Today in Soap Opera History (September 23)

1978: Gary and Valene Ewing returned to Dallas.
1984: Primetime soap Paper Dolls premiered on ABC.
1986: One Life to Live's Jessica Buchanan was born.
2011: All My Children aired for the final time on ABC.

"More and more, I tend to read history. I often find it more up to date than the daily newspapers."
― Joe Murray

"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...

1942: On radio soap opera Clara, Lu & Em, Clara (Fran Allison) was sick.

1969: On The Doctors, Mike Powers (Peter Burnell) picked up Julie Forrest (Ginger Gerlach) at the train station, and brought her to his parent's home. Julie told Matt (James Pritchett) and Maggie (Lydia Bruce) about her upbringing.

1975: On Ryan's Hope, Jillian Coleridge (Nancy Addision) encountered Delia Reid Ryan (Ilene Kristen) at Frank's campaign headquarters and refused to give in to Delia's demand that she give up on the campaign.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 23)

1978: Gary and Valene Ewing returned to Dallas.
1984: Primetime soap Paper Dolls premiered on ABC.
1986: One Life to Live's Jessica Buchanan was born.
2011: All My Children aired for the final time on ABC.

"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...

1942: On radio soap opera Clara, Lu & Em, Clara (Fran Allison) was sick.

1969: On The Doctors, Mike Powers (Peter Burnell) picked up Julie Forrest (Ginger Gerlach) at the train station, and brought her to his parent's home. Julie told Matt (James Pritchett) and Maggie (Lydia Bruce) about her upbringing.

1975: On Ryan's Hope, Jillian Coleridge (Nancy Addision) encountered Delia Reid Ryan (Ilene Kristen) at Frank's campaign headquarters and refused to give in to Delia's demand that she give up on the campaign.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 23)

1978: Gary (and Val) returned to Dallas.  1984: Paper Dolls
premiered. 1986: OLTL's Jessica Buchanan was born.
2011: All My Children aired for the final time on ABC.

"History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves, and of our common humanity, so that we can better face the future."
― Robert Penn Warren

"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...

1942: On Clara, Lu & Em, Clara (Fran Allison) was sick. Clara, Lu & Em was the first network radio soap opera in 1930. The drama series began as a Northwestern University sorority sketch by Louise Starkey (Clara), Isobel Carothers (Lu) and Helen King (Em). When Carothers suddenly died January 8, 1937 at age 32, Starkey and King decided not to continue. They started the show again on 1942 with another of their Northwestern University friends, Harriet Allyn, portraying Lu.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 23)

1978: Gary & Val first appeared on DALLAS. 1980: EON's Nicole
diagnosed her own disease. 1984: PAPER DOLLS premiered.
2011: ALL MY CHILDREN ended its run on ABC.

"In history, a great volume is unrolled for our instruction, drawing the materials of future wisdom from the past errors and infirmities of mankind."
― Edmund Burke

"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...

1942: On CLARA, LU & EM, Clara (Fran Allison) was sick. CLARA, LU & EM was the first network radio soap opera in 1930. The drama series began as a Northwestern University sorority sketch by Louise Starkey (Clara), Isobel Carothers (Lu) and Helen King (Em). When Carothers suddenly died January 8, 1937 at age 32, Starkey and King decided not to continue. They started the show again on 1942 with another of their Northwestern University friends, Harriet Allyn, portraying Lu.

Victor Newman Pays Tribute to Katherine Chancellor at Her YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Memorial (Video)

"She always spoke the truth to me, no matter what, and I think I've become a better person for it. I know one thing: I will never meet the like of her again," says Victor Newman at Katherine Chancellor's memorial service on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS next week. Check out a preview below:

Y&R Preview: Katherine Chancellor Memorial Service

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS is honoring the memory of the late Jeanne Cooper by airing a special two-part memorial service for her beloved character, Katherine Chancellor, on Tuesday, Sept. 3 and Wednesday. Sept. 4. Cooper’s real-life son, actor Corbin Bernsen, returns to the show as Father Todd, who presides over the service.

[SPOILER ALERT]

In the new preview clip below, Father Todd says, "It's time to celebrate all that we loved about the great Katherine Chancellor." The most intriguing part may be the hint that "one of her last wishes will come true."

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Will Honor Katherine Chancellor In A Special Two-Part Memorial Service On Sept. 3 & 4

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS continues to honor the memory of the late daytime television icon Jeanne Cooper by airing a special two-part memorial service for her beloved character, Katherine Chancellor, on Tuesday, Sept. 3 and Wednesday. Sept. 4 on CBS. Cooper’s real-life son, actor Corbin Bernsen, returns to the show as Father Todd, who presides over the service.

Beau Kazer, Michael Damian, Patty Weaver, Tricia Cast, Lauralee Bell, Corbin Bernsen Returning To THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS For Katherine Chancellor Memorial

Patty Weaver

TV Guide Magazine has revealed that several stars will be returning to THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS for a "flashback-packed tribute" to Jeanne Cooper's beloved character, Katherine Chancellor. Lauralee Bell (Christine), Tricia Cast (Nina), Patty Weaver (Gina), Adrienne Frantz (Amber), Beau Kazer (Brock) and Michael Damian (Danny) will all be there.

[SPOILER ALERT]

On September 3 and 4, past and present citizens of Genoa City will gather at Chancellor Park (a new set that will remain prominent in the show) where they will pay their final respects to Mrs. Chancellor.

The ceremony will be conducted by Father Todd Williams, the recurring character played by Cooper's real-life son Corbin Bernsen. Damian will perform "That's When I'll Stop Loving You."

There's no word yet on other potential returnees such as Stephen Nichols (Tucker McCall), Thom Bierdz (Phillip Chancellor III), Marla Adams (Dina Mergeron) or one of the actresses that played Mackenzie Browning (Ashley Bashioum, Kelly Kruger, Rachel Kimsey, Clementine Ford).

RELATED:
- A Look Back at Brock Reynolds on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
- THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Day-By-Day Spoilers (Week of August 19th)

Today in Soap Opera History (September 23)

On this date in...

1978: DALLAS aired its first episode as a regular series following a successful five-part mini-series in the spring. In "Reunion, Part 1," Jock and Miss Ellie's middle son, Gary (David Ackroyd), a recovering alcoholic, returned to Southfork after a long absence. Meanwhile, Lucy discovered her mother, Valene (Joan Van Ark), working at a diner outside of town. This was the first appearance of Gary and Val, who were first married in 1961, then reunited and remarried in 1979 (with Gary played by Ted Shackelford). Miss Ellie gave them a house in Knots Landing as a wedding gift.

1980: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Miles (Joel Carruthers) was stunned when Nicole revealed she knew she had aplastic anemia. "Which category do I fall under? Am I one of those that recovers without any difficulty? Or am I one of those that dies?"

You'll also notice future AS THE WORLD TURNS executive producer Christopher Goutman as Matt Sharkey in the episode you can below: