Today in Soap Opera History (July 4)

2000: Days of our Lives' ghoul girl revealed herself.
2001: Guiding Light's Meta read the Declaration of Independence.
2002: One Life to Live featured "Babes Behind Bars."
2003: As the World Turns' Jack learned he was Sage's father.

"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...

1955: Backstage Wife switched networks, moving from CBS Radio to NBC Radio.

1965: Actress turned news anchor Lisa Howard committed suicide with an overdose of pills at her East Hamptom home at age 35. Howard played Trudy Bauer on The Guiding Light before she broke into journalism in 1960 by scoring the first major interview with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev at the United Nations. She was hired by ABC news as a reporter and subsequently became the anchor for ABC's noontime news broadcast, The NewsHour with Lisa Howard.

1973: On The Doctors, Penny Davis (Julia Duffy) told Dr. Mike Powers (Peter Burnell) that she accidentally left her tape recorder recording when she ran out of the house.

Today in Soap Opera History (February 28)

Two legendary actresses died on this day in history:
Charita Bauer (1985) and Mary Stuart (2002).

"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 Dark Shadows, Reverend Trask (Jerry Lacy) returned to his room with Victoria's belongings. Suddenly he heard chains rattling outside his room and called out, "Who is it?" He opened the door, but no one was there. He heard a woman's scream and ran back into his room and bolted the door, but he continued to hear the chains. Then Barnabas' voice called out to him, and again he shouted, "Who are you?" The voice told him that he was not going to hurt any more innocent victims. He would never live to see the hanging. Trask saw a skull instead of his face when he looked in the mirror and then blood dripped down the mirror from behind the frame. The voice shouted that she would live and he would die. Next he saw a floating hand with Barnabas' ring on it. The hand appeared and was about to grab Trask around the throat, but then vanished. The voice told him he would not die tonight or the next but very soon, "You are going to die!"

Today in Soap Opera History (February 26)

1960: Secret Storm's Susan wanted Amy sent to private school.
1962: CBS' brought back previously canceled soap opera The Clear Horizon.
1980: Edge of Night's Raven fought with Logan.
2002: Mary Stuart's final Guiding Light episode aired.

"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...

1960: On The Secret Storm, Amy Ames (June Carter) was upset at the prospect of going to private school, an idea suggested by her sister, Susan Ames Dunbar (Mary Foskett).

Today in Soap Opera History (December 22)

1955: Love of Life's Van wanted to adopt Carol.
1986: Search for Tomorrow's Jo had a dream.
2000: All My Children's Bianca came out to Erica.
2008: ATWT's Lucinda didn't know Brian had a thing for her grandson.

"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...

1939: On Bachelor's Children, Sam and Ruth Ann kept an anxious vigil at the hospital as Sam's wife, Janet, delivered their first child. Complications ensued during the birth, and the ordeal stretched late into the night. Sam tried to rest in the deserted waiting room and fitfully dozed as memories spanning the breadth of his relationship with Janet flickered through his semi-conscious mind. Ruth Ann shattered his reverie as she excitedly burst into the room with urgent news.

1939: The final episode of short-lived radio soap opera Career Wife, starring Ann Thomas, aired on NBC Blue.

1955: On Love of Life, Vanessa Raven (Bonnie Bartlett) and her husband, Paul (Richard Coogan), filled out the paperwork required to adopt Carol.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 4)

2000: Days of our Lives' ghoul girl revealed herself.
2001: Guiding Light's Meta read the Declaration of Independence.
2002: One Life to Live featured "Babes Behind Bars."
2003: As the World Turns' Jack learned he was Sage's father.

"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...

1955: Backstage Wife switched networks, moving from CBS Radio to NBC Radio.

1965: Actress turned news anchor Lisa Howard committed suicide with an overdose of pills at her East Hamptom home at age 35. Howard played Trudy Bauer on The Guiding Light before she broke into journalism in 1960 by scoring the first major interview with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev at the United Nations. She was hired by ABC news as a reporter and subsequently became the anchor for ABC's noontime news broadcast, The NewsHour with Lisa Howard.

1973: On The Doctors, Penny Davis (Julia Duffy) told Dr. Mike Powers (Peter Burnell) that she accidentally left her tape recorder recording when she ran out of the house.

Today in Soap Opera History (February 28)

Two legendary actresses died on this day in history:
Charita Bauer (1985) and Mary Stuart (2002).

"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...

1968: On Dark Shadows, Reverend Trask (Jerry Lacy) returned to his room with Victoria's belongings. Suddenly he heard chains rattling outside his room and called out, "Who is it?" He opened the door, but no one was there. He heard a woman's scream and ran back into his room and bolted the door, but he continued to hear the chains. Then Barnabas' voice called out to him, and again he shouted, "Who are you?" The voice told him that he was not going to hurt any more innocent victims. He would never live to see the hanging. Trask saw a skull instead of his face when he looked in the mirror and then blood dripped down the mirror from behind the frame. The voice shouted that she would live and he would die. Next he saw a floating hand with Barnabas' ring on it. The hand appeared and was about to grab Trask around the throat, but then vanished. The voice told him he would not die tonight or the next but very soon, "You are going to die!"

Today in Soap Opera History (February 26)

1960: Secret Storm's Susan wanted Amy sent to private school.
1962: CBS' brought back The Clear Horizon.
1980: Edge of Night's Raven fought with Logan.
2002: Mary Stuart's final GL episode aired.

"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...

1960: On The Secret Storm, Amy Ames (June Carter) was upset at the prospect of going to private school, an idea suggested by her sister, Susan Ames Dunbar (Mary Foskett).

Today in Soap Opera History (December 22)

1955: Love of Life's Van wanted to adopt Carol.
1986: Search for Tomorrow's Jo had a dream.
2000: All My Children's Bianca came out to Erica.
2008: ATWT's Lucinda didn't know Brian wanted her grandson.

"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...

1939: On Bachelor's Children, Sam and Ruth Ann kept an anxious vigil at the hospital as Sam's wife, Janet, delivered their first child. Complications ensued during the birth, and the ordeal stretched late into the night. Sam tried to rest in the deserted waiting room and fitfully dozed as memories spanning the breadth of his relationship with Janet flickered through his semi-conscious mind. Ruth Ann shattered his reverie as she excitedly burst into the room with urgent news.

1939: The final episode of short-lived radio soap opera Career Wife, starring Ann Thomas, aired on NBC Blue.

1955: On Love of Life, Vanessa Raven (Bonnie Bartlett) and her husband, Paul (Richard Coogan), filled out the paperwork required to adopt Carol.

FLASHBACK: Last Days of 'Search for Tomorrow' at Reeves Teletape Studio (1985)

On February 21-22, 1985, Search for Tomorrow shot for the final time at Reeves Teletape Studio on Broadway and West 81st Street in New York City. The show was about to move to EUE/Screen Gems Video Studio (222 East 44th Street) following the cancellation of another Procter & Gamble soap opera, The Edge of Night. On Monday, YouTube user JoeVideo66 posted a fascinating piece of history, pieced together from video he shot during those last two days at Reeeves, including behind the scenes chats with the legendary Mary Stuart (Jo) and beloved Sherry Mathis (Liza).

For two and a half years we cranked out a half hour of taped drama every single day. It was fun/work. Alas, all good things must come to an end, and the client decided to move the show to another studio which became vacant with the demise of their show "Edge of Night" (remember that one?). They still had a lease on that studio so it made sense for them to move Search there.

This left us without a show, and without jobs. I did, however, think it would be cool to film behind the scenes for the last two days, and with my friend Bryan's blessing( he was the Technical Director of the crew ) I roamed the entire studio poking into every department and getting some amazing footage. But then it was over.... a fleeting memory preserved here thru the magic of video..... enjoy.

Watch the video below.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 4)

2000: Days of our Lives' ghoul girl revealed herself.
2001: Guiding Light's Meta read the Declaration of Independence.
2002: One Life to Live featured "Babes Behind Bars."
2003: As the World Turns' Jack learned he was Sage's father.

"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: Backstage Wife switched networks, moving from CBS Radio to NBC Radio.

1965: Actress turned news anchor Lisa Howard committed suicide with an overdose of pills at her East Hamptom home at age 35. Howard played Trudy Bauer on The Guiding Light before she broke into journalism in 1960 by scoring the first major interview with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev at the United Nations. She was hired by ABC news as a reporter and subsequently became the anchor for ABC's noontime news broadcast, The NewsHour with Lisa Howard.

1973: On The Doctors, Penny Davis (Julia Duffy) told Dr. Mike Powers (Peter Burnell) that she accidentally left her tape recorder recording when she ran out of the house.

Today in Soap Opera History (February 28)

Two legendary actresses died on this day in history:
Charita Bauer (1985) and Mary Stuart (2002).

"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...

1968: On Dark Shadows, Reverend Trask (Jerry Lacy) returned to his room with Victoria's belongings. Suddenly he heard chains rattling outside his room and called out, "Who is it?" He opened the door, but no one was there. He heard a woman's scream and ran back into his room and bolted the door, but he continued to hear the chains. Then Barnabas' voice called out to him, and again he shouted, "Who are you?" The voice told him that he was not going to hurt any more innocent victims. He would never live to see the hanging. Trask saw a skull instead of his face when he looked in the mirror and then blood dripped down the mirror from behind the frame. The voice shouted that she would live and he would die. Next he saw a floating hand with Barnabas' ring on it. The hand appeared and was about to grab Trask around the throat, but then vanished. The voice told him he would not die tonight or the next but very soon, "You are going to die!"

Today in Soap Opera History (February 26)

1960: The Secret Storm's Susan wanted Amy sent to private
school. 1962: CBS' brought back The Clear Horizon. 1980: Edge's
Raven fought with Logan. 2002: Mary Stuart's final GL episode.

"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...

1960: On The Secret Storm, Amy Ames (June Carter) was upset at the prospect of going to private school, an idea suggested by her sister, Susan Ames Dunbar (Mary Foskett).

Today in Soap Opera History (December 22)

1955: Love of Life's Van wanted to adopt Carol. 1986: Search for 
Tomorrow's Jo had a dream. 2000: All My Children's Bianca
came out to Erica. 2008: As the World Turns' Lucinda was happy
with Brian, unaware of his feelings for her grandson.

"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...

1939: On Bachelor's Children, Sam and Ruth Ann kept an anxious vigil at the hospital as Sam's wife, Janet, delivered their first child. Complications ensued during the birth, and the ordeal stretched late into the night. Sam tried to rest in the deserted waiting room and fitfully dozed as memories spanning the breadth of his relationship with Janet flickered through his semi-conscious mind. Ruth Ann shattered his reverie as she excitedly burst into the room with urgent news.

1939: The final episode of short-lived radio soap opera Career Wife, starring Ann Thomas, aired on NBC Blue.

1955: On Love of Life, Vanessa Raven (Bonnie Bartlett) and her husband, Paul (Richard Coogan), filled out the paperwork required to adopt Carol.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 4)

2000: Days of our Lives' ghoul girl revealed herself.  2001:
Guiding Light's Meta read the Declaration of Independence at
the family's annual Bauer Barbecue. 2002: One Life to Live
featured "Babes Behind Bars." 2003: As the World Turns'
learned he was Sage's father.

"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...

1955: Backstage Wife switched networks, moving from CBS Radio to NBC Radio.

1965: Actress turned news anchor Lisa Howard committed suicide with an overdose of pills at her East Hamptom home at age 35. Howard played Trudy Bauer on The Guiding Light before she broke into journalism in 1960 by scoring the first major interview with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev at the United Nations. She was hired by ABC news as a reporter and subsequently became the anchor for ABC's noontime news broadcast, The NewsHour with Lisa Howard.

1969: On The Doctors, amnesiac Althea Davis (Elizabeth Hubbard) was told that she was a doctor, and that Dr. Nick Bellini (Gerald Gordon) was her husband.

1983: On Days of our Lives, Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) and Hope Williams (Kristian Alfonso) shared their first kiss in a kissing booth.

Today in Soap Opera History (February 28)

Two legendary actresses died on this day in history:
Charita Bauer (1985) and Mary Stuart (2002).

"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...

1968: On Dark Shadows, Reverend Trask (Jerry Lacy) returned to his room with Victoria's belongings. Suddenly he heard chains rattling outside his room and called out, "Who is it?" He opened the door, but no one was there. He heard a woman's scream and ran back into his room and bolted the door, but he continued to hear the chains. Then Barnabas' voice called out to him, and again he shouted, "Who are you?" The voice told him that he was not going to hurt any more innocent victims. He would never live to see the hanging. Trask saw a skull instead of his face when he looked in the mirror and then blood dripped down the mirror from behind the frame. The voice shouted that she would live and he would die. Next he saw a floating hand with Barnabas' ring on it. The hand appeared and was about to grab Trask around the throat, but then vanished. The voice told him he would not die tonight or the next but very soon, "You are going to die!"

Today in Soap Opera History (February 26)

1960: The Secret Storm's Susan wanted Amy sent to private
school. 1962: CBS' brought back The Clear Horizon. 1980: Edge's
Raven fought with Logan. 2002: Mary Stuart's final GL 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...

1960: On The Secret Storm, Amy Ames (June Carter) was upset at the prospect of going to private school, an idea suggested by her sister, Susan Ames Dunbar (Mary Foskett).

Today in Soap Opera History (December 22)

1955: Love of Life's Van wanted to adopt Carol. 1986: Search for 
Tomorrow's Jo had a dream. 2000: All My Children's Bianca
came out to Erica. 2008: As the World Turns' Lucinda was happy
with Brian, unaware of his feelings for her grandson.

"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...

1939: On Bachelor's Children, Sam and Ruth Ann kept an anxious vigil at the hospital as Sam's wife, Janet, delivered their first child. Complications ensued during the birth, and the ordeal stretched late into the night. Sam tried to rest in the deserted waiting room and fitfully dozed as memories spanning the breadth of his relationship with Janet flickered through his semi-conscious mind. Ruth Ann shattered his reverie as she excitedly burst into the room with urgent news.

1939: The final episode of short-lived radio soap opera Career Wife, starring Ann Thomas, aired on NBC Blue.

1955: On Love of Life, Vanessa Raven (Bonnie Bartlett) and her husband, Paul (Richard Coogan), filled out the paperwork required to adopt Carol.

Celebrating America's Birthday, My Own and My Mentor's

Mary Stuart

Celebrating America's Birthday, My Own and My Mentor's
By Nelson Aspen

I always loved my July 1 birthday because all the festivity of the long holiday weekend meant that I got to stretch it out for those extra "lazy, hazy days of summer." When my unique friendship with Mary Stuart began in the early 1980s, it became even more fun with the additional celebration of HER birthday on July 4.

Summertime meant trips to her Connecticut country home and ice cold cocktails in her Upper East Side Manhattan penthouse. Like her memorable Christmases, Independence Day was a magical time. I remember the July 4 episode of Search for Tomorrow in 1986 with Mary's character, Jo, singing a duet with our pal Anita Gillette (Wilma) at the Liberty House's rooftop party. They hilariously belted out "Friendship" from Anything Goes. I wish she'd gotten to sing at one of the Bauer Barbeques when she was on Guiding Light as Meta.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 4)

2000: Days of our Lives' ghoul girl revealed herself.  2001:
Guiding Light's Meta read the Declaration of Independence at
the family's annual Bauer Barbecue. 2002: One Life to Live
featured "Babes Behind Bars." 2003: As the World Turns'
learned he was Sage's father.

"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...

1955: Backstage Wife switched networks, moving from CBS Radio to NBC Radio.

1965: Actress turned news anchor Lisa Howard committed suicide with an overdose of pills at her East Hamptom home at age 35. Howard played Trudy Bauer on The Guiding Light before she broke into journalism in 1960 by scoring the first major interview with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev at the United Nations. She was hired by ABC news as a reporter and subsequently became the anchor for ABC's noontime news broadcast, The NewsHour with Lisa Howard.

1969: On The Doctors, amnesiac Althea Davis (Elizabeth Hubbard) was told that she was a doctor, and that Dr. Nick Bellini (Gerald Gordon) was her husband.

1980: On The Edge of Night, a frustrated Elliot Dorn (Lee Godart) rejected Kelly McGrath (Allen Fawcett) again when he proposed featuring his puppets at the Unicorn.

Today in Soap Opera History (February 28)

Two legendary actresses died on this day in history:
Charita Bauer (1985) and Mary Stuart (2002).

"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...

1968: On Dark Shadows, Reverend Trask (Jerry Lacy) returned to his room with Victoria's belongings. Suddenly he heard chains rattling outside his room and called out, "Who is it?" He opened the door, but no one was there. He heard a woman's scream and ran back into his room and bolted the door, but he continued to hear the chains. Then Barnabas' voice called out to him, and again he shouted, "Who are you?" The voice told him that he was not going to hurt any more innocent victims. He would never live to see the hanging. Trask saw a skull instead of his face when he looked in the mirror and then blood dripped down the mirror from behind the frame. The voice shouted that she would live and he would die. Next he saw a floating hand with Barnabas' ring on it. The hand appeared and was about to grab Trask around the throat, but then vanished. The voice told him he would not die tonight or the next but very soon, "You are going to die!"