Today in Soap Opera History (August 28)

1986: Another World's "Marissa" made her way to Bay City.
1991: Santa Barbara's Dash and Katrina grew closer.
1998: All My Children's Junior was locked in a cage.
2009: One Life to Live's Fish didn't remember his night with Stacy.

"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...

1967: On Another World, Liz (Audra Lindley) was happy to hear that Bill (Joseph Gallison) suspected Madge of Danny's murder.

1967: Australian Broadcasting Corporation soap Bellbird premiered. It remained on the air until December 1977.

1968: On Dark Shadows, Julia (Grayson Hall) protected Tom Jennings (Don Briscoe) from a gun-toting Barnabas (Jonathan Frid). After Tom vanished, Barnabas went to the window to look for him. When he turned around Julia had escaped.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 28)

1986: Another World's "Marissa" made her way to Bay City.
1991: Santa Barbara's Dash and Katrina grew closer.
1998: All My Children's Junior was locked in a cage.
2009: One Life to Live's Fish didn't remember his night with Stacy.

"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...

1967: On Another World, Liz (Audra Lindley) was happy to hear that Bill (Joseph Gallison) suspected Madge of Danny's murder.

1967: Australian Broadcasting Corporation soap Bellbird premiered. It remained on the air until December 1977.

1968: On Dark Shadows, Julia (Grayson Hall) protected Tom Jennings (Don Briscoe) from a gun-toting Barnabas (Jonathan Frid). After Tom vanished, Barnabas went to the window to look for him. When he turned around Julia had escaped.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 4)

1980: Douglass Watson & Judith Light won Daytime Emmys.
1984: Elizabeth Taylor surprised Carol Burnett on All My Children.
1984: Days' Bo & Hope reunited after he kidnapped her.
1997: OLTL's Dorian was not pleased with Todd's parrot.

"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: On radio soap opera Young Widder Brown, Ellen (Florence Freeman) was romanced by Dr. Anthony Loring (Ned Weaver).

1968: On Dark Shadows, Carolyn (Nancy Barrett) began to experience the dream curse, but woke herself up to keep from having it. Later, Carolyn had the dream in which she saw a tombstone with her name ("Carolyn Collins Stoddard") and the following dates, Born: December 8, 1948, Died: July 15, 1968.

1973: On The Doctors, Dr. Matt Powers (James Pritchett) informed Mona Aldrich (Meg Mundy) that she needed to take more tests to find out what was wrong with her.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 28)

1986: Another World's "Marissa" made her way to Bay City.
1991: Santa Barbara's Dash and Katrina grew closer.
1998: All My Children's Junior was locked in a cage.
2009: One Life to Live's Fish didn't remember his night with Stacy.

"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...

1967: On Another World, Liz (Audra Lindley) was happy to hear that Bill (Joseph Gallison) suspected Madge of Danny's murder.

1967: Australian Broadcasting Corporation soap Bellbird premiered. It remained on the air until December 1977.

1968: On Dark Shadows, Julia (Grayson Hall) protected Tom Jennings (Don Briscoe) from a gun-toting Barnabas (Jonathan Frid). After Tom vanished, Barnabas went to the window to look for him. When he turned around Julia had escaped.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 4)

1980: Douglass Watson & Judith Light won Daytime Emmys.
1984: Elizabeth Taylor surprised Carol Burnett on All My Children.
1984: Days' Bo & Hope reunited after he kidnapped her.
1997: OLTL's Dorian was not pleased with Todd's parrot.

"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...

1940: On radio soap opera Young Widder Brown, Ellen (Florence Freeman) was romanced by Dr. Anthony Loring (Ned Weaver).

1968: On Dark Shadows, Carolyn (Nancy Barrett) began to experience the dream curse, but woke herself up to keep from having it. Later, Carolyn had the dream in which she saw a tombstone with her name ("Carolyn Collins Stoddard") and the following dates, Born: December 8, 1948, Died: July 15, 1968.

1973: On The Doctors, Dr. Matt Powers (James Pritchett) informed Mona Aldrich (Meg Mundy) that she needed to take more tests to find out what was wrong with her.

British Soaps Coming to the United States Via BritBox

BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, and ITV, the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster, today announced a new joint venture that sees the two British content powerhouses combine forces to launch BritBox, an ad-free subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service, in the U.S. during Q1, 2017. AMC Networks, which has a joint venture with BBC Worldwide for cable channel BBC AMERICA, is investing in BritBox with a non-voting minority interest. BBC Worldwide and ITV share an equal majority stake in the joint venture.

This unique streaming service will celebrate the very best of British TV, and offer the most comprehensive SVOD collection of British content in the market today. For decades, BBC and ITV have produced iconic British television series, and for the first time these shows will be combined in a single, curated service allowing fans to find the classic shows they love and discover new hit series.

The BritBox proposition will feature:

* An array of drama premieres never-before-seen in the U.S., including New Blood, from acclaimed novelist Anthony Horowitz, Tutankhamun, The Moonstone, and In The Dark, from BAFTA award-winning writer Danny Brocklehurst (Ordinary Lies). Also, season premieres of drama favorites Cold Feet and Silent Witness.

* The “Now” category will feature an amazing selection of soaps and series that will be available as soon as 24 hours after their UK broadcast, including much-loved titles Eastenders, Emmerdale and Holby City.

* A British classics collection from ITV and the BBC, featuring iconic period dramas Brideshead Revisited, Pride and Prejudice, and Upstairs Downstairs; political thriller State of Play; murder mystery series Inspector Morse and Rosemary and Thyme; favorite sitcoms Keeping Up Appearances and Fawlty Towers; and much more.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 28)

1986: Another World's "Marissa" made her way to Bay City.
1991: Santa Barbara's Dash and Katrina grew closer.
1998: All My Children's Junior was locked in a cage.
2009: One Life to Live's Fish didn't remember his night with Stacy.

"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...

1967: On Another World, Liz (Audra Lindley) was happy to hear that Bill (Joseph Gallison) suspected Madge of Danny's murder.

1967: Australian Broadcasting Corporation soap Bellbird premiered. It remained on the air until December 1977.

1968: On Dark Shadows, Julia (Grayson Hall) protected Tom Jennings (Don Briscoe) from a gun-toting Barnabas (Jonathan Frid). After Tom vanished, Barnabas went to the window to look for him. When he turned around Julia had escaped.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 4)

1980: Douglass Watson and Judith Light won at the Daytime
Emmys. 1984: Elizabeth Taylor surprised Carol Burnett on
All My Children.  1984: Days of our Lives' Bo and Hope
reunited after he kidnapped her from her wedding to Larry.
1997: One Life to Live's Dorian was not pleased with Todd's
parrot.

"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...

1940: On radio soap opera Young Widder Brown, Ellen (Florence Freeman) was romanced by Dr. Anthony Loring (Ned Weaver).

1968: On Dark Shadows, Carolyn (Nancy Barrett) began to experience the dream curse, but woke herself up to keep from having it. Later, Carolyn had the dream in which she saw a tombstone with her name ("Carolyn Collins Stoddard") and the following dates, Born: December 8, 1948, Died: July 15, 1968.

1971: On The Doctors, Dr. Karen Werner (Laryssa Lauret) and Dr Steve Aldrich (David O'Brien) stood watch waiting for news about their hospitalized baby.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 28)

1986: Another World's "Marissa" made her way to Bay City.
1991: Santa Barbara's Dash and Katrina grew closer.
1998: All My Children's Junior was locked in a cage.
2009: One Life to Live's Fish didn't remember his night with Stacy.

"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...

1967: On Another World, Liz (Audra Lindley) was happy to hear that Bill (Joseph Gallison) suspected Madge of Danny's murder.

1967: Australian Broadcasting Corporation soap Bellbird premiered. It remained on the air until December 1977.

1968: On Dark Shadows, Julia (Grayson Hall) protected Tom Jennings (Don Briscoe) from a gun-toting Barnabas (Jonathan Frid). After Tom vanished, Barnabas went to the window to look for him. When he turned around Julia had escaped.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 4)

1980: Douglass Watson and Judith Light won at the Daytime
Emmys. 1984: Elizabeth Taylor surprised Carol Burnett on
All My Children.  1984: Days of our Lives' Bo and Hope
reunited after he kidnapped her from her wedding to Larry.
1997: One Life to Live's Dorian was not pleased with Todd's
parrot.

"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...

1940: On radio soap opera Young Widder Brown, Ellen (Florence Freeman) was romanced by Dr. Anthony Loring (Ned Weaver).

1968: On Dark Shadows, Carolyn (Nancy Barrett) began to experience the dream curse, but woke herself up to keep from having it. Later, Carolyn had the dream in which she saw a tombstone with her name ("Carolyn Collins Stoddard") and the following dates, Born: December 8, 1948, Died: July 15, 1968.

1979: On Another World, Rachel (Victoria Wyndham) freaked out when Brooks told her Mac (Douglass Watson) took Amanda. Later, Rachel arrived at the Cory mansion with the police but Mac wouldn't let them in without a search warrant.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 28)

1968: Dark Shadows' Barnabas managed to lose track of both
Tom and Julia. 1984: Alice helped Days' Bo & Hope out of a
jam in New Orleans. 1998: James was happy David was
alive on ATWT. 2009: OLTL's Fish woke up in Stacy's bed.

"To believe what has not occurred in history will not occur at all, is to argue disbelief in the dignity of man."
- Mahatma Gandhi

"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...

1967: On Another World, Liz (Audra Lindley) was happy to hear that Bill (Joseph Gallison) suspected Madge of Danny's murder.

1967: Australian Broadcasting Corporation soap Bellbird premiered. It remained on the air until December 1977.

1968: On Dark Shadows, Julia (Grayson Hall) protected Tom Jennings (Don Briscoe) from a gun-toting Barnabas (Jonathan Frid). After Tom vanished, Barnabas went to the window to look for him. When he turned around Julia had escaped.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 10)

"To believe what has not occurred in history will not occur at all, is to argue disbelief in the dignity of man."
- Mahatma Gandhi

"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...

Bartlett Robinson

1945: On radio soap opera Portia Faces Life, Kathie was shocked to see Portia's late husband, Walter (Bartlett Robinson), alive and well! Listen here.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) returned to the Blue Whale Café -- and ran into her former tormentor, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid).

1972: On Another World, Pat (Beverly Penberthy) brought Michael (Tom Ruger) and Marianne (Loriann Ruger) over for a visit with Jim.

1979: On The Edge of Night, Steve (Denny Albee) saved Paige's (Margaret Colin) life.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 4)

1980: Douglass Watson and Judith Light won at the Daytime
Emmys. 1984: Elizabeth Taylor surprised Carol Burnett on
All My Children.  1984: Days of our Lives' Bo and Hope
reunited after he kidnapped her from her wedding to Larry.
1997: One Life to Live's Dorian was not pleased with Todd's
parrot.

"The whole past is the procession of the present."
- Thomas Carlyle

"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: On radio soap opera Young Widder Brown, Ellen (Florence Freeman) was romanced by Dr. Anthony Loring (Ned Weaver).

1968: On Dark Shadows, Carolyn (Nancy Barrett) began to experience the dream curse, but woke herself up to keep from having it. Later, Carolyn had the dream in which she saw a tombstone with her name ("Carolyn Collins Stoddard") and the following dates, Born: December 8, 1948, Died: July 15, 1968.

1979: On Another World, Rachel (Victoria Wyndham) freaked out when Brooks told her Mac (Douglass Watson) took Amanda. Later, Rachel arrived at the Cory mansion with the police but Mac wouldn't let them in without a search warrant.

Elizabeth Taylor

1980: At the 8th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, winners included Guiding Light (Drama Series), Douglass Watson, Judith Light, Warren Burton and Francesca James. Hugh McPhillips won for "Cameo Appearance," a short-lived category.

1984: Carol Burnett and Elizabeth Taylor guest-starred on All My Children. Taylor surprised Burnett during a scene with Eileen Herlie (Myrtle). She spoke about it on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno shortly after Taylor passed away. "All of a sudden out of the blue, which was not in the script, there is somebody in the charwoman scrub-woman outfit," Burnett said. It was Taylor dressed as one of her characters from The Carol Burnett Show.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 10)

1981: Helena arrived in Port Charles on GH. 1986: AW's Cass
and Kathleen were married. 1986: GL's Maeve interrupted
Reva & Kyle's wedding. 1995: The end of LOVING.

"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...

1964: On ANOTHER WORLD, Mary Matthews expressed concern to husband Jim over the relationship between Tom Baxter and their daughter Pat -- a relationship that Mary sensed was falling apart; Pat arrived home looking exhausted, and Mary told Jim she thought Pat had been overworking herself since her recent recovery from illness; Laura Baxter, already distraught over Ken's request for a divorce, was further stricken when Ken returned home to inform her that Tom had been killed; and Sergeant Adams arrived at the Matthews house to question Pat about Tom's shooting.

1965: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Ben and Addie tried to understand Julie's actions.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 28)

1968: Barnabas managed to lose track of both Tom and Julia on
DARK SHADOWS. 1984: Alice helped DAYS' Bo & Hope out
of a jam in New Orleans.  1998: James was happy David was alive
on ATWT. 2009: OLTL's Fish woke up in Stacy's bed.

"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...

1967: On ANOTHER WORLD, Liz (Audra Lindley) was happy to hear that Bill suspected Madge of Danny's murder.

1967: Australian Broadcasting Corporation soap BELLBIRD premiered. It remained on the air until December 1977.

1968: On DARK SHADOWS, Julia (Grayson Hall) protected Tom Jennings (Don Briscoe) from a gun-toting Barnabas (Jonathan Frid). After Tom vanished, Barnabas went to the window to look for him. When he turned around Julia had escaped.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 10)

On this date in...

Bartlett Robinson

1945: On radio soap opera PORTIA FACES LIFE, Kathie was shocked to see Portia's late husband, Walter (Bartlett Robinson), alive! Listen here.

1967: On DARK SHADOWS, Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) returned to the Blue Whale Café -- and ran into her former tormentor, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid).

1972: On ANOTHER WORLD, Pat (Beverly Penberthy) brought Michael (Tom Ruger) and Marianne (Loriann Ruger) over for a visit with Jim.

1979: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Steve (Denny Albee) saved Paige's (Margaret Colin) life.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 4)

On this date in...

Elizabeth Taylor

1940: On radio soap opera YOUNG WIDDER BROWN, Ellen (Florence Freeman) was romanced by Dr. Anthony Loring (Ned Weaver).

1968: On DARK SHADOWS, Ben Stokes (Thayer David) managed to insert himself in Carolyn's dream. 

1975: On ANOTHER WORLD, Carol (Jeanne Lange) promised Willis (John Fitzpatrick) she would cover any losses incurred if he hired her.

1980: At the 8th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, winners included Guiding Light (Drama Series), Douglass Watson, Judith Light, Warren Burton and Francesca James. Hugh McPhillips won for "Cameo Appearance," a short-lived category.

1984: Carol Burnett and Elizabeth Taylor guest starred on ALL MY CHILDREN.

HOLBY CITY Does The Harlem Shake

Today in Soap Opera History (March 5)

On this date in...

1979: NBC aired the first 90-minute episode of ANOTHER WORLD. Olive set Alice's cottage on fire. Check out the NBC "afternoons at a new time" promo below:

Today in Soap Opera History (November 10)

On this date in...

1964: On ANOTHER WORLD, Sergeant Adams arrived at the Matthews home to question Pat (Susan Trustman) about Tom's shooting.

1965: DAYS OF OUR LIVES aired a long version of the end credits for the first time.