Today in Soap Opera History (January 25)

THE GUIDING LIGHT premiered on NBC radio on January 25, 1937.
  The show ended its run on CBS TV on September 18, 2009.

On this date in...

1937: NBC Radio premiered a new radio soap opera, THE GUIDING LIGHT, created by Irna Phillips. The show ran on radio (NBC then CBS) until 1956. In 1952, the series debuted on CBS-TV and ran until September 2009 making it the longest running scripted series in broadcast history.

1972: On ANOTHER WORLD, a distressed Pat (Beverly Penberthy) filled Mary and Alice in on Walter's disappearance.

1974:  On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Maggie Simmons (Suzanne Rogers) married Marty Hansen (aka Mickey Horton with amnesia played by John Clarke).

1990: Actress Ava Gardner, who played Ruth Galveston in KNOTS LANDING, died at age 67.

1991: NBC daytime soap GENERATIONS aired its final episode.



2005: On ALL MY CHILDREN, Jonathan (Jeff Branson) asked Maggie (Elizabeth Hendrickson) to marry him.



2007: GUIDING LIGHT recreated its early years in a special 70th anniversary episode.



2012: The death of actor Nick Santino made national headlines after he committed suicide on his 47th birthday following euthanizing his dog, Rocco.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Jack Axelrod (ex-Victor, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 83
Leigh Taylor-Young (ex-Katherine, PASSIONS; ex-Elaine, SUNSET BEACH; ex-Rachel, PEYTON PLACE) - 68
Scott Palmer (ex-Tim, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Joshua, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Farley, DALLAS; ex-Dr. Cannon, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) - 60
Kevin O'Rourke (ex-Stan, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 57
George Alvarez (ex-Ray, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Enrique, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Alex, GENERAL HOSPITAL/PORT CHARLES) - 53
Ana Ortiz (Marisol, DEVIOUS MAIDS; ex-Hilda, UGLY BETTY) - 42
Mia Kirshner (ex-Isobel, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES; ex-Sherry, THE L WORD) - 38
Paul Taylor (ex-Isaac, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 37
Michael Trevino (Tyler, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES) - 28
Natalie Hall (ex-Colby, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 25

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you would like to submit a piece of soap opera history for this daily column, please email it to editor@welovesoaps.com.