Today in Soap Opera History (February 23)

1971: DARK SHADOWS' Gabriel stabbed Kendrick.

"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...

1962: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Louise (Mary K. Wells) learned about Phil's (Ray MacDonnell) car crash, unaware that he had been replaced by a double, John Lambert (Ray MacDonnell).

1965: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Chris (Don MacLaughlin) told Pa (Santos Ortega) about a rare disease that Dan had contracted, for which the prognosis did not look good. Chris explained that he felt Ellen  (Patricia Bruder) should be told the truth about Dan, given what may happen to her son. When the news was revealed to Ellen, she was very upset and asked to go the hospital to see Dan. She found that he was in the same room in which she gave birth to him. While waiting to see Dan, Ellen thought back to the time at which he was known as "Jimmy." She found that Dan had been mumbling the word "mom" over and over again in his sleep, and she believed that this might be a good sign. She decided to keep vigil by his bed.

1965: On THE LONG HOT SUMMER, Clara's old friend Katy (Collin Wilcox) was returning from Europe with her Italian fiance, and Clara (Nancy Malone), depressed because she thought it was time she found a husband herself, proposed to Ben (Roy Thinnes).



Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the item above.

1970: On ANOTHER WORLD, Rachel (Robin Strasser) conned Pat into giving her the $50 she needed to put a down payment on a new apartment.

1971: On DARK SHADOWS, Gabriel (Christopher Pennock) stabbed Kendrick (John Karlen), wounding him. Later, Gabriel tried to kill Daphne (Kate Jackson) but Bramwell Collins (Jonathan Frid) chased him off. Daphne announced that she was going to marry Bramwell.

1981: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Jeff (Richard Dean Anderson) was determined to see Heather (Robin Mattson).



1984: On GUIDING LIGHT, Bradley (James Rebhorn) came back to the Raines house and tried to make up with Lillian (Tina Sloan) but she kicked him out.

Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the item above.

1989: Anna Stuart returned to ANOTHER WORLD as Donna Love Hudson.



1996: On ALL MY CHILDREN, Trevor (James Kiberd) proclaimed, "Janet From Another Planet got cozy on earth."



1998: Cynthia Watros aired for the final time as Annie Dutton on GUIDING LIGHT. In the episode, Annie jumped out of the plane she was on with Reva wearing a parachute, leaving a bound Reva to fend her for herself.

Thanks to Enrique for sending in the item above.

1998: Actor Philip Abbott died at age 74.  His soap roles included Dr. Dan Walton in SEARCH FOR TOMORROW, Grant Stevens on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, and Dr. Alex Baker in GENERAL HOSPITAL.

2006: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Mimi (Farah Fath) prepared for her wedding to Shawn (Jason Cook).



2010: ABC aired the 12,000th episode of GENERAL HOSPITAL.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Sophie Hayden (ex-Lucia, GUIDING LIGHT) - 60
Kristin Davis (ex-Brooke, MELROSE PLACE; ex-Betsy, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 49
Paul Anthony Stewart (ex-Danny, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Casey, LOVING) - 44
Jaime Dudney (ex-Georgia, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 38
Kelly Macdonald (Margaret, BOARDWALK EMPIRE) - 38
Alexis Boozer (Bryn, LEAP YEAR) - 32

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].