Today in Soap Opera History (May 4)

1964: Another World premiered.
1982: Dynasty's Cecil died while making love with Alexis.
1984: Guiding Light's "Dreaming Death" virus killed Lesley Ann.
1987: Days of our Lives' Kim and Shane were married.

"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...

1943: On Vic and Sade, Chuck Brainfeeble visited Sade with a gross of "Little Leather Ringmasters." He proposed to use them to repay his $40 debt to Vic, and wouldn't take "no" for an answer.

1958: Elaine S. Carrington, the radio writer who created Pepper Young's Family and other daytime dramas, died at New York Hospital. She was 66.

1964: Irna Phillips and William J. Bell's Another World premiered on NBC. The script from this episode is archived at the National Museum of American History. When the show began, announcer Bill Wolff would say over the opening title: "We do not live in this world alone, but in a thousand other worlds. . . And now, Another World."

During its first year, the show, set in the fictional town of Bay City, set new standards for its time by taking on topics like abortion and illegitimate pregnancy.

The story initially revolved around the Matthews family in Bay City. The original characters were Liz Matthews (Sarah Cunningham, replaced after the first episode), Bill Matthews (Joseph Gallison), Jim Matthews (John Beal, replaced after the first episode), Mary Matthews (Virginia Dwyer), Pat Matthews (Susan Trustman), Alice Matthews (Jacqueline Courtney), Russ Matthews (Joey Trent), Janet Matthews (Liza Chapman), Granny Matthews (Vera Allen), Missy Palmer (Carol Roux), Ken Baxter (William Prince) and Tom Baxter (Nicholas Pryor).

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 (May 4)

1964: Another World premiered.
1982: Dynasty's Cecil died while making love with Alexis.
1984: Guiding Light's "Dreaming Death" virus killed Lesley Ann.
1987: Days of our Lives' Kim and Shane were married.

"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...

1943: On Vic and Sade, Chuck Brainfeeble visited Sade with a gross of "Little Leather Ringmasters." He proposed to use them to repay his $40 debt to Vic, and wouldn't take "no" for an answer.

1958: Elaine S. Carrington, the radio writer who created Pepper Young's Family and other daytime dramas, died at New York Hospital. She was 66.

1964: Irna Phillips and William J. Bell's Another World premiered on NBC. The script from this episode is archived at the National Museum of American History. When the show began, announcer Bill Wolff would say over the opening title: "We do not live in this world alone, but in a thousand other worlds. . . And now, Another World."

During its first year, the show, set in the fictional town of Bay City, set new standards for its time by taking on topics like abortion and illegitimate pregnancy.

The story initially revolved around the Matthews family in Bay City. The original characters were Liz Matthews (Sarah Cunningham, replaced after the first episode), Bill Matthews (Joseph Gallison), Jim Matthews (John Beal, replaced after the first episode), Mary Matthews (Virginia Dwyer), Pat Matthews (Susan Trustman), Alice Matthews (Jacqueline Courtney), Russ Matthews (Joey Trent), Janet Matthews (Liza Chapman), Granny Matthews (Vera Allen), Missy Palmer (Carol Roux), Ken Baxter (William Prince) and Tom Baxter (Nicholas Pryor).

Today in Soap Opera History (May 4)

1964: Another World premiered.
1982: Dynasty's Cecil died while making love with Alexis.
1984: Guiding Light's "Dreaming Death" virus killed Lesley Ann.
1987: Days of our Lives' Kim and Shane were married.

"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...

1943: On Vic and Sade, Chuck Brainfeeble visited Sade with a gross of "Little Leather Ringmasters." He proposed to use them to repay his $40 debt to Vic, and wouldn't take "no" for an answer.

1958: Elaine S. Carrington, the radio writer who created Pepper Young's Family and other daytime dramas, died at New York Hospital. She was 66.

1964: Irna Phillips and William J. Bell's Another World premiered on NBC. The script from this episode is archived at the National Museum of American History. When the show began, announcer Bill Wolff would say over the opening title: "We do not live in this world alone, but in a thousand other worlds. . . And now, Another World."

During its first year, the show, set in the fictional town of Bay City, set new standards for its time by taking on topics like abortion and illegitimate pregnancy.

The story initially revolved around the Matthews family in Bay City. The original characters were Liz Matthews (Sarah Cunningham, replaced after the first episode), Bill Matthews (Joseph Gallison), Jim Matthews (John Beal, replaced after the first episode), Mary Matthews (Virginia Dwyer), Pat Matthews (Susan Trustman), Alice Matthews (Jacqueline Courtney), Russ Matthews (Joey Trent), Janet Matthews (Liza Chapman), Granny Matthews (Vera Allen), Missy Palmer (Carol Roux), Ken Baxter (William Prince) and Tom Baxter (Nicholas Pryor).

Today in Soap Opera History (May 4)

1964: Another World premiered.  1982: Dynasty's Cecil died
while making love with Alexis.  1984: Guiding Light's "Dreaming
Death" virus killed Lesley Ann. 1987: Days of our Lives' Kim
and Shane were married.

"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...

1943: On Vic and Sade, Chuck Brainfeeble visited Sade with a gross of "Little Leather Ringmasters." He proposed to use them to repay his $40 debt to Vic, and wouldn't take "no" for an answer.

1958: Elaine S. Carrington, the radio writer who created Pepper Young's Family and other daytime dramas, died at New York Hospital. She was 66.

1964: Irna Phillips and William J. Bell's Another World premiered on NBC. The script from this episode is archived at the National Museum of American History. When the show began, announcer Bill Wolff would say over the opening title: "We do not live in this world alone, but in a thousand other worlds. . . And now, Another World."

During its first year, the show, set in the fictional town of Bay City, set new standards for its time by taking on topics like abortion and illegitimate pregnancy.

The story initially revolved around the Matthews family in Bay City. The original characters were Liz Matthews (Sarah Cunningham, replaced after the first episode), Bill Matthews (Joseph Gallison), Jim Matthews (John Beal, replaced after the first episode), Mary Matthews (Virginia Dwyer), Pat Matthews (Susan Trustman), Alice Matthews (Jacqueline Courtney), Russ Matthews (Joey Trent), Janet Matthews (Liza Chapman), Granny Matthews (Vera Allen), Missy Palmer (Carol Roux), Ken Baxter (William Prince) and Tom Baxter (Nicholas Pryor).

Today in Soap Opera History (May 4)

1964: Another World premiered.  1982: Dynasty's Cecil died
while making love with Alexis.  1984: Guiding Light's "Dreaming
Death" virus killed Lesley Ann. 1987: Days of our Lives' Kim
and Shane were married.

"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...

1943: On Vic and Sade, Chuck Brainfeeble visited Sade with a gross of "Little Leather Ringmasters." He proposed to use them to repay his $40 debt to Vic, and wouldn't take "no" for an answer.

1958: Elaine S. Carrington, the radio writer who created Pepper Young's Family and other daytime dramas, died at New York Hospital. She was 66.

1964: Irna Phillips and William J. Bell's Another World premiered on NBC. The script from this episode is archived at the National Museum of American History. When the show began, announcer Bill Wolff would say over the opening title: "We do not live in this world alone, but in a thousand other worlds. . . And now, Another World."

During its first year, the show, set in the fictional town of Bay City, set new standards for its time by taking on topics like abortion and illegitimate pregnancy.

The story initially revolved around the Matthews family in Bay City. The original characters were Liz Matthews (Sarah Cunningham, replaced after the first episode), Bill Matthews (Joseph Gallison), Jim Matthews (John Beal, replaced after the first episode), Mary Matthews (Virginia Dwyer), Pat Matthews (Susan Trustman), Alice Matthews (Jacqueline Courtney), Russ Matthews (Joey Trent), Janet Matthews (Liza Chapman), Granny Matthews (Vera Allen), Missy Palmer (Carol Roux), Ken Baxter (William Prince) and Tom Baxter (Nicholas Pryor).

Today in Soap Opera History (May 4)

1964: Another World premiered.  1982: Dynasty's Cecil died
while making love with Alexis.  1984: Guiding Light's "Dreaming
Death" virus killed Lesley Ann. 1987: Days of our Lives' Kim
and Shane were married.  .

"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...

1943: On Vic and Sade, Chuck Brainfeeble visited Sade with a gross of "Little Leather Ringmasters." He proposed to use them to repay his $40 debt to Vic, and wouldn't take "no" for an answer.

1958: Elaine S. Carrington, the radio writer who created Pepper Young's Family and other daytime dramas, died at New York Hospital. She was 66.

1964: Irna Phillips and William J. Bell's Another World premiered on NBC. The script from this episode is archived at the National Museum of American History. When the show began, announcer Bill Wolff would say over the opening title: "We do not live in this world alone, but in a thousand other worlds. . . And now, Another World."

During its first year, the show, set in the fictional town of Bay City, set new standards for its time by taking on topics like abortion and illegitimate pregnancy.

The story initially revolved around the Matthews family in Bay City. The original characters were Liz Matthews (Sarah Cunningham, replaced after the first episode), Bill Matthews (Joseph Gallison), Jim Matthews (John Beal, replaced after the first episode), Mary Matthews (Virginia Dwyer), Pat Matthews (Susan Trustman), Alice Matthews (Jacqueline Courtney), Russ Matthews (Joey Trent), Janet Matthews (Liza Chapman), Granny Matthews (Vera Allen), Missy Palmer (Carol Roux), Ken Baxter (William Prince) and Tom Baxter (Nicholas Pryor).