Today in Soap Opera History (February 3)

1950: Charita Bauer debuted as Guiding Light's new Bert.
1977: Ryan's Hope's Delia told Pat she was pregnant with his baby.
1986: Days of our Lives' Bo confessed to treason.
1987: Santa Barbara's Richard left a bomb with Cruz.

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

1950: Charita Bauer assumed the role of Bert Bauer on The Guiding Light radio program (Ann Shepard was the original radio Bert). She would continue to play the character as the show premiered on television two years later and until December 1984, just before her death. More on Charita Bauer here.

1967: On Another World, Lenore (Judith Barcroft) declined to consider it when Helen suggested she and Bill wait until to marry so Bill can get over his butterflies.

1975: On The Doctors, once he found out how disappointed Toni Ferra (Anna Stuart) was about waiting to meet his mother, Dr. Alan Stewart (Gil Gerard) agreed to go to Hawaii for their honeymoon.

Today in Soap Opera History (February 3)

1950: Charita Bauer debuted as Guiding Light's new Bert.
1977: Ryan's Hope's Delia told Pat she was pregnant with his baby.
1986: Days of our Lives' Bo confessed to treason.
1987: Santa Barbara's Richard left a bomb with Cruz.

"Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."
― Machiavelli

"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...

1950: Charita Bauer assumed the role of Bert Bauer on The Guiding Light radio program (Ann Shepard was the original radio Bert). She would continue to play the character as the show premiered on television two years later and until December 1984, just before her death. More on Charita Bauer here.

1967: On Another World, Lenore (Judith Barcroft) declined to consider it when Helen suggested she and Bill wait until to marry so Bill can get over his butterflies.

1975: On The Doctors, once he found out how disappointed Toni Ferra (Anna Stuart) was about waiting to meet his mother, Dr. Alan Stewart (Gil Gerard) agreed to go to Hawaii for their honeymoon.

Today in Soap Opera History (February 3)

1950: Charita Bauer debuted as Guiding Light's new Bert.
1977: Ryan's Hope's Delia told Pat she was pregnant with his baby.
1986: Days of our Lives' Bo confessed to treason.
1987: Santa Barbara's Richard left a bomb with Cruz.

"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...

1950: Charita Bauer assumed the role of Bert Bauer on The Guiding Light radio program (Ann Shepard was the original radio Bert). She would continue to play the character as the show premiered on television two years later and until December 1984, just before her death. More on Charita Bauer here.

1967: On Another World, Lenore (Judith Barcroft) declined to consider it when Helen suggested she and Bill wait until to marry so Bill can get over his butterflies.

1977: On Ryan's Hope, Delia (Ilene Kristen) told a stunned Pat (Malcolm Groome) that she was pregnant with his child. Pat tried to deny it, claiming Roger (Ron Hale) was the father.

Today in Soap Opera History (February 3)

1950: Charita Bauer debuted as Guiding Light's new Bert.
1977: Ryan's Hope's Delia told Pat she was pregnant with his baby.
1986: Days of our Lives' Bo confessed to treason.
1987: Santa Barbara's Richard left a bomb with Cruz.

"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...

1950: Charita Bauer assumed the role of Bert Bauer on The Guiding Light radio program (Ann Shepard was the original radio Bert). She would continue to play the character as the show premiered on television two years later and until December 1984, just before her death. More on Charita Bauer here.

1967: On Another World, Lenore (Judith Barcroft) declined to consider it when Helen suggested she and Bill wait until to marry so Bill can get over his butterflies.

1977: On Ryan's Hope, Delia (Ilene Kristen) told a stunned Pat (Malcolm Groome) that she was pregnant with his child. Pat tried to deny it, claiming Roger (Ron Hale) was the father.

50 Years of 'Days of our Lives': The Hortons and The Bradys (Video)

Macdonald Carey and Frances Reid as Dr. Tom and Alice Horton.

NBC has posted a special Days of our Lives 50th anniversary video that looks back at Tom (Macdonald Carey) and Alice Horton (Frances Reid), and Shawn (Frank Parker) and Caroline Brady (Peggy McCay).

Watch the two-minute clip below:

Today in Soap Opera History (February 3)

1950: Charita Bauer debuted as Guiding Light's new Bert.
1977: Ryan's Hope's Delia told Pat she was pregnant with his baby.
1986: Days of our Lives' Bo confessed to treason.
1987: Santa Barbara's Richard left a bomb with Cruz.

"A page of history is worth a pound of logic."
― Oliver Wendell Holmes

"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...

1950: Charita Bauer assumed the role of Bert Bauer on The Guiding Light radio program (Ann Shepard was the original radio Bert). She would continue to play the character as the show premiered on television two years later and until December 1984, just before her death. More on Charita Bauer here.

1967: On Another World, Lenore (Judith Barcroft) declined to consider it when Helen suggested she and Bill wait until to marry so Bill can get over his butterflies.

1977: On Ryan's Hope, Delia (Ilene Kristen) told a stunned Pat (Malcolm Groome) that she was pregnant with his child. Pat tried to deny it, claiming Roger (Ron Hale) was the father.

SPOTLIGHT: 'Days of our Lives' Star Susan Seaforth Hayes Shines In Poignant Scenes With Blake Berris

On November 8, 1965, the very first episode of Days of Our Lives aired. It featured a teenage Julie Olson (originally played by Charla Doherty), who had been arrested for shoplifting.

Julie believed her Grandfather Tom and Uncle Mickey weren't helping her, and she accused them of ganging up on her. She declared that no one cared about her in the entire world and she broke into tears.

On the May 9, 2014 episode, a loving, wise and protective Julie Olson Williams (played by Susan Seaforth Hayes since 1968) counseled her cousin Nick Fallon (Blake Berris) as he shared his deep feelings of isolation. Nick worried that everyone was out to get him, and it turned out he was right. As the episode came to close, Nick had been shot.

Before Monday arrives, and we segue into the “Who killed Nick Fallon?” story, I can’t let the beautiful performance of Susan Seaforth Hayes go without recognition, as well as the importance of the Julie character to Days of Our Lives.

Today in Soap Opera History (February 3)

THE GUIDING LIGHT's Charita Bauer debuted
as Bert Bauer on the radio version of the soap.

"Maybe if people started to listen, history would stop repeating itself."
- Lily Tomlin

"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...

1950: Charita Bauer assumed the role of Bert Bauer on THE GUIDING LIGHT radio program (Ann Shepard was the original radio Bert). She would continue to play the character as the show premiered on television two years later and until December 1984, just before her death. More on Charita Bauer here.

1967: On ANOTHER WORLD, Lenore (Judith Barcroft) declined to consider it when Helen suggested she and Bill wait until to marry so Bill can get over his butterflies.

1992: On GUIDING LIGHT, Fletcher (Jay Hammer) saved Vanessa (Maeve Kinkead) before Jack Kiley could rape her.

1992: On THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Victor (Eric Braeden) reminisced about Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott), and a tearful Drucilla (Victoria Rowell) returns to ask Madame Chauvin (Mary Anne McGarry) for help.

Today in Soap Opera History (February 3)

On this date in...

1950: Charita Bauer assumed the role of Bert Bauer on THE GUIDING LIGHT radio program (Ann Shepard was the original radio Bert). She would continue to play the character as the show premiered on television two years later and until December 1984, just before her death. More on Charita Bauer here.

1967: On ANOTHER WORLD, Lenore (Judith Barcroft) declined to consider it when Helen suggested she and Bill wait until to marry so Bill can get over his butterflies.

1992: On GUIDING LIGHT, Fletcher saved Vanessa before Jack Kiley could rape her.

1992: On THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Victor reminisced about Nikki, and a tearful Drucilla returns to ask Madame Chauvin for help.

DAYS OF OUR LIVES Reaches 12,000 Episode: A Celebration In Photos

NBC is airing the 12,000th episode of DAYS OF OUR LIVES on Friday. Below are some of our favorite photos from throughout the years. What has been your favorite storyline over the past 12,000 episodes of DAYS?  And what do you want to see happen in 2013 and beyond?

Today in Soap Opera History (December 9)

On this date in...

1914: Future soap legend Frances Reid was born (PORTIA FACES LIFE; AS THE WORLD TURNS; DAYS OF OUR LIVES). She died on February 3, 2010.

1949: On THE GUIDING LIGHT, Bert Miller (Ann Shepherd) married Bill Bauer (Lyle Sudrow).

1957: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Dalton blasted DA Thompson on TV for having an affair with Ruth Sherman.

1960: CORONATION STREET, created by Tony Warren, premiered. It is now the longest running active television soap opera in the world. After the first episode, a columnist in the Daily Mirror claimed the series would only last three weeks.  Radio's THE ARCHERS is the current longest running active soap opera.

Today in Soap Opera History (February 3)

On this date in...

1950: Charita Bauer assumed the role of Bert Bauer on THE GUIDING LIGHT radio program (Ann Shepard was the original radio Bert). She would continue to play the character as the show premiered on television two years later and until December 1984, just before her death. More on Charita Bauer here.

1967: On ANOTHER WORLD, Lenore (Judith Barcroft) declined to consider it when Helen suggested she and Bill wait until to marry so Bill can get over his butterflies.

1992: On GUIDING LIGHT, Fletcher saved Vanessa before Jack Kiley could rape her.

1992: On THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Victor reminisced about Nikki, and a tearful Drucilla returns to ask Madame Chauvin for help.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 9)

On this date in...

1914: Future soap legend Frances Reid was born (PORTIA FACES LIFE; AS THE WORLD TURNS; DAYS OF OUR LIVES). She died on February 3, 2010.

1957: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Dalton blasted DA Thompson on TV for having an affair with Ruth Sherman.

1960: CORONATION STREET, created by Tony Warren, premiered. It is now the longest running active television soap opera in the world. After the first episode, a columnist in the Daily Mirror claimed the series would only last three weeks.

1980: Dana Kimmell aired for the final time as Dawn Marshall on TEXAS.

1982: On CAPITOL, Tyler returned to Washington just as Julie prepared to walk down the aisle with Barrington.

1985: Andrew Masset ended a two year run as Larry Welch on DAYS OF OUR LIVES. He would return to the show in 2002.

1991: On THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Jack tried to get Nikki into rehab.

In Memoriam - Those We Lost in 2010

The soap world lost a number of greats both in front of and behind the camera this year. Here is the annual WE LOVE SOAPS TV tribute to those who passed away in 2010 including Michael Gene Adams, Danny Aiello III, Himan Brown, Dixie Carter, Christopher Cazenove, Jill Clayburgh, Gary Coleman, Jacqueline Courtney, John Forsythe, David Froman, James Gammon, Harold Gould, Carl Gordon, Suzanne Grossman, Park Yong Ha, Peter Haskell, June Havoc, Carol Pfander Henderson, Bernard Kates, Larry Keith, Antonie Kamerling, Mick Lally, Simon MacCorkindale, Nan Martin, Kevin McCarthy, Rue McClanahan, Caroline McWilliams, Werner Michel, James Mitchell, Gordon Mulholland, Roger Newman, Michelle Nicastro, Leslie Nielsen, Vince O'Brien, Niek Pancras, Nancy Pinkerton, Addison Powell, Carla Princi, Bob Rappaport, Frances Reid, Lynn Redgrave, Rosa Rio, Zelda Rubinstein, Paul Ryan Rudd, Jean Simmons and Helen Wagner.



UPDATE:
Domini Blythe (Estelle, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW) also passed away in 2010.

Ken Corday Pays Tribute To Frances Reid

Ken Corday, executive producer of DAYS OF OUR LIVES, released the following statement regarding the passing of Frances Reid:

This is a very sad day, indeed; not only for me personally, but for the Days of our Lives family and the entire Hollywood community.  From day one until she taped her last scene, Frances epitomized the past, present and future of the show.  Frances was truly one of a kind.  Her class cannot be matched and her shoes cannot be filled… we will miss her all the rest of our days.

Reid worked for Corday's father, Ted Corday, when she played Grace Baker on AS THE WORLD TURNS and a few years later joined his new show, DAYS OF OUR LIVES. In our recent interview with Don Hasting, the AS THE WORLD TURNS legend mentioned that Ted Corday also wanted him to join DAYS as one of Alice's sons.

CLASSIC CLIP: Alice Discovers Tom Dead

In 1994, Alice Horton found that Tom had peacefully died in his sleep.  Watch the scene where she discovers him below.

Kevin Spirtas Pays Tribute To Frances Reid

Kevin Spirtas played the devilishly devious Dr. Craig Wesley on DAYS OF OUR LIVES from 1997-2003.  He shared these words today with We Love Soaps: 

By the time I arrived in Salem, Frances was on the show a bit less and our storylines rarely crossed paths… But I/we all loved when she came to the set… She was a wonderful actress; and so full of spirit and love. She always had a story to tell or a cute joke. She will be missed. God Bless Frances

CLASSIC CLIP: Frances Reid on PORTIA FACES LIFE

In 1954, Frances Reid played the title role in the television version of the radio soap opera PORTIA FACES LIFE. Watch an episode below.

Crystal Chappell on Frances Reid

On her Twitter page today, Crystal Chappell shared her thoughts about the beloved legend:

Frances Reid was one of the most lovely souls I ever met, but with a smart, kick butt spirit! Glad I got to know her.

CLASSIC CLIP: Tom and Alice Wine & Dine

From my own private collection: Simon begins his new job at the hospital, and Tom is jealous!