Friday, July 5, 2013

Today in Soap Opera History (July 5)


On this date in...

1966: On THE GUIDING LIGHT, Bert (Charita Bauer) met Leslie Jackson (Lynne Adams).

1966: William J. Bell's first DAYS OF OUR LIVES script aired. NBC had canceled Ted Corday's other two daytime soaps, MORNING STAR and PARADISE BAY, but gave DAYS another chance to increase its ratings, and it slowly did. Ted Corday passed away a few weeks later though before seeing what a phenomenon DAYS would become over the next few decades.

1968: On ANOTHER WORLD, Rachel (Robin Strasser) was rushed to the hospital.

1983: On RYAN'S HOPE, Johnny (Bernard Barrow) and Frank (Geoffrey Pierson) came to an understanding.



1989: On GUIDING LIGHT, tension was in the air at the Bauer Barbecue between Ed (Peter Simon) and Maureen (Ellen Parker).



1995: On ANOTHER WORLD, local television station KBAY held a special "Match Dare Telethon" on the Fourth of July, and many Bay City residents performed on the program, which benefited a new pediatric wing at the hospital. Morgan and Felicia challenged Cass to sing as his alter ego, the bombshell "Crystal Lake". Crystal's lip-sync performance of "Natural Woman" was interrupted when Frankie informed Cass from the wings that she was pregnant.



1996: Soap opera pioneer Anne Hummert died at age 91. Hummert, with her husband, Frank, created dozens of radio soap operas including 18 separate 15-minute serials running at the same time. In her New York Times obituary, the newspaper wrote:

Although a short-lived 1930 program, PAINTED LIVES by Irna Phillips, is regarded as the first radio soap opera, it was JUST PLAIN BILL, which began at night in 1932, that created the cultural juggernaut that would eventually be nicknamed for the product that often sponsored it.

1999: Daytime soap opera PASSIONS debuted on NBC.



2001: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Simon (Paul Leyden) found Henry (Trent Dawson) and Katie (Terri Conn) on the island.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Katherine Helmond (Jessica, SOAP) - 85
Shirley Knight (ex-Phyllis, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES) - 77
Louise Shaffer (ex-Rae, RYAN'S HOPE; ex-Serena/Josie, THE EDGE OF NIGHT; ex-Stephanie/Emily, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW; ex-Goldie, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Judge Tillman/Mrs. Humphreys, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Alison, WHERE THE HEART IS; ex-Martha, HIDDEN FACES) - 71
Patsy Pease (ex-Kimberly, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Patricia, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Cissie, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW) - 57
Edie Falco (ex-Carmela, THE SOPRANOS) - 50
Eva Green  (Angelique, Dark Shadows movie) - 33

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you have a tip on a bit of soap history on this date or future dates, let us know. Send an email to [email protected]

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