Today in Soap Opera History (March 15)

1968: DS' Barnabas attacked the woman who was trying to save
him. 1983: GH's Heather was arrested. 1985: DAYS' Bo & Hope
decided to lope. 1988: AMC's Stuart & Cindy became engaged.

"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...

1957: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Mike Karr (John Larkin) told Charley (Ian Martin) that he intended to pursue Harry until he admitted to murdering Marilyn.

1968: On DARK SHADOWS, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) attacked the woman (Anita Bolster) that Joshua Collins and Countess Natalie DuPres had summoned to Collinwood to cure him.



1978: On THE DOCTORS, Matt (James Pritchett) told his pregnant daughter, Greta, to let her mother know about her condition.

1978: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Amanda spotted Julie (Susan Seaforth Hayes) outside Larry Atwood's house. After Amanda entered the house, she found that he had been murdered.

1982: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Mr. Big (the late Brent Collins) kidnapped Tom (Justin Deas) and Margo (Margaret Colin).

1983: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Robert Scorpio (Tristan Rogers) arrested Heather Webber (Robin Mattson) for perjury.



1985: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) and Hope Williams (Kristian Alfonso) decided to elope.



1988: On ALL MY CHILDREN, Stuart Chandler (David Canary) proposed to Cindy Parker (Ellen Wheeler).



Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the item above.

1991: On NBC's DARK SHADOWS primetime remake, in 1790, Victoria Winters' witchcraft trial began, Angelique's spirit tried to stop Barnabas Collins from making Josette DuPres his vampire bride. Back in current time, Angelique possessed Dr. Julia Hoffman.

2009: Primetime soap opera, KINGS, debuted on NBC. The series' narrative was loosely based on the Biblical story of King David, yet set in a kingdom that culturally and technologically resembled the present-day United States. It starred Ian McShane as King Silas Benjamin (King Saul) and Chris Egan as Captain David Shepherd (David). Watch the trailer below:



Thanks to FoxCrane for sending in the item above.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Robert Milli (ex-Adam, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Lars, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Wayne, SOMERSET; ex-Wayne, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Jim, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Jim, LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING) - 81
Brenda Scott (ex-Gina, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 71
Craig Wasson (ex-Doug, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 60
Jacqueline Schultz (ex-Dee, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Patti, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW) - 58
Chris Bruno (ex-Dennis, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Michael, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 48
Pricilla Garita (ex-Gabi, SUNSET BEACH; ex-Theresa, PASSIONS; ex-Rita, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Anita, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Kathy, ANOTHER WORLD) - 47
Kim Raver (Julia, REVOLUTION; Teddy, GREY'S ANATOMY; ex-Nico, LIPSTICK JUNGLE; ex-Deanne, CENTRAL PARK WEST) - 45
Eva Longoria (Executive Producer, DEVIOUS MAIDS; ex-Gabrielle, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES; ex-Isabella, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 39
Kellan Lutz (ex-George, 90210) - 29
Adrianna Léon (ex-Brooklyn, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Colleen, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 26

DAYS OF OUR LIVES patriarch Macdonald Carey was born on this day in 1913.   He died on March 21, 1994 at age 81.

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].