Friday, April 26, 2013

Today in Soap Opera History (April 26)


On this date in...

1935: NBC Radio aired the final episode of soap opera JUDY AND JANE, produced by Frank and Anne Hummert. Sponsored by Folgers Coffee, it was heard regionally in the midwest only. After the show ended, it continued to be distributed through transcription for 12 more years.

1937: Comedy radio soap opera LORENZO JONES, also produced by the Hummerts, premiered on NBC Radio. It would run for 18 years.

1940: The Blue Network aired its final episode of YOUNG DOCTOR MALONE. The show moved to CBS Radio the following Monday where it played for the next 20 years.

1946: CBS Radio aired the final episode of the Hummerts radio soap AMANDA ON HONEYMOON HILL, starring Joy Hathaway. The show ran for six years on the Blue Network and CBS Radio.

1973: Singer-pianist Bobby Short made a guest appearance (as himself) on AS THE WORLD TURNS.

DALLAS star Jim Davis died in 1981.
1976: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Tiffany was pushed to her death out of a tenth floor office window.

1978: On ANOTHER WORLD, Burt McGowan left Bay City as actor William Russ left the show.  Burt would return for a couple of months in early 1979 played by Joseph Hindy.

1981: Jim Davis, who played DALLAS patriarch Jock Ewing, died at age 71.

1983: On RYAN'S HOPE, Frank Ryan went into a fit of rage, on live TV.



GENERAL HOSPITAL's Emily McLaughlin
died in 1991.
1989: Actress Lucille Ball died at age 77.

1991: Veteran soap actress Emily McLaughlin, who played Jessie Brewer on GENERAL HOSPITAL for many years and spoke the show's first line, passed away at age 62. McLaughlin also portrayed Eileen Seaton on YOUNG DOCTOR MALONE.

1997: John Beal, who played Jim Matthews on the very first episode ANOTHER WORLD, died at age 87. Leon Janney took over in Episode #3.  Beal also played Judge Vail on DARK SHADOWS.

2011: Tamara Braun debuted as Taylor on DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Carol Burnett turns 80 today.
Carol Burnett (ex-Verla, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 80
Jeff Eagle (ex-Will, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 66
Joan Chen (ex-Jocelyn, TWIN PEAKS) - 52
Michael Damian (Danny, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 51
Olivia Birkelund (ex-Arlene, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 50
Jeanne Marie Ford (Writer, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 42
Christoph Silber (Former Writer, DER KRIMINALIST) - 42
McKenzie Westmore (ex-Riley, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Felicia, THE BAY; ex-Sheridan, PASSIONS) - 36
Tom Welling (ex-Clark, SMALLVILLE) - 36
Charissa Chamorro (ex-Tory, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Sophia, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 36
Nate Golon (ex-Jeff, WORKSHOP) - 34
Jordana Brewster (Elena, DALLAS; ex-Nikki, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 34
Shenell Edmonds (ex-Destiny, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 19

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you would like to submit a piece of soap opera history for this daily column, please email it to [email protected].

2 comments:

  1. Happy 80th B'day To Carol Burnett!

    Didn't Geoffrey Pierson As Frank Ryan #4 Knock Out Jimmy Smits (LA Law, NYPD Blue) In The RH Scene?

    Thanks, Roger!

    Brian :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Two additional April 26 birthdays:

    Donna Baccala (Gina Dante, General Hospital; Marguerita, The Survivors) - 68

    David Beecroft (Elliot Freeman, All My Children; Paul Graham, Melrose Place; Nick Agretti, Falcon Crest; Trent Chapin, One Life To Live) - 53

    ReplyDelete