Today in Soap Opera History (November 5)

1985: Santa Barbara's Eden broke off her engagement to Cruz.
1985: DJ agreed to do a favor for Ryan on Ryan's Hope.
1990: Maxie Jones was born on General Hospital.
1998: Bethany Joy Lenz debuted as Michelle on Guiding Light.

"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...

1945: On radio soap opera Doctor Paul, "radio's wonderful story of adult love," Victoria reflected on how she once knew Dr. Paul (Russell Thorson) after taking an old photograph Dr. Paul when he was a child.

1957: On The Edge of Night, Mike Karr (John Larkin) received a telephone call from an Arizona medical examiner that confirmed the real Clayton Pike had been murdered. That meant the man living in Monticello named "Clayton Pike" was an imposter.

1964: On Peyton Place, Rodney Harrington (Ryan O'Neal) and Betty Anderson (Barbara Parkins) returned to Peyton Place as husband and wife.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 5)

1985: Santa Barbara's Eden broke off her engagement to Cruz.
1985: DJ agreed to do a favor for Ryan on Ryan's Hope.
1990: Maxie Jones was born on General Hospital.
1998: Bethany Joy Lenz debuted as Michelle on Guiding Light.

"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...

1945: On radio soap opera Doctor Paul, "radio's wonderful story of adult love," Victoria reflected on how she once knew Dr. Paul (Russell Thorson) after taking an old photograph Dr. Paul when he was a child.

1957: On The Edge of Night, Mike Karr (John Larkin) received a telephone call from an Arizona medical examiner that confirmed the real Clayton Pike had been murdered. That meant the man living in Monticello named "Clayton Pike" was an imposter.

1964: On Peyton Place, Rodney Harrington (Ryan O'Neal) and Betty Anderson (Barbara Parkins) returned to Peyton Place as husband and wife.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 5)

1985: Santa Barbara's Eden broke off her engagement to Cruz.
1985: DJ agreed to do a favor for Ryan on Ryan's Hope.
1990: Maxie Jones was born on General Hospital.
1998: Bethany Joy Lenz debuted as Michelle on Guiding Light.

"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...

1945: On radio soap opera Doctor Paul, "radio's wonderful story of adult love," Victoria reflected on how she once knew Dr. Paul (Russell Thorson) after taking an old photograph Dr. Paul when he was a child.

1957: On The Edge of Night, Mike Karr (John Larkin) received a telephone call from an Arizona medical examiner that confirmed the real Clayton Pike had been murdered. That meant the man living in Monticello named "Clayton Pike" was an imposter.

1964: On Peyton Place, Rodney Harrington (Ryan O'Neal) and Betty Anderson (Barbara Parkins) returned to Peyton Place as husband and wife.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 5)

1985: Santa Barbara's Eden broke off her engagement to Cruz.
1985: DJ agreed to do a favor for Ryan on Ryan's Hope.
1990: Maxie Jones was born on General Hospital.
1998: Bethany Joy Lenz debuted as Michelle on Guiding Light.

"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...

1945: On radio soap opera Doctor Paul, "radio's wonderful story of adult love," Victoria reflected on how she once knew Dr. Paul (Russell Thorson) after taking an old photograph Dr. Paul when he was a child.

1957: On The Edge of Night, Mike Karr (John Larkin) received a telephone call from an Arizona medical examiner that confirmed the real Clayton Pike had been murdered. That meant the man living in Monticello named "Clayton Pike" was an imposter.

1964: On Peyton Place, Rodney Harrington (Ryan O'Neal) and Betty Anderson (Barbara Parkins) returned to Peyton Place as husband and wife.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 5)

1985: Santa Barbara's Eden broke off her engagement to
Cruz. 1985: DJ agreed to do a favor for Ryan on Ryan's Hope.
1990: GH's Maxie was born. 1998: Guiding Light
debuted a new Michelle.

"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...

1945: On radio soap opera Doctor Paul, "radio's wonderful story of adult love," Victoria reflected on how she once knew Dr. Paul (Russell Thorson) after taking an old photograph Dr. Paul when he was a child. Listen to the episode here.

1957: On The Edge of Night, Mike (John Larkin) received a telephone call from an Arizona medical examiner that confirmed the real Clayton Pike had been murdered. That meant the man living in Monticello named "Clayton Pike" was an imposter.

1964: On Peyton Place, Rod (Ryan O'Neal) and Betty (Barbara Parkins) returned to Peyton Place as husband and wife.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 5)

1985: SANTA BARBARA's Eden broke off her engagement to
Cruz. 1985: DJ agreed to do a favor for Ryan on RYAN'S HOPE.
1985: GH's Sean took a turn for the worse.  1998: GUIDING
LIGHT had a new Michelle.

"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...

1945: On radio soap opera DOCTOR PAUL, "radio's wonderful story of adult love," Victoria reflected on how she once knew Dr. Paul (Russell Thorson) after taking an old photograph Dr. Paul when he was a child. Listen to the episode here.

1957: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Mike (John Larkin) received a telephone call from an Arizona medical examiner that confirmed the real Clayton Pike had been murdered. That meant the man who currently lived in Monticello was an imposter.