Today in Soap Opera History (March 22)

1962: Ann Flood debuted as Nancy on The Edge of Night.
1983: General Hospital's Jimmy Lee denied having Tolliver's papers.
1991: NBC's primetime Dark Shadows remake ended.
2004: One Life to Live's Paul delivered Babe's baby on All My Children.

"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...

1940: NBC's Blue Network aired the final episode of radio soap opera The Affairs of Anthony. Henry Hunter starred as Anthony Marleybone Jr.

1955: On The Inner Flame, Dorie (Jean Gillespie) asked Amelia for money.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 21)

1979: Guiding Light's Jackie wanted Alan to keep her secret.
1980: J.R. Ewing was shot on the third season finale of Dallas.
2005: Amelia Heinle debuted as Victoria on Young and the Restless.
2011: Jake Spencer died on General Hospital.

"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...

1952: On Search for Tomorrow, Irene wanted to visit her son, Keith Barron (John Sylvester White), who was in critical condition at the hospital. But her husband, Victor (Cliff Hall), felt that Irene had better not see Keith just yet. Meanwhile, Joanne (Mary Stuart) learned that another blood transfusion would be necessary in order to stabilize Keith. When Victor finally updated Irene on Keith's condition, she felt bitter because Jo had the power to make all of the medical decisions for Keith.

1955: On Valiant Lady, Mickey (James Kirkwood Jr.) read the letters Bonnie write to him that had never been mailed.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 8)

1953: Valiant Lady's Helen dished about her new pilot friend.
1981: Roman Brady first appeared on Days of our Lives.
1998: OLTL's Viki was not happy with Clint's plan.
1988: GH's Alan was in jail.

"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...

1953: On Valiant Lady, Helen (Nancy Coleman) told Jane (Helen Wagner) about her experience with her new pilot friend, Capt. Chris Kendall. Said Jane: "That's a pilot for you...here today, gone today. But at least he was attentive while it lasted."

Today in Soap Opera History (October 12)

1953: Valiant Lady premiered on CBS.
1979: As the World Turns' Lisa was spooked
1981: David Canary debuted on Another World as Steve Frame.
1993: Days of our Lives' Jack Deveraux left Salem.

"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...

1950: NBC aired the final primetime episode of Hawkins Falls, one of network television's first successful soap operas. The show premiered in June 1950 as an hour-long weekly nighttime drama in a summer replacement slot but was cut back to a half-hour in August until the end of its run. Hawkins Falls returned to the air in April 1951 as a fifteen-minute weekday soap for NBC.

1953: Daytime soap opera Valiant Lady premiered on CBS-TV. The series--created by Allan Chase, produced by Leonard Blair, and directed by Ted Corday, Herb Kenwith and Ira Cirker--was sponsored by Toni and General Mills. Nancy Coleman (later Flora Campbell) starred as Helen Emerson, widow of an inventor and mother of three children, who found a source of income in the lock washer her husband had devised. The prestigious cast included James Kirkwood Jr., Sue Randall, Earl Hammond, Dolores Sutton, Helen Wagner, Jerome Cowan, Martin Balsam, Margaret Hamilton, Abby Lewis, and Lawrence Weber.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 6)

1979: Ryan's Hope's Poppy caused trouble for Tom and Faith.
1988: Another World's Amanda gave birth to Alli.
1988: Days of our Lives' Tom was secretly a poet.
2002: Guiding Light's Reva sang to Josh.

"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...

1938: Local New York City radio soap opera Stella Dallas began airing nationwide on NBC Radio.

1938: Young Widder Brown premiered on NBC Radio. Stella Dallas and Young Widder Brown became key components of the network's afternoon lineup.

1944: On the first day of the Invasion of Normandy (D-Day), the CBS Radio lineup of soap operas kept listeners updated on what happened.

10:00 a.m. Valiant Lady (General Mills) - Joan and Tubby were suspected of smuggling.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 22)

1962: Ann Flood debuted as Nancy on The Edge of Night.
1983: General Hospital's Jimmy Lee denied having Tolliver's papers.
1991: NBC's primetime Dark Shadows remake ended.
2004: One Life to Live's Paul delivered Babe's baby
on All My Children.

"Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."
― Machiavelli

"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: NBC's Blue Network aired the final episode of radio soap opera The Affairs of Anthony. Henry Hunter starred as Anthony Marleybone Jr.

1955: On The Inner Flame, Dorie (Jean Gillespie) asked Amelia for money.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 21)

1979: Guiding Light's Jackie wanted Alan to keep her secret.
1980: J.R. Ewing was shot on the third season finale of Dallas.
2005: Amelia Heinle debuted as Victoria on Young and the Restless.
2011: Jake Spencer died on General Hospital.

"Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."
― Machiavelli

"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...

1952: On Search for Tomorrow, Irene wanted to visit her son, Keith Barron (John Sylvester White), who was in critical condition at the hospital. But her husband, Victor (Cliff Hall), felt that Irene had better not see Keith just yet. Meanwhile, Joanne (Mary Stuart) learned that another blood transfusion would be necessary in order to stabilize Keith. When Victor finally updated Irene on Keith's condition, she felt bitter because Jo had the power to make all of the medical decisions for Keith.

1955: On Valiant Lady, Mickey (James Kirkwood Jr.) read the letters Bonnie write to him that had never been mailed.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 8)

1953: Valiant Lady's Helen dished about her new pilot friend.
1981: Roman Brady first appeared on Days of our Lives.
1998: OLTL's Viki was not happy with Clint's plan.
1988: GH's Alan was in jail.

"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...

1953: On Valiant Lady, Helen (Nancy Coleman) told Jane (Helen Wagner) about her experience with her new pilot friend, Capt. Chris Kendall. Said Jane: "That's a pilot for you...here today, gone today. But at least he was attentive while it lasted."

Today in Soap Opera History (October 12)

1953: Valiant Lady premiered on CBS.
1979: As the World Turns' Lisa was spooked
1981: David Canary debuted on Another World as Steve Frame.
1993: Days of our Lives' Jack Deveraux left Salem.

"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...

1950: NBC aired the final primetime episode of Hawkins Falls, one of network television's first successful soap operas. The show premiered in June 1950 as an hour-long weekly nighttime drama in a summer replacement slot but was cut back to a half-hour in August until the end of its run. Hawkins Falls returned to the air in April 1951 as a fifteen-minute weekday soap for NBC.

1953: Daytime soap opera Valiant Lady premiered on CBS-TV. The series--created by Allan Chase, produced by Leonard Blair, and directed by Ted Corday, Herb Kenwith and Ira Cirker--was sponsored by Toni and General Mills. Nancy Coleman (later Flora Campbell) starred as Helen Emerson, widow of an inventor and mother of three children, who found a source of income in the lock washer her husband had devised. The prestigious cast included James Kirkwood Jr., Sue Randall, Earl Hammond, Dolores Sutton, Helen Wagner, Jerome Cowan, Martin Balsam, Margaret Hamilton, Abby Lewis, and Lawrence Weber.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 6)

1979: Ryan's Hope's Poppy caused trouble for Tom and Faith.
1988: Another World's Amanda gave birth to Alli.
1988: Days of our Lives' Tom was secretly a poet.
2002: Guiding Light's Reva sang to Josh.

"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...

1938: Local New York City radio soap opera Stella Dallas began airing nationwide on NBC Radio.

1938:  Young Widder Brown premiered on NBC Radio. Stella Dallas ad Young Widder Brown became key components of the network's afternoon lineup.

1944: On the first day of the Invasion of Normandy (D-Day), the CBS Radio lineup of soap operas kept listeners updated on what happened.

10:00 a.m. Valiant Lady (General Mills) - Joan and Tubby were suspected of smuggling.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 22)

1962: Ann Flood debuted as Nancy on The Edge of Night.
1983: General Hospital's Jimmy Lee denied having Tolliver's papers.
1991: NBC's primetime Dark Shadows remake ended.
2004: One Life to Live's Paul delivered Babe's baby
on All My Children.

"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...

1940: NBC's Blue Network aired the final episode of radio soap opera The Affairs of Anthony. Henry Hunter starred as Anthony Marleybone Jr.

1955: On The Inner Flame, Dorie (Jean Gillespie) asked Amelia for money.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 21)

1979: Guiding Light's Jackie wanted Alan to keep her secret.
1980: J.R. Ewing was shot on the third season finale of Dallas.
2005: Amelia Heinle debuted as Victoria on Young and the Restless.
2011: Jake Spencer died on General Hospital.

"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...

1952: On Search for Tomorrow, Irene wanted to visit her son, Keith Barron (John Sylvester White), who was in critical condition at the hospital. But her husband, Victor (Cliff Hall), felt that Irene had better not see Keith just yet. Meanwhile, Joanne (Mary Stuart) learned that another blood transfusion would be necessary in order to stabilize Keith. When Victor finally updated Irene on Keith's condition, she felt bitter because Jo had the power to make all of the medical decisions for Keith.

1955: On Valiant Lady, Mickey (James Kirkwood Jr.) read the letters Bonnie write to him that had never been mailed.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 8)

1953: VL's Helen dished with Jane about her new pilot friend.
1981: Days' Roman Brady first appeared. 1998: OLTL's Viki
was not happy with Clint's plan.  1988: GH's Alan was in jail.

"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...

1953: On Valiant Lady, Helen (Nancy Coleman) told Jane (Helen Wagner) about her experience with her new pilot friend, Capt. Chris Kendall. Said Jane: "That's a pilot for you...here today, gone today. But at least he was attentive while it lasted."

Today in Soap Opera History (June 6)

1979: Ryan's Hope's Poppy caused trouble for Tom and Faith.
1988: Another World's Amanda gave birth to Alli.
1988: Days of our Lives' Tom was secretly a poet.
2002: Guiding Light's Reva sang to Josh.

"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...

1938: Local New York City radio soap opera Stella Dallas began airing nationwide on NBC Radio.

1938:  Young Widder Brown premiered on NBC Radio. Stella Dallas ad Young Widder Brown became key components of the network's afternoon lineup.

1944: On the first day of the Invasion of Normandy (D-Day), the CBS Radio lineup of soap operas kept listeners updated on what happened.

10:00 a.m. Valiant Lady (General Mills) - Joan and Tubby were suspected of smuggling.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 22)

1962: Ann Flood debuted as Nancy on The Edge of Night.
1983: General Hospital's Jimmy Lee denied having Tolliver's papers.
1991: NBC's primetime Dark Shadows remake ended.
2004: One Life to Live's Paul delivered Babe's baby
on All My Children.

"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...

1940: NBC's Blue Network aired the final episode of radio soap opera The Affairs of Anthony. Henry Hunter starred as Anthony Marleybone Jr.

1955: On The Inner Flame, Dorie (Jean Gillespie) asked Amelia for money.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 21)

1979: Guiding Light's Jackie wanted Alan to keep her secret.
1980: J.R. Ewing was shot on the third season finale of Dallas.
2005: Amelia Heinle debuted as Victoria on Young and the Restless.
2011: Jake Spencer died on General Hospital.

"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...

1952: On Search for Tomorrow, Irene wanted to visit her son, Keith Barron (John Sylvester White), who was in critical condition at the hospital. But her husband, Victor (Cliff Hall), felt that Irene had better not see Keith just yet. Meanwhile, Joanne (Mary Stuart) learned that another blood transfusion would be necessary in order to stabilize Keith. When Victor finally updated Irene on Keith's condition, she felt bitter because Jo had the power to make all of the medical decisions for Keith.

1955: On Valiant Lady, Mickey (James Kirkwood Jr.) read the letters Bonnie write to him that had never been mailed.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 8)

1953: VL's Helen dished with Jane about her new pilot friend.
1981: Days' Roman Brady first appeared. 1998: OLTL's Viki
was not happy with Clint's plan.  1988: GH's Alan was in jail.

"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...

1953: On Valiant Lady, Helen (Nancy Coleman) told Jane (Helen Wagner) about her experience with her new pilot friend, Capt. Chris Kendall. Said Jane: "That's a pilot for you...here today, gone today. But at least he was attentive while it lasted."

Today in Soap Opera History (October 12)

1953: Valiant Lady premiered on CBS.
1979: As the World Turns' Lisa was spooked
1981: David Canary debuted on Another World as Steve Frame.
1993: Days of our Lives' Jack Deveraux left Salem.

"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...

1950: NBC aired the final primetime episode of Hawkins Falls, one of network television's first successful soap operas. The show premiered in June 1950 as an hour-long weekly nighttime drama in a summer replacement slot but was cut back to a half-hour in August until the end of its run. Hawkins Falls returned to the air in April 1951 as a fifteen-minute weekday soap for NBC.

1953: Daytime soap opera Valiant Lady premiered on CBS-TV. The series--created by Allan Chase, produced by Leonard Blair, and directed by Ted Corday, Herb Kenwith and Ira Cirker--was sponsored by Toni and General Mills. Nancy Coleman (later Flora Campbell) starred as Helen Emerson, widow of an inventor and mother of three children, who found a source of income in the lock washer her husband had devised. The prestigious cast included James Kirkwood Jr., Sue Randall, Earl Hammond, Dolores Sutton, Helen Wagner, Jerome Cowan, Martin Balsam, Margaret Hamilton, Abby Lewis, and Lawrence Weber.

FLASHBACK: A Complete, Concise Yearly History of TV Soap Operas - 1947 to 1977 (Part 1)

Search for Tomorrow's John Sylvester White (Keith) talks with Cliff
Hall (Victor), as Sara Anderson, Lynn Loring (Patti), Bess
Johnson (Irene), and Mary Stuart (Joanne) look on.

A Complete, Concise Yearly History of TV Soap Operas

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

The history of daytime television series is too long and varied to be fully detailed in an article of this size. However, in this issue we are proud to present a survey of every network serial that appeared on television. This is one of the most comprehensive studies of broadcasting flops (as well as successes) available.

1947
Remember the old DuMont network from the early days of television? Although it's long gone, it gave us the first considerable effort in the visual medium on a network basis. It was A Woman to Remember, which bumped along for about two years and starred Patricia Wheel as--oddly enough--a soap opera star. Supporting cast members included Joan Castle, John Raby, Frank Thomas Jr., and Ruth McDevitt. The writer was John Haggart and the producer was Bob Steele.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The exact dates A Woman to Remember aired are not clear, with inconsistency among the various research sources. Most list the show as airing for two months in 1949.  Faraway Hill had premiered on the DuMont network in 1946.

1949
Established soap spinner Irna Phillips will certainly not be best remembered for her NBC creation called These Are My Children, which premiered January 31, 1949, and ran a few short months. Alma Platt played the mother of five children, played respectively by Jane Brooksmith, George Kluge, Martha McCain, Joan Alt and Eloise Kummer.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 6)

1979: Ryan's Hope's Poppy caused trouble for Tom and Faith.
1988: Another World's Amanda gave birth to Alli.
1988: Days of our Lives' Tom was secretly a poet.
2002: Guiding Light's Reva sang to Josh.

"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...

1938: Local New York City radio soap opera Stella Dallas began airing nationwide on NBC Radio.

1938:  Young Widder Brown premiered on NBC Radio. Stella Dallas ad Young Widder Brown became key components of the network's afternoon lineup.

1944: On the first day of the Invasion of Normandy (D-Day), the CBS Radio lineup of soap operas kept listeners updated on what happened.

10:00 a.m. Valiant Lady (General Mills) - Joan and Tubby were suspected of smuggling.