1968: Dark Shadows' Barnabas entombed Trasked.
1979: Ryan's Hope's Johnny said his peace.
1990: GH's Robert, Sean & Anna learned Paget was Duke.
1992: All My Children's Donna & Chuck left Pine Valley.
"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...
1968: On The Doctors, Dr. Matt Powers (James Pritchett) and Dr. Nick Bellini (Gerald Gordon) performed surgery on Nathan Bunker (House Jameson).
1968: On Dark Shadows, after forcing him to sign a confession stating Victoria Winters was not a witch, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) trapped Reverend Trask (Jerry Lacy) in a prison of his own making.
Like a lot of other kids of my generation, after school TV viewing included Dark Shadows and The Edge of Night. Guiding Light was another longtime favorite, so of course I knew dashing Larkin as Sky Whitney and Kyle Sampson. He was arguably the quintessential leading soap opera leading man...what Fabio did for Romance Novels, Larkin did for '80s daytime drama: creating smart, sexy, swashbucklers that women would love and men would emulate. In later years, he transitioned to being a strong patriarch on All My Children and a hilarious, creepy villain on As the World Turns (Did you know that for many of its final years, he was also the off-screen announcer for ATWT?). With all that going for him, no wonder he was a sought after acting teacher.
But he was also a loyal friend, although I mostly knew him peripherally. We first met on the last episode of Search for Tomorrow, where you can spot a cameo of us together pushing forward in a crowded airport line. For the last day of the 35 year old soap, assorted cast and crew from over the years comprised the "background players" for those scenes. Larkin had worked in the same facility where SFT was shot in his EON days, so he was much loved by everyone from the Producers to the Boom Operators.
Then, through our mutual friends Marcia McCabe and Chris Goutman, I got to know him off-set. Sharing countless meals, especially Thanksgiving dinners, together over the years. He was devoted "Uncle Larkin" to their kids and always one of the most clever, charming and interesting people at the table.
Daytime has lost another great, much loved guy. And so have his friends and family. RIP, Larkin.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Below is the initial part of a "Where Are They Now?" interview Nelson Aspen conducted with Larkin Malloy in March 2010. We will post the interview in its entirety soon.
Louan Gideon passed away on Monday morning after a long battle with cancer. She is best known to soap opera fans as the final actress who played Liza Walton Sentell on NBC's SEARCH FOR TOMORROW. She also starred as Danielle Atron in THE SECRET WORLD OF ALEX MACK, as well as appearances in numerous of TV shows and films including THIRTYSOMETHING, SAVED BY THE BELL: THE NEW CLASS (as Mrs. Belding), and BEVERLY HILLS, 90210.
We felt there was no better tribute to Gideon than speaking to some of her closest friends. We Love Soaps spoke ask Ms. Gideon's SEARCH FOR TOMORROW co-stars--Marcia McCabe (Sunny Adamson) and Nelson Aspen (Albert Prange)--to talk about their longtime friendships.
WE LOVE SOAPS: What was your fondest memory of working with Louan on SEARCH FOR TOMORROW?
MARCIA MCCABE: Memories of Louan....my GGGGGGGGGGGG. [and I was her MMMMMMMMMMM. Our little nicknames for each other.]
When Louan came on the scene at "SEARCH" to replace Sherry Mathis as "Liza" I knew I was in for a treat! Although Sherry was lovely and a consummate actress, she was a bit remote and not social at all. Louan was so friendly, upbeat and had that warm southern charm and we became instant pals.
Lou was so healthy and encouraged me to join the gym near the studio, so we could work out together. Prior to her arrival, I was skinny but not in great shape. I credit her with starting me on a path to a healthier lifestyle!
Entertainment reporter, author and We Love Soaps contributor Nelson Aspen celebrated his 50th birthday this week (Happy Birthday, Nelson!). Last weekend he enjoyed birthday festivities with friends in Hamptons and a tug of war match was just one of the many fun events. You'll notice SEARCH FOR TOMORROW actresses Marcia McCabe (Sunny) and Louan Gideon (Liza) on the other side of the rope from Nelson, who is working on a new book about how "Life begins at 50". Do you agree? You can tweet Nelson your thoughts on Twitter at @nelsonaspen. He might just include you in the new book!
If can you haven't caught the latest episode of his new web series @NELSON'S, with guest star Victoria Arbiter, you can watch it below.
Today would have been legendary actress Mary Stuart's birthday. She is best known for her 35-year run as Joanne Gardner Barron Tate Vincente Tourneur in SEARCH FOR TOMORROW. She latter starred as Meta Bauer in GUIDING LIGHT for six years until her death in 2002. Last weekend some of her former co-stars and friends--publicist Lee Fryd, Nelson Aspen, Marcia McCabe and Louan Gideon--gathered in the Hamptons to celebrate Aspen's 50th birthday. In honor of Mary Stuart, they recreated one of the class photos we posted back in 2010 as part of Nelson's Scrapbook.
Check out thew newly re-created photo below as well as reflections on Stuart from Aspen, McCabe and Gideon.
"How blessed was I at age 23 to share the same theatrical air space as Mary Stuart. She was an amazing actress who taught so many of us how to perfect our acting skills for the camera. She was a true professional and a warm, loving woman who was passionate about her job and enjoyed being the matriarch of 'Search!' I loved and respected her and was honored to be a part of the 'SFT' family for 9 years. Happy Birthday to Mary. She was truly one of a kind!!!" - Marcia McCabe (Sunny Adamson)
"Mary and Larry [Haines] were just the best of friends off camera, or so it certainly seemed. You could tell the marvelous camaraderie they shared. It made the set, especially to a new person like me who was coming into a show already years in progress, seem safe...friendly....like it wasn't just a bunch of actors...but a family I was joining." - Louan Gideon (Liza Sentell)
"Mary was the greatest...on camera and off (as different as those two personae were!) and I miss her still, especially at her favorite time of year: Christmas. Fortunately, her work is so well remembered by family, friends and fans...and her legacy lives on not only through her BOOK PALS organization, but through the medium she helped to create. My mentor, my pal, my precious Mary...Happy Birthday!" - Nelson Aspen (Albert Prange)
Nelson Aspen dug into his scrapbooks for some memorabilia from his early showbiz career in Daytime TV and shares some of his personal photos exclusively with We Love Soaps. All photos are owned by Nelson. For more of his exploits, read "Hollywood Insider Exposed!"
We continue this series with a photo from SEARCH FOR TOMORROW circa 1985.
Lisa Peluso (Wendy), Michelle Joyner (Sarah), Mary Stuart (Jo), Terri Eoff (Suzi) and Marcia McCabe (Sunny).
International entertainment reporter Nelson Aspen, author of "Hollywood Insider Exposed!", continues his Where Are They Now Tour for We Love Soaps with a sit down with former Search for Tomorrow star Marcia McCabe. McCabe played Sunny Adamson from 1978-1986 on SFT and later had roles on One Life to Live, Another World and As the World Turns.
In this fascinating and fun interview, McCabe discusses her long soap career, family, the end of As the World Turns and much more.
Now that the countdown of the 50 Greatest Soap Opera Actresses has concluded, We Love Soaps would like to pay tribute to another set of wonderful actresses. These ladies received multiple votes from our panel and just missed the countdown. For us, it's more about honoring their work that has touched so many lives more than a specific ranking. The list is sorted by the decade and the date the actress started on soaps. Join us in paying tribute to these fine talents and if your favorite has been mentioned, please share your memories/videos/photos in the comments section.
THE 1950s NAME: Peggy McCay SOAP ROLES: Caroline Brady, DAYS OF OUR LIVES (1983, 1985-2003; 2004-present); Iris Fairchild, GENERAL HOSPITAL (1967-1970); Susan Garrett, THE YOUNG MARRIEDS (1964-1966); Vanessa Dale, LOVE OF LIFE (1951-1955)
NAME: Ruth Warrick SOAP ROLES: Phoebe Tyler Wallingford, ALL MY CHILDREN (1970-2004); Hannah Cord, PEYTON PLACE (1965-1967); Edith Hughes, AS THE WORLD TURNS (1956-1960); Janet Johnson, GUIDING LIGHT (1953-1954)
NAME: Frances Reid SOAP ROLES: Alice Horton, DAYS OF OUR LIVES (1965-2007); Rose Pollock, THE EDGE OF NIGHT (1964); Grace Baker, AS THE WORLD TURNS (1959-1962); Portia Manning, PORTIA FACES LIFE (1954)
NAME: Kathleen Widdoes SOAP ROLES: Emma Snyder, AS THE WORLD TURNS (1985-present); Una MacCurtain, RYAN'S HOPE (1983); Rose Perrini, ANOTHER WORLD (1978-1980); Jill Malone, YOUNG DOCTOR MALONE (1958-1960)
NAME: Audrey Peters SOAP ROLES: Sarah Shayne, GUIDING LIGHT (1989-2006); Lorraine Taylor, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW (1985); Judge Connors, LOVING (1983); Vanessa Dale, LOVE OF LIFE (1959-1980)
Nelson Aspen dug into his scrapbooks for some memorabilia from his early showbiz career in Daytime TV and shares some of his personal photos exclusively with We Love Soaps. All photos are owned by Nelson. For more of his exploits, read "Hollywood Insider Exposed!"
We continue this series with a couple of photos from SEARCH FOR TOMORROW.
Nelson Aspen dug into his scrapbooks for some memorabilia from his early showbiz career in Daytime TV and shares some of his personal photos exclusively with We Love Soaps. All photos are owned by Nelson. For more of his exploits, read "Hollywood Insider Exposed!"
We continue this new series with a couple of fun photos from SEARCH FOR TOMORROW.
SEARCH FOR TOMORROW, 1985. Marcia McCabe and Lee Godart horsing around in between takes. "horsing"...stirrups...get it!?
In honor of her return to daytime on today's AS THE WORLD TURNS (where her husband is the executive producer), here is the New York Times wedding annoucement for Marcia McCabe, best known to soap fans from her many years as Sunny on SEARCH FOR TOMORROW, and Christopher Goutman.
MARCIA MCCABE, ACTRESS, IS BRIDE OF A TV DIRECTOR
New York Times
April 14, 1985
The marriage of Marcia Bishop McCabe of New York, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bayard McCabe Jr. of Wallingford, Pa., to Christopher Paul Goutman of New York took place yesterday at the Swarthmore (Pa.) Presbyterian Church.
The Rev. J. Barrie Shepherd performed the ceremony. The bridegroom is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Dolya Goutman of Rosemont, Pa.
Jeannette L. McCabe was maid of honor for her sister, who will retain her name. Thomas M. Goutman was his brother's best man.
The bride, an actress portraying the role of Sunny Adamson on NBC TV's daytime drama SEARCH FOR TOMORROW, graduated from the Abbot Academy and attended Rollins College. She is a granddaughter of the late Thomas Bayard McCabe, chairman of the Scott Paper Company, and of the late Arthur H. Motley, president and publisher of Parade Publications. Her father was president of the Marketing Science Institute in Cambridge, Mass.
Mr. Goutman, who directs NBC's daytime drama ANOTHER WORLD, graduated from Haverford College and received a master's degree in directing from Carnegie-Mellon University. His father is a professor at the Moore College of Art in Philadelphia. His mother, Lois Goutman, teaches drama at the Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, Pa.
- Marcia McCabe (Sunny Adamson)
