Today in Soap Opera History (May 10)

1967: Dark Shadows' Carolyn wanted to check out the locked room.
1982: GH's Laura Templeton did not want to leave Port Charles.
1985: Days of our Lives' Anna and Tony made love.
2002: Passions' Theresa confessed to Julian's murder.

"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...

1950: On Irna Phillips' Today's Children, Chris knew the only way to determine whether the fingerprints on the package were Janis's was to ask his mother to get Janis to touch something and then have it inspected by the lab.

1961: On The Edge of Night, Mike (John Larkin), Ed (Larry Hagman) and Teresa (Rebecca Sand) faced death in a deserted mine shaft.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Carolyn (Nancy Barrett) was determined to look at her father's things in the locked room, despite Victoria's pleas against it.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 5)

1970: All My Children premiered on ABC.

"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...

1953: Ellen Demming made her first appearance as Meta Bauer White Roberts on both the television and radio versions of The Guiding Light. Demming played the role until 1974.

1965: On Another World, Dru (Geoffrey Lumb) assured John (Michael M. Ryan) he had done everything he could for Pat, whose trial was about to begin.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 4)

1985: General Hospital's Frisco broke Felicia's heart.
1990: Beverly Hills, 90210 premiered on FOX.
2001: Chuck Pratt's primetime soap Titans premiered on NBC.
2010: Camila Banus debuted as Gabi on Days of our Lives.

"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 Dark Shadows, Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) took Burke and Dr. Woodard down to the basement to show them the coffin, but it was not there.

1976: On Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Mary (Louise Lasser) recuperated at Fernwood Psychiatric Hospital after her nervous breakdown during her guest appearance on "The David Susskind Show." Mary received flowers from Susskind, and praise for pioneering new developments in nationally televised dementia. Meanwhile, Charlie recuperated from his operation after a recent shooting, and Loretta made an eerie discovery about one of his wounds. Later, Mary tried to pass herself off as a sane person by watching television, but she made an awesome, empowering discovery about the psychiatric ward's television set instead.

1979: On As the World Turns, despite Tom's (Tom Tammi) objections, Lisa (Eileen Fulton) left Oakdale with Bennett Hadley (Doug Higgins).

Today in Soap Opera History (July 1)

Irna Phillips was born 116 years ago today. She is pictured
above dictating stories to her assistant, Rose Cooperman.

"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...

1901: Legendary soap opera creator Irna Phillips was born in Chicago, the youngest of ten children. She was educated at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois. She took graduate work at the University of Wisconsin. Miss Phillips also had an adopted son and daughter. She died at age 72 on December 22, 1973. During her life she created or co-created numerous soap operas for radio and television including As the World Turns, Guiding Light, Another World and Days of our Lives, just to name a few. She is considered by many to be the "queen" of the daytime serial genre and was a true pioneer in television.

1955: The final episode of Rosemary aired in CBS Radio.

1966: NBC aired the final episodes of daytime soap operas Morning Star and Paradise Bay. Both shows were created by Ted Corday and premiered on September 27, 1965, six weeks before Corday's other soap, Days of our Lives, debuted on the network.

Today in Soap Opera History (May 10)

1967: Dark Shadows' Carolyn wanted to check out the locked room.
1982: GH's Laura Templeton did not want to leave Port Charles.
1985: Days of our Lives' Anna and Tony made love.
2002: Passions' Theresa confessed to Julian's murder.

"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...

1950: On Irna Phillips' Today's Children, Chris knew the only way to determine whether the fingerprints on the package were Janis's was to ask his mother to get Janis to touch something and then have it inspected by the lab.

1961: On The Edge of Night, Mike (John Larkin), Ed (Larry Hagman) and Teresa (Rebecca Sand) faced death in a deserted mine shaft.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Carolyn (Nancy Barrett) was determined to look at her father's things in the locked room, despite Victoria's pleas against it.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 5)

1970: All My Children premiered on ABC.

"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...

1953: Ellen Demming made her first appearance as Meta Bauer White Roberts on both the television and radio versions of The Guiding Light. Demming played the role until 1974.

1965: On Another World, Dru (Geoffrey Lumb) assured John (Michael M. Ryan) he had done everything he could for Pat, whose trial was about to begin.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 4)

1985: General Hospital's Frisco broke Felicia's heart.
1990: Beverly Hills, 90210 premiered on FOX.
2001: Chuck Pratt's primetime soap Titans premiered on NBC.
2010: Camila Banus debuted as Gabi on Days of our Lives.

"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 Dark Shadows, Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) took Burke and Dr. Woodard down to the basement to show them the coffin, but it was not there.

1976: On Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Mary (Louise Lasser) recuperated at Fernwood Psychiatric Hospital after her nervous breakdown during her guest appearance on "The David Susskind Show." Mary received flowers from Susskind, and praise for pioneering new developments in nationally televised dementia. Meanwhile, Charlie recuperated from his operation after a recent shooting, and Loretta made an eerie discovery about one of his wounds. Later, Mary tried to pass herself off as a sane person by watching television, but she made an awesome, empowering discovery about the psychiatric ward's television set instead.

1979: On As the World Turns, despite Tom's (Tom Tammi) objections, Lisa (Eileen Fulton) left Oakdale with Bennett Hadley (Doug Higgins).

Today in Soap Opera History (July 1)

Irna Phillips was born 116 years ago today. She is pictured
above dictating stories to her assistant, Rose Cooperman.

"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...

1901: Legendary soap opera creator Irna Phillips was born in Chicago, the youngest of ten children. She was educated at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois. She took graduate work at the University of Wisconsin. Miss Phillips also had an adopted son and daughter. She died at age 72 on December 22, 1973. During her life she created or co-created numerous soap operas for radio and television including As the World Turns, Guiding Light, Another World and Days of our Lives, just to name a few. She is considered by many to be the "queen" of the daytime serial genre and was a true pioneer in television.

1955: The final episode of Rosemary aired in CBS Radio.

1966: NBC aired the final episodes of daytime soap operas Morning Star and Paradise Bay. Both shows were created by Ted Corday and premiered on September 27, 1965, six weeks before Corday's other soap, Days of our Lives, debuted on the network.

Today in Soap Opera History (May 10)

1967: Dark Shadows' Carolyn wanted to check out the locked room.
1982: GH's Laura Templeton did not want to leave Port Charles.
1985: Days of our Lives' Anna and Tony made love.
2002: Passions' Theresa confessed to Julian's murder.

"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...

1950: On Irna Phillips' Today's Children, Chris knew the only way to determine whether the fingerprints on the package were Janis's was to ask his mother to get Janis to touch something and then have it inspected by the lab.

1961: On The Edge of Night, Mike (John Larkin), Ed (Larry Hagman) and Teresa (Rebecca Sand) faced death in a deserted mine shaft.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Carolyn (Nancy Barrett) was determined to look at her father's things in the locked room, despite Victoria's pleas against it.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 5)

1970: All My Children premiered on ABC.

"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...

1953: Ellen Demming made her first appearance as Meta Bauer White Roberts on both the television and radio versions of The Guiding Light. Demming played the role until 1974.

1965: On Another World, Dru (Geoffrey Lumb) assured John (Michael M. Ryan) he had done everything he could for Pat, whose trial was about to begin.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 4)

1985: General Hospital's Frisco broke Felicia's heart.
1990: Beverly Hills, 90210 premiered on FOX.
2001: Chuck Pratt's primetime soap Titans premiered on NBC.
2010: Camila Banus debuted as Gabi on Days of our Lives.

"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...

1967: On Dark Shadows, Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) took Burke and Dr. Woodard down to the basement to show them the coffin, but it was not there.

1976: On Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Mary (Louise Lasser) recuperated at Fernwood Psychiatric Hospital after her nervous breakdown during her guest appearance on "The David Susskind Show." Mary received flowers from Susskind, and praise for pioneering new developments in nationally televised dementia. Meanwhile, Charlie recuperated from his operation after a recent shooting, and Loretta made an eerie discovery about one of his wounds. Later, Mary tried to pass herself off as a sane person by watching television, but she made an awesome, empowering discovery about the psychiatric ward's television set instead.

1979: On As the World Turns, despite Tom's (Tom Tammi) objections, Lisa (Eileen Fulton) left Oakdale with Bennett Hadley (Doug Higgins).

Today in Soap Opera History (July 1)

Irna Phillips was born 115 years ago today. Above she
is pictured dictating stories to her assistant,
Rose Cooperman.

"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...

1901: Legendary soap opera creator Irna Phillips was born in Chicago, the youngest of ten children. She was educated at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois. She took graduate work at the University of Wisconsin. Miss Phillips also had an adopted son and daughter. She died at age 72 on December 22, 1973. During her life she created or co-created numerous soap operas for radio and television including As the World Turns, Guiding Light, Another World and Days of our Lives, just to name a few. She is considered by many to be the "queen" of the daytime serial genre and was a true pioneer in television.

1955: The final episode of Rosemary aired in CBS Radio.

1966: NBC aired the final episodes of daytime soap operas Morning Star and Paradise Bay. Both shows were created by Ted Corday and premiered on September 27, 1965, six weeks before Corday's other soap, Days of our Lives, debuted on the network.

Today in Soap Opera History (May 10)

1967: Dark Shadows' Victoria did not want Carolyn to go into
the locked room.  1982:  GH's Laura Templeton did not want to
leave Port Charles.  1985: Days' Anna and Tony made love.
2002: Passions' Theresa confessed to Julian's murder.

"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...

1950: On Irna Phillips' Today's Children, Chris knew the only way to determine whether the fingerprints on the package were Janis's was to ask his mother to get Janis to touch something and then have it inspected by the lab.

1961: On The Edge of Night, Mike (John Larkin), Ed (Larry Hagman) and Teresa (Rebecca Sand) faced death in a deserted mine shaft.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Carolyn (Nancy Barrett) was determined to look at her father's things in the locked room, despite Victoria's pleas against it.

Doris Roberts Dead at 90

Doris Roberts

Doris Roberts, best known for playing Marie Barone on CBS' long-running sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, died Sunday, April 17, at age 90. TMZ was first to report the news, and a family spokesperson later confirmed her passing to the Associated Press.

The actress earned four Emmys for the role of the caring matriarch to sons Ray (Ray Romano) and Robert (Brad Garrett). She played the part throughout the series' nine seasons, starting with the September 1996 pilot. Peter Boyle — who played her husband, the cantankerous Frank Barone — died in December 2006.

Raymond costar Patricia Heaton tweeted her condolences on Monday, calling Roberts' death "truly the end of an era."

Roberts won an additional Emmy for her 1982 guest appearance on St. Elsewhere and is also known for roles on such TV series as Remington Steele, Cagney & Lacey, The Middle and Melissa & Joey. Her primetime serial credits included Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Soap, Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives.

She appeared in films including The Heartbreak Kid, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star and Grandma's Boy.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 5)

1970: All My Children premiered on ABC.

"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...

1953: Ellen Demming made her first appearance as Meta Bauer White Roberts on both the television and radio versions of The Guiding Light. Demming played the role until 1974.

1965: On Another World, Dru (Geoffrey Lumb) assured John (Michael M. Ryan) he had done everything he could for Pat, whose trial was about to begin.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 4)

1985: General Hospital's Frisco broke Felicia's heart.
1990: Beverly Hills, 90210 premiered on FOX.
2001: Chuck Pratt's primetime soap Titans premiered on NBC.
2010: Camila Banus debuted as Gabi on Days of our Lives.

"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 Dark Shadows, Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) took Burke and Dr. Woodard down to the basement to show them the coffin, but it was not there.

1976: On Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Mary (Louise Lasser) recuperated at Fernwood Psychiatric Hospital after her nervous breakdown during her guest appearance on "The David Susskind Show." Mary received flowers from Susskind, and praise for pioneering new developments in nationally televised dementia. Meanwhile, Charlie recuperated from his operation after a recent shooting, and Loretta made an eerie discovery about one of his wounds. Later, Mary tried to pass herself off as a sane person by watching television, but she made an awesome, empowering discovery about the psychiatric ward's television set instead.

1979: On As the World Turns, despite Tom's (Tom Tammi) objections, Lisa (Eileen Fulton) left Oakdale with Bennett Hadley (Doug Higgins).

FLASHBACK: A Complete, Concise Yearly History of TV Soap Operas - 1947 to 1977 (Part 8 of 8)

Y&R's original cast in 1973 included Tom Hallick (right) as Brad Eliot.

A Complete, Concise Yearly History of TV Soap Operas

The Soap Box
Vol. III No. 10 September 1978
by John Genovese

(continued from Part 7)

1973
When CBS axed Where the Heart Is and Splendored Thing, it was able to premiere a project that had been in the works for a long time. On March 26, The Young and the Restless appeared to revolutionize the business with its young, beautiful cast, romantic fairytale storylines, and top-flight production values from Television City in Hollywood. Creator William J. Bell and producer John Conboy made household idols of Trish Stewart, William Gray Espy, James Houghton, Tom Hallick and Janice Lynde, all of whom have since departed. The show, still the intense and sensuous story of the middle class Brooks family and the dirt-poor Foster clan of Genoa City, Wisconsin, still claims Robert Colbert (Stuart Brooks), Julianna McCarthy (Liz Foster) and Brenda Dickson (Jill Foster) from its originals.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 1)

Irna Phillips was born 114 years ago today. Above she
is pictured dictating stories to her assistant,
Rose Cooperman.

"The daytime serial is destroying itself, eating itself up with rape, abortion, illegitimacy, men falling in love with other men's wives--all of which is often topped by a murder, followed by a long, drawn-out murder trial."
― Irna Phillips (November 1972)

"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...

1901: Legendary soap opera creator Irna Phillips was born in Chicago, the youngest of ten children. She was educated at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois. She took graduate work at the University of Wisconsin. Miss Phillips also had an adopted son and daughter. She died at age 72 on December 22, 1973. During her life she created or co-created numerous soap operas for radio and television including As the World Turns, Guiding Light, Another World and Days of our Lives, just to name a few. She is considered by many to be the "queen" of the daytime serial genre and was a true pioneer in television.

1955: The final episode of Rosemary aired in CBS Radio.

1966: NBC aired the final episodes of daytime soap operas Morning Star and Paradise Bay. Both shows were created by Ted Corday and premiered on September 27, 1965, six weeks before Corday's other soap, Days of our Lives, debuted on the network.

Today in Soap Opera History (May 10)

1967: Dark Shadows' Victoria did not want Carolyn to go into
the locked room.  1982:  GH's Laura Templeton did not want to
leave Port Charles.  1985: Days' Anna and Tony made love.
2002: Passions' Theresa confessed to Julian's murder.

"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...

1950: On Irna Phillips' Today's Children, Chris knew the only way to determine whether the fingerprints on the package were Janis's was to ask his mother to get Janis to touch something and then have it inspected by the lab.

1961: On The Edge of Night, Mike (John Larkin), Ed (Larry Hagman) and Teresa (Rebecca Sand) faced death in a deserted mine shaft.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Carolyn (Nancy Barrett) was determined to look at her father's things in the locked room, despite Victoria's pleas against it.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 5)

1970: All My Children premiered on ABC.

"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...

1953: Ellen Demming made her first appearance as Meta Bauer White Roberts on both the television and radio versions of The Guiding Light. Demming played the role until 1974.

1965: On Another World, Dru (Geoffrey Lumb) assured John (Michael M. Ryan) he had done everything he could for Pat, whose trial was about to begin.