Today in Soap Opera History (September 27)

1965: Four new daytime soap operas premiered: Morning 
Star and Paradise Bay on NBC, along with The Nurses and
Never Too Young on ABC.

"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...

1962: Primetime serial The Nurses premiered on CBS. The was titled was changed to The Doctors and The Nurses a year later.

1965: Two new Ted Corday daytime soap operas, Morning Star and Paradise Bay, premiered on NBC. Both shows lasted less than a year, with the final episodes airing on July 1, 1966.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 27)

1965: Four new daytime soap operas premiered: Morning 
Star and Paradise Bay on NBC, along with The Nurses and
Never Too Young 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...

1962: Primetime serial The Nurses premiered on CBS. The was titled was changed to The Doctors and The Nurses a year later.

1965: Two new Ted Corday daytime soap operas, Morning Star and Paradise Bay, premiered on NBC. Both shows lasted less than a year, with the final episodes airing on July 1, 1966.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 27)

1965: Four new daytime soap operas premiered: Morning 
Star and Paradise Bay on NBC, along with The Nurses and
Never Too Young 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...

1962: Primetime serial The Nurses premiered on CBS. The was titled was changed to The Doctors and The Nurses a year later.

1965: Two new Ted Corday daytime soap operas, Morning Star and Paradise Bay, premiered on NBC. Both shows lasted less than a year, with the final episodes airing on July 1, 1966.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 27)

1965: Four new daytime soap operas premiered: Morning 
Star and Paradise Bay on NBC, along with The Nurses and
Never Too Young on ABC..

"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...

1962: Primetime serial The Nurses premiered on CBS. The was titled was changed to The Doctors and The Nurses a year later.

1965: Two new Ted Corday daytime soap operas, Morning Star and Paradise Bay, premiered on NBC. Both shows lasted less than a year, with the final episodes airing on July 1, 1966.

Happy 40th Anniversary, Courtney and Peter Simon!

Nelson Aspen, Courtney Simon and Peter Simon enjoyed catching up
over the weekend. Photo Credit: @nelsonaspen

Today's Soap History column included the wedding of Search for Tomorrow co-stars Peter Simon (Scott) and Courtney Sherman (Kathy), which took place 40 years ago today. Simon went on to star as Ian McFarland in As the World Turns before a long run as Ed Bauer on Guiding Light. Sherman appeared in and/or wrote for a number of other soaps, most notably As the World Turns.

We Love Soaps contributor and international entertainment reporter Nelson Aspen caught up with the Simons at an event over the weekend, and it looks like they still as happy as they were in 1975. Nelson's mentor was daytime legend Mary Stuart (Jo on SFT, Meta on GL) so, of course, she was on their minds. Nelson still uses Mary's omelet pan, and they use the porcelain casserole dish she gave them as a wedding gift. Happy 40th, Courtney and Peter!

Speaking of Nelson, he is working on a wonderful new web series with longtime soap writer Janet Iacobuzio‎ (most recently at Days of our Lives). I have been sworn to secrecy but soap fans are definitely in for a treat. Look for more on that in the near future.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 27)

1965: Four new daytime soap operas premiered: Morning 
Star and Paradise Bay on NBC, plus The Nurses and
Never Too Young on ABC..

"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...

1962: Primetime serial The Nurses premiered on CBS. The was titled was changed to The Doctors and The Nurses a year later.

1965: Two new Ted Corday daytime soap operas, Morning Star and Paradise Bay, premiered on NBC. Both shows lasted less than a year, with the final episodes airing on July 1, 1966. Watch an episode of each series below:

Today in Soap Opera History (September 27)

1965: Four new daytime soap operas premiered - NBC's
MORNING STAR and PARADISE BAY, and ABC's THE
NURSES and NEVER TOO YOUNG.

"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...

1962: Primetime serial THE NURSES premiered on CBS.  The was titled was changed to THE DOCTORS AND THE NURSES a year later.

1965: NBC premiered two new Ted Corday daytime soap operas, MORNING STAR and PARADISE BAY. Both shows ran until July 1, 1966. Watch an episode of each below:

Today in Soap Opera History (September 27)

On this date in...

1965: NBC's MORNING STAR and PARADISE BAY premiered, both created by Ted Corday. The shows ran until July 1, 1966, and were two of the first soap operas to air in color. Watch episodes of PARADISE BAY and MORNING STAR below:

EXCLUSIVE: SoapClassics Releases New GUIDING LIGHT DVD - The Bauer Family Story

SoapClassics today has released a brand new, 11-episode GUIDING LIGHT DVD: The Bauer Family Story.

The Bauer family first appeared on the 15-minute radio version of THE GUIDING LIGHT in 1948. The family moved with the show to television in 1952 (also continuing on radio until 1956). They remained central as the show moved its setting to Springfield, expanded to 30 minutes and then 60, and from black and white to color. This collection covers a span of episodes from 1973 to 2009.

The episodes are divided into two discs:
* Disc 1, “Meet the Bauers”, features six pivotal episodes in the history of the family, including a rare “bonus” episode from 1973.
* Disc Two, “Bauer Barbecues” contains five of the family’s traditional Independence Day gatherings (the Barbecues are one of the top requests from GL fans).

Below is a summary of the episodes on the new DVD:

Today in Soap Opera History (September 27)

On this date in...

1965: NBC's MORNING STAR, created by Ted Corday, premiered. The show ran until July 1, 1966. MORNING STAR was one of the first soap operas to air in color.

1965: THE NURSES premiered on ABC and ran until March 31, 1967. Mary Fickett and Paul Stevens were among the stars.

1965: ABC also premiered on the same day NEVER TOO YOUNG, a soap geared toward a teen audience. Dack Rambo and Tony Dow were among the stars. The series featured several musical guests who performed at The High Dive, including: The Castaways, The Sunrays, Marvin Gaye, Johnny Rivers, Mel Carter, Freddie Cannon, and the Ramsey Lewis Trio.

CLASSIC CLIPS: Peter Simon

Peter Simon came in at #31 on the 50 Greatest Soap Actors of All Time list.

Here are some classic clips of Simon's work on AS THE WORLD TURNS and GUIDING LIGHT.

1979: ATWT's Ian collapses while conducting a benefit performance of the Joffrey Ballet.
1982: GL's Ed thinks back on his conversation with Alan about his affair with Rita.

1989: Ed and Maureen slow dance in the kitchen.
1990: Ed gives Blake advice.

CLASSIC PHOTO: SEARCH FOR TOMORROW

Can you name everyone in this classic SEARCH FOR TOMORROW photo?

FLASHBACK: Peter Simon's 'Average' Guy Nets an Emmy Nomination (1994)

PETER SIMON'S 'AVERAGE' GUY NETS AN EMMY NOMINATION

By Marla Hart
Chicago Tribune
May 19, 1994

When most people think daytime hero, they picture a buff guy who goes shirtless during sweeps and has a great head of hair. Peter Simon, who quietly has portrayed Ed Bauer for 12 years as the moral-but-flawed pillar of the community on GUIDING LIGHT (2 p.m. weekdays, CBS-Ch. 2), fans the libido of viewers who like their men balding and world-weary.

"When I lose all my hair, am I still going to be working? I'm not the Telly Savalas type," the 50-year-old Simon says only half-jokingly. "You have to physically fit what you're feeling inside."