Today in Soap Opera History (April 3)

1956: Edge of Night's Jack was impacted by a kiss.
1972: Return to Peyton Place premiered on NBC.
1984: Edge of Night's Raven reflected on her past.
2013: General Hospital's Helena was shot by Luke.

"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...

1956: On second ever episode of The Edge of Night, Mattie Lane's (Betty Garde) $20 disappeared from her sewing machine which led to tension between Sarah (Teal Ames) and Mike (John Larkin). Both Mike and Sarah, especially Mike, suspected Jack (Don Hastings) was the culprit.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 18)

1988: General Hopsital's Jake was back in Port Charles.
1994: All My Children's Laurel tried to expose Janet.
2002: Young and the Restless' Victoria slapped Victor.
2005: Kay talked to the mystery woman on Passions.

"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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, the doctors realized that Mary Harper's (Anne Sargent) coma was a result of a drug overdose, rather than head injuries.

1972: Susan Brown debuted as Constance MacKenzie Carson in Return to Peyton Place.

1974: On Another World, Carol Lamonte (Jeanne Lange) met with Steve Frame (George Reinholt) to sound him out about Rachel.

Susan Brown Dead at 86

Susan Brown, who is best known for her role as Dr. Gail Adamson Baldwin on General Hospital, died on August 31 after battling Alzheimer’s disease. She was 86.

General Hospital showrunner Frank Valentini took to Twitter to confirm her death saying, "It's a very sad day in Port Charles as the wonderful Susan Brown (“Gail Baldwin”) passed away today. My sincerest condolences to her family and to all who knew this amazing woman."

Brown was born in San Francisco and graduated from the University of Southern California. Her acting career launched in 1959 with the soap opera From The Roots, where she played Liz Fraser Allen. She went on to appear in numerous soaps including The Young Marrieds (as Ann Reynolds), Bright Promise (as Martha Ferguson), and Return to Peyton Place (as Constance MacKenzie).

She took on the role of Dr. Gail Adamson Baldwin in 1977. The character was Monica Webber's foster mother who married Lee Baldwin (played by Peter Hansen). It would only take two years before Brown received a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress. She ended up leaving the General Hospital in 1985, popped up again from 1989-1990, then began recurring in 1992. She made her final appearance in 2004.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 3)

1956: Edge of Night's Jack was impacted by a kiss.
1972: Return to Peyton Place premiered on NBC.
1984: Edge of Night's Raven reflected on her past.
2013: General Hospital's Helena was shot by Luke.

"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...

1956: On second ever episode of The Edge of Night, Mattie Lane's (Betty Garde) $20 disappeared from her sewing machine which led to tension between Sarah (Teal Ames) and Mike (John Larkin). Both Mike and Sarah, especially Mike, suspected Jack (Don Hastings) was the culprit.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 18)

1988: General Hopsital's Jake was back in Port Charles.
1994: All My Children's Laurel tried to expose Janet.
2002: Young and the Restless' Victoria slapped Victor.
2005: Kay talked to the mystery woman on Passions.

"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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, the doctors realized that Mary Harper's (Anne Sargent) coma was a result of a drug overdose, rather than head injuries.

1972: Susan Brown debuted as Constance MacKenzie Carson in Return to Peyton Place.

1974: On Another World, Carol Lamonte (Jeanne Lange) met with Steve Frame (George Reinholt) to sound him out about Rachel.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 3)

1956: Edge of Night's Jack was impacted by a kiss.
1972: Return to Peyton Place premiered on NBC.
1984: Edge of Night's Raven reflected on her past.
2013: General Hospital's Helena was shot by Luke.

"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...

1956: On second ever episode of The Edge of Night, Mattie Lane's (Betty Garde) $20 disappeared from her sewing machine which led to tension between Sarah (Teal Ames) and Mike (John Larkin). Both Mike and Sarah, especially Mike, suspected Jack (Don Hastings) was the culprit.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 18)

1988: General Hopsital's Jake was back in Port Charles.
1994: All My Children's Laurel tried to expose Janet.
2002: Young and the Restless' Victoria slapped Victor.
2005: Kay talked to the mystery woman on Passions.

"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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, the doctors realized that Mary Harper's (Anne Sargent) coma was a result of a drug overdose, rather than head injuries.

1972: Susan Brown debuted as Constance MacKenzie Carson in Return to Peyton Place.

1974: On Another World, Carol Lamonte (Jeanne Lange) met with Steve Frame (George Reinholt) to sound him out about Rachel.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 3)

1956: Edge of Night's Jack was impacted by a kiss.
1972: Return to Peyton Place premiered on NBC.
1984: Edge of Night's Raven reflected on her past.
2013: General Hospital's Helena was shot by Luke.

"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...

1956: On second ever episode of The Edge of Night, Mattie Lane's (Betty Garde) $20 disappeared from her sewing machine which led to tension between Sarah (Teal Ames) and Mike (John Larkin). Both Mike and Sarah, especially Mike, suspected Jack (Don Hastings) was the culprit.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 18)

1988: General Hopsital's Jake was back in Port Charles.
1994: All My Children's Laurel tried to expose Janet.
2002: Young and the Restless' Victoria slapped Victor.
2005: Kay talked to the mystery woman on Passions.

"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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, the doctors realized that Mary Harper's (Anne Sargent) coma was a result of a drug overdose, rather than head injuries.

1972: Susan Brown debuted as Constance MacKenzie Carson in Return to Peyton Place.

1974: On Another World, Carol Lamonte (Jeanne Lange) met with Steve Frame (George Reinholt) to sound him out about Rachel.

FLASHBACK: A Complete, Concise Yearly History of TV Soap Operas - 1947 to 1977 (Part 7)

All My Children starred Karen Gorney as Tara Martin and
Richard Hatch as Philip Brent.

A Complete, Concise Yearly History of TV Soap Operas

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

(continued from Part 6)

1970
On January 5, an excited ABC launched the serial which became its number one daytime draw, and one of the most famous serials of all time. All My Children, created by Agnes Nixon and produced by Bud Kloss, began with Rosemary Prinz as an extra boost to the cast. The folksy blend of romance, fantasy and caricatured satire set in Pine Valley caught on almost immediately. A traditional family design involves the wealthy Tylers and the humble Martins, with premiere cast members Mary Fickett, Ray MacDonnell, Ruth Warrick, Hugh Franklin, Frances Heflin and Susan Lucci still in the series. A favorite among college students, it is the subject of a book by Dan Wakefield, entitled "All Her Children."

On March 30 of this year, ABC premiered two less successful serials and NBC brought forth a spin-off.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 3)

"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...

1956: On second ever episode of THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Mattie Lane's (Betty Garde) $20 disappeared from her sewing machine which led to tension between Sarah (Teal Ames) and Mike (John Larkin). Both Mike and Sarah, especially Mike, suspected Jack (Don Hastings) was the culprit.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 18)

1988: GH's Jake was back in Port Charles. 1994: AMC's
Laurel tried to expose Janet. 2002: Y&R's Victoria
slapped Victor. 2005: Kay talked to the mystery woman
on Passions.

"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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, the doctors realized that Mary's (Anne Sargent) coma was a result of a drug overdose, rather than head injuries.

1972: Susan Brown debuted as Constance MacKenzie Carson in Return to Peyton Place.

1974: On Another World, Carol (Jeanne Lange) met with Steve (George Reinholt) to sound him out about Rachel.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 18)

1988: Jake was back in Port Charles. 1994: AMC's Laurel tried
to expose Janet. 2002: Y&R's Victoria slapped Victor.
2005: Kay wondered if she should know the mystery woman
on PASSIONS.

"History is a relentless master. It has no present, only the past rushing into the future. To try to hold fast is to be swept aside."
- John F. Kennedy

"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...

1957: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, the doctors realized that Mary's (Anne Sargent) coma was a result of a drug overdose, rather than head injuries.

1972: Susan Brown debuted as Constance MacKenzie Carson in RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE.

1974: On ANOTHER WORLD, Carol (Jeanne Lange) met with Steve (George Reinholt) to sound him out about Rachel.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 3)

On this date in...

1956: On second ever episode of THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Mattie Lane's (Betty Garde) $20 disappeared from her sewing machine which led to tension between Sarah (Teal Ames) and Mike (John Larkin).  Both Mike and Sarah, especially Mike, suspected Jack (Don Hastings) was the culprit.

Yale Summers Dead at 78

Yale Summers, who starred on GENERAL HOSPITAL and RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE, has died. He was 78.

In 1964, Summers joined the cast of GENERAL HOSPITAL as Dr. Bob Ayres.

He then was the second male lead on CBS' co-starred in jungle adventure series DAKTARI, which followed the activities of veterinarian Marsh Tracy, played by Marshall Thompson, in a remote area of Africa. The series ran from 1966-68.

In 1972 Summers starred as Rodney Harrington on RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE, a role he would play for two years.

The actor also guested on a variety of shows ranging from MY FAVORITE MARTIAN and THE OUTER LIMITS to MY THREE SONS and FANTASY ISLAND.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 3)

On this date in...

1956: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, when Mattie Lane's (BETTY GARDE) $20 dissappeared from her sewing machine, tension arose between Sarah (Teal Ames) and Mike (John Larkin) since both Mike and Sarah, especially Mike, suspected Jack (Don Hastings), Mattie's youngest son and Sarah's wannabe bad brother, as the culprit.

Warren Stevens Dead at 92

Actor Warren Stevens has died in Los Angeles at 92. Publicist Dale Olson says Stevens died Tuesday of respiratory failure complicated by lung disease at his Sherman Oaks home.

Stevens’ career in stage, film and television spanned 60 years including roles in the soaps RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE (Elliot Carson) and FALCON CREST (Senator Bundy Silverlake).

His other TV appearances include BRACKEN'S WORLD, BONANZA, IRONSIDE, GUNSMOKE and STAR TREK.