Today in Soap Opera History (March 2)

1968: Dark Shadows' Joe & Guthrie tried to break into Laura's tomb.
1984: Guiding Light's Mindy considered an abortion.
1990: General Hospital's Julian pulled a gun on Paget ("Duke").
1992: Days of our Lives' Vivian arrived in Salem.

"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: Radio serial Whispering Sheets premiered. The show was a "serial with a twist." Each new episode presented the story from one character's perspective, and the character that was being focused on changed each day. The fictional narrator--and principal expositor--for the program was "Hope Winslow," a former newspaper correspondent that covered adventure the world over. She retired and became an author of Romance and Adventure novels--drawing on her worldwide experiences as a journalist. It's the fictional Ms. Winslow who provides the exposition that threads and interweaves the daily segments of each week's drama into each other.

1967: On Another World, Bill Matthews (Joseph Gallison) was dejected over not being able to see Missy Palmer.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Joe (Joel Crothers) and Guthrie (John Lasell) use all their might to open Laura Murdoch Stockbridge's tomb, but are interrupted opening the coffin by the Caretaker (Daniel Keyes), who yelled, "No! In the name of the dead--no, no, no!"

Today in Soap Opera History (March 2)

1968: Dark Shadows' Joe & Guthrie tried to break into Laura's tomb.
1984: Guiding Light's Mindy considered an abortion.
1990: General Hospital's Julian pulled a gun on Paget ("Duke").
1992: Days of our Lives' Vivian arrived in Salem.

"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: Radio serial Whispering Sheets premiered. The show was a "serial with a twist." Each new episode presented the story from one character's perspective, and the character that was being focused on changed each day. The fictional narrator--and principal expositor--for the program was "Hope Winslow," a former newspaper correspondent that covered adventure the world over. She retired and became an author of Romance and Adventure novels--drawing on her worldwide experiences as a journalist. It's the fictional Ms. Winslow who provides the exposition that threads and interweaves the daily segments of each week's drama into each other.

1967: On Another World, Bill Matthews (Joseph Gallison) was dejected over not being able to see Missy Palmer.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Joe (Joel Crothers) and Guthrie (John Lasell) use all their might to open Laura Murdoch Stockbridge's tomb, but are interrupted opening the coffin by the Caretaker (Daniel Keyes), who yelled, "No! In the name of the dead--no, no, no!"

Today in Soap Opera History (March 2)

1968: Dark Shadows' Joe & Guthrie tried to break into Laura's tomb.
1984: Guiding Light's Mindy considered an abortion.
1990: General Hospital's Julian pulled a gun on Paget ("Duke").
1992: Days of our Lives' Vivian arrived in Salem.

"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: Radio serial Whispering Sheets premiered. The show was a "serial with a twist." Each new episode presented the story from one character's perspective, and the character that was being focused on changed each day. The fictional narrator--and principal expositor--for the program was "Hope Winslow," a former newspaper correspondent that covered adventure the world over. She retired and became an author of Romance and Adventure novels--drawing on her worldwide experiences as a journalist. It's the fictional Ms. Winslow who provides the exposition that threads and interweaves the daily segments of each week's drama into each other.

1967: On Another World, Bill Matthews (Joseph Gallison) was dejected over not being able to see Missy Palmer.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Joe (Joel Crothers) and Guthrie (John Lasell) use all their might to open Laura Murdoch Stockbridge's tomb, but are interrupted opening the coffin by the Caretaker (Daniel Keyes), who yelled, "No! In the name of the dead--no, no, no!"

Today in Soap Opera History (March 2)

1968: Dark Shadows' Joe & Guthrie tried to break into Laura's tomb.
1984: Guiding Light's Mindy considered an abortion.
1990: General Hospital's Julian pulled a gun on Paget ("Duke").
1992: Days of our Lives' Vivian arrived in Salem.

"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: Radio serial Whispering Sheets premiered. The show was a "serial with a twist." Each new episode presented the story from one character's perspective, and the character that was being focused on changed each day. The fictional narrator--and principal expositor--for the program was "Hope Winslow," a former newspaper correspondent that covered adventure the world over. She retired and became an author of Romance and Adventure novels--drawing on her worldwide experiences as a journalist. It's the fictional Ms. Winslow who provides the exposition that threads and interweaves the daily segments of each week's drama into each other.

1967: On Another World, Bill Matthews (Joseph Gallison) was dejected over not being able to see Missy Palmer.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Joe (Joel Crothers) and Guthrie (John Lasell) use all their might to open Laura Murdoch Stockbridge's tomb, but are interrupted opening the coffin by the Caretaker (Daniel Keyes), who yelled, "No! In the name of the dead--no, no, no!"

Today in Soap Opera History (March 2)

1968: Dark Shadows' Joe & Guthrie tried to break into Laura's tomb.
1984: Guiding Light's Mindy considered an abortion.
1990: General Hospital's Julian pulled a gun on Paget ("Duke").
1992: Days of our Lives' Vivian arrived in Salem.

"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...

1952: Radio serial Whispering Sheets premiered. The show was a "serial with a twist." Each new episode presented the story from one character's perspective, and the character that was being focused on changed each day. The fictional narrator--and principal expositor--for the program was "Hope Winslow," a former newspaper correspondent that covered adventure the world over. She retired and became an author of Romance and Adventure novels--drawing on her worldwide experiences as a journalist. It's the fictional Ms. Winslow who provides the exposition that threads and interweaves the daily segments of each week's drama into each other.

1967: On Another World, Bill Matthews (Joseph Gallison) was dejected over not being able to see Missy Palmer.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Joe (Joel Crothers) and Guthrie (John Lasell) use all their might to open Laura Murdoch Stockbridge's tomb, but are interrupted opening the coffin by the Caretaker (Daniel Keyes), who yelled, "No! In the name of the dead--no, no, no!"

Today in Soap Opera History (March 3)

1980: EON's Draper was sentenced. 1981: GH's Sarah raised
Jeff's suspicions.  1986: Y&R's John confronted his son, Jack.
1995: AMC's Will shocked a Pine Valley courtroom.

"There is no present or future, only the past happening over and over again - now."
- Eugene O'Neill

"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...

1941: Radio soap opera WE ARE ALWAYS YOUNG premiered on the Mutual Network. The show told the story of a serious composer who worked as a cab driver while waiting for his big break. Written by Ashley Buck and Nicholas Consentino, WAAY starred William Janney as Gary Haven and Joe Laurie Jr. as Sniffy.

Also premiering on the same day was EDITH ADAMS' FUTURE: "The story of a woman past thirty five, forced to a rude awakening to a world that had passed her by while she played dutiful wife to a domineering husband. Her story proves that beauty and a courageous zest for life are not to the young alone, but belong eternally to the young in heart."

Today in Soap Opera History (March 2)

1968: The body of Maude Browning was discovered on
Reverend Trask's bed on DS. 1984: GL's Mindy considered an
abortion. 1990: GH's Julian pulled a gun on Paget ("Duke").
1992: DAYS' Vivian arrived in Salem.

"There is no present or future, only the past happening over and over again - now."
- Eugene O'Neill

"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: Radio serial WHISPERING STREETS premiered. The show was a radio "serial with a twist." Each new episode presented the story from one character's perspective, and the character that was being focused on changed each day. The fictional narrator--and principal expositor--for the program was "Hope Winslow," a former newspaper correspondent that covered adventure the world over. She retired and became an author of Romance and Adventure novels--drawing on her worldwide experiences as a journalist. It's the fictional Ms. Winslow who provides the exposition that threads and interweaves the daily segments of each week's drama into each other.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 3)

On this date in...

1941: Radio soap opera WE ARE ALWAYS YOUNG premiered on the Mutual network. The show told the story of a serious composer who worked as a cab driver while waiting for his big break. Written by Ashley Buck and Nicholas Consentino, WAAY starred William Janney as Gary Haven and Joe Laurie Jr. as Sniffy.

Also premiering on the same day was EDITH ADAMS' FUTURE: "The story of a woman past thirty five, forced to a rude awakening to a world that had passed her by while she played dutiful wife to a domineering husband. Her story proves that beauty and a courageous zest for life are not to the young alone, but belong eternally to the young in heart."

1952: WHISPERING STREETS debuted on ABC radio. The stories were told in a somewhat serial format with the next week's story using a minor character's point of view. It left the audience trying to guess which minor character will be the major character in the next week. The show had a slew of famous narrators over its run such as Cathy Lewis, Ann Seymour, and Bette Davis, who was the show's most dramatic hostess. The show ran until November 25, 1960, known as the day the radio drama died.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 3)

On this date in...

1941: Radio soap opera WE ARE ALWAYS YOUNG premiered on the Mutual network. The show told the story of a serious composer who worked as a cab driver while waiting for his big break. Written by Ashley Buck and Nicholas Consentino, WAAY starred William Janney as Gary Haven and Joe Laurie Jr. as Sniffy.

Also premiering on the same day was EDITH ADAMS' FUTURE: "The story of a woman past thirty five, forced to a rude awakening to a world that had passed her by while she played dutiful wife to a domineering husband. Her story proves that beauty and a courageous zest for life are not to the young alone, but belong eternally to the young in heart."

1952: WHISPERING STREETS debuted on ABC radio. The stories were told in a somewhat serial format with the next week's story using a minor character's point of view. It left the audience trying to guess which minor character will be the major character in the next week. The show had a slew of famous narrators over its run such as Cathy Lewis, Ann Seymour, and Bette Davis, who was the show's most dramatic hostess. The show ran until November 25, 1960, known as the day the radio drama died.