Today in Soap Opera History (January 16)

1978: ONE LIFE TO LIVE and GENERAL HOSPITAL
expanded to an hour.

"Maybe if people started to listen, history would stop repeating itself."
- Lily Tomlin

"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...

1958: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Mike (John Larkin) warned Toni of the danger if she tried to get hush money from Benson.

1967: On DARK SHADOWS, Sam (David Ford) accused Laura (Diana Millay) of causing the fire.

1973: On ANOTHER WORLD, Louise (Anne Meacham) eavesdropped when Alice (Jacqueline Courtney) phoned Mary and Jim to have her things removed from Steve's house and shipped to her.

1978: ONE LIFE TO LIVE and GENERAL HOSPITAL each expanded to from 45 to 60 minutes per episode.



1980: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Lisa (Eileen Fulton) was not thrilled to see Joyce (Barbara Rodell), who stopped by the bookstore claiming she wanted to make amends for the past.



1981: Wesley Eure aired for the final time as Mike Horton in DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Read our interview with Eure here.

1985: On GUIDING LIGHT, Tony (Greg Beecroft) suggested leaving Springfield to Annabelle (Harley Kozak).



1992: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Carrie (Tracy Middendorf) told Roman (Wayne Northrop) that she decided to leave Salem.



1998: On THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Phyllis Summers Romalotti (Sandra Nelson) broke down in the courthouse after losing custody of her son, Daniel, with only her attorney, Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc), left to comfort her.

Thanks to FoxCrane for sending in the item above.

2008: Rebecca Budig returned to ALL MY CHILDREN as Greenlee Smythe after a more than two year absence.



Thanks to Enrique for sending in the item above.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Harry Basch (ex-Armistead, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Vince, FALCON CREST) - 88
Ellen Holly (ex-Carla, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Judge Collier, GUIDING LIGHT) - 83
Ronnie Milsap (Guest Star, ANOTHER WORLD) - 68
John Driver (ex-Gary, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW; ex-Kevin, THE EDGE OF NIGHT) - 67
Debbie Allen (Director, GREY'S ANATOMY) - 64
Anders Hove (Faison, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 58
Marian Tomas Griffin (ex-Mary, ANOTHER WORLD) - 46
Josie Davis (ex-Grace, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 41
Trent Ford (ex-Jean Paul, THE WEST WING; Trevor, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES) - 35
Jake Epstein (ex-Craig, DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION) - 27
Yvonne Zima (ex-Daisy, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 25

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].