Today in Soap Opera History (August 14)

1945: As word spread about the end of World War II, listeners were glued to the radio for updates.

"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: President Harry S. Truman announced that Japan had surrendered to the Allies (World War II). Thousands thronged into the streets throughout the United States to celebrate V-J Day. The official ratification of the surrender didn’t take place until September 2, in Tokyo Bay aboard the USS Missouri.

1945: On Pepper Young's Family, Harry, Betty, Pepper (Mason Adams) and Mrs. Green discussed Harry and Betty's upcoming marriage. Since the kids didn't want to wait, they went off once they received Pepper and Mrs. Green's permission.

1945: On Ma Perkins, Mathilda Pendleton (Beverly Younger) dropped by Ma's (Virginia Payne) and wanted to know all about Jeff and Stella Carlon (Marilou Neumayer). Gary Curtis (Rye Pillsbury) confronted Stella, wanting to know what had been troubling her recently.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 16)

1981: Alexandra Neil first appeared on Texas as Ruby.
1987: Days of our Lives' Charlotte Ross debuted as Eve.
2001: One Life to Live's Melissa Archer debuted as Natalie.
2004: Kirsten Storms made her last appearance as Belle on Days.

"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...

1934: Musical radio soap opera Dreams Come True premiered on the NBC Red network. The show aired three times a week and revolved around vocalist Barry McKinley. Dreams Come True was sponsored by Procter & Gamble's Camay soap.

1953: On radio soap opera Hilltop House, Julie Erickson (Jan Miner) thought it was too soon to judge Gladys' performance. The episode was written by Addy Richton and Lynn Stone.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 14)

As word spread about the end of World War II, listeners were
glued to the radio for updates.

"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: President Harry S. Truman announced that Japan had surrendered to the Allies (World War II). Thousands thronged into the streets throughout the United States to celebrate V-J Day. The official ratification of the surrender didn’t take place until September 2, in Tokyo Bay aboard the USS Missouri.

1945: On Pepper Young's Family, Harry, Betty, Pepper (Mason Adams) and Mrs. Green discussed Harry and Betty's upcoming marriage. Since the kids didn't want to wait, they went off once they received Pepper and Mrs. Green's permission.

1945: On Ma Perkins, Mathilda Pendleton (Beverly Younger) dropped by Ma's (Virginia Payne) and wanted to know all about Jeff and Stella Carlon (Marilou Neumayer). Gary Curtis (Rye Pillsbury) confronted Stella, wanting to know what had been troubling her recently.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 16)

1981: Alexandra Neil first appeared on Texas as Ruby.
1987: Days of our Lives' Charlotte Ross debuted as Eve.
2001: One Life to Live's Melissa Archer debuted as Natalie.
2004: Kirsten Storms made her last appearance as Belle on Days.

"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...

1934: Musical radio soap opera Dreams Come True premiered on the NBC Red network. The show aired three times a week and revolved around vocalist Barry McKinley. Dreams Come True was sponsored by Procter & Gamble's Camay soap.

1953: On radio soap opera Hilltop House, Julie Erickson (Jan Miner) thought it was too soon to judge Gladys' performance. The episode was written by Addy Richton and Lynn Stone.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 14)

As word spread about the end of World War II, listeners were
glued to the radio for updates.

"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: President Harry S. Truman announced that Japan had surrendered to the Allies (World War II). Thousands thronged into the streets throughout the United States to celebrate V-J Day. The official ratification of the surrender didn’t take place until September 2, in Tokyo Bay aboard the USS Missouri.

1945: On Pepper Young's Family, Harry, Betty, Pepper (Mason Adams) and Mrs. Green discussed Harry and Betty's upcoming marriage. Since the kids didn't want to wait, they went off once they received Pepper and Mrs. Green's permission.

1945: On Ma Perkins, Mathilda Pendleton (Beverly Younger) dropped by Ma's (Virginia Payne) and wanted to know all about Jeff and Stella Carlon (Marilou Neumayer). Gary Curtis (Rye Pillsbury) confronted Stella, wanting to know what had been troubling her recently.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 16)

1981: Alexandra Neil first appeared on Texas as Ruby.
1987: Days of our Lives' Charlotte Ross debuted as Eve.
2001: One Life to Live's Melissa Archer debuted as Natalie.
2004: Kirsten Storms last aired as Belle on Days.

"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...

1934: Musical radio soap opera Dreams Come True premiered on the NBC Red network. The show aired three times a week and revolved around vocalist Barry McKinley. Dreams Come True was sponsored by Procter & Gamble's Camay soap.

1953: On radio soap opera Hilltop House, Julie Erickson (Jan Miner) thought it was too soon to judge Gladys' performance. The episode was written by Addy Richton and Lynn Stone.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 16)

1981: Alexandra Neil first appeared on Texas as Ruby.
1987: Days of our Lives' Charlotte Ross debuted as Eve.
2001: One Life to Live's Melissa Archer debuted as Natalie.
2004: Kirsten Storms said goodbye to 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...

1934: Musical radio soap opera Dreams Come True premiered on the NBC Red network. The show aired three times a week and revolved around vocalist Barry McKinley. Dreams Come True was sponsored by Procter & Gamble's Camay soap.

1953: On radio soap opera Hilltop House, Julie (Grace Matthews) thought it was too soon to judge Gladys' performance.

How Transgender TV Characters Teach Us About Capturing Audience Attention and Changing Opinions

Rebecca Romijn (right) played Alexis Meade on ABC primetime
soap Ugly Betty.  Also pictured, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade and
America Ferrera as Betty Suarez.

Caitlyn Jenner has been the talk of the town this summer since she opened up about her transition from Olympic athlete and reality television star Bruce Jenner to the woman she says she has always been. Between interviews with Diane Sawyer, her stunning Vogue cover, and her new reality TV show, she has done a lot to raise awareness and educate Americans about the transgender community. Yet before Caitlyn, the television industry was no stranger to educating Americans about the transgender community through characters and plot lines. And while many of these characters are fictional, they did help to paint a better picture of what it is like to be a transgender individual in today’s society. And for communications professionals, these shows give us ideas on how we can best reach our client’s audiences and media goals through timely storylines, relevant audiences, and successful pitch creation.

Here is a look at three shows that helped educate Americans about the transgender community and the communications lessons we can learn from them:

1) The L Word (Showtime) – It seems only fitting to start off with a show that had a goal to highlight the relationships and dynamics of the female LGBT community. This show, which launched on Showtime in January 2004, brought together a dynamic group of women who portrayed unforgettable characters facing relationship, career, and personal struggles. One of those characters was Moira, a computer technician from the Midwest who ultimately becomes Max, a transsexual man. Max experiences severe side effects from the hormones he is taking, reminding many viewers that transitioning is not simply about changing your names and clothes. It is a difficult medical procedure, one that affects you physically and mentally. Max’s struggle with his transition helped to put a spotlight on the medical aspects of transgender community.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 14)

As word spread about the end of World War II, listeners were
glued to the radio for updates.

"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: President Harry S. Truman announced that Japan had surrendered to the Allies (World War II). Thousands thronged into the streets throughout the United States to celebrate V-J Day. The official ratification of the surrender didn’t take place until September 2, in Tokyo Bay aboard the USS Missouri.

1945: On Pepper Young's Family, Harry, Betty, Pepper (Mason Adams) and Mrs. Green discussed Harry and Betty's upcoming marriage. Since the kids didn't want to wait, they went off once they received Pepper and Mrs. Green's permission.

1945: On Ma Perkins, Mathilda Pendleton (Beverly Younger) dropped by Ma's (Virginia Payne) and wanted to know all about Jeff and Stella Carlon (Marilou Neumayer). Gary Curtis (Rye Pillsbury) confronted Stella, wanting to know what had been troubling her recently.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 16)

1981: Alexandra Neil first appeared on Texas as Ruby.
1987: Days of our Lives' Charlotte Ross debuted as Eve.
2001: One Life to Live's Melissa Archer debuted as Natalie.
2004: Kirsten Storms said goodbye to Days of our Lives.

"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...

1934: Musical radio soap opera Dreams Come True premiered on the NBC Red network. The show aired three times a week and revolved around vocalist Barry McKinley. Dreams Come True was sponsored by Procter & Gamble's Camay soap.

1953: On radio soap opera Hilltop House, Julie (Grace Matthews) thought it was too soon to judge Gladys' performance.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 14)

"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...

1945: On PEPPER YOUNG'S FAMILY, Harry, Betty, Pepper and Mrs. Green discussed Harry and Betty's upcoming wedding.

1945: On THE RIGHT TO HAPPINESS, Ed (Jerry Macy) wanted an explanation about why some of Emily's (Alice Yourman) dresses were missing.

1945: On WOMAN IN WHITE, Dr. Jonathan McNeil was visited by a student nurse who revealed that she was secretly married, and pregnant.

1945: On THE GUIDING LIGHT, after being censured for wrongdoing, Peter Manno (Jay Novello) decided not to run for office and handed in his resignation as assistant state attorney.

Announcer: "While all the world waits for news from Japan, life still goes on, as it does today for Pete Manno."

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Eric Mabius Previews 'SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED'

Eric Mabius as Oliver in SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED.
Photo Credit: Hallmark Channel

Eric Mabius brings a varied background to his work. He is the second of two sons of Craig and Elizabeth Mabius. Of Polish, Irish and Austrian ancestry, he was born in Pennsylvania, but spent much of his life in Massachusetts. He is best known for his role in the hit series UGLY BETTY, playing womanizing executive Daniel Meade.

A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, he first came to the attention of movie fans with his film debut in Welcome to the Dollhouse. Since then, Mabius has taken on a wide variety of roles, avoiding being typecast. He earned favorable notice for his performance as a high school gang leader in Black Circle Boys, but is known for his role as a blackmailed prep school athlete in the box office smash Cruel Intentions. In 2012, Mabius starred in the Hallmark Channel Original Movies How to Fall in Love and Reading, Writing & Romance.

Mabius also starred in The Crow: Salvation, a sequel to the Brandon Lee film and appeared in the science fiction action film Resident Evil, as well as the BBC's OUTCASTS.

In Martha Williamson's SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED, premiering October 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, Mabius plays Oliver, the idiosyncratic leader of the small, but dedicated Dead Letters Office group. It's the story of a group of postal detectives whose mission is to deliver letters from the past and make sure they miraculously arrive just in the nick of time.

We Love Soaps recently caught up with Mabius to discuss his career and find out more about more SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED. Read our exclusive interview below.

WE LOVE SOAPS: You play Oliver in SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED and I really love this character. How would you describe him?
ERIC MABIUS: I feel like he's the kind of guy that all of us want to be, at least some parts of us. He tends to say the right thing at the right time. He's a bit of Cary Grant, like a nerdy Cary Grant. You get the sense that he's a guy who works because he wants to, and takes pride in what he does, but he doesn't have to. The character says when his superior tries to discipline him that he has "a pay grade higher than she could possibly imagine." I love that line. I think everyone would like to be in a position like that where they don't move up the corporate ladder because they choose not to, and are quite comfortable with where they are and passionate about what they do. It's something I really enjoyed exploring with Oliver. And it becomes infectious, certainly with his team of misfits that he runs.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 14)

World War II news updates were frequent during
the radio soap operas on August 14, 1945.  By 7 p.m. ET.
Japan had surrendered and celebrations erupted around
the country, including including in Times Square where
this famous photo was taken, and later published in Life.

History is not melodrama, even if it usually reads like that.
-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...

1945: On PEPPER YOUNG'S FAMILY, Harry, Betty, Pepper and Mrs. Green discussed Harry and Betty's upcoming wedding.

1945: On THE RIGHT TO HAPPINESS, Ed (Jerry Macy) wanted an explanation about why some of Emily's (Alice Yourman) dresses were missing.

1945: On WOMAN IN WHITE, Dr. Jonathan McNeil was visited by a student nurse who revealed that she was secretly married, and pregnant.

1945: On THE GUIDING LIGHT, after being censured for wrongdoing, Peter Manno (Jay Novello) decided not to run for office and handed in his resignation as assistant state attorney.

Announcer: "While all the world waits for news from Japan, life still goes on, as it does today for Pete Manno."

Today in Soap Opera History (July 16)

On this date in...

1934: Musical radio soap opera DREAMS COME TRUE premiered on the NBC Red network. The show aired three times a week and revolved around vocalist Barry McKinley. DREAMS COME TRUE was sponsored by Procter & Gamble's Camay soap.

1953: On radio soap opera HILLTOP HOUSE, Julie (Grace Matthews) thought it was too soon to judge Gladys' performance.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 18)

On this date in...

1961: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Lisa (Eileen Fulton) wanted to discuss baby names with Bob (Don Hastings).

Today in Soap Opera History (March 18)

On this date in...

1977: On ANOTHER WORLD, Liz (Irene Dailey) was upset when Alice and Pat accused her of being instrumental in Russ and Sharlene's breakup.

1978: Actress Peggy Wood died at age 86. She played Dr. Kate Nolan on ONE LIFE TO LIVE and Marcella Higgins on THE DOCTORS AND THE NURSES.

1980: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Molly tried to convince Emily to have Draper taken to a hospital.

Today in Soap Opera History (February 28)

On this date in...

1980: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Miles and Nicole reunited.

PREVIEW: 'Liz & Dick' Starring Lindsay Lohan

ANOTHER WORLD alum Lindsay Lohan stars as the legendary dame Elizabeth Taylor alongside GCB and UGLY BETTY star Grant Bowler as celebrated actor Richard Burton in the Lifetime Original Movie Liz & Dick, making its world premiere Sunday, November 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime. Based on the true story of the couple’s passionate and tumultuous love affair, the film is from executive producer Larry A. Thompson and was directed by Lloyd Kramer with a script by Christopher Monger.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 14)

On this date in...

1945: Actress Brenda Benet was born.  She died in 1982 at age 36 while starring in DAYS OF OUR LIVES.  Read her story here.

1967: On DARK SHADOWS, Barnabas decided that Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott) must die.

1975: On ANOTHER WORLD, Mac threw Iris out of the house.

1979: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Steve and Deborah recalled happier times.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 11)

On this date in...

1967: DARK SHADOWS aired its first color episode.  Having fainted at the sight of Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid), Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) begins to remember what happened to her. Before she can reveal Barnabas' vampiric activity, she is placed under a hypnotic spell by Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall).