Today in Soap Opera History (April 29)

On this date in...

1932: Radio soap opera ONE MAN'S FAMILY premiered on Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco stations.

1940: YOUNG DOCTOR MALONE aired for the first time on CBS Radio, having moved to CBS from the Blue Network.

1974: Radio soap opera SOUNDS OF THE CITY premiered.

1980: Alfred Hitchcock died at age 80.

1980: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Raven (Sharon Gabet) finally arrived at the hospital to see Jamey.



1983: Kathy Bates debuted on ALL MY CHILDREN as Belle Bodelle, a prisoner who beat up Erica Kane.

2005: Legendary writer and producer William J. Bell died at age 78 from complications of Alzheimer's disease. Bell began his soap opera writing career working at Irna Phillips' show THE GUIDING LIGHT earning $75 a week. He then moved over to AS THE WORLD TURNS and later co-created ANOTHER WORLD in 1964 and OUR PRIVATE WORLD in 1965. In 1966 he became head writer at DAYS OF OUR LIVES and remained in that position until 1975. He co-created THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS with his wife, Lee Phillip Bell. The show, which premiered in 1973, eventually made it to number one in the ratings in 1988 and has remained there ever since. The Bells would also create THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, which debuted in 1987.

2009: On ALL MY CHILDREN, Erica (Susan Lucci) and Zach (Thorsten Kaye) bid farewell to Bianca, Reese, Miranda and Gabrielle.



2009: Brendan Coughlin debuted in DAYS OF OUR LIVES in the role of Tad.

2013: Prospect Park's ALL MY CHILDREN premiered via The OnLine Network on Hulu, HuluPlus and iTunes.



2013: Prospect Park's ONE LIFE TO LIVE premiered via The OnLine Network on Hulu, HuluPlus and iTunes.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Joseph R. Sicari (ex-Freddy, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 74
Richard Kline (ex-Mark, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) - 69
Gavan O'Herlihy (ex-Preston, TWIN PEAKS) - 59
Kate Mulgrew (ex-Mary, RYAN'S HOPE) - 58
Leslie Jordan (ex-Brother Boy, SORDID LIVES) - 58
Susan Pratt (ex-Claire, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Barbara, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Charlotte, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Elizabeth, LOVING; ex-Annie, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 57
Eve Plumb (ex-Dora, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-June, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Jan, THE BRADYS) - 55
Jack Armstrong (ex-Carson, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Wally, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Chad, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-B.D., EDEN; ex-Kevin, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Greg, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 55
Paula Cwikly (Writer, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; DAYS OF OUR LIVES; AS THE WORLD TURNS; SUNSET BEACH) - 52
Uma Thurman (ex-Rebecca, SMASH) - 43
Tyler Labine (ex-Dave, INVASION) - 35
Bre Blair (ex-Elena, UNDRESSED) - 33
Michael May (ex-Chuck, ONE TREE HILL)  - 14

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you have a tip on a bit of soap history on this date or future dates, let us know. Send an email to editor@welovesoaps.com.