Today in Soap Opera History (March 30)

1970: A World Apart and The Best of Everything premiered on ABC.
Another World spinoff Somerset premiered on NBC.
Dark Shadows' Maggie found a mysterious note.

"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...

1970: Daytime soap opera A World Apart premiered on ABC. The show was created by Katherine L. Phillips, Irna Phillips' daughter, and combined Irna's own life story with examples of the generation gap. Susan Sarandon and Matthew Cowles were siblings Patrice and Chris Kahlman, adopted children of soap opera writer Better Kahlman (played by Elizabeth Lawrence and later Augusta Dabney) who had never married. A well-written family drama in the World Turns vein, it also featured Susan Sullivan, James Noble, Kathleen Maguire, Stephen Elliott, Tom Ligon and William Price. Set in Chicago, and taped in New York, its directors included Tom Donovan and Walter Gorman. Donovan also produced. It was cancelled June 25, 1971.

1970: Daytime soap opera The Best of Everything premiered on ABC. James Lipton adapted it from the Rona Jaffe novel about the woes of working girls in New York, set mainly at Key Publishing Company. The main characters were Linda Warren (Patty McCormack), April Morrison (Julie Mannix), Kim Jordan (Katherine Glass) and Barbara Lamont (Rochelle Oliver). They were tormented by their ruthless editor, Amanda Key (Gale Sondergaard), and counseled by the warm and loving Violet Jordan (Geraldine Fitzgerald). The series lasted less than six months, with the finale airing on September 25, 1970.

1970: On Another World, Russ Matthews was upset when the expensive crib his wife, Rachel (Robin Strasser), ordered arrived. She tried to gain sympathy with tears but it didn't work.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 30)

1966: A ghost emerged from Josette's portrait on Dark Shadows.
1978: Lucy was devastated when Gary & Val left Dallas again.
1982: Karen Fairgate met Mack Mackenzie in Knots Landing.
1985: General Hospital's Frisco was determined to go undercover.

"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...

1955: Actor James Dean died in a car crash at age 24. The Rebel Without a Cause star had connections to a number of people who would one day work in the world of soap operas, including director Lela Swift (Ryan's Hope, Dark Shadows) and writer William Bast (co-creator of The Colbys).

1966: On Dark Shadows, David Collins (David Henesy) took Victoria Winters (Alexandra Moltke) to the Old House to show her the ghosts. After they left, a ghost emerged from the portrait of Josette Collins.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 30)

1970: A World Apart and The Best of Everything premiered on ABC.
Another World spinoff Somerset premiered on NBC.
Dark Shadows' Maggie found a mysterious note.

"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...

1970: Daytime soap opera A World Apart premiered on ABC. The show was created by Katherine L. Phillips, Irna Phillips' daughter, and combined Irna's own life story with examples of the generation gap. Susan Sarandon and Matthew Cowles were siblings Patrice and Chris Kahlman, adopted children of soap opera writer Better Kahlman (played by Elizabeth Lawrence and later Augusta Dabney) who had never married. A well-written family drama in the World Turns vein, it also featured Susan Sullivan, James Noble, Kathleen Maguire, Stephen Elliott, Tom Ligon and William Price. Set in Chicago, and taped in New York, its directors included Tom Donovan and Walter Gorman. Donovan also produced. It was cancelled June 25, 1971.

1970: Daytime soap opera The Best of Everything premiered on ABC. James Lipton adapted it from the Rona Jaffe novel about the woes of working girls in New York, set mainly at Key Publishing Company. The main characters were Linda Warren (Patty McCormack), April Morrison (Julie Mannix), Kim Jordan (Katherine Glass) and Barbara Lamont (Rochelle Oliver). They were tormented by their ruthless editor, Amanda Key (Gale Sondergaard), and counseled by the warm and loving Violet Jordan (Geraldine Fitzgerald). The series lasted less than six months, with the finale airing on September 25, 1970.

1970: On Another World, Russ Matthews was upset when the expensive crib his wife, Rachel (Robin Strasser), ordered arrived. She tried to gain sympathy with tears but it didn't work.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 30)

1966: A ghost emerged from Josette's portrait on Dark Shadows.
1978: Lucy was devastated when Gary & Val left Dallas again.
1982: Karen Fairgate met Mack Mackenzie in Knots Landing.
1985: General Hospital's Frisco was determined to go undercover.

"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...

1955: Actor James Dean died in a car crash at age 24. The Rebel Without a Cause star had connections to a number of people who would one day work in the world of soap operas, including director Lela Swift (Ryan's Hope, Dark Shadows) and writer William Bast (co-creator of The Colbys).

1966: On Dark Shadows, David Collins (David Henesy) took Victoria Winters (Alexandra Moltke) to the Old House to show her the ghosts. After they left, a ghost emerged from the portrait of Josette Collins.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 30)

1970: A World Apart and The Best of Everything premiered on ABC.
Another World spinoff Somerset premiered on NBC.
Dark Shadows' Maggie found a mysterious note.

"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...

1970: Daytime soap opera A World Apart premiered on ABC. The show was created by Katherine L. Phillips, Irna Phillips' daughter, and combined Irna's own life story with examples of the generation gap. Susan Sarandon and Matthew Cowles were siblings Patrice and Chris Kahlman, adopted children of soap opera writer Better Kahlman (played by Elizabeth Lawrence and later Augusta Dabney) who had never married. A well-written family drama in the World Turns vein, it also featured Susan Sullivan, James Noble, Kathleen Maguire, Stephen Elliott, Tom Ligon and William Price. Set in Chicago, and taped in New York, its directors included Tom Donovan and Walter Gorman. Donovan also produced. It was cancelled June 25, 1971.

1970: Daytime soap opera The Best of Everything premiered on ABC. James Lipton adapted it from the Rona Jaffe novel about the woes of working girls in New York, set mainly at Key Publishing Company. The main characters were Linda Warren (Patty McCormack), April Morrison (Julie Mannix), Kim Jordan (Katherine Glass) and Barbara Lamont (Rochelle Oliver). They were tormented by their ruthless editor, Amanda Key (Gale Sondergaard), and counseled by the warm and loving Violet Jordan (Geraldine Fitzgerald). The series lasted less than six months, with the finale airing on September 25, 1970.

1970: On Another World, Russ Matthews was upset when the expensive crib his wife, Rachel (Robin Strasser), ordered arrived. She tried to gain sympathy with tears but it didn't work.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 30)

1966: A ghost emerged from Josette's portrait on Dark Shadows.
1978: Lucy was devastated when Gary & Val left Dallas again.
1982: Karen Fairgate met Mack Mackenzie in Knots Landing.
1985: General Hospital's Frisco was determined to go undercover.

"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...

1955: Actor James Dean died in a car crash at age 24. The Rebel Without a Cause star had connections to a number of people who would one day work in the world of soap operas, including director Lela Swift (Ryan's Hope, Dark Shadows) and writer William Bast (co-creator of The Colbys).

1966: On Dark Shadows, David Collins (David Henesy) took Victoria Winters (Alexandra Moltke) to the Old House to show her the ghosts. After they left, a ghost emerged from the portrait of Josette Collins.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 30)

1970: A World Apart and The Best of Everything premiered on ABC.
Another World spinoff Somerset premiered on NBC.
Dark Shadows' Maggie found a mysterious note.

"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...

1970: Daytime soap opera A World Apart premiered on ABC. The show was created by Katherine L. Phillips, Irna Phillips' daughter, and combined Irna's own life story with examples of the generation gap. Susan Sarandon and Matthew Cowles were siblings Patrice and Chris Kahlman, adopted children of soap opera writer Better Kahlman (played by Elizabeth Lawrence and later Augusta Dabney) who had never married. A well-written family drama in the World Turns vein, it also featured Susan Sullivan, James Noble, Kathleen Maguire, Stephen Elliott, Tom Ligon and William Price. Set in Chicago, and taped in New York, its directors included Tom Donovan and Walter Gorman. Donovan also produced. It was cancelled June 25, 1971.

1970: Daytime soap opera The Best of Everything premiered on ABC. James Lipton adapted it from the Rona Jaffe novel about the woes of working girls in New York, set mainly at Key Publishing Company. The main characters were Linda Warren (Patty McCormack), April Morrison (Julie Mannix), Kim Jordan (Katherine Glass) and Barbara Lamont (Rochelle Oliver). They were tormented by their ruthless editor, Amanda Key (Gale Sondergaard), and counseled by the warm and loving Violet Jordan (Geraldine Fitzgerald). The series lasted less than six months, with the finale airing on September 25, 1970.

1970: On Another World, Russ Matthews was upset when the expensive crib his wife, Rachel (Robin Strasser), ordered arrived. She tried to gain sympathy with tears but it didn't work.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 30)

1966: A ghost emerged from Josette's portrait on Dark Shadows.
1978: Lucy was devastated when Gary & Val left Dallas again.
1982: Karen Fairgate met Mack Mackenzie in Knots Landing.
1985: General Hospital's Frisco was determined to go undercover.

"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...

1955: Actor James Dean died in a car crash at age 24. The Rebel Without a Cause star had connections to a number of people who would one day work in the world of soap operas, including director Lela Swift (Ryan's Hope, Dark Shadows) and writer William Bast (co-creator of The Colbys).

1966: On Dark Shadows, David Collins (David Henesy) took Victoria Winters (Alexandra Moltke) to the Old House to show her the ghosts. After they left, a ghost emerged from the portrait of Josette Collins.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 30)

1970: A World Apart and The Best of Everything premiered on ABC.
1970: Another World spinoff Somerset premiered on NBC.
1970: Dark Shadows' Maggie found a mysterious note.

"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...

1970: Daytime soap opera A World Apart, created by Irna Phillips' daughter, Katherine Phillips, premiered on ABC. Susan Sarandon starred as Patrice Kahlman.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 30)

1966: A ghost emerged from Josette's portrait on Dark Shadows.
1978: Lucy was devastated when Gary & Val left Dallas again.
1982: Karen Fairgate met Mack Mackenzie in Knots Landing.
1985: General Hospital's Frisco was determined to go undercover.

"History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves, and of our common humanity, so that we can better face the future."
― Robert Penn Warren

"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...

1966: On Dark Shadows, David (David Henesy) took Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) to the Old House to show her the ghosts. After they left, a ghost emerged from the portrait of Josette Collins.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 30)

1966: A ghost emerged from Josette's portrait on DARK
SHADOWS. 1978: Lucy was devastated when Gary and
Val left Dallas again.  1982: KNOT LANDING's Karen met
Mack Mackenzie.  1985: Despite Tey's death, Frisco told
Robert he will wanted to go through with their plan.

"In history, a great volume is unrolled for our instruction, drawing the materials of future wisdom from the past errors and infirmities of mankind."
― Edmund Burke

"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...

1966: On DARK SHADOWS, David took Victoria to the Old House to show her the ghosts. After they left, a ghost emerged from the portrait of Josette Collins.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 30)

Legendary producer and director Gloria Monty died seven years ago today.

On this date in...

1970: A WORLD APART, created by Irna Phillips' daughter, Katherine Phillips, premiered on ABC.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 30)

On this date in...

1960: THE FLINTSTONES premiered on ABC.   The sixth and last season of the show paid homage to PEYTON PLACE,  a popular primetime soap opera at the time, on a couple of different occasions.  In the episode "How to Pick a Fight With Your Wife Without Really Trying," Peytonrock Place was referenced during a fight between Fred and Wilma.  In "The Long Long Long Weekend," the Flintsones were transported to the future.  There was a throwaway gag about Pey-Rock Place being the only show on TV in the 21st century.

1982: CHEERS premiered on NBC starring former SOMERSET and THE DOCTORS actor Ted Danson.

1986: On SANTA BARBARA, Cruz (A Martinez) forced Keith (Justin Deas) to resign as District Attorney.

50 Greatest Soap Couples: #12 Tom & Margo From AS THE WORLD TURNS

COUPLE: Tom Hughes & Margo Montgomery
SHOW: AS THE WORLD TURNS
RANK: 12
PLAYED BY:
Tom: Justin Deas, Jason Kincaid, Gregg, Marx, Scott Holmes
Margo: Margaret Colin, Hillary B. Smith, Ellen Dolan, Glynnis O'Connor
YEARS: 1980-2010

STORY:
Margo was a nurse when she arrived in Oakdale.  She quickly became involved with the newly married James Stenbeck.  Tom had moved to Sweden to investigate Stenbeck (Anthony Herrera) after Barbara Ryan (Colleen Zenk) dumped him at the altar to be with James.  When Tom returned he became entangled in Margo's life in many ways, including forcing her mother, Lyla, to reveal that John Dixon was Margo's biological father.  Tom began dating Margo's aunt, Maggie, but his attraction to Margo would soon become strong.  Margo eventually freed herself from the clutches of James and got to know Tom better while working at his family's law firm.   It wasn't long before they began a series of adventures around the world while investigating the notorious Mr. Big (Brent Collins) and his connection to James.  On June 1, 1983, Tom and Margo called their friends and family to the park for an impromptu, come-as-you-are wedding which was both funny and poignant.

CLASSIC CLIPS: Tom & Margo in AS THE WORLD TURNS

One of the most memorable stories in the history of AS THE WORLD TURNS supercouple Tom and Margo was their many adventures involving Mr. Big. Watch some clips from 1982 below:

50 Greatest Soap Opera Actors: The Complete List

Early in 2010, We Love Soaps pulled together a panel of 15 past and present soap opera journalists and critics to come up with a list of the 50 Greatest Soap Actors of All Time list. Below is the complete list from 1 to 50 which dates back to radio soap operas. This is quite an impressive list of actors. Even more wonderful actors just missed the Top 50 and will appear on the Honorable Mention list. Our goal was to honor some of the men that helped made soaps great and revisit their careers and classic moments.

NAME: Anthony Geary
RANK: 1
SOAP ROLES: Luke Spencer, GENERAL HOSPITAL (1978-1984, 1993-present); Luke Spencer, PORT CHARLES (1998); Bill Eckert, GENERAL HOSPITAL (1991-1993); George Curtis, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (1973); David Lockhart, BRIGHT PROMISE (1971-1972)

NAME: David Canary
RANK: 2
SOAP ROLES: Adam Chandler/Stuart Chandler, ALL MY CHILDREN (1983-2010); Adam Chandler, ONE LIFE TO LIVE (2000, 2005); Steve Frame, ANOTHER WORLD (1981-1983); Warner/Far Wind, THE DOCTORS (1981); Arthur Benson, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW (1978); Russ Gehring, PEYTON PLACE (1965-1966)

NAME: Larry Bryggman
RANK: 3
SOAP ROLES: John Dixon, AS THE WORLD TURNS (1969-2004); LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING; Cast on GUIDING LIGHT as a Bauer in 1962 but was drafted into the Army before starting the role

NAME: Michael Zaslow
RANK: 4
SOAP ROLES: David Renaldi, ONE LIFE TO LIVE (1983-1986, 1998); Roger Thorpe, GUIDING LIGHT (1971-1980, 1989-1997); Jonathan Hadary, KINGS CROSSING (1982); Michael West, FALCON CREST (1982); Dick Hart, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW (1970-1971); Pete Chernak, LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING (1970)

NAME: Justin Deas
RANK: 5
SOAP ROLES: Scott, STEAMBOAT (2010-present); Buzz Cooper, GUIDING LIGHT (1993-2009); Marco Dane, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; Keith Timmons, SANTA BARBARA (1986-1988); Tom Hughes, AS THE WORLD TURNS (1980-1984); Bucky Carter, RYAN'S HOPE (1975-1978)

NAME: Peter Bergman
RANK: 6
SOAP ROLES: Jack Abbott, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (1989-present); Cliff Warner, ALL MY CHILDREN (1979-1989); GUIDING LIGHT; LOVE OF LIFE


NAME: Douglass Watson
RANK: 7
SOAP ROLES: Mackenzie Cory, ANOTHER WORLD (1974-1989); Lloyd Phillips, LOVE OF LIFE (1972-1973); Walter Haskins, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW (1966-1968); Robert Wallace, MOMENT OF TRUTH (1965)

NAME: Eric Braeden
RANK: 8
SOAP ROLES: Victor Newman, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (1980-present); Victor Newman, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (1999)


NAME: James Mitchell
RANK: 9
SOAP ROLES: Palmer Cortlandt, ALL MY CHILDREN (1979-2010); Julian Hathaway, WHERE THE HEART IS (1969-1973); Lloyd Griffin, THE EDGE OF NIGHT (1964)


NAME: Charles Keating
RANK: 10
SOAP ROLES: James Ritchfield, PORT CHARLES (2001-2003); Carl Hutchins, ANOTHER WORLD (1983-1985, 1991-1999); Niles Mason, AS THE WORLD TURNS (1989-1991); Damon Lazarre, ALL MY CHILDREN (1987-1988)

FLASHBACK: Justin Deas 1980

NEW FACE FOR 'AS THE WORLD TURNS'

By Jon-Michael Reed
Los Angeles Times
December 12, 1980

NEW YORK - Maybe this time around he'll hit soap stardom pay dirt.

Justin Deas was the one and only Bucky Carter in the original cast of RYAN'S HOPE. The character never quite caught on with the audience, primarily because the show's writers didn't know which niche to fit him into or which romantic storyline he was best suited to pursue. Nevertheless, he was one of the most promising of soap newcomers, and now he has an opportunity to further display his skills.