Today in Soap Opera History (August 9)

1968: Dark Shadows' Liz lied to protect David. 1984: Guiding 
Light's Alex and Beth were held hostage by Darcy. 1994: All 
My Children's Kendall crashed Mona's funeral. 1994: One Life 
to Live's Todd met Blair.

"To believe what has not occurred in history will not occur at all, is to argue disbelief in the dignity of man."
- Mahatma Gandhi

"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...

1966: On Dark Shadows, to protect David, Elizabeth (Joan Bennett) lied to Constable Jonas Carter (Michael Currie ) when she told him they had discovered the bleeder valve fell off by itself.



1974: On Another World, Iris (Beverlee McKinsey, who was born 79 years ago today) encouraged it when Mac (Douglass Watson) invited Liz (Irene Dailey) on the hike he was taking with Dennis (Mike Hammett) and Jamie (Robert Doran).

1984: On Guiding Light, Alexandra (Beverlee McKinsey) begged Lujack (Vincent Irizarry) to let Beth (Judi Evans) leave the hostage situation, and he agreed, but Darcy (Robin Johnson) wanted Alexandra to be the one to leave instead.



1994: On All My Children, an unwelcome Kendall (Sarah Michelle Gellar) accidentally knocked over Mona's photo while trying to pay her respects to her late grandmother.



1994: On One Life to Live, at Rodi's bar, Todd (Roger Howarth) met Blair (Kassie DePaiva) for the first time.



1996: On Another World, Michael (Kale Browne) recruited a construction guy, Bobby Reno (Robert Kelker-Kelly), to do work on Vicky's house. Vicky fainted when she met Bobby. This was Kelker-Kelly's first appearance on Another World since May 15, 1990, when he finished a three-year run as Sam Fowler.



2011: On Days of our Lives, Will (Chandler Massey) and Gabi (Camila Banus) professed their love and went to a hotel room, where they had sex for the first time. Note: Scenes from August 9th and 10th below.



2012: Actor Al Freeman Jr., who played Ed Hall in One Life to Live for many years, died at age 78.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Micheal Storm (ex-Larry, One Life to Live) - 75
Melanie Griffith (ex-Brandie, Nip/Tuck) - 57
Amanda Bearse (ex-Amanda, All My Children) - 56
Joshua Cox (ex-Daniel, One Life to Live) - 49
Pat Petersen (ex-Michael, Knots Landing) - 48
Gillian Anderson (ex-Scully, The X-Files) - 46
Mark Povinelli (ex-Wally, Passions) - 43
Liz Vassey (ex-Emily Ann, All My Children) - 42
Kevin McKidd (Owen, Grey's Anatomy) - 41
Jessica Capshaw (Arizona, Grey's Anatomy) - 38
Rhona Mitra (ex-Claire, The Gates; ex-Kit, Nip/Tuck; ex-Holly Marie, Party of Five) - 38
Texas Battle (Marcus, The Bold and the Beautiful) - 38
Charlie David (ex-Toby, Dante's Cove) - 34
Bill Skarsgård (Roman, Hemlock Grove) - 24

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]