Today in Soap Opera History (November 7)

1972: Jingles the clown scared Andrea on Somerset.
1986: Robert S. Woods debuted as Paul on Days of our Lives.
1986: James Stenbeck returned from the dead with, "Hello, Barbara"
1995: All My Children's Julia found a surprise in her closet.

"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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Roger (Allen Nourse) worried about Mary.

1972: On Somerset, Andrea Moore (Harriet Hall) was terrified when she was woken up in her bedroom by Jingles the Clown. When Carter Matson (Jay Gregory) ran into the room after hearing her screams, he didn't see anything and told Andrea that Jingles was not real.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 7)

1972: Jingles the clown scared Andrea on Somerset.
1986: Robert S. Woods debuted as Paul on Days of our Lives.
1986: James Stenbeck returned from the dead with, "Hello, Barbara"
1995: All My Children's Julia found a surprise in her closet.

"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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Roger (Allen Nourse) worried about Mary.

1972: On Somerset, Andrea Moore (Harriet Hall) was terrified when she was woken up in her bedroom by Jingles the Clown. When Carter Matson (Jay Gregory) ran into the room after hearing her screams, he didn't see anything and told Andrea that Jingles was not real.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 7)

1972: Jingles the clown scared Andrea on Somerset.
1986: Robert S. Woods debuted as Paul on Days of our Lives.
1986: James Stenbeck returned from the dead with, "Hello, Barbara"
1995: All My Children's Julia found a surprise in her closet.

"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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Roger (Allen Nourse) worried about Mary.

1972: On Somerset, Andrea Moore (Harriet Hall) was terrified when she was woken up in her bedroom by Jingles the Clown. When Carter Matson (Jay Gregory) ran into the room after hearing her screams, he didn't see anything and told Andrea that Jingles was not real.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 7)

1972: Jingles the clown scared Andrea on Somerset.
1986: Robert S. Woods debuted as Paul on Days of our Lives.
1986: James Stenbeck returned from the dead with, "Hello, Barbara"
1995: All My Children's Julia found a surprise in her closet.

"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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Roger (Allen Nourse) worried about Mary.

1972: On Somerset, Andrea Moore (Harriet Hall) was terrified when she was woken up in her bedroom by Jingles the Clown. When Carter Matson (Jay Gregory) ran into the room after hearing her screams, he didn't see anything and told Andrea that Jingles was not real.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 7)

1980: J.R. Ewing was rushed to the hospital after being shot.
1986: Robert S. Woods debuted on DAYS. 1986: "Hello, Barbara"
on ATWT. 1995: AMC's Julia found a surprise in her closet.

"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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Roger (Allen Nourse) worried about Mary.

1972: On Somerset, Andrea Moore (Harriet Hall) was terrified when she was woken up in her bedroom by Jingles the Clown. When Carter Matson (Jay Gregory) ran into the room after hearing her screams, he didn't see anything and told Andrea that Jingles was not real.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 7)

1980: J.R. Ewing was rushed to the hospital after being shot.
1986: Robert S. Woods debuted on DAYS. 1986: "Hello, Barbara"
on ATWT. 1995: AMC's Julia found a surprise in her closet.

"History is a vast early warning system."
― J. 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...

1957: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Roger (Allen Nourse) worried about Mary.

1977: CBS aired the first hourlong episode of GUIDING LIGHT. The Spaulding family, Alan (Christopher Bernau), Elizabeth (Lezlie Dalton) and Phillip (Jarrod Ross), were introduced.

In the episode, Dr. Ed Bauer (Mart Hulswit) told Eve Stapleton (Janet Grey) that she had Blake-Kearney Syndrome and an 80% chance of going blind. Eve's sister, Rita (Lenore Kasdorf), was also present. Eve said that she would be in the 20% and eventually ran from the room. An emotional Rita watched as her sister fled Cedars and set off after her. Location shooting followed Eve crying through the streets of "Springfield", stopping at the sight of a blind woman knocked down by skateboarders. Rita searched the streets until she found her sister, embracing her and bringing her home.

EXCLUSIVE: SoapClassics Releases New AS THE WORLD TURNS DVD: The James Stenbeck Story

SoapClassics has released a brand new AS THE WORLD TURNS DVD featuring one of the most notorious villains in soap opera history: "The James Stenbeck Story."

The ten episode set focuses on James Stenbeck's first decade in Oakdale from his arrival in 1980 to his daring helicopter escape in 1989, with many memorable moments in between. Of course he died several times along the way.  James (Anthony Herrera), Barbara (Colleen Zenk), Gunnar (Hugo Napier) and John (Larry Bryggman) are just some of the many fan favorites featured in this collection.

Below is a summary of the ten episodes on the new "James Stenbeck" set:

Episode 1.  Last Bus to Nowhere. February 28, 1980

James Stenbeck tracks down Barbara Ryan in Oakdale.

CLASSIC CLIPS: Anthony Herrera

Anthony Herrera came in at #33 on the 50 Greatest Soap Actors of All Time list. Here are some classic clips of Herrera's work on AS THE WORLD TURNS and LOVING.

1981: James throws a Christmas party.
1982: James confronts Barbara about Gunnar.

1983: James shares a tender moment with Paul.
1984: Dane Hammond "Love in the Afternoon" promos for LOVING.

1986: "Hello, Barbara".
1987: James threatens Tonio, Lucinda and Meg.

1989: James meets Paul at the heliport.
1997: James reveals to Barbara he is alive (again).

1998: James discovers David is alive.
2001: James makes a creepy phone call to Carly.

2002: James and Barbara are questioned by Margo on camera.
2003: James testifies against Paul.