Today in Soap Opera History (September 17)

2010: CBS aired the final episode of AS THE WORLD TURNS.

"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...

1959: On THE RIGHT TO HAPPINESS, Carolyn's (Claudia Morgan) husband Lee need (Les Damon) to make a sudden business trip to New York, which fed into her insecurity that Lee's priority was his beautiful widowed client, Sharon (Claire Niesen).

1962: Rex Ingram became the first African American featured on a daytime soap opera in a contract role when he appeared as an ordained minister named Victor Graham in THE BRIGHTER DAY. Sadly, the soap aired its final episode 11 days later on September 28.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 28)

On this date in...

1966: On DARK SHADOWS, Matthew (Thayer David) began to strangle Vicki (Alexandra Moltke) when Liz (Joan Bennett) burst into the cottage.

1975: The final CBS episode of THE EDGE OF NIGHT aired. AS THE WORLD TURNS aired its last 30-minute episode expanding to an hour on Monday with EDGE out of the CBS lineup. GUIDING LIGHT aired in the 2:00 p.m. timeslot for the final time. EDGE would move to ABC the following Monday with a 90-minute premiere. The second half hour of ATWT would not maintain the ratings of the first half hour and eventually the show dropped from the top of the Nielsen ratings. GUIDING LIGHT moved to 2:30 p.m. on Monday.

1979: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Brian and Page (Margaret Colin) were married.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 17)

On this date in...

1929: Future soap and Broadway actress Tresa Hughes (Emma, ANOTHER WORLD; Nurse Dumfrey, RYAN'S HOPE; Rose, FROM THESE ROOTS) was born. She died on July 24, 2011 at age 81.

1962: Rex Ingram became the first African American featured on a daytime soap opera in a contract role when he appeared as an ordained minister named Victor Graham in THE BRIGHTER DAY.  Sadly, the soap aired its final episode 11 days later on September 28.

1986: Camilla More debuted as Gillian Forrester in DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

2001: At the end of its first aired episode since the 9/11 attack, the cast of DAYS OF OUR LIVES sang "America The Beautiful."

Today in Soap Opera History (September 16)

On this date in...

1969: On DARK SHADOWS, Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) opened the door downstairs looking for Julia, causing the cord to tighten and the gun to fire.

1980: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Elliott continued to sexually harass Jody (Lori Loughlin).

Today in Soap Opera History (August 30)

On this date in...

1968: On DARK SHADOWS, Barnabas and Willie went to the crypt where Jennings kept his coffin, but when Barnabas opened the coffin, it was empty. Jennings arrived and tried to bite him.

1972: On ANOTHER WORLD, Pat wondered if Robert was interested in Lenore.

1979: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Steve and Paige faced gunshots.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 16)

On this date in...

1930: CLARA, LU AND EM, radio's first network daytime soap opera, premiered on WGN-AM in Chicago.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 28)

On this date in...

1975: The last CBS episode of THE EDGE OF NIGHT aired. AS THE WORLD TURNS aired its final 30-minute episode expanding to an hour on Monday with EDGE out of the CBS lineup. GUIDING LIGHT aired in the 2:00 p.m. timeslot for the final time. EDGE would move to ABC the following Monday with a 90-minute premiere. The second half hour of ATWT would not maintain the ratings of the first half hour and eventually the show dropped from the top of the Nielsens. GUIDING LIGHT would move to 2:30 p.m. on Monday.

1983: Kim Zimmer debuted as Reva Shayne on GUIDING LIGHT. She would win four Emmy Awards while playing the role.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 2)

On this date in...

1964: British CROSSROADS, set in a fictional motel near Birmingham, England, premiered. ITV network originally broadcast the series between 1964 and 1988. The series was revived in a glossier version by Carlton Television in 2001, but was again axed in 2003.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 17)

On this date in...

1929: Future soap and Broadway actress Tresa Hughes (Emma, ANOTHER WORLD; Nurse Dumfrey, RYAN'S HOPE; Rose, FROM THESE ROOTS) was born. She died on July 24 of this year.

2007: PASSIONS made its DirecTV debut on The 101 Network.

2010: AS THE WORLD TURNS aired its final episode after 54 years on CBS.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 16)

On this date in...

1994: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Lois jumped out of Katherine's birthday cake.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 30)

On this date in...

1972: On ANOTHER WORLD, Pat wondered if Robert was interested in Lenore.

1989: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Craig had to break up a fight between Caleb and Holden.

Today in Soap Opera History

On this date in...

1930: CLARA, LU AND EM, radio's first network daytime soap opera, premiered on WGN-AM in Chicago.

1975: GUIDING LIGHT aired its first one-hour episode which dropped the "THE" from the title.

1989: ANOTHER WORLD aired Mac's funeral, six weeks after his portrayer, the legendary Douglass Watson, passed away in real life.



2001: ALL MY CHILDREN's Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos welcomed their second child, Lola Grace Consuelos.

Celebrating a birthday today are:Kale Browne (ex-Miles, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Alan, SCRIPTS & SCRUPLES; ex-Newscaster, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Frank, ROCKLAND COUNTY; ex-Sam, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Micheal, ANOTHER WORLD) - 61
Ian Buchanan (ex-Greg, ALLMY CHILDREN; ex-Joshua, PORT CHARLES; ex-James, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Duke, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 54
James Patrick Stuart (ex-Will, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 43
Eddie Cibrian (ex-Cole, SUNSET BEACH; ex-Matt, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 38

Today in Soap Opera History

On this date in...

1984: Ed told Maureen he wanted to have lots of babies on GUIDING LIGHT.



1986: Frannie had a memory about Doug Cummings on AS THE WORLD TURNS.

2001: Brandon Routh debuted on ONE LIFE TO LIVE as Seth Anderson.

2008: Jack met Janet on AS THE WORLD TURNS.

2010: LOST aired its final episode.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Mary Fickett (ex-Ruth, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Katherine, THE EDGE OF NIGHT) - 79
Joan Collins (ex-Eva, FOOTBALLERS' WIVES; ex-Christina, PACIFIC PALISADES; ex-Alexandra, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Alexis, DYNASTY) - 79
Mark Arnold (ex-Robert, SCRIPTS & SCRUPLES; ex-Rob, ONE LIFE TO LIFE; ex-Joe, SANTA BARBARA; ex-Steve, RITUALS; ex-Gavin, EDGE OF NIGHT; ex-Buck, GUIDING LIGHT) - 54
Kelly Monaco (Sam, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Livvie, PORT CHARLES) - 35
Tom Baran (Gabriel, THE OMEGAS, ex-Casey, SCRIPTS & SCRUPLES; ex-Tony, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 28

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Gloria Loring (ex-Liz, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 64
John J. York (Mac, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 52
Nia Peeples (Pam, PRETTY LITTLE LIARS; ex-Karen, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Carla, GENERAL HOPSITAL; ex-Mallory, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 49
Gavin Houston (Tony, THE BAY; ex-Remy, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Damien, ROCKLAND COUNTY) - 33

Today's Soap World Birthdays

James Karen (ex-Linc, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Dr. Burke, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 87
Jeffery Byron (ex-Jeff, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Richard, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Mark, PORT CHARLES; ex-Chuck, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Vincent, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 55
Gina Tognoni (Sami, VENICE; Kelly, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Dinah, GUIDING LIGHT) - 37
Don Money (ex-Brian, SCRIPTS & SCRUPLES/ROCKLAND COUNTY; ex-Rob, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 31
Mary Elizabeth Winstead (ex-Jessica, PASSIONS) - 26

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Rachel Ames (ex-Audrey, GENERAL HOSPITAL/PORT CHARLES) - 81
Kate Linder (Esther, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 63
Sean Kanan (Deacon, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS/ex-THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Pierre, SCRIPTS & SCRUPLES; ex-A.J., GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Jude, SUNSET BEACH) - 44
Lindze Letherman (ex-Georgie, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 22

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Peter Simon (ex-Ed, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Scott, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW; ex-Ian, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 67
A Martinez (ex-Ray, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Roy, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Cruz, SANTA BARBARA) - 62
Patrick Muldoon (ex-Austin, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 41
Tom Casiello (Writer, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-ANOTHER WORLD; ex-ONE LIFE TO LIVE)
Derrell Whitt (Will, THE BAY; ex-Lucas, SCRIPTS & SCRUPLES) - 22

Today's Soap World Birthdays

David Forsyth (ex-John, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-TJ, TEXAS, ex-Hogan, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW; ex-Jim, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 63
Travis Schuldt (ex-Ethan, Passions) - 36
Eric Schwartz (ex-Rick, SCRIPTS & SCRUPLES) - 36

TRIVIA: The final episode of GUIDING LIGHT aired one year ago today.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Tresa Hughes (ex-Emma, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Nurse Dumfrey, RYAN'S HOPE; ex-Rose, FROM THESE ROOTS) - 81
Aaron Lustig (ex-Tim, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS/THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) - 54
Kyle Chandler (Eric, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS) - 45
Erika Page (ex-Amber, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Roseanne, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 35
Sandra Vidal (ex-Sofia, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL)
Ken E. Hunt (ex-Clint, SCRIPTS & SCRUPLES) - 24

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Christopher Rich (ex-Sandy, ANOTHER WORLD) - 57
Kimberly McArthur (ex-Kelly, SANTA BARBARA) - 48
Sara Maraffino (ex-Planner, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Angie, SCRIPTS & SCRUPLES) - 28