Today in Soap Opera History (December 6)

1977: For Richer, For Poorer premiered on NBC.
1979: A mystery person tried to enter The Willows on ATWT.
1989: Guiding Light's Phillip tried to get through to Beth.
1995: Y&R's Ryan pitched a new Jabot ad campaign for teens.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different 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...

1966: On Dark Shadows, Burke Devlin (Mitchell Ryan) realized that Victoria Winters was still at Collinwood.

1974: On General Hospital, Phil Brewer (Martin West) was murdered with a geode paper weight.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 29)

1969: Bright Promise premiered on NBC.
1978: The final episode of For Richer, For Poorer aired on NBC.
1986: Another World's Marley and Jake were married.
1989: Terry Lester debuted as Mason Capwell on Santa Barbara.

"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...

1947: Radio soap opera Claudia premiered. Due in large part to the success of the two Claudia movies, the D'Arcy advertising agency decided to bring the characters to radio in a five-a-week quarter-hour serial on behalf of its client, Coca-Cola. Kathryn Bard was cast as Claudia and Paul Crabtree as David, with Joe King announcing.

1969: Bright Promise premiered on NBC at 3:30 p.m. ET. NBC and Bing Crosby Productions in Hollywood came up with this daytime vehicle for Dana Andrews, created by Frank and Doris Hursley (creators of General Hospital) and directed originally by Gloria Monty (The Secret Storm, General Hospital). Andrews played Tom Boswell, president of Bancroft College, with support from Coleen Gray, Ivor Francis, Richard Eastham, Susan Brown and Paul Lukather. After Andrews left and the show changed format, the ratings rose but not enough, and the show ended on March 31, 1972

Today in Soap Opera History (June 21)

1976: Deidre Hall debuted on Days of our Lives.
1984: Guiding Light's Billy was out to destroy Reva.
1993: Days' Lucas and Sami went on their first date.
All My Children's Erica got emotional with her friends.

"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...

1952: The first television version of One Man's Family aired for the final time. The once-a-week primetime take-off of the popular radio soap opera was brought back to TV in 1954 as a daily afternoon serial.

1966: Edward Mallory debuted as Bill Horton on Days of our Lives.

1976: Deidre Hall debuted as Dr. Marlena Evans on Days of our Lives. In the episode, Mickey Horton (John Clarke) was in a sanitarium and Marlena as the psychiatrist that treated him.

The closing credits in the clip below are from an episode shortly after Hall's arrival.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 6)

1977: For Richer, For Poorer premiered on NBC.
1979: A mystery person tried to enter The Willows on ATWT.
1989: Guiding Light's Phillip tried to get through to Beth.
1995: Y&R's Ryan pitched a new Jabot ad campaign for teens.

"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...

1966: On Dark Shadows, Burke Devlin (Mitchell Ryan) realized that Victoria Winters was still at Collinwood.

1974: On General Hospital, Phil Brewer (Martin West) was murdered with a geode paper weight.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 29)

1969: Bright Promise premiered on NBC.
1978: The final episode of For Richer, For Poorer aired on NBC.
1986: Another World's Marley and Jake were married.
1989: Terry Lester debuted as Mason Capwell on Santa Barbara.

"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...

1947: Radio soap opera Claudia premiered. Due in large part to the success of the two Claudia movies, the D'Arcy advertising agency decided to bring the characters to radio in a five-a-week quarter-hour serial on behalf of its client, Coca-Cola. Kathryn Bard was cast as Claudia and Paul Crabtree as David, with Joe King announcing.

1969: Bright Promise premiered on NBC at 3:30 p.m. ET. NBC and Bing Crosby Productions in Hollywood came up with this daytime vehicle for Dana Andrews, created by Frank and Doris Hursley (creators of General Hospital) and directed originally by Gloria Monty (The Secret Storm, General Hospital). Andrews played Tom Boswell, president of Bancroft College, with support from Coleen Gray, Ivor Francis, Richard Eastham, Susan Brown and Paul Lukather. After Andrews left and the show changed format, the ratings rose but not enough, and the show ended on March 31, 1972

Today in Soap Opera History (June 21)

1976: Deidre Hall debuted on Days of our Lives.
1984: Guiding Light's Billy was out to destroy Reva.
1993: Days' Lucas and Sami went on their first date.
All My Children's Erica got emotional with her friends.

"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...

1952: The first television version of One Man's Family aired for the final time. The once-a-week primetime take-off of the popular radio soap opera was brought back to TV in 1954 as a daily afternoon serial.

1966: Edward Mallory debuted as Bill Horton on Days of our Lives.

1976: Deidre Hall debuted as Dr. Marlena Evans on Days of our Lives. In the episode, Mickey Horton (John Clarke) was in a sanitarium and Marlena as the psychiatrist that treated him.

The closing credits in the clip below are from an episode shortly after Hall's arrival.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 6)

1977: For Richer, For Poorer premiered on NBC.
1979: A mystery person tried to enter The Willows on ATWT.
1989: Guiding Light's Phillip tried to get through to Beth.
1995: Y&R's Ryan pitched a new Jabot ad campaign for teens.

"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...

1966: On Dark Shadows, Burke Devlin (Mitchell Ryan) realized that Victoria Winters was still at Collinwood.

1974: On General Hospital, Phil Brewer (Martin West) was murdered with a geode paper weight.

Patricia Barry Dead at 93

Patricia Barry

Actress, philanthropist and businesswoman Patricia Barry, who played memorable roles on Days of our Lives, Guiding Light and several other daytime soap operas, died Tuesday at her home in Los Angeles. She was 93.

Barry made her daytime debut in 1954 in First Love, starring as Laurie James, and continued to work on various soap operas until the 1990s. Her many daytime roles included Addie Horton Williams on Days of our Lives; Viola Brewster in For Richer, For Poorer; Peg English ("The Cobra") on All My Children; "Miss Sally" Gleason in Guiding Light; and Isabelle Alden on Loving.

Barry’s long list of credits include appearances on Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, My Three Sons, 77 Sunset Strip, The Untouchables, Dr. Kildare, Rawhide, Ben Casey, Maverick, The Twilight Zone, Three’s Company, Dallas, Columbo and Knots Landing.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 29)

1969: Bright Promise premiered on NBC.
1978: The final episode of For Richer, For Poorer aired on NBC.
1986: Another World's Marley and Jake were married.
1989: Terry Lester debuted as Mason Capwell on Santa Barbara.

"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...

1947: Radio soap opera Claudia premiered. Due in large part to the success of the two Claudia movies, the D'Arcy advertising agency decided to bring the characters to radio in a five-a-week quarter-hour serial on behalf of its client, Coca-Cola. Kathryn Bard was cast as Claudia and Paul Crabtree as David, with Joe King announcing.

1969: Bright Promise premiered on NBC at 3:30 p.m. ET. NBC and Bing Crosby Productions in Hollywood came up with this daytime vehicle for Dana Andrews, created by Frank and Doris Hursley (creators of General Hospital) and directed originally by Gloria Monty (The Secret Storm, General Hospital). Andrews played Tom Boswell, president of Bancroft College, with support from Coleen Gray, Ivor Francis, Richard Eastham, Susan Brown and Paul Lukather. After Andrews left and the show changed format, the ratings rose but not enough, and the show ended on March 31, 1972

Today in Soap Opera History (June 21)

1976: Deidre Hall debuted on Days of our Lives. 1984: Guiding
Light's Billy was out to destroy Reva.   1993: Days' Lucas
and Sami went on their first date.  1999: All My Children's
Erica got emotional with her friends.

"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...

1952: The first television version of One Man's Family aired for the final time. The once-a-week primetime take-off of the popular radio soap opera was brought back to TV in 1954 as a daily afternoon serial.

1966: Edward Mallory debuted as Bill Horton on Days of our Lives.

1976: Deidre Hall debuted as Marlena Evans on Days of our Lives. In the episode, Mickey Horton (John Clarke) was in a sanitarium and Marlena as the psychiatrist that treated him.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 6)

1977: For Richer, For Poorer premiered on NBC.
1979: A mystery person tried to enter The Willows on ATWT.
1989: Guiding Light's Phillip tried to get through to Beth.
1995: Y&R's Ryan pitched a new Jabot ad campaign for teens.

"The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect is already in the cause."
― Henri Louis Bergson

"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...

1966: On Dark Shadows, Burke Devlin (Mitchell Ryan) realized that Victoria Winters was still at Collinwood.

1974: On General Hospital, Phil Brewer (Martin West) was murdered with a geode paper weight.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 29)

1969: Bright Promise premiered on NBC.
1978: The final episode of For Richer, For Poorer aired on NBC.
1986: Another World's Marley and Jake were married.
1989: Terry Lester debuted as Mason Capwell on Santa Barbara.

"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...

1947: Radio soap opera Claudia premiered. Due in large part to the success of the two Claudia movies, the D'Arcy advertising agency decided to bring the characters to radio in a five-a-week quarter-hour serial on behalf of its client, Coca-Cola. Kathryn Bard was cast as Claudia and Paul Crabtree as David, with Joe King announcing.

1969: Bright Promise premiered on NBC at 3:30 p.m. ET. NBC and Bing Crosby Productions in Hollywood came up with this daytime vehicle for Dana Andrews, created by Frank and Doris Hursley (creators of General Hospital) and directed originally by Gloria Monty (The Secret Storm, General Hospital). Andrews played Tom Boswell, president of Bancroft College, with support from Coleen Gray, Ivor Francis, Richard Eastham, Susan Brown and Paul Lukather. After Andrews left and the show changed format, the ratings rose but not enough, and the show ended on March 31, 1972

Today in Soap Opera History (June 21)

1976: Deidre Hall debuted on Days of our Lives. 1984: Guiding
Light's Billy was out to destroy Reva.   1993: Days' Lucas
and Sami went on their first date.  1999: All My Children's
Erica got emotional with her friends.

"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...

1952: The first television version of One Man's Family aired for the final time. The once-a-week primetime take-off of the popular radio soap opera was brought back to TV in 1954 as a daily afternoon serial.

1966: Edward Mallory debuted as Bill Horton on Days of our Lives.

1976: Deidre Hall debuted as Marlena Evans on Days of our Lives. In the episode, Mickey Horton (John Clarke) was in a sanitarium and Marlena as the psychiatrist that treated him.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 6)

1977: For Richer, For Poorer premiered. 1979: A
mystery person tried to enter The Willows on ATWT. 1989: GL's
Phillip tried to get through to Beth. 1995: Y&R's Ryan
pitched a new Jabot ad campaign for teens.

"Most of us spend too much time on the last twenty-four hours and too little on the last six thousand years."
― Will Durant

"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...

1966: On Dark Shadows, Burke (Mitchell Ryan) realized that Victoria was still at Collinwood.

1974: On General Hospital, Phil Brewer (Martin West) was murdered with a geode paper weight.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 29)

1969: Bright Promise premiered. 1978: For Richer, For 
Poorer ended.  1989: Terry Lester debuted on Santa 
Barbara. 1995: Another World's Vicky hoped Ryan
would survive being shot.

"History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves, and of our common humanity, so that we can better face the future."
― Robert Penn Warren

"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...

1947: Radio soap opera Claudia premiered. Due in large part to the success of the two Claudia movies, the D'Arcy advertising agency decided to bring the characters to radio in a five-a-week quarter-hour serial on behalf of its client, Coca-Cola. Kathryn Bard was cast as Claudia and Paul Crabtree as David, with Joe King announcing.

1969: Daytime soap opera Bright Promise premiered on NBC. The daytime soap opera ran at 3:30 p.m. ET until March 31, 1972. The show revolved around students and faculty at the fictional Bancroft College and was created by Frank and Doris Hursley. The show starred Dana Andrews, and Anthony Geary would later join the cast. Bright Promise actress Gail Kobe would become the executive producer of its replacement show, Return to Peyton Place.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 6)

1977: FOR RICHER, FOR POORER premiered. 1979: A
mystery person wanted in to ATWT's Willows. 1989: GL's
Phillip tried to get through to Beth. 1995: Y&R's Ryan
pitched a new Jabot ad campaign for teens.

"That is the supreme value of history. The study of it is the best guarantee against repeating it."
- John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir

"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...

1966: On DARK SHADOWS, Burke (Mitchell Ryan) realized that Victoria was still at Collinwood.

1974: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Phil Brewer (Martin West) was murdered with a geode paper weight.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 29)

1969: BRIGHT PROMISE premiered. 1978: FOR RICHER, FOR
POORER ended its run.  1989: Terry Lester debuted on SANTA
BARBARA. 1995: ANOTHER WORLD's Vicky hoped Ryan
would recover.

"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...

1947: Radio soap opera CLAUDIA premiered. Due in large part to the success of the two Claudia movies, the D'Arcy advertising agency decided to bring the characters to radio in a five-a-week quarter-hour serial on behalf of its client, Coca-Cola. Kathryn Bard was cast as Claudia and Paul Crabtree as David, with Joe King announcing.

1969: BRIGHT PROMISE premiered on NBC. The daytime soap opera ran at 3:30 p.m. ET until March 31, 1972. The show revolved around students and faculty at the fictional Bancroft College and was created by Frank and Doris Hursley. The show starred Dana Andrews, and Anthony Geary would later join the cast. BRIGHT PROMISE actress Gail Kobe would become the executive producer of its replacement show, RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE.

Paul Rauch Dead at 78

Former daytime executive turned legendary soap opera producer Paul Rauch died on December 10 in New York due to complications from blood clots.  He was 78.

Rauch served as vice president of CBS daytime programming in the early 1970s before leaving to take over as executive producer of ANOTHER WORLD (1971-1983). His partnership with head writer Harding Lemay (1972-1979) produced what is considered by many to be some of the best daytime soap opera in history. In our 2009 inteview with Lemay, he described Rauch as "one of the best producers, probably the best producer I have ever worked with."

He went on to produce ONE LIFE TO LIVE (1983 to 1991), SANTA BARBARA (1991-1993) and GUIDING LIGHT (1996-2002). His most recent work was as executive producer for THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS from 2008 to 2011.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 6)

On this date in...

1966: On DARK SHADOWS, Burke (Mitchell Ryan) realized that Vicki was still at Collinwood.

1974: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Phil Brewer (Martin West) was murdered.

1974: On ANOTHER WORLD, after Rachel broke down Mac (Douglass Watson) skipped his dinner plans with Liz at Pat and John's place.  Mac took Rachel (Victoria Wyndham) out to dinner at Tallboys, listened to her life story, and advised her to give up on Steve and make new friends.

1977: FOR RICHER, FOR POORER, the revamped version of LOVERS AND FRIENDS, debuted. Created by created by Harding Lemay and Paul Rauch, LAF replace SOMERSET in the NBC lineup in 1976. When the retooling occurred, the show's setting was still Point Clair but many changes were made to the storylines. The show only lasted until September 29, 1978.


1998: Emmy-winning actor Michael Zaslow passed away.  He was best known for his work as Roger Thorpe in GUIDING LIGHT and David Renaldi in ONE LIFE TO LIVE.  Watch a clip of Zaslow as Pete Chernak in LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING below.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 29)

On this date in...

1947: Radio soap opera CLAUDIA premiered.  Due in large part to the success of the two Claudia movies, the D'Arcy advertising agency decided to bring the characters to radio in a five-a-week quarter-hour serial on behalf of its client, Coca-Cola. Kathryn Bard was cast as Claudia and Paul Crabtree as David, with Joe King announcing.

1969: BRIGHT PROMISE premiered on NBC. The daytime soap opera ran at 3:30 p.m. ET until March 31, 1972. The show revolved around students and faculty at the fictional Bancroft College and was created by Frank and Doris Hursley. The show starred Dana Andrews, and Anthony Geary would later join the cast. BRIGHT PROMISE actress Gail Kobe would become the executive producer of its replacement show, RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE.