Today in Soap Opera History (April 20)

"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...

1942: Blue Network aired its first episode of radio soap opera THE SECOND MRS. BURTON. The show had previously aired on CBS Radio. Four months later, it moved back to CBS.

1978: On RYAN'S HOPE, Pat (Malcolm Groome) arrived in the middle of Faith's (Karen Morris) wedding to Tom Desmond (Thomas MacGreevy).



Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the item above.

1981: DYNASTY's first season ended with a courtroom cliffhanger.



1983: On ALL MY CHILDREN, Jesse (Darnell Williams) and Angie (Debbi Morgan) were married for the first time.

1984: Newcomer Don Diamont made his DAYS OF OUR LIVES debut as Carlo Forenza. Diamont currently stars as Bill Spencer in THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL.

1984: On ANOTHER WORLD, Roy Bingham married Henrietta Morgan.

1987: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Bo (Peter Reckell) and Hope (Kristian Alfonso) sailed away as "Whatever We Imagine" played in the background. Reckell and Alfonso both left the show but would return in 1990.



1990: On THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Skip (Todd Curtis) and Carol (Christopher Templeton) received bad news from Michael Crawford.

1999: On ANOTHER WORLD, Paulina (Judi Evans) asked Jake (Tom Eplin) for a $10,000 loan.



2007: Shelley Hennig debuted as Stephanie Johnson on DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

2010: ALL MY CHILDREN aired a tribute episode to the late James Mitchell, who played Palmer Cortlandt for many years.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
George Takei  (ex-Kaito, HEROES) - 77
Ryan O'Neal (ex-Rodney, PEYTON PLACE) - 73
Gregory Itzin (ex-Howard, SANTA BARBARA) - 66
Jane Daly (ex-Shelley/Kelly, CAPITOL; ex-Molly, BEVERLY HILLS 90210) - 66
Veronica Cartwright (ex-Elizabeth, REVENGE; ex-Bun, EASTWICK) - 65
Jessica Lange (ex-Fiona/Sister Jude/Constance, AMERICAN HORROR STORY) - 65
Steven Hack (ex-Leonard, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 56
Mike Pniewski (ex-Frank, THE GOOD WIFE; ex-Ron, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Les, SANTA BARBARA) - 53
Tim Maculan (ex-Father Jack, SIX FEET UNDER) - 51
Susan Cookson (ex-Judy, EMMERDALE) - 49
Adam Caine (ex-Edmund, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 47
William deVry (Julian, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Patrick, NIKITA; ex-Storm, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Michael, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Tim, PORT CHARLES) - 46
Shemar Moore (ex-Malcolm, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 44
Brody Hutzler (ex-Kenneth, THE BAY; ex-Patrick, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Zachary, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Cody, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Joseph, SCRIPTS & SCRUPLES) - 43
Carmen Electra (ex-Vesta, 90210) - 42
Scott Beehner  (ex-Frank, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 41
Natasha Symms (ex-Zoe, CORONATION STREET; ex-Kate, HOLLYOAKS) - 36
Nicky Evans (ex-Roy, EMMERDALE) - 35
Van Hughes (ex-Cole, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Cole, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Gil, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 31
Joanne King (ex-Lady Rochford, THE TUDORS) - 31
Katie Foster (Gwen, ORANGE JUICE IN BISHOP'S GARDEN) - 30
Billy Magnussen (ex-Casey, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 29
John Patrick Amedori  (ex-Aaron, GOSSIP GIRL) - 27

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].