Today in Soap Opera History (July 8)

On this date in...

1935: Radio soap opera GIRL ALONE premiered. Betty Winkler starred as Patricia Rogers. Macdonald Carey was among the stars.

1949: The radio version of THE BRIGHTER DAY aired on NBC for the final time. The show moved to CBS Radio the following Monday. Typical of an Irna Phillips soap, the show opened with an epigraph: Our years are as the falling leaves -- we live, we love, we dream, and then we go. But somehow we keep hoping, don't we, that our dreams come true on that brighter day.

1966: On DARK SHADOWS, Carolyn visited Burke's hotel suite in an attempt to learn what happened between him and Roger.



1980: On ANOTHER WORLD, Rachel (Victoria Wyndham) told Ada (Constance Ford) it would break Mac's heart if he knew the baby was Mitch's.

1985: On RYAN'S HOPE, Katie (Julia Campbell) fell down the stairs while arguing with Maggie (Cali Timmins).

1990: Actor Howard Duff died at age 76.  He starred in primetime soap FLAMINGO ROAD and guest-starred in KNOTS LANDING and DALLAS.

1992: Aaron Spelling's primetime soap MELROSE PLACE, a spin-off of BEVERLY HILLS 90210, premiered on FOX.



1997: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Brenda (Vanessa Marcil) and Sonny (Maurice Benard) narrowly escape the police.

2002: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Belle (Kirsten Storms) and Shawn (Jason Cook) rescued two 'aliens' from their space pod.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Anjelica Huston (ex-Eileen, SMASH) - 62
Kevin Bacon (ex-Tim, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Todd, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW) - 55
David Elliott (ex-Billy, THE DOCTORS) - 54
Lori Hallier (ex-Shannon, SANTA BARBARA) - 54
Valarie Pettiford (ex-Shelia, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Courtney, ANOTHER WORLD) - 53
Lee Tergesen (ex-Officer Boone, ARMY WIVES; ex-Peter, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES; ex-Tobias, OZ) - 48
Michael Weatherly (ex-Cooper, LOVING/THE CITY) - 45
Milo Ventimiglia (ex-Peter, HEROES; ex-Jess, GILMORE GIRLS) - 36
Eve Myles (ex-Gwen, TORCHWOOD) - 35
Sophia Bush (ex-Brooke, ONE TREE HILL) -31
Allison Hirschlag (ex-Lizzie, GUIDING LIGHT) - 29
Jake McDorman (ex-Evan, GREEK) - 27

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]