Today in Soap Opera History (July 5)

1976: Ryan's Hope's Delia talked her way around Frank's suspicions.
1999: Passions premiered on NBC.
2001: As the World Turns' Simon found Katie on an island.
2002: Stephanie Gatschet debuted as Tammy on Guiding Light.

"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...

1966: On The Guiding Light, Bert Bauer (Charita Bauer) met Leslie Jackson (Lynne Adams).

1966: New head writer William J. Bell's first Days of our Lives script aired. By this point NBC had canceled Ted Corday's other two daytime soaps launched in 1965, Morning Star and Paradise Bay, but gave Days another chance to increase its ratings, and it slowly did. Sadly, Ted Corday passed away a few weeks later though before seeing Days reach its ratings peak over the next decade.

1968: On Another World, Rachel Matthews (Robin Strasser) was rushed to the hospital.

1971: On The Doctors, Dr. Nick Bellini (Gerald Gordon) shared a kiss with Nurse Cathy Ryker (Nancy Barrett).

Today in Soap Opera History (March 23)

1973: CBS aired the final episodes of Where the Heart Is and Love is a Many Splendored Thing.
1987: The Bold and the Beautiful premiered on CBS.
2004: All My Children and One Life to Live came together for a baby switch storyline.

"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...

1955: On Valiant Lady, Mickey wanted an explanation from Bonny.

1955: On The Inner Flame, Portia's former law partner offered her bail money for Walter.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 6)

1981: Thaao Penghlis debuted as Tony on Days of our Lives.
1981: The Edge of Night's Raven enjoyed being rich.
1989: Guiding Light's Reva realized Dylan was her son.
2008: One Life to Live's Starr gave birth to a baby girl.

"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: On The Guiding Light radio soap opera, Meta (Jone Allison) shot and killed her husband, Ted, after their son, Chuckie, died.  Bill and Papa Bauer were shocked to hear the news and Bill vowed to get his sister, Meta, out of jail.

1957: On "the continuing story of" The Edge of Night, Mike (John Larkin) became suspicious when Roger commented that he needed the car to meet with the new owners of the Retreat Nursing Home, the place where Billy was born.

1967: On Peyton Place, Eddie (Dan Duryea) and Lee (Steve Oliver) chatted at the bar about the benefits of working for a wealthy guy like "Old Man Peyton."

Today in Soap Opera History (September 8)

1969: Where the Heart Is premiered. 1983: Paul's fiancée
died on The Young and the Restless.  1986: Ilene Kristen
returned to Ryan's Hope as Delia.  2009: General 
Hospital's Edward passed out at the wheel of his car as it
approached the carnival.

"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 day in...

1966: Star Trek premiered on NBC. Among the many memorable guest stars in the series that also starred on daytime soaps were Kathryn Hays, Michael Forest, Marj Dusay, Michael Zaslow, Glenn Corbett, Gary Pillar and Mary Linda Rapelye.

1967: On Another World, Walter Curtin (Val Dufour) raked Liz Matthews (Audra Lindley) over the coals for ruining Missy Palmer's life.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 5)

1976: Ryan's Hope's Delia talked her way around Frank's suspicions.
1999: Passions premiered on NBC.
2001: As the World Turns' Simon found Katie on an island.
2002: Stephanie Gatschet debuted as Tammy on Guiding Light.

"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...

1966: On The Guiding Light, Bert Bauer (Charita Bauer) met Leslie Jackson (Lynne Adams).

1966: New head writer William J. Bell's first Days of our Lives script aired. By this point NBC had canceled Ted Corday's other two daytime soaps launched in 1965, Morning Star and Paradise Bay, but gave Days another chance to increase its ratings, and it slowly did. Sadly, Ted Corday passed away a few weeks later though before seeing Days reach its ratings peak over the next decade.

1968: On Another World, Rachel Matthews (Robin Strasser) was rushed to the hospital.

1971: On The Doctors, Dr. Nick Bellini (Gerald Gordon) shared a kiss with Nurse Cathy Ryker (Nancy Barrett).

Today in Soap Opera History (March 23)

1973: CBS aired the final episodes of daytime soap operas
Where the Heart Is and Love is a Many Splendored Thing.
1987: The Bold and the Beautiful premiered on CBS.
2004: All My Children and One Life to Live came together for
a baby switch storyline.

"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...

1955: On Valiant Lady, Mickey wanted an explanation from Bonny.

1955: On The Inner Flame, Portia's former law partner offered her bail money for Walter.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 6)

1981: Thaao Penghlis debuted as Tony on Days of our Lives.
1981: The Edge of Night's Raven enjoyed being rich.
1989: Guiding Light's Reva realized Dylan was her son.
2008: One Life to Live's Starr gave birth to a baby girl.

"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: On The Guiding Light radio soap opera, Meta (Jone Allison) shot and killed her husband, Ted, after their son, Chuckie, died.  Bill and Papa Bauer were shocked to hear the news and Bill vowed to get his sister, Meta, out of jail.

1957: On "the continuing story of" The Edge of Night, Mike (John Larkin) became suspicious when Roger commented that he needed the car to meet with the new owners of the Retreat Nursing Home, the place where Billy was born.

1967: On Peyton Place, Eddie (Dan Duryea) and Lee (Steve Oliver) chatted at the bar about the benefits of working for a wealthy guy like "Old Man Peyton."

Today in Soap Opera History (September 8)

1969: Where the Heart Is premiered. 1983: Paul's fiancée
died on The Young and the Restless.  1986: Ilene Kristen
returned to Ryan's Hope as Delia.  2009: General 
Hospital's Edward passed out at the wheel of his car as it
approached the carnival.

"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...

1966: Star Trek premiered on NBC. Among the many memorable guest stars in the series that also starred on daytime soaps were Kathryn Hays, Michael Forest, Marj Dusay, Michael Zaslow, Glenn Corbett, Gary Pillar and Mary Linda Rapelye.

1967: On Another World, Walter Curtin (Val Dufour) raked Liz Matthews (Audra Lindley) over the coals for ruining Missy Palmer's life.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 5)

1976: Ryan's Hope's Delia talked her way around Frank's suspicions.
1999: Passions premiered on NBC.
2001: As the World Turns' Simon found Katie on an island.
2002: Stephanie Gatschet debuted as Tammy on Guiding Light.

"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...

1966: On The Guiding Light, Bert Bauer (Charita Bauer) met Leslie Jackson (Lynne Adams).

1966: New head writer William J. Bell's first Days of our Lives script aired. By this point NBC had canceled Ted Corday's other two daytime soaps launched in 1965, Morning Star and Paradise Bay, but gave Days another chance to increase its ratings, and it slowly did. Sadly, Ted Corday passed away a few weeks later though before seeing Days reach its ratings peak over the next decade.

1968: On Another World, Rachel Matthews (Robin Strasser) was rushed to the hospital.

1971: On The Doctors, Dr. Nick Bellini (Gerald Gordon) shared a kiss with Nurse Cathy Ryker (Nancy Barrett).

Today in Soap Opera History (March 23)

1973: CBS aired the final episodes of daytime soap operas
Where the Heart Is and Love is a Many Splendored Thing.
1987: The Bold and the Beautiful premiered on CBS.
2004: All My Children and One Life to Live came together for
a baby switch storyline.

"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...

1955: On Valiant Lady, Mickey wanted an explanation from Bonny.

1955: On The Inner Flame, Portia's former law partner offered her bail money for Walter.

Joseph Mascolo Dead at 87

Joseph Mascolo, an actor most well-known for his portrayal of the evil villain Stefano DiMera on NBC’s daytime drama “Days of our Lives,” passed away on Wednesday, December 8, 2016. He had battled Alzheimer’s disease for many years.

Like Stefano, Joseph Mascolo was somewhat of a Phoenix as well. He’s had the good fortune to have been successful in two very competitive fields, first as a musician and then as an actor.

Born and raised in West Hartford, Connecticut, Mascolo attended both the University of Miami and West Point Academy. From his early years, Mascolo seemed headed for a brilliant career as a classical musician. Through his teen years he played in various local bands and studied with some of the finest musicians in the country. He earned a scholarship to attend the University of Miami and became a candidate for a Fulbright Scholarship to study orchestral conducting, but there was a snag: His dream was to submerge himself in the study of opera in Italy and the available position was in Germany.

Although he had never considered acting, a drama coach at the University heard his hearty Basso voice, and suggested that he give theatre a try. Ultimately, he passed on the Fulbright and began his path into an acting career. His drama professor recommended him to Stella Adler, who for decades was regarded as America's foremost acting teacher, and she quickly took him under her wing. Of all the ways an actor supports himself while studying theatre and auditioning in New York City, Mascolo's way is probably among the most unique. He took a coveted seat as a concert clarinetist with the orchestras of the Metropolitan Opera and Paul Lavalle, thrilled to have the opportunity to enjoy his musical career as he studied for his future career in acting.

His first acting “gig” was in an off-Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, followed by an appearance in A View from the Bridge, where he succeeded Robert Duvall as Eddie Carbone and joined an ensemble including co-star Jon Voight and assistant director Dustin Hoffman.

Alice Drummond Dead at 88

Alice Drummond

Actress Alice Drummond died on Wednesday at her home in the Bronx due to complications following a fall that she survived two months ago, according to the New York Times. She was 88.

A native of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Drummond graduated from Pembroke College in 1950, which has since merged with Brown University.

Her first break into television came in 1967 when she landed the role of Nurse Jackson on the ABC soap opera Dark Shadows. Drummond later appeared on other soaps including CBS' As the World Turns and Love is a Many Splendored Thing. Her only starring daytime role came on CBS sudser Where the Heart Is. She played Loretta Jardin, Peter's aunt, who was a high school teacher and recovering alcoholic. The series was canceled in 1973 to make room for The Young and the Restless in the network's lineup.

Claire Labine Has Passed Away at Age 82

Claire Labine

Beloved nine-time Emmy winner writer Claire Labine passed away earlier this week. She was 82. A cause of death has not yet been disclosed.

Labine wass best known for co-creating ABC daytime soap opera Ryan's Hope 1975, and her writing stints at General Hospital, One Life to Live, Guiding Light, Where the Heart Is and Love of Life.

An alum of the University of Kentucky and Columbia University's School of Dramatic Arts, Labine began her writing career in the 1960s with a stint on Captain Kangaroo. After being fired two years into the job, she moved into soap operas, writing for CBS daytime drama Where the Heart Is.

Labine shared her love for working in daytime television during a 1997 interview with Writing magazine.

"The difference between daytime, primetime episodic, and film is simply that we have the luxury of time to play those scenes that I think are ultimately the most valuable: the emotional scenes involving relationships that really let the audience identify with these people," Labine said. "What you are dealing with is fundamental human emotion. And if you have a scene that is not about emotion but only about business or plot, you're in trouble. You need a few of them. But by God, the real scenes are the scenes between two characters in which something real and emotional is at stake for them."

The television community immediately responded with thoughts and memories of Labine on social media.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 6)

1981: Thaao Penghlis debuted as Tony on Days of our Lives.
1981: The Edge of Night's Raven enjoyed being rich.
1989: Guiding Light's Reva realized Dylan was her son.
2008: One Life to Live's Starr gave birth to a baby girl.

"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...

1950: On The Guiding Light radio soap opera, Meta (Jone Allison) shot and killed her husband, Ted, after their son, Chuckie, died.  Bill and Papa Bauer were shocked to hear the news and Bill vowed to get his sister, Meta, out of jail.

1957: On "the continuing story of" The Edge of Night, Mike (John Larkin) became suspicious when Roger commented that he needed the car to meet with the new owners of the Retreat Nursing Home, the place where Billy was born.

1967: On Peyton Place, Eddie (Dan Duryea) and Lee (Steve Oliver) chatted at the bar about the benefits of working for a wealthy guy like "Old Man Peyton."

Today in Soap Opera History (September 8)

1969: Where the Heart Is premiered. 1983: Paul's fiancée
died on The Young and the Restless.  1986: Ilene Kristen
returned to Ryan's Hope as Delia.  2009: General 
Hospital's Edward passed out at the wheel of his car as it
approached the carnival.

"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...

1966: Star Trek premiered on NBC. Among the many memorable guest stars in the series that also starred on daytime soaps were Kathryn Hays, Michael Forest, Marj Dusay, Michael Zaslow, Glenn Corbett, Gary Pillar and Mary Linda Rapelye.

1967: On Another World, Walter Curtin (Val Dufour) raked Liz Matthews (Audra Lindley) over the coals for ruining Missy Palmer's life.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 5)

1976: Ryan's Hope's Delia talked her way around Frank's suspicions.
1999: Passions premiered on NBC.
2001: As the World Turns' Simon found Katie on an island.
2002: Stephanie Gatschet debuted as Tammy on Guiding Light.

"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...

1966: On The Guiding Light, Bert Bauer (Charita Bauer) met Leslie Jackson (Lynne Adams).

1966: New head writer William J. Bell's first Days of our Lives script aired. By this point NBC had canceled Ted Corday's other two daytime soaps launched in 1965, Morning Star and Paradise Bay, but gave Days another chance to increase its ratings, and it slowly did. Sadly, Ted Corday passed away a few weeks later though before seeing Days reach its ratings peak over the next decade.

1968: On Another World, Rachel Matthews (Robin Strasser) was rushed to the hospital.

1971: On The Doctors, Dr. Nick Bellini (Gerald Gordon) shared a kiss with Nurse Cathy Ryker (Nancy Barrett).

Today in Soap Opera History (March 23)

1973: CBS aired the final episodes of daytime soap operas
Where the Heart Is and Love is a Many Splendored Thing.
1987: The Bold and the Beautiful premiered on CBS.
2004: All My Children and One Life to Live came together for
a baby switch storyline.

"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...

1955: On Valiant Lady, Mickey wanted an explanation from Bonny.

1955: On The Inner Flame, Portia's former law partner offered her bail money for Walter.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 6)

1981: Thaao Penghlis debuted as Tony on Days of our Lives.
1981: The Edge of Night's Raven enjoyed being rich.
1989: Guiding Light's Reva realized Dylan was her son.
2008: One Life to Live's Starr gave birth to a baby girl.

"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: On The Guiding Light radio soap opera, Meta (Jone Allison) shot and killed her husband, Ted, after their son, Chuckie, died.  Bill and Papa Bauer were shocked to hear the news and Bill vowed to get his sister, Meta, out of jail.

1957: On "the continuing story of" The Edge of Night, Mike (John Larkin) became suspicious when Roger commented that he needed the car to meet with the new owners of the Retreat Nursing Home, the place where Billy was born.

1967: On Peyton Place, Eddie (Dan Duryea) and Lee (Steve Oliver) chatted at the bar about the benefits of working for a wealthy guy like "Old Man Peyton."

Today in Soap Opera History (September 8)

1969: Where the Heart Is premiered. 1983: Paul's fiancée
died on The Young and the Restless.  1986: Ilene Kristen
returned to Ryan's Hope as Delia.  2009: General 
Hospital's Edward passed out at the wheel of his car as it
approached the carnival.

"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...

1966: Star Trek premiered on NBC. Among the many memorable guest stars in the series that also starred on daytime soaps were Kathryn Hays, Michael Forest, Marj Dusay, Michael Zaslow, Glenn Corbett, Gary Pillar and Mary Linda Rapelye.

1967: On Another World, Walter Curtin (Val Dufour) raked Liz Matthews (Audra Lindley) over the coals for ruining Missy Palmer's life.

FLASHBACK: A Complete, Concise Yearly History of TV Soap Operas - 1947 to 1977 (Part 6)

Dark Shadows starred Louis Edmonds and Joan Bennett as siblings
Roger Collins and Elizabeth Collins Stoddard.

A Complete, Concise Yearly History of TV Soap Operas

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

(continued from Part 5)

1966
The final attempt at serial anthology to date was Confidential for Women, which stuck it out a few months on ABC. It involved week-long stories based on cases of co-narrator Dr. Theodore Isaac Rubin. Jane Wyatt was the key narrator.

On June 27, 1966, ABC instituted another fad. Fortunately, it was a long-running and commercially successful fad in daytime. It was Dark Shadows, created by Dan Curtis and produced by Robert Costello. The spooky, campy account of ghastly doings in the Collingwood mansion, it made stars out of Jonathan Frid, David Selby, Kate Jackson, Donna McKechnie and Roger Davis, and was graced by such "established" talents as Joan Bennett, Grayson Hall, Clarice Beckham, Anthony George and Jerry Lacy. It ended April 2, 1971, when it was decided the show ran its course.