Today in Soap Opera History (June 18)

1984: Guiding Light's H.B. questioned Reva's feelings.
1987: Y&R's Brenda Dickson aired for the final time as Jill.
2001: Spyder Games premiered on MTV.
2010: Liz Foster died on The Young and the Restless.

"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...

1963: On Ben Jerrod, Agnes (Jeanne Baird) was rebuffed when she sought information.

Thanks to Jeff for sending in the item above.

1965: On General Hospital, Eddie Weeks (Doug Lambert) and Angie Costello (Jana Taylor) started down a path leading to tragedy.

Thanks to Jeff for sending in the item above.

1965: On The Young Marrieds, Walter Reynolds (Michael T. Mikler) received cautious advice from his lawyer.

Thanks to Jeff for sending in the item above.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 20)

1979: The Edge of Night's Trent arrived in Monticello.
1985: Santa Barbara's Augusta crashed into Brick and Janice.
1990: Knots Landing's Danny wanted to hurt Gary.
2001: MTV aired the final episode of Spyder Games.

"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 (Patricia Ryan) and David (Richad Kollmar) Naughton spent an evening at home.

1952: The first commercial UHF television station in the world, KPTV, began broadcasting in Portland, Oregon on channel 27.

1968: On Another World, Bill Matthews declared to his mother, Liz (Audra Lindley): "As far as I'm concerned, I have no mother."

1979: On As the World Turns, Kim Stewart (Kathryn Hays) and the Stewart family dealt with the aftermath of Dan's death, while Melinda Gray (Ariane Munker, now Ariana Chase) turned to her sister, Barbara Ryan (Colleen Zenk), for comfort after Beau told her in a letter he was never coming back to Oakdale.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 18)

1984: Guiding Light's H.B. questioned Reva's feelings.
1987: Y&R's Brenda Dickson aired for the final time as Jill.
2001: Spyder Games premiered on MTV.
2010: Liz Foster died on The Young and the Restless.

"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...

1963: On Ben Jerrod, Agnes (Jeanne Baird) was rebuffed when she sought information.

Thanks to Jeff for sending in the item above.

1965: On General Hospital, Eddie Weeks (Doug Lambert) and Angie Costello (Jana Taylor) started down a path leading to tragedy.

Thanks to Jeff for sending in the item above.

1965: On The Young Marrieds, Walter Reynolds (Michael T. Mikler) received cautious advice from his lawyer.

Thanks to Jeff for sending in the item above.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 20)

1979: The Edge of Night's Trent arrived in Monticello.
1985: Santa Barbara's Augusta crashed into Brick and Janice.
1990: Knots Landing's Danny wanted to hurt Gary.
2001: MTV aired the final episode of Spyder Games.

"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...

1948: On radio soap opera Claudia, Claudia (Patricia Ryan) and David (Richad Kollmar) Naughton spent an evening at home.

1952: The first commercial UHF television station in the world, KPTV, began broadcasting in Portland, Oregon on channel 27.

1968: On Another World, Bill Matthews declared to his mother, Liz (Audra Lindley): "As far as I'm concerned, I have no mother."

1979: On As the World Turns, Kim Stewart (Kathryn Hays) and the Stewart family dealt with the aftermath of Dan's death, while Melinda Gray (Ariane Munker, now Ariana Chase) turned to her sister, Barbara Ryan (Colleen Zenk), for comfort after Beau told her in a letter he was never coming back to Oakdale.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 18)

1984: Guiding Light's H.B. questioned Reva's feelings.
1987: Y&R's Brenda Dickson aired for the final time as Jill.
2001: Spyder Games premiered on MTV.
2010: Liz Foster died on The Young and the Restless.

"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...

1963: On Ben Jerrod, Agnes (Jeanne Baird) was rebuffed when she sought information.

Thanks to Jeff for sending in the item above.

1965: On General Hospital, Eddie Weeks (Doug Lambert) and Angie Costello (Jana Taylor) started down a path leading to tragedy.

Thanks to Jeff for sending in the item above.

1965: On The Young Marrieds, Walter Reynolds (Michael T. Mikler) received cautious advice from his lawyer.

Thanks to Jeff for sending in the item above.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 20)

1979: The Edge of Night's Trent arrived in Monticello.
1985: Santa Barbara's Augusta crashed into Brick and Janice.
1990: Knots Landing's Danny wanted to hurt Gary.
2001: MTV aired the final episode of Spyder Games.

"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...

1948: On radio soap opera Claudia, Claudia (Patricia Ryan) and David (Richad Kollmar) Naughton spent an evening at home.

1952: The first commercial UHF television station in the world, KPTV, began broadcasting in Portland, Oregon on channel 27.

1968: On Another World, Bill Matthews declared to his mother, Liz (Audra Lindley): "As far as I'm concerned, I have no mother."

1979: On As the World Turns, Kim Stewart (Kathryn Hays) and the Stewart family dealt with the aftermath of Dan's death, while Melinda Gray (Ariane Munker, now Ariana Chase) turned to her sister, Barbara Ryan (Colleen Zenk), for comfort after Beau told her in a letter he was never coming back to Oakdale.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 18)

1984: Guiding Light's H.B. questioned Reva's feelings.
1987: Brenda Dickson aired for the final time on The Young
and the Restless.  2001: Spyder Games premiered on MTV.
2010: Y&R's Liz Foster died.

"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...

1963: On Ben Jerrod, Agnes (Jeanne Baird) was rebuffed when she sought information.

Thanks to Jeff for sending in the item above.

1965: On General Hospital, Eddie (Doug Lambert) and Angie (Jana Taylor) started down a path leading to tragedy.

Thanks to Jeff for sending in the item above.

1965: On The Young Marrieds, Walter (Michael T. Miller) received cautious advice from his lawyer.

Thanks to Jeff for sending in the item above.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 20)

1979: The Edge of Night's Trent arrived in Monticello.
1985: Santa Barbara's Augusta crashed into Brick and Janice.
1990: Knots Landing's Danny wanted to hurt Gary.
2001: MTV aired the final episode of Spyder Games.

"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...

1948: On radio soap opera Claudia, Claudia (Patricia Ryan) and David (Richad Kollmar) Naughton spent an evening at home.

1952: The first commercial UHF television station in the world, KPTV, began broadcasting in Portland, Oregon on channel 27.

1968: On Another World, Bill Matthews declared to his mother, Liz (Audra Lindley): "As far as I'm concerned, I have no mother."

1979: On As the World Turns, Kim Stewart (Kathryn Hays) and the Stewart family dealt with the aftermath of Dan's death, while Melinda Gray (Ariane Munker, now Ariana Chase) turned to her sister, Barbara Ryan (Colleen Zenk), for comfort after Beau told her in a letter he was never coming back to Oakdale.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 18)

1984: Guiding Light's H.B. wanted answers from Reva.
1987: Brenda Dickson aired for the final time on The Young
and the Restless.  2001: Spyder Games premiered on MTV.
2010: Y&R's Liz Foster died.

"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...

1974 Don Frabotta debuted in the role of Dave on Days of our Lives.

1981: On Another World, Cecile (Nancy Frangione) wanted to know if Jamie (Richard Bekins) was the father of Marianne's baby Meanwhile, Mac (Douglass Watson) told Mitch (William Gray Espy) that Rachel sleeping with Mitch cost her Amanda.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 18)

1984: Guiding Light's H.B. wanted answers from Reva.
1987: Brenda Dickson aired for the final time on The Young
and the Restless.  2001: Spyder Games premiered on MTV.
2010: Y&R's Liz Foster died.

"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...

1974 Don Frabotta debuted in the role of Dave on Days of our Lives.

1981: Donald May debuted as Grant Wheeler on Texas.

1984: On Guiding Light, H.B. (Larry Gates) wanted to know if Reva (Kim Zimmer) was sorry that they got married.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 20)

1979: EON's Trent arrived in Monticello. 1985: GH's Bobbie had
to admit she was snooping in Laurelton. 1990: KL's Danny
wanted to hurt Gary. 2001: MTV's SPYDER GAMES ended its run.

"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...

1948: On radio soap opera CLAUDIA, Claudia and David spent an evening at home.

1952: The first commercial UHF television station in the world, KPTV, began broadcasting in Portland, Oregon on channel 27.

1968: On ANOTHER WORLD, Bill declared to Liz (Audra Lindley): "As far as I'm concerned, I have no mother."

1979: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Kim (Kathryn Hays) and the Stewart family dealt with the aftermath of Dan's death, while Melinda (Ariane Munker, now Ariana Chase) turned to her sister, Barbara (Colleen Zenk), for comfort after Beau told her in a letter he was never coming back to Oakdale.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 18)

On this date in...

1974 Don Frabotta aired for the first time as Dave on DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

1981: Donald May debuted as Grant Wheeler on TEXAS.

1984: On ALL MY CHILDREN, Greg (Laurence Lau) and Jenny (Kim Delaney) talked about having children.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 14)

On this date in...

1945: Actress Brenda Benet was born.  She died in 1982 at age 36 while starring in DAYS OF OUR LIVES.  Read her story here.

1967: On DARK SHADOWS, Barnabas decided that Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott) must die.

1975: On ANOTHER WORLD, Mac threw Iris out of the house.

1979: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Steve and Deborah recalled happier times.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 23)

On this date in...

2002: AS THE WORLD TURNS went on location to Virginia Commonwealth University as part of its "Catch Us If You Can" Tour. In the story, Aaron (Agim Kaba), his girlfriend Lucy (Peyton List), and their friend Alison (Jessica Dunphy) hit the road after Aaron is falsely accused of setting a fire. Determined to hide out until they can prove Aaron’s innocence, the three characters travel to ten college campuses hoping to elude both their parents and the law.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 14)

On this date in...

1967: DARK SHADOWS aired in color for the first time. On the episode, directed by Lela Swift, Barnabas decided that Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott) must die!

1979: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Steve and Deborah recalled happier times.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Mary Kay Place (ex-Loretta, MARY HARTMAN, MARY HARTMAN) - 63
Patty Weaver (Gina, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Bernadette, SPYDER GAMES; ex-Trish, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 55
Keri Lynn Pratt (ex-Amy, BROTHERS & SISTERS) - 32
Aubrey Dollar (ex-Marina, GUIDING LIGHT) - 30

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Jackée Harry (ex-Lily, ANOTHER WORLD) - 54
Rhonda Ross Kendrick (ex-Toni, ANOTHER WORLD) - 39
Christopher Gorham (ex-Henry, UGLY BETTY) - 36
Shawn Batten (ex-Sarah, SUNSET BEACH; ex-Natalia, SPYDER GAMES) - 35

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Barbara Crampton (ex-Leanna, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Mindy, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Leslie, SPYDER GAMES; ex-Maggie, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Trista, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Paula, SANTA BARBARA) - 51
Eva LaRue (ex-Maria, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Margot, SANTA BARBARA) - 43

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Patty Weaver (Gina, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Bernadette, SPYDER GAMES; ex-Trish, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 54
Aubrey Dollar (ex-Marina, GUIDING LIGHT) - 29

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Jackée Harry (ex-Lily, ANOTHER WORLD) - 53
Rhonda Ross Kendrick (ex-Toni, ANOTHER WORLD) - 38
Christopher Gorham (Henry, UGLY BETTY) - 35
Shawn Batten (ex-Sarah, SUNSET BEACH; ex-Natalia, SPYDER GAMES) - 34