Today in Soap Opera History (August 10)

1979: The Edge of Night's Steve saved Paige's life.
1981: General Hospital's Mikkos hosted a dinner party.
1984: Santa Barbara's Joe broke into the Capwell estate.
2004: Martha Madison debuted as Belle on Days of our Lives.

"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...

1945: On radio soap opera Portia Faces Life, Kathie was shocked to see Portia's late husband, Walter (Bartlett Robinson), alive and well!

1967: On Dark Shadows, Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) returned to the Blue Whale Café -- and ran into her former tormentor, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid).

1972: On Another World, Pat Randolph (Beverly Penberthy) brought her twins, Michael (Tom Ruger) and Marianne (Loriann Ruger), over for a visit with their grandpa Jim.

1976: On Ryan's Hope, Maeve (Helen Gallagher) and Johnny (Bernard Barrow) decided to ask Delia and LJ to stay with them.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 7)

1940: Portia Faces Life premiered on CBS Radio.
1980: Edge of Night's Clown Puppet killer claimed its first victim.
1991: Y&R's David died in a trash compactor.
1997: One Life to Live's Tea fell out a window.

"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...

1940: Radio soap opera Portia Faces Life debuted on CBS, sponsored by General Foods (Post Bran, Toasties and Post Flakes) during its entire run on radio. The series had premiered early in 1940 on radio station WNAC in Boston, then moved to WLS in Chicago, KRLD in Dallas, KGW in Portland and KFI in Los Angeles before moving to the CBS network. The show was created by Mona Kent and centered around the life of Portia Blake Manning (Lucille Wall), an attorney and widow with a young son.

1966: On As the World Turns, Dr. Doug Cassen (Nat Polen) was very distraught when he returned home from a house call to Mrs. Rogers, who had suddenly died of heart failure. The next day, Ted Rogers visited Doug's office to find out exactly what happened to his wife. Doug didn't know what to tell Ted, and the grieving husband demanded that an autopsy be done. Doug then revealed some past medical information about Mrs. Rogers which shocked Ted. In a rage, Ted pushed Doug away causing him to trip over a chair and hit his head on the floor. Doug later died after suffering complications from the injury leaving Claire (Barbara Berjer) a widow.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 10)

1979: The Edge of Night's Steve saved Paige's life.
1981: General Hospital's Mikkos hosted a dinner party.
1984: Santa Barbara's Joe broke into the Capwell estate.
2004: Martha Madison debuted as Belle 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...

1945: On radio soap opera Portia Faces Life, Kathie was shocked to see Portia's late husband, Walter (Bartlett Robinson), alive and well!

1967: On Dark Shadows, Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) returned to the Blue Whale Café -- and ran into her former tormentor, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid).

1972: On Another World, Pat Randolph (Beverly Penberthy) brought her twins, Michael (Tom Ruger) and Marianne (Loriann Ruger), over for a visit with their grandpa Jim.

1976: On Ryan's Hope, Maeve (Helen Gallagher) and Johnny (Bernard Barrow) decided to ask Delia and LJ to stay with them.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 7)

1940: Portia Faces Life premiered on CBS Radio.
1980: Edge of Night's Clown Puppet killer claimed its first victim.
1991: Y&R's David died in a trash compactor.
1997: One Life to Live's Tea fell out a window.

"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...

1940: Radio soap opera Portia Faces Life debuted on CBS, sponsored by General Foods (Post Bran, Toasties and Post Flakes) during its entire run on radio. The series had premiered early in 1940 on radio station WNAC in Boston, then moved to WLS in Chicago, KRLD in Dallas, KGW in Portland and KFI in Los Angeles before moving to the CBS network. The show was created by Mona Kent and centered around the life of Portia Blake Manning (Lucille Wall), an attorney and widow with a young son.

1966: On As the World Turns, Dr. Doug Cassen (Nat Polen) was very distraught when he returned home from a house call to Mrs. Rogers, who had suddenly died of heart failure. The next day, Ted Rogers visited Doug's office to find out exactly what happened to his wife. Doug didn't know what to tell Ted, and the grieving husband demanded that an autopsy be done. Doug then revealed some past medical information about Mrs. Rogers which shocked Ted. In a rage, Ted pushed Doug away causing him to trip over a chair and hit his head on the floor. Doug later died after suffering complications from the injury leaving Claire (Barbara Berjer) a widow.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 10)

1979: The Edge of Night's Steve saved Paige's life.
1981: General Hospital's Mikkos hosted a dinner party.
1984: Santa Barbara's Joe broke into the Capwell estate.
2004: Martha Madison debuted as Belle 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...

1945: On radio soap opera Portia Faces Life, Kathie was shocked to see Portia's late husband, Walter (Bartlett Robinson), alive and well!

1967: On Dark Shadows, Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) returned to the Blue Whale Café -- and ran into her former tormentor, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid).

1972: On Another World, Pat Randolph (Beverly Penberthy) brought her twins, Michael (Tom Ruger) and Marianne (Loriann Ruger), over for a visit with their grandpa Jim.

1976: On Ryan's Hope, Maeve (Helen Gallagher) and Johnny (Bernard Barrow) decided to ask Delia and LJ to stay with them.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 7)

1940: Portia Faces Life premiered on CBS Radio.
1980: Edge of Night's Clown Puppet killer claimed its first victim.
1991: Y&R's David died in a trash compactor.
1997: One Life to Live's Tea fell out a window.

"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...

1940: Radio soap opera Portia Faces Life debuted on CBS, sponsored by General Foods (Post Bran, Toasties and Post Flakes) during its entire run on radio. The series had premiered early in 1940 on radio station WNAC in Boston, then moved to WLS in Chicago, KRLD in Dallas, KGW in Portland and KFI in Los Angeles before moving to the CBS network. The show was created by Mona Kent and centered around the life of Portia Blake Manning (Lucille Wall), an attorney and widow with a young son.

1966: On As the World Turns, Dr. Doug Cassen (Nat Polen) was very distraught when he returned home from a house call to Mrs. Rogers, who had suddenly died of heart failure. The next day, Ted Rogers visited Doug's office to find out exactly what happened to his wife. Doug didn't know what to tell Ted, and the grieving husband demanded that an autopsy be done. Doug then revealed some past medical information about Mrs. Rogers which shocked Ted. In a rage, Ted pushed Doug away causing him to trip over a chair and hit his head on the floor. Doug later died after suffering complications from the injury leaving Claire (Barbara Berjer) a widow.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 10)

1979: The Edge of Night's Steve saved Paige's life.
1981: General Hospital's Mikkos hosted a dinner party.
1984: Santa Barbara's Joe broke into the Capwell estate.
2004: Martha Madison debuted as Belle on Days of our Lives.

"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...

1945: On radio soap opera Portia Faces Life, Kathie was shocked to see Portia's late husband, Walter (Bartlett Robinson), alive and well!

1967: On Dark Shadows, Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) returned to the Blue Whale Café -- and ran into her former tormentor, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid).

1972: On Another World, Pat Randolph (Beverly Penberthy) brought her twins, Michael (Tom Ruger) and Marianne (Loriann Ruger), over for a visit with their grandpa Jim.

1976: On Ryan's Hope, Maeve (Helen Gallagher) and Johnny (Bernard Barrow) decided to ask Delia and LJ to stay with them.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 7)

1940: Portia Faces Life premiered on CBS Radio.
1980: Edge of Night's Clown Puppet killer claimed its first victim.
1991: Y&R's David died in a trash compactor.
1997: One Life to Live's Tea fell out a window.

"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...

1940: Radio soap opera Portia Faces Life debuted on CBS, sponsored by General Foods (Post Bran, Toasties and Post Flakes) during its entire run on radio. The series had premiered early in 1940 on radio station WNAC in Boston, then moved to WLS in Chicago, KRLD in Dallas, KGW in Portland and KFI in Los Angeles before moving to the CBS network. The show was created by Mona Kent and centered around the life of Portia Blake Manning (Lucille Wall), an attorney and widow with a young son.

1966: On As the World Turns, Dr. Doug Cassen (Nat Polen) was very distraught when he returned home from a house call to Mrs. Rogers, who had suddenly died of heart failure. The next day, Ted Rogers visited Doug's office to find out exactly what happened to his wife. Doug didn't know what to tell Ted, and the grieving husband demanded that an autopsy be done. Doug then revealed some past medical information about Mrs. Rogers which shocked Ted. In a rage, Ted pushed Doug away causing him to trip over a chair and hit his head on the floor. Doug later died after suffering complications from the injury leaving Claire (Barbara Berjer) a widow.

FLASHBACK: A Complete, Concise Yearly History of TV Soap Operas - 1947 to 1977 (Part 2)

Brook Byron starred as Althea Dennis in The Brighter Day.

A Complete, Concise Yearly History of TV Soap Operas

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

(continued from Part 1)

1954
An unprecedented year for serial premieres, the first was another radio hit which ran almost nine years on television: The Brighter Day, which was televised from January 4, 1954 to September 28, 1962. An Irna Phillips creation which went through several writers, including Doris Frankel (now of All My Children), Sam Hall (now of One Life to Live) and Eileen and Robert Mason Pollock (later of Love of Life, The Doctors and General Hospital), it revolved around kindly minister Rev. Richard Dennis and his five children who moved to New Hope, Pennsylvania, after their home in Three Rivers (from the radio soap) was washed away by a flood. Bill Smith was soon replaced by Blair Davies as the Reverend, Mona Bruns joined shortly after its debut as Aunt Emily Potter, and the supporting cast over the years included such top draws as Hal Holbrook, Anne Meacham, James Noble, Mary K. Wells, June Dayton, Paul Langton, Murial Williams, Herb Nelson, Forrest Compton, Lois Nettleton and Patty Duke. A Procter & Gamble Production, it eventually succumbed to too many writing upheavals.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 10)

1979: The Edge of Night's Steve saved Paige's life.
1981: General Hospital's Mikkos hosted a dinner party.
1984: Santa Barbara's Joe broke into the Capwell estate.
2004: Martha Madison debuted as Belle 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...

1945: On radio soap opera Portia Faces Life, Kathie was shocked to see Portia's late husband, Walter (Bartlett Robinson), alive and well!

1967: On Dark Shadows, Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) returned to the Blue Whale Café -- and ran into her former tormentor, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid).

1972: On Another World, Pat Randolph (Beverly Penberthy) brought her twins, Michael (Tom Ruger) and Marianne (Loriann Ruger), over for a visit with their grandpa Jim.

1976: On Ryan's Hope, Maeve (Helen Gallagher) and Johnny (Bernard Barrow) decided to ask Delia and LJ to stay with them.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 10)

"To believe what has not occurred in history will not occur at all, is to argue disbelief in the dignity of man."
- Mahatma Gandhi

"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...

Bartlett Robinson

1945: On radio soap opera Portia Faces Life, Kathie was shocked to see Portia's late husband, Walter (Bartlett Robinson), alive and well! Listen here.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) returned to the Blue Whale Café -- and ran into her former tormentor, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid).

1972: On Another World, Pat (Beverly Penberthy) brought Michael (Tom Ruger) and Marianne (Loriann Ruger) over for a visit with Jim.

1979: On The Edge of Night, Steve (Denny Albee) saved Paige's (Margaret Colin) life.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 7)

1940: PORTIA FACES LIFE premiered on CBS Radio. 1980: The
first Clown Puppet murder on EON. 1991: Y&R's David died in
a trash compactor. 1997: OLTL's Tea fell out a window.

"We should always be aware that what now lies in the past once lay in the future."
― F.W. Maitland

"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...

1940: Radio soap opera PORTIA FACES LIFE debuted on CBS. The show was created by Mona Kent and centered around the life of Portia Blake Manning (Lucille Wall), an attorney and widow with a young son.

1966: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Dr. Doug Cassen (Nat Polen) was very distraught when he returned home from a house call to Mrs. Rogers, who had suddenly died of heart failure. The next day, Ted Rogers visited Doug's office to find out exactly what happened to his wife. Doug didn't know what to tell Ted, and the grieving husband demanded that an autopsy be done. Doug then revealed some past medical information about Mrs. Rogers which shocked Ted. In a rage, Ted pushed Doug away causing him to trip over a chair and hit his head on the floor. Doug later died after suffering complications from the injury leaving Claire (Barbara Berjer) a widow.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 10)

On this date in...

Bartlett Robinson

1945: On radio soap opera PORTIA FACES LIFE, Kathie was shocked to see Portia's late husband, Walter (Bartlett Robinson), alive! Listen here.

1967: On DARK SHADOWS, Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) returned to the Blue Whale Café -- and ran into her former tormentor, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid).

1972: On ANOTHER WORLD, Pat (Beverly Penberthy) brought Michael (Tom Ruger) and Marianne (Loriann Ruger) over for a visit with Jim.

1979: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Steve (Denny Albee) saved Paige's (Margaret Colin) life.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 7)

On this date in...

1940: PORTIA FACES LIFE debuted on the NBC Red network. This radio soap opera centered around the life of Portia Blake Manning, an attorney and a widow with a young son. PORTIA was extremely popular and had many sponsors, none of which were soap. The sponsors included Post Toasties, Grape Nuts Flakes, Grape Nuts Wheat Meal, Maxwell House coffee, Jell-O desserts and La France bleach.

1980: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, the first clown puppet murder was committed!  Watch it below.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 10)

On this date in...

1945: On radio soap opera PORTIA FACES LIFE, Kathie was shocked to see Portia's late husband, Walter (Bartlett Robinson), alive! Listen here.

1967: The final black and white episode of DARK SHADOWS aired.  Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) returned to the Blue Whale Café -- and ran into her former tormentor, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid).

1972: On ANOTHER WORLD, Pat (Beverly Penberthy) brought Michael (Tom Ruger) and Marianne (Loriann Ruger) over for a visit with Jim.

1979: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Steve (Denny Albee) saved Paige's (Margaret Colin) life.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 7)

On this date in...

1940: PORTIA FACES LIFE debuted on the NBC Red network. This radio soap opera centered around the life of Portia Blake Manning, an attorney and a widow with a young son. PORTIA was extremely popular and had many sponsors, none of which were soap. The sponsors included Post Toasties, Grape Nuts Flakes, Grape Nuts Wheat Meal, Maxwell House coffee, Jell-O desserts and La France bleach.

1988: On GUIDING LIGHT, Alexandra to Alan about Harley: "She is completely unsuitable for a Spaulding."

NEWS: Frank Valentini, Mark Miller, Diane Farr, 90210

PHOTOS: Where does ONE LIFE TO LIVE producer Frank Valentini keep his Emmy awards?
On the mantel of his $2.35 million Bridgehampton house.

Diane Farr joins GREY'S ANATOMY
Farr will guest in an October episode of GREY'S as a patient with Huntington’s disease.

90210: The REAL story behind a character's big gay awakening
Producer Rebecca Sinclair says: "We thought [Teddy] was just a womanizer. But then—and this often happens with characters—we started to wonder about the deeper life of the character. Was he a womanizer, or was he really covering for something?"

50 Greatest Soap Actors: #11 Don Hastings

NAME: Don Hastings
RANK: 11
SOAP ROLES: Bob Hughes, AS THE WORLD TURNS (1960-present); Bob Hughes, OUR PRIVATE WORLD (1965); Jack Lane, THE EDGE OF NIGHT (1956-1960); THE ROAD OF LIFE; HILLTOP HOUSE; PORTIA FACES LIFE

AWARDS:
2004 Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award
1998 Soap Opera Digest Award Editor's Award win
1992 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor: Daytime

COMMENTS FROM THE PANEL:
Damon L. Jacobs:  It has become common in soap circles to heap tons of praise and awards on the bad-boy-turned-good.  But it is far too easy to ignore the integrity, strength, and skill required to play the good guy.  Don Hastings mastered this art portraying the upstanding, kind, and dignified Bob Hughes for most of the past 50 years.  The "melting ice cream" scene last summer, in which Bob appear disoriented, confused, and terrified, was only a sample of what this brilliant thespian is capable of.  His calming and reassuring presence will be sorely missed after September 2010.

Frances Reid Tribute Video

Here is a tribute to longtime soap star Frances Reid put together by her family.

CLASSIC CLIP: Frances Reid on PORTIA FACES LIFE

In 1954, Frances Reid played the title role in the television version of the radio soap opera PORTIA FACES LIFE. Watch an episode below.