Today in Soap Opera History (January 27)

1971: The last appearance of Barnabas Collins on the original Dark
Shadows. 1984: Jack Wagner debuted as Frisco Jones on GH.
1998: One Life to Live's Téa tried to figure out Todd.
2006: Passions aired a Bollywood episode.

"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...

1931: Clara, Lu & Em shifted from WGN to the NBC Blue Network, one of the earliest radio soap operas. Listen to the episode here.

1953: On The Guiding Light, Meta Bauer White prepared for the worst.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 27)

1971: The last appearance of Barnabas Collins on the original Dark
Shadows. 1984: Jack Wagner debuted as Frisco Jones on GH.
1998: One Life to Live's Téa tried to figure out Todd.
2006: Passions aired a Bollywood episode.

"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...

1931: Clara, Lu & Em shifted from WGN to the NBC Blue Network, one of the earliest radio soap operas. Listen to the episode here.

1953: On The Guiding Light, Meta Bauer White prepared for the worst.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 27)

1971: The last appearance of Barnabas Collins on the original Dark
Shadows. 1984: Jack Wagner debuted as Frisco Jones on GH.
1998: One Life to Live's Téa tried to figure out Todd.
2006: Passions aired a Bollywood episode.

"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...

1931: Clara, Lu & Em shifted from WGN to the NBC Blue Network, one of the earliest radio soap operas. Listen to the episode here.

1953: On The Guiding Light, Meta Bauer White prepared for the worst.

'Dark Shadows' Premiered 50 Years Ago Today on ABC

The cast of Dark Shadows in 1967: David Henesy, Kathryn Leigh Scott,
Sharon Smyth, Anthony George, Robert Gerringer, Nancy Barrett,
Dennis Patrick, Alexandra Moltke, John Karlen, Jonathan Frid,
Grayson Hall, Clarice Blackburn, Dana Elcar, Louis Edmonds,
and Joan Bennett. Photo Credit: ABC

Gothic afternoon soap opera Dark Shadows premiered on ABC 50 years ago today. On June 27, 1966, the series aired at 4 p.m. ET, following medical dramas General Hospital and The Nurses in the network's lineup.

A year earlier, creator Dan Curtis told his wife that he had a dream about a mysterious young woman who was on a train. Curtis pitched the idea as a TV show to ABC, who greenlit production.  Art Wallace was hired to create a story from Curtis' dream sequence. Wallace wrote the story bible, Shadows on the Wall, the proposed title for the show that was later changed to Dark Shadows.

From the first notes of its distinctly haunting musical theme, to the innovative storylines that transformed daytime television, to its iconic cast of characters, Dark Shadows transported audiences to the mysterious town of Collinsport, Maine, and they never looked back.

Airing from 1966-1971, Dark Shadows became a pop culture phenomenon with the vulnerable vampire Barnabas Collins, a role made famous by Jonathan Frid.

During its initial run, the series spawned two feature-length motion pictures, House Of Dark Shadows (1970) and Night Of Dark Shadows (1971), as well as thirty-two tie-in novels, comic books, records, Viewmasters, games, models, and trading cards.

Decades Network will be featuring Dark Shadows episodes throughout the day on Monday, including the debut of vampire Barnabas Collins. Decades remembers the premiere of this cult favorite with the 12 episodes that marked the beginning of the Barnabas storyline, one that propelled the daytime series to new heights. The episodes will be presented in groups of three at 9 a.m. ET, 3 p.m. ET, 9 p.m. ET and 3 a.m. ET.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 27)

1971: The last appearance of Barnabas Collins on the original Dark
Shadows. 1984: Jack Wagner debuted as Frisco Jones on GH.
1998: One Life to Live's Téa tried to figure out Todd.
2006: Passions aired a Bollywood episode.

"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...

1931: Clara, Lu & Em shifted from WGN to the NBC Blue Network, one of the earliest radio soap operas. Listen to the episode here.

1953: On The Guiding Light, Meta Bauer White prepared for the worst.

NEWS: Deirdre Barlow Book, Crystal Hunt, Jonathan Frid, Anthony Geary

'Deirdre: A Life on Coronation Street' will be released on October 22
The book is the official Coronation Street tie-in celebration of Deirdre Barlow's time on the show; a tribute to one of Corrie fans' all-time favorite characters. Deirdre (played by the late Anne Kirkbride) was on our screens for over 40 years and in that time she became a British institution. Packed full of storylines, reminiscences and fascinating trivia, the book will explore Deidre’s pinnacle moments on The Street. From her first appearance in Weatherfield as a slip of a lass with a shoulder-length bob and with just three lines to say to becoming the most loved and talked about character in the history of the show. With a "wealth of never-before-seen photographs this is the book every Coronation Street fan cannot wait to read."

Ken Barlow will be told of Deirdre's death on tonight's episode of Coronation Street
Tonight’s episode of Coronation Street is going to be an emotional one. After the tragic death of actress Anne Kirkbride in January, the soapwill tonight feature the news of her character Deirdre’s passing.

Why soap opera history matters (at least to viewers)
Last week on General Hospital, Luke (Anthony Geary) asked Holly (Emma Samms) if she’d ever met his late cousin, Bill (also played by Geary from 1991 to 1993). Holly said, “No.” The Twitter-verse went mental.

Here is why soap history matters: Viewers invest themselves in the characters. They invest themselves in their love stories. They root for them. It’s what keeps them tuning in every day. Telling viewers that what they watched happen on their screens never, in fact, actually happened is a slap in the face.

Farewell Anthony Geary: Best Moments from 3 Decades on General Hospital
Anthony Geary is leaving General Hospital. His last day on the show will be July 27th. In honor of his departure, ABC.com will be releasing moments from the last 28 years of Luke Spencer's long journey starting Monday, July 13th.

Former Guiding Light and One Life to Live actress Crystal Hunt "honored" to play Lauren in Magic Mike XXL
"As an actress, it was an honor to be casted and work with such talented individuals," the Queens of Drama star reveals. "As a woman, it was actually an empowering role and the comradery among the females on set was apparent."

Bay of the Living Dead: Dark Shadows star Jonathan Frid Was Gay and That's OK
"He was silenced by the fear still clearly present in many fans today. By putting this aspect of his life under erasure you diminish the man. There is nothing wrong with being gay."

Game of Thrones Season 5 has averaged 19.8 million weekly viewers with DVR, On Demand and HBO Go/Now playback folded in
GoT's latest run thus stands as its most watched to date, besting the 19.1 million who consumed Season 4 episodes.

Canceled Forever unable to find a new home
The ABC drama, which was cancelled after one season in May, was unable to find another network, according to a message from series creator Matt Miller.

BBC turns town into set for new TV drama The Coroner
The crew has been filming around South Devon, including Torquay, Broadsands beach and Dartmouth, since April. They are scheduled to finish at the end of this month. The daytime drama will air on BBC One in 2016.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 27)

1971: The last appearance of Barnabas Collins on the original Dark
Shadows. 1984: Jack Wagner debuted as Frisco Jones on GH.
1998: OLTL's Téa tried to figure out Todd, a year after her debut.
2006: Passions aired a Bollywood episode.

"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...

1931: Clara, Lu & Em shifted from WGN to the NBC Blue Network, one of the earliest radio soap operas. Listen to the episode here.

1971: Jonathan Frid made his final appearance as Barnabas Collins on the ABC daytime soap opera Dark Shadows. The episode was also the last time viewers saw Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, Flora Collins, Julia Hoffman, Timothy Eliot Stokes, Angelique, Leticia Faye, Desmond Collins and Lamar Trask in the original series.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 27)

1971: The last appearance of Barnabas Collins on the original
DARK SHADOWS.  1984: Jack Wagner debuted as Frisco Jones.
1998: OLTL's Téa tried to figure out Todd, a year after her debut.
2006: PASSIONS aired its Bollywood episode.

"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...

1931: CLARA, LU & EM shifted from WGN to the NBC Blue Network, one of the earliest radio soap operas. Listen to the episode here.

1971: Jonathan Frid made his final appearance as Barnabas Collins on the ABC daytime soap opera DARK SHADOWS. The episode was also the last time viewers saw Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, Flora Collins, Julia Hoffman, Timothy Eliot Stokes, Angelique, Leticia Faye, Desmond Collins and Lamar Trask in the original series.

50 Greatest Soap Couples: #45 Barnabas & Josette From DARK SHADOWS

COUPLE: Barnabas Collins & Josette duPres
SHOW: DARK SHADOWS
RANK: 45
PLAYED BY:
Barnabas: Jonathan Frid
Josette: Kathryn Leigh Scott, Mary Cooper
YEARS: 1967-1971

STORY:
In 1795, Josette traveled with her father, Andre DuPres, from Martinique to marry Barnabas Collins. Her aunt, Countess Natalie DuPres, and her maid, Angelique, arrived a few days prior. Angelique was actually a witch who had enjoyed a previous fling with Barnabas back in Martinique, and was very much in love with him. She planned to destroy the couple's romance and placed a spell on Josette, causing her to fall hopelessly in love with Jeremiah Collins.  Josette eventually fell to her death at Widows' Hill in one of the most memorable scenes in the show's history.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Decline in TV Viewing, Double-Dipping, Patrick Duffy Superhero, RIP Adam Yauch

Double-dipping in primetime
The past few seasons of must-watch TV have double-dipped on some familiar faces.

Nielsen Reports a Decline in Television Viewing
While the vast majority of American homes still have functioning television sets, more than one million no longer meet Nielsen’s definition of a “TV household:” those that have at least one television set and a cable, satellite or antenna connection.

Last year, for the first time in 20 years, Nielsen said the number of such households had dropped to 114.7 million, from 115.9 million previously, despite a rise in the number of households in the country. On Thursday, Nielsen said the figure had dropped further, this time to 114.1 million.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Jen Lilley's 'Awkward' GH Start, Johnny Depp Praises Jonathan Frid, Lohan on GLEE

GENERAL HOSPITAL's Jen Lilley: Replacing Kirsten Storms was 'awkward'
"In a word, awkward. It’s really wonderful now. … The analogy I always use [is] if Michael C. Hall wasn’t Dexter — and that’s my favorite show — [but] if Michael C. Hall wasn’t Dexter because he was sick, and let’s say, oh gosh, name one of the best actors ever. Dustin Hoffman. If he was filling in for him, I would be like, ‘Uh uh. No. You’re not Michael C. Hall. Get out of there.’

Jonathan Frid Dead at 87; Barnabas Collins on DARK SHADOWS

Actor Jonathan Frid, best known for his role as Barnabas Collins on the original DARK SHADOWS afternoon soap opera on ABC, passed away peacefully on April 14 at the age of 87. Frid was a theater, television, and film actor whose career spanned more than fifty years.

Frid starred on DARK SHADOWS from 1967 to 1971 and also played the role of Barnabas in the House of Dark Shadows movie. April 18 marked 45 years since Frid made his first appearance on the soap.  Prior to DARK SHADOWS, he played Dr. Field on AS THE WORLD TURNS.

In 2010 Frid made the We Love Soaps Top 50 Daytime Soap Actors of All-Time list, based on votes from 15 top industry critics and writers.

In a posting on her official website, former DARK SHADOWS co-star Kathryn Leigh Scott (Josette) paid tribute to the late actor.

FLASHBACK: Canadian Vampire Jonathan Frid (1969)

The Canadian Vampire who's become king of the US

By David Cobb
Montreal Gazette
April 4, 1969

There he was, this off-duty vampire, lounging around his lushly appointed Manhattan apartment and talking about biting necks.

He was serious about it and, to make sure he had his ideas straight, he allowed himself a few telling pauses. During these, the only sounds in the room were the soft chinks of ice and the ticking, like a measured heartbeat, of an old - probably Transylvanian - clock.

"Beyond the whole sadism-masochism bit," he was saying...pause...chinks...ticks... "Barnabas has this great guilt sense...and he keeps falling in love all the time."

The voice of authority, plainly, since it belonged to Jonathan Frid, the 44-year-old Hamilton actor who plays Barnabas Collins, a 175-year-old vampire-in-spite-of-himself on a daily U.S. afternoon soap opera called DARK SHADOWS. Friday, previously a competent but obscure performer (most recently on stage in the U.S. national tour of "Hostile Witness" in 1967 with Ray Milland), has in two years exploded into U.S. daytime TV's first genuine matinee idol.

50 Greatest Soap Actors: #49 Jonathan Frid

NAME: Jonathan Frid
RANK: 49
SOAP ROLES: Barnabas Collins, DARK SHADOWS (1967-1971); Dr. Field, AS THE WORLD TURNS (1964-1966)

AWARDS:
1971 Golden Laurel Award nomination for Star of Tomorrow, Male

COMMENTS FROM THE PANEL:
Alan Carter: Talk about being known for and stereotyped by a role. It's not like DARK SHADOWS lasted 40 years or that Frid played the role all that long, but there was something about him and the show that made us, literally, run home from school to watch. Do kids run home to watch soaps these days? No, they have DVRs and Hulu and cell phones and the internet. But I imagine if Frid was around on DARK SHADOWS, they'd still be running.