Today in Soap Opera History (April 30)

1973: Nancy Pinkerton debuted as Dorian Lord on One Life to Live.
1978: Dallas' Pam revealed her pregnancy but later lost the baby.
1996: All My Children's Marian played a revealing tape to hurt Tad.
2001: General Hospital's Skye announced she was a Quartermaine.

"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, Jeff (Roger Davis) dozed off in a chair in the living room of the Evans Cottage and had almost the same dream that Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) had earlier, except when he opened the door of the cottage, he found Dr. Lang (Addison Powell) there beckoning him. He followed him and, like Maggie, was locked in the room with many doors. He heard Lang's voice recite the same poem. He heard Josette's music coming from behind a door and opened it and found a green death's head, as did Maggie. He closed the door. The music started to come from behind a different door. He opened it and found a guillotine in the door frame. The blade fell loudly which awakened a terrified Jeff.

1973: The character of Dr. Dorian Lord debuted on One Life to Live played by Nancy Pinkerton.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 30)

1973: Nancy Pinkerton debuted as Dorian Lord on One Life to Live.
1978: Dallas' Pam revealed her pregnancy but later lost the baby.
1996: All My Children's Marian played a revealing tape to hurt Tad.
2001: General Hospital's Skye announced she was a Quartermaine.

"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, Jeff (Roger Davis) dozed off in a chair in the living room of the Evans Cottage and had almost the same dream that Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) had earlier, except when he opened the door of the cottage, he found Dr. Lang (Addison Powell) there beckoning him. He followed him and, like Maggie, was locked in the room with many doors. He heard Lang's voice recite the same poem. He heard Josette's music coming from behind a door and opened it and found a green death's head, as did Maggie. He closed the door. The music started to come from behind a different door. He opened it and found a guillotine in the door frame. The blade fell loudly which awakened a terrified Jeff.

1973: The character of Dr. Dorian Lord debuted on One Life to Live played by Nancy Pinkerton.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 30)

1973: Nancy Pinkerton debuted as Dorian Lord on One Life to Live.
1978: Dallas' Pam revealed her pregnancy but later lost the baby.
1996: All My Children's Marian played a revealing tape to hurt Tad.
2001: General Hospital's Skye announced she was a Quartermaine.

"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, Jeff (Roger Davis) dozed off in a chair in the living room of the Evans Cottage and had almost the same dream that Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) had earlier, except when he opened the door of the cottage, he found Dr. Lang (Addison Powell) there beckoning him. He followed him and, like Maggie, was locked in the room with many doors. He heard Lang's voice recite the same poem. He heard Josette's music coming from behind a door and opened it and found a green death's head, as did Maggie. He closed the door. The music started to come from behind a different door. He opened it and found a guillotine in the door frame. The blade fell loudly which awakened a terrified Jeff.

1973: The character of Dr. Dorian Lord debuted on One Life to Live played by Nancy Pinkerton.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 30)

1973: Nancy Pinkerton debuted as Dorian Lord on One Life to Live.
1978: Dallas' Pam revealed her pregnancy but later lost the baby.
1996: All My Children's Marian played a revealing tape to hurt Tad.
2001: General Hospital's Skye announced she was a Quartermaine.

"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, Jeff (Roger Davis) dozed off in a chair in the living room of the Evans Cottage and had almost the same dream that Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) had earlier, except when he opened the door of the cottage, he found Dr. Lang (Addison Powell) there beckoning him. He followed him and, like Maggie, was locked in the room with many doors. He heard Lang's voice recite the same poem. He heard Josette's music coming from behind a door and opened it and found a green death's head, as did Maggie. He closed the door. The music started to come from behind a different door. He opened it and found a guillotine in the door frame. The blade fell loudly which awakened a terrified Jeff.

1973: The character of Dr. Dorian Lord debuted on One Life to Live played by Nancy Pinkerton.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 30)

"The whole past is the procession of the present."
- Thomas Carlyle

"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, Jeff (Roger Davis) dozed off in a chair in the living room of the Evans Cottage and had almost the same dream that Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) had earlier, except when he opened the door of the cottage, he found Dr. Lang (Addison Powell) there beckoning him. He followed him and, like Maggie, was locked in the room with many doors. He heard Lang's voice recite the same poem. He heard Josette's music coming from behind a door and opened it and found a green death's head, as did Maggie. He closed the door. The music started to come from behind a different door. He opened it and found a guillotine in the door frame. The blade fell loudly which awakened a terrified Jeff.

Nancy Pinkerton as Dr. Dorian Lord in 1973

1973: The character of Dr. Dorian Lord debuted on One Life to Live played by Nancy Pinkerton.

1976: Another World, Pat (Beverly Penberthy) warned Sharlene (Laurie Heineman) secrets could destroy even the best marriage.

1978: CBS aired the fifth and final part of its five-part Dallas mini-series. In the episode, Pam (Victoria Principal) learned she was pregnant but later lost the baby.  Dallas was picked up as a regular series for the fall.

1980: Jean Bruce Scott debuted as Jessica Blake in Days of our Lives.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 30)

On this date in...

Nancy Pinkerton as Dr. Dorian Lord in 1973

1973: The character of Dr. Dorian Lord debuted on ONE LIFE TO LIVE. Dorian was originally played by Nancy Pinkerton.  Robin Strasser has played the role on and off since 1979.

1976: On ANOTHER WORLD, Pat (Beverly Penberthy) warned Sharlene (Laurie Heineman) secrets could destroy even the best marriage.

1978: CBS aired the fifth and final part of its five-part DALLAS mini-series. In the episode, Pam (Victoria Principal) learned she was pregnant but later lost the baby.  DALLAS received enough buzz to be launched as a regular series in the fall.

1980: Jean Bruce Scott debuted as Jessica Blake in DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

30 Dynamic Duos of Daytime Soaps (2-1)

Our list of 30 Great Dynamic Duos of Daytime Soaps kicked off with a look at twosomes 30-26, 25-21, 20-16, 15-11, 10-6 and 5-3. Below the countdown concludes with the final Dynamic Duos. Tell us your favorite Dynamic Duos in the Comments section below:

FLASHBACK: Now That Dorian Got Rid Of Victor She's Setting Her Sights On Joe And Viki's Marriage 1976

In 1976 Daytime TV magazine published on of their "Deluxe Editions" which featured a story on the character of Dorian from ONE LIFE TO LIVE, at the time played by the late Nancy Pinkerton.

The story was titled "Now that Dorian got rid of Victor she's setting her sights on Joe and Viki's marriage." Dorian, Victor, Joe, Viki, and Victor's illegitimate son, Tony (George Reinholt), were all involved along with many others. As a bonus there is also a full-page glossy photo of Tony and Cathy (Jennifer Harmon).

Read the four-page story below.