show had always run in the mornings previously. It would remain in this new timeslot until it went off the air in 1954.

1963: On Ben Jerrod, Abel Forsyte (Don Collier) made a surprising discovery.

Thanks to Jeff for sending in the item above.

Another World's John
& Pat were married.

1965: On Another World, Pat Matthews (Susan Trustman) married John Randolph (Michael M. Ryan) in the Matthews living room with Reverend Carlson officiating.

1966: On The Guiding Light, Johnny Fletcher (Don Scardino) wanted to move out.

1966: ABC aired the final episode of daytime soap opera Never Too Young.   The series, written by David Robert Kanter and Ron Sproat., starred Tony Dow as Chet, Cindy Carol as Susan, David Watson as Alfy, Jaclyn Carmichael as Joy, Norman Rambo as Tim, Michael Blodgett as Tad, Pat Connolly as Barbara, Tommy Rettig as JoJo, Patrice Wymore as Rhoda, and John Lupton as Frank..  ABC replaced Never Too Young with Dark Shadows in its afternoon lineup the following Monday.

Frank Parker Dead at 79

Longtime Days of our Lives actor Frank Parker died September 16 in Vacaville, California, from complications of Parkinson's disease and dementia. He was 79.

Parker played Grandpa Shawn Brady on the NBC soap Days of our Lives from 1983 until he retired in 2008. He was given a hero's exit from the show: His character was on a sabotaged airplane and gave up his oxygen mask to save his son, Bo (Peter Reckell). He also had smaller roles on the daytime dramas General Hospital (as Paddy Kelly), The Young and the Restless and Never Too Young.

Born on July 1, 1939 in Darby, Pennsylvania, Frank Russell Parker earned an acting degree from Carnegie Tech in 1962 and moved to Culver City to pursue his career. By the mid-1960s, he was guesting on such TV series as Gomer Pyle: USMC, Lost in Space, Daktari and Hogan's Heroes. He went on to work steadily in the 1970s and into the mid-1980s, landing guest roles on such memorable series as Mission: Impossible, Mod Squad, Little House on the Prairie, S.W.A.T., Wonder Woman, The Six Million Dollar Man, Battlestar Galactica and Quincy, M.E.

He also appeared occasionally on the big screen, including an uncredited role in the star-laden 1976 World War II epic Midway, the second film presented in the seat-rattling Sensurround format.

Parker is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters, Danielle Buckles and Lindsay Parker; his grandson, Jaxson Dale; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 24)

1966: Final episode of ABC's Never Too Young. 1983: Guiding
Light's Nola & Quint were married. 1987: As the World Turns'
Iva blurted out the truth about Lily. 1999: A gorilla plotted
to interrupt Cass & Lila's wedding on Another World.

"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...

1946: Procter & Gamble radio soap opera Life Can Be Beautiful moved to the 3 p.m. ET timeslot on the NBC Radio network. The show had always run in the mornings previously. It would remain in this new timeslot until it went off the air in 1954.

1963: On Ben Jerrod, Abel Forsyte (Don Collier) made a surprising discovery.

Thanks to Jeff for sending in the item above.

Another World's John
& Pat were married.

1965: On Another World, Pat Matthews (Susan Trustman) married John Randolph (Michael M. Ryan) in the Matthews living room with Reverend Carlson officiating.

1966: On The Guiding Light, Johnny Fletcher (Don Scardino) wanted to move out.

1966: ABC aired the final episode of daytime soap opera Never Too Young.   The series, written by David Robert Kanter and Ron Sproat., starred Tony Dow as Chet, Cindy Carol as Susan, David Watson as Alfy, Jaclyn Carmichael as Joy, Norman Rambo as Tim, Michael Blodgett as Tad, Pat Connolly as Barbara, Tommy Rettig as JoJo, Patrice Wymore as Rhoda, and John Lupton as Frank..  ABC replaced Never Too Young with Dark Shadows in its afternoon lineup the following Monday.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 24)

1966: Final episode of ABC's Never Too Young. 1983: Guiding
Light's Nola & Quint were married. 1987: As the World Turns'
Iva blurted out the truth about Lily. 1999: A gorilla plotted
to interrupt Cass & Lila's wedding on Another World.

"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...

1946: Procter & Gamble radio soap opera Life Can Be Beautiful moved to the 3 p.m. ET timeslot on the NBC Radio network. The show had always run in the mornings previously. It would remain in this new timeslot until it went off the air in 1954.

1963: On Ben Jerrod, Abel Forsyte (Don Collier) made a surprising discovery.

Thanks to Jeff for sending in the item above.

Another World's John
& Pat were married.

1965: On Another World, Pat Matthews (Susan Trustman) married John Randolph (Michael M. Ryan) in the Matthews living room with Reverend Carlson officiating.

1966: On The Guiding Light, Johnny Fletcher (Don Scardino) wanted to move out.

1966: ABC aired the final episode of daytime soap opera Never Too Young.   The series, written by David Robert Kanter and Ron Sproat., starred Tony Dow as Chet, Cindy Carol as Susan, David Watson as Alfy, Jaclyn Carmichael as Joy, Norman Rambo as Tim, Michael Blodgett as Tad, Pat Connolly as Barbara, Tommy Rettig as JoJo, Patrice Wymore as Rhoda, and John Lupton as Frank..  ABC replaced Never Too Young with Dark Shadows in its afternoon lineup the following Monday.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 24)

1966: Final episode of ABC's Never Too Young. 1983: Guiding
Light's Nola & Quint were married. 1987: As the World Turns'
Iva blurted out the truth about Lily. 1999: A gorilla plotted
to interrupt Cass & Lila's wedding on Another World.

"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...

1946: Procter & Gamble radio soap opera Life Can Be Beautiful moved to the 3 p.m. ET timeslot on the NBC Radio network. The show had always run in the mornings previously. It would remain in this new timeslot until it went off the air in 1954.

Another World's John
& Pat were married.

1963: On Ben Jerrod, Abel Forsyte (Don Collier) made a surprising discovery.

Thanks to Jeff for sending in the item above.

1965: On Another World, Pat Matthews (Susan Trustman) married John Randolph (Michael M. Ryan) in the Matthews living room with Reverend Carlson officiating.

1966: On The Guiding Light, Johnny Fletcher (Don Scardino) wanted to move out.

1966: ABC aired the final episode of daytime soap opera Never Too Young.   The series, written by David Robert Kanter and Ron Sproat., starred Tony Dow as Chet, Cindy Carol as Susan, David Watson as Alfy, Jaclyn Carmichael as Joy, Norman Rambo as Tim, Michael Blodgett as Tad, Pat Connolly as Barbara, Tommy Rettig as JoJo, Patrice Wymore as Rhoda, and John Lupton as Frank..  ABC replaced Never Too Young with Dark Shadows in its afternoon lineup the following Monday.

FLASHBACK: A Complete, Concise Yearly History of TV Soap Operas - 1947 to 1977 (Part 5)

Another World starred Jacqueline Courtney, Vera Allen and Susan Trustman
as Alice, Granny and Pat Matthews.

A Complete, Concise Yearly History of TV Soap Operas

The Soap Box
Vol. III No. 10 September 1978
by John Genovese

(continued from Part 4)

1964
Another slow-but-sure hit came on May 4 when NBC cashed in on Irna Phillips' knack for family drama. Another World began as the story of the Matthews family following the death of attorney Will Matthews. The role of Will's flighty and domineering widow Liz Matthews was originated by Sarah Cunningham but soon taken over by Audra Lindley. John Beal was Jim, Virginia Dwyer was Mary, Susan Trustman was Pat, and Jacqueline Courtney was Alice. A Procter & Gamble Production, it was the first soap to deal with the subject of abortion and also the first to expand to a full hour on January 6, 1975. William J. Bell originally co-wrote the series.

Alas, this sudden string of success was short-lived. On October 5, 1964, The Young Marrieds made its mark on ABC as another West Coast serial. Created by James Elward (The Secret Storm), it revolved around three married couples in New York City. Peggy McCay, Paul Picerni, Susan Brown (now Dr. Gail Adamson, General Hospital), Mike Mikler, Norma Connolly and Barry Russo starred. Comedy actor and director Charles Grodin, Susan Seaforth, Irene Tedrow and Constance Moore held other roles. It expired March 25, 1966.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 24)

1966: Final episode of ABC's Never Too Young. 1983: Guiding
Light's Nola & Quint were married. 1987: As the World Turns'
Iva blurted out the truth about Lily. 1999: A gorilla plotted
to interrupt Cass & Lila's wedding on Another World.

"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...

1946: Procter & Gamble radio soap opera Life Can Be Beautiful moved to the 3 p.m. ET timeslot on the NBC Radio network. The show had always run in the mornings previously. It would remain in this new timeslot until it went off the air in 1954.

Another World's John
& Pat were married.

1965: On Another World, Pat Matthews (Susan Trustman) married John Randolph (Michael M. Ryan) in the Matthews living room with Reverend Carlson officiating.

1966: On The Guiding Light, Johnny Fletcher (Don Scardino) wanted to move out.

1966: ABC aired the final episode of daytime soap opera Never Too Young.   The series, written by David Robert Kanter and Ron Sproat., starred Tony Dow as Chet, Cindy Carol as Susan, David Watson as Alfy, Jaclyn Carmichael as Joy, Norman Rambo as Tim, Michael Blodgett as Tad, Pat Connolly as Barbara, Tommy Rettig as JoJo, Patrice Wymore as Rhoda, and John Lupton as Frank..  ABC replaced Never Too Young with Dark Shadows in its afternoon lineup the following Monday.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 24)

1966: Final episode of ABC's Never Too Young. 1983: Guiding
Light's Nola & Quint were married. 1987: As the World Turns'
Iva blurted out the truth about Lily. 1999: A gorilla plotted
to interrupt Cass & Lila's wedding on Another World.

"History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies."
- Alexis de Tocqueville

"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...

1946: Procter & Gamble radio soap opera Life Can Be Beautiful moved to the 3 p.m. ET timeslot on the NBC Radio network. The show had always run in the mornings previously. It would remain in this new timeslot until it went off the air in 1954.

Another World's John
& Pat were married.

1965: On Another World, Pat Matthews (Susan Trustman) married John Randolph (Michael M. Ryan) in the Matthews living room with Reverend Carlson officiating.

1966: On The Guiding Light, Johnny Fletcher (Don Scardino) wanted to move out.

1966: ABC aired the final episode of daytime soap opera Never Too Young.   The series, written by David Robert Kanter and Ron Sproat., starred Tony Dow as Chet, Cindy Carol as Susan, David Watson as Alfy, Jaclyn Carmichael as Joy, Norman Rambo as Tim, Michael Blodgett as Tad, Pat Connolly as Barbara, Tommy Rettig as JoJo, Patrice Wymore as Rhoda, and John Lupton as Frank..  ABC replaced Never Too Young with Dark Shadows in its afternoon lineup the following Monday.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 24)

On this date in...

1946: Procter & Gamble radio soap opera LIFE CAN BE BEAUTIFUL moved to its 3 p.m. ET timeslot on the NBC Radio network. The show had always run in the mornings previously. It would remain in this new timeslot until it went off the air in 1954.

1965: On ANOTHER WORLD, Pat and John's wedding continued and they were officially married by Reverend Carlson.

1966: On THE GUIDING LIGHT, Johnny Fletcher (Don Scardino) wanted to move out.

1966: ABC aired the final episode of its daytime soap opera NEVER TOO YOUNG.

Classic Soap Clip of the Day

"Never Too Young" - June 24, 1966