Today in Soap Opera History (March 25)

1953: The Guiding Light's Bert pestered her husband, Bill.
1969: Dark Shadows' Barnabas found a strange doll's head.
1987: B&B's Ridge & Caroline revealed their engagement.
1988: General Hospital's Simone had a miscarriage.

"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...

1953: On The Guiding Light, Bert Bauer (Charita Bauer) tried to convince her husband, Bill (Lyle Sudrow), he had to spend money to make money.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 24)

1975: Y&R's Kay begged Phillip not to leave her.
1987: One Life to Live's Viki visited heaven.
1987: B&B's Brooke confided in Stephanie.
2008: Days of our Lives' Shawn & Belle left Salem.

"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...

1955: On The Inner Flame, Walt (Karl Swenson) was unwilling to accept Murray's help.

1955: On Golden Windows, Carl told Charles (Eric Dressler) he would confess his crimes.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 22)

1962: Ann Flood debuted as Nancy on The Edge of Night.
1983: General Hospital's Jimmy Lee denied having Tolliver's papers.
1991: NBC's primetime Dark Shadows remake ended.
2004: One Life to Live's Paul delivered Babe's baby on All My Children.

"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...

1940: NBC's Blue Network aired the final episode of radio soap opera The Affairs of Anthony. Henry Hunter starred as Anthony Marleybone Jr.

1955: On The Inner Flame, Dorie (Jean Gillespie) asked Amelia for money.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 25)

1953: The Guiding Light's Bert pestered her husband, Bill.
1969: Dark Shadows' Barnabas found a strange doll's head.
1987: B&B's Ridge & Caroline revealed their engagement.
1988: General Hospital's Simone had a miscarriage.

"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...

1953: On The Guiding Light, Bert Bauer (Charita Bauer) tried to convince her husband, Bill (Lyle Sudrow), he had to spend money to make money.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 24)

1975: Y&R's Kay begged Phillip not to leave her.
1987: One Life to Live's Viki visited heaven.
1987: B&B's Brooke confided in Stephanie.
2008: Days of our Lives' Shawn & Belle left Salem.

"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...

1955: On The Inner Flame, Walt (Karl Swenson) was unwilling to accept Murray's help.

1955: On Golden Windows, Carl told Charles (Eric Dressler) he would confess his crimes.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 22)

1962: Ann Flood debuted as Nancy on The Edge of Night.
1983: General Hospital's Jimmy Lee denied having Tolliver's papers.
1991: NBC's primetime Dark Shadows remake ended.
2004: One Life to Live's Paul delivered Babe's baby
on All My Children.

"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...

1940: NBC's Blue Network aired the final episode of radio soap opera The Affairs of Anthony. Henry Hunter starred as Anthony Marleybone Jr.

1955: On The Inner Flame, Dorie (Jean Gillespie) asked Amelia for money.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 25)

1953: The Guiding Light's Bert pestered her husband, Bill.
1969: Dark Shadows' Barnabas found a strange doll's head.
1987: B&B's Ridge & Caroline revealed their engagement.
1988: General Hospital's Simone had a miscarriage.

"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...

1953: On The Guiding Light, Bert Bauer (Charita Bauer) tried to convince her husband, Bill (Lyle Sudrow), he had to spend money to make money.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 24)

1975: Y&R's Kay begged Phillip not to leave her.
1987: One Life to Live's Viki visited heaven.
1987: B&B's Brooke confided in Stephanie.
2008: Days of our Lives' Shawn & Belle left Salem.

"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...

1955: On The Inner Flame, Walt (Karl Swenson) was unwilling to accept Murray's help.

1955: On Golden Windows, Carl told Charles (Eric Dressler) he would confess his crimes.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 22)

1962: Ann Flood debuted as Nancy on The Edge of Night.
1983: General Hospital's Jimmy Lee denied having Tolliver's papers.
1991: NBC's primetime Dark Shadows remake ended.
2004: One Life to Live's Paul delivered Babe's baby
on All My Children.

"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...

1940: NBC's Blue Network aired the final episode of radio soap opera The Affairs of Anthony. Henry Hunter starred as Anthony Marleybone Jr.

1955: On The Inner Flame, Dorie (Jean Gillespie) asked Amelia for money.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 25)

1953: The Guiding Light's Bert pestered her husband, Bill.
1969: Dark Shadows' Barnabas found a strange doll's head.
1987: B&B's Ridge & Caroline revealed their engagement.
1988: General Hospital's Simone had a miscarriage.

"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...

1953: On The Guiding Light, Bert Bauer (Charita Bauer) tried to convince her husband, Bill (Lyle Sudrow), he had to spend money to make money.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 24)

1975: Y&R's Kay begged Phillip not to leave her.
1987: One Life to Live's Viki visited heaven.
1987: B&B's Brooke confided in Stephanie.
2008: Days of our Lives' Shawn & Belle left Salem.

"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...

1955: On The Inner Flame, Walt (Karl Swenson) was unwilling to accept Murray's help.

1955: On Golden Windows, Carl told Charles (Eric Dressler) he would confess his crimes.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 22)

1962: Ann Flood debuted as Nancy on The Edge of Night.
1983: General Hospital's Jimmy Lee denied having Tolliver's papers.
1991: NBC's primetime Dark Shadows remake ended.
2004: One Life to Live's Paul delivered Babe's baby
on All My Children.

"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...

1940: NBC's Blue Network aired the final episode of radio soap opera The Affairs of Anthony. Henry Hunter starred as Anthony Marleybone Jr.

1955: On The Inner Flame, Dorie (Jean Gillespie) asked Amelia for money.

FLASHBACK: A Complete, Concise Yearly History of TV Soap Operas - 1947 to 1977 (Part 2)

Brook Byron starred as Althea Dennis in The Brighter Day.

A Complete, Concise Yearly History of TV Soap Operas

The Soap Box
Vol. III No. 10 September 1978
by John Genovese

(continued from Part 1)

1954
An unprecedented year for serial premieres, the first was another radio hit which ran almost nine years on television: The Brighter Day, which was televised from January 4, 1954 to September 28, 1962. An Irna Phillips creation which went through several writers, including Doris Frankel (now of All My Children), Sam Hall (now of One Life to Live) and Eileen and Robert Mason Pollock (later of Love of Life, The Doctors and General Hospital), it revolved around kindly minister Rev. Richard Dennis and his five children who moved to New Hope, Pennsylvania, after their home in Three Rivers (from the radio soap) was washed away by a flood. Bill Smith was soon replaced by Blair Davies as the Reverend, Mona Bruns joined shortly after its debut as Aunt Emily Potter, and the supporting cast over the years included such top draws as Hal Holbrook, Anne Meacham, James Noble, Mary K. Wells, June Dayton, Paul Langton, Murial Williams, Herb Nelson, Forrest Compton, Lois Nettleton and Patty Duke. A Procter & Gamble Production, it eventually succumbed to too many writing upheavals.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 25)

1953: The Guiding Light's Bert pestered her husband, Bill.
1969: Dark Shadows' Barnabas found a strange doll's head.
1987: B&B's Ridge & Caroline revealed their engagement.
1988: General Hospital's Simone had a miscarriage.

"Mankind are so much the same, in all times and places, that history informs us of nothing new or strange in this particular. Its chief use is only to discover the constant and universal principles of human nature."
― David Hume

"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...

1953: On The Guiding Light, Bert Bauer (Charita Bauer) tried to convince her husband, Bill (Lyle Sudrow), he had to spend money to make money.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 24)

1975: Y&R's Kay begged Phillip not to leave her.
1987: One Life to Live's Viki visited heaven.
1987: B&B's Brooke confided in Stephanie.
2008: Days of our Lives' Shawn & Belle left Salem.

"Mankind are so much the same, in all times and places, that history informs us of nothing new or strange in this particular. Its chief use is only to discover the constant and universal principles of human nature."
― David Hume

"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...

1955: On The Inner Flame, Walt (Karl Swenson) was unwilling to accept Murray's help.

1955: On Golden Windows, Carl told Charles (Eric Dressler) he would confess his crimes.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 22)

1962: Ann Flood debuted as Nancy on The Edge of Night.
1983: General Hospital's Jimmy Lee denied having Tolliver's papers.
1991: NBC's primetime Dark Shadows remake ended.
2004: One Life to Live's Paul delivered Babe's baby
on All My Children.

"Mankind are so much the same, in all times and places, that history informs us of nothing new or strange in this particular. Its chief use is only to discover the constant and universal principles of human nature."
― David Hume

"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...

1940: NBC's Blue Network aired the final episode of radio soap opera The Affairs of Anthony. Henry Hunter starred as Anthony Marleybone Jr.

1955: On The Inner Flame, Dorie (Jean Gillespie) asked Amelia for money.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 25)

1953: GL's Bert frustrated her husband. 1969: DS' Barnabas found
a strange doll's head. 1987: B&B's Ridge & Caroline revealed
their engagement to her father. 1988: GH's Simon miscarried.

"There is no present or future, only the past happening over and over again - now."
- Eugene O'Neill

"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...

1953: On THE GUIDING LIGHT, Bert Bauer (Charita Bauer) tried to convince her husband, Bill (Lyle Sudrow), he had to spend money to make money.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 24)

1975: Y&R's Kay begged Phillip not to leave her. 1987: OLTL's
Viki visited heaven.  1989: B&B's Brooke confided in
Stephanie. 2008: DAYS' Shawn & Bell left Salem.

"There is no present or future, only the past happening over and over again - now."
- Eugene O'Neill

"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...

1955: On THE INNER FLAME, Walt (Karl Swenson) was unwilling to accept Murray's help.

1955: On GOLDEN WINDOWS, Carl told Charles (Eric Dressler) he would confess his crimes.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 22)

1962: Ann Flood debuted as Nancy on EON.  1983: GH's Jimmy
Lee denied having Tolliver's papers. 1991: NBC's DARK
SHADOW's ended. 2004: OLTL's Paul delivered AMC's Babe's
baby.

"There is no present or future, only the past happening over and over again - now."
- Eugene O'Neill

"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...

1940: NBC's Blue Network aired the final episode of radio soap opera THE AFFAIRS OF ANTHONY. Henry Hunter starred as Anthony Marleybone Jr.

1955: On THE INNER FLAME, Dorie (Jean Gillespie) asked Amelia for money.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 25)

On this date in...

1953: On THE GUIDING LIGHT, Bert (Charita Bauer) tried to convince Bill you had to spend money to make money. Watch the episode below: