Today in Soap Opera History (April 17)

1967: Barnabas Collins first appeared on Dark Shadows.
1978: Ryan's Hope's Pat was furious with Delia.
1985: Guiding Light's Beth and Lujack made love.
2009: One Life to Live's Talia was murdered.

"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...

1942: The final episode of Frank and Anne Hummert's Orphans of Divorce aired on the Blue Network.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Jason confronted Willie (John Karlen) about his suspicious interest in the Collins family history. Victoria told Elizabeth that she was uncomfortable having Willie at Collinwood. Elizabeth agreed, and told Jason she would give him money to get Willie out of town. Jason took the cash but then couldn't find Willie. As it turned out, Willie was in the Collins family crypt trying to open Naomi Collins's coffin. By accident, Willie found a secret room in the mausoleum. Venturing in, he saw a chained coffin. Willie opened it to investigate the contents, and discovered a horror that would change his life forever.

Jed Allan Dead at 84

Jed Allan, known for his roles on soap operas Days of our Lives and Santa Barbara, died Saturday in Palm Desert, CA. He was 84.

His son Rick Brown wrote on Facebook, "so sorry to post the very sad news of my father's passing tonight. He died peacefully and was surrounded by his family and loved so much by us and so many others."

Allan spent many years working on daytime dramas, starting with the role of Ace Hubbard on Love of Life in 1964. He then played Paul Britton on The Secret storm from 1964-1965. He joined Days of our Lives in 1971 as attorney Don Craig, and played the role until April 17, 1985.

"My fondest memory is of the time when Marlena and I got together when she first came on the show," Allan said of his Days experience. "We had a great rapport and great comedy sense. Those five years were quite wonderful, and stand out as one of those better times in my career."

Deidre Hall, who still plays Dr. Marlena Evans, poignantly shared her thoughts on Allan's passing.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 17)

1967: Barnabas Collins first appeared on Dark Shadows.
1978: Ryan's Hope's Pat was furious with Delia.
1985: Guiding Light's Beth and Lujack made love.
2009: One Life to Live's Talia was murdered.

"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...

1942: The final episode of Frank and Anne Hummert's Orphans of Divorce aired on the Blue Network.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Jason confronted Willie (John Karlen) about his suspicious interest in the Collins family history. Victoria told Elizabeth that she was uncomfortable having Willie at Collinwood. Elizabeth agreed, and told Jason she would give him money to get Willie out of town. Jason took the cash but then couldn't find Willie. As it turned out, Willie was in the Collins family crypt trying to open Naomi Collins's coffin. By accident, Willie found a secret room in the mausoleum. Venturing in, he saw a chained coffin. Willie opened it to investigate the contents, and discovered a horror that would change his life forever.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 17)

1967: Barnabas Collins first appeared on Dark Shadows.
1978: Ryan's Hope's Pat was furious with Delia.
1985: Guiding Light's Beth and Lujack made love.
2009: One Life to Live's Talia was murdered.

"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...

1942: The final episode of Frank and Anne Hummert's Orphans of Divorce aired on the Blue Network.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Jason confronted Willie (John Karlen) about his suspicious interest in the Collins family history. Victoria told Elizabeth that she was uncomfortable having Willie at Collinwood. Elizabeth agreed, and told Jason she would give him money to get Willie out of town. Jason took the cash but then couldn't find Willie. As it turned out, Willie was in the Collins family crypt trying to open Naomi Collins's coffin. By accident, Willie found a secret room in the mausoleum. Venturing in, he saw a chained coffin. Willie opened it to investigate the contents, and discovered a horror that would change his life forever.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 17)

1967: Barnabas Collins first appeared on Dark Shadows.
1978: Ryan's Hope's Pat was furious with Delia.
1985: Guiding Light's Beth and Lujack made love.
2009: One Life to Live's Talia was murdered.

"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...

1942: The final episode of Frank and Anne Hummert's Orphans of Divorce aired on the Blue Network.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Jason confronted Willie (John Karlen) about his suspicious interest in the Collins family history. Victoria told Elizabeth that she was uncomfortable having Willie at Collinwood. Elizabeth agreed, and told Jason she would give him money to get Willie out of town. Jason took the cash but then couldn't find Willie. As it turned out, Willie was in the Collins family crypt trying to open Naomi Collins's coffin. By accident, Willie found a secret room in the mausoleum. Venturing in, he saw a chained coffin. Willie opened it to investigate the contents, and discovered a horror that would change his life forever.

Remembering Woodbridge: A History of the Late, Great 'Secret Storm' (Part 3)

Ward Costello as Peter Ames and Lori March as Valerie Hill.

Remembering Woodbridge: A History of the Late, Great 'Secret Storm'

The Soap Box
Vol. III No. 13 December 1978
by John Genovese

(continued from Part 2)

1963-1967: The Jane and Ira Avery Years

When former ad executive and television producer Ira Avery and his equally talented spouse Jane took the reins, sweeping alterations were made.

Myra and her father Ezra left for Egypt, never to be seen again, and Peter became publisher of The Herald. Julian Dark's mother, a pathetic hypochondriac came into the picture to provide the character of Julian with a heretofore unexplained motivation for wanting the Tyrell family funds: he wanted Grace's beautiful home for his mother. Susan became attracted to Julian. Amy and Kip "came of age." And in 1964, after the customary layover period which followed Myra's tearful departure, Peter found his greatest love interest.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 17)

1967: Barnabas Collins first appeared on Dark Shadows.
1978: Ryan's Hope's Pat was furious with Delia.
1985: Guiding Light's Beth and Lujack made love.
2009: One Life to Live's Talia was murdered.

"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...

1942: The final episode of Frank and Anne Hummert's Orphans of Divorce aired on the Blue Network.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Jason confronted Willie (John Karlen) about his suspicious interest in the Collins family history. Victoria told Elizabeth that she was uncomfortable having Willie at Collinwood. Elizabeth agreed, and told Jason she would give him money to get Willie out of town. Jason took the cash but then couldn't find Willie. As it turned out, Willie was in the Collins family crypt trying to open Naomi Collins's coffin. By accident, Willie found a secret room in the mausoleum. Venturing in, he saw a chained coffin. Willie opened it to investigate the contents, and discovered a horror that would change his life forever.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 17)

"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...

1942: The final episode of Frank and Anne Hummert's ORPHANS OF DIVORCE aired on the Blue Network.

1967: On DARK SHADOWS, Jason confronted Willie (John Karlen) about his suspicious interest in the Collins family history. Victoria told Elizabeth that she was uncomfortable having Willie at Collinwood. Elizabeth agreed, and told Jason she would give him money to get Willie out of town. Jason took the cash but then couldn't find Willie. As it turned out, Willie was in the Collins family crypt trying to open Naomi Collins's coffin. By accident, Willie found a secret room in the mausoleum. Venturing in, he saw a chained coffin. Willie opened it to investigate the contents, and discovered a horror that would change his life forever.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 17)

On this date in...

1938: THE STORY OF JOAN AND KERMIT premiered on CBS Radio.

1967: On DARK SHADOWS, Jason confronted Willie about his suspicious interest in the Collins family history. Vicky told Elizabeth that she's uncomfortable having Willie at Collinwood. Elizabeth agreed, and ttold Jason she would give him money to get Willie out of town. Jason took the cash but then couldn't find Willie. As it turned out, Willie was in the Collins family crypt trying to open Naomi Collins's coffin. By accident, Willie found a secret room in the mausoleum. Venturing in, he saw a chained coffin. Willie opened it to investigate the contents, and discovered a horror that would change his life forever.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 17)

On this date in...

1938: THE STORY OF JOAN AND KERMIT premiered on CBS radio.

1967: On DARK SHADOWS, Jason confronted Willie about his suspicious interest in the Collins family history. Vicky told Elizabeth that she's uncomfortable having Willie at Collinwood. Elizabeth agreed, and ttold Jason she would give him money to get Willie out of town. Jason took the cash but then couldn't find Willie. As it turned out, Willie was in the Collins family crypt trying to open Naomi Collins's coffin. By accident, Willie found a secret room in the mausoleum. Venturing in, he saw a chained coffin. Willie opened it to investigate the contents, and discovered a horror that would change his life forever.