Friday, September 26, 2014

Today in Soap Opera History (September 26)

1986: Bobby was alive and well on DALLAS. Pam had only
dreamed he was dead. 1994: AMC's Erica had harsh words
for Kendall then visited Mona's grave. 1995: AW's Grant
shot his brother, Ryan, in the back. 1997: DAYS recast the
role of Jack...in a shower.
"History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves, and of our common humanity, so that we can better face the future."
― Robert Penn Warren

"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...

1938: Radio soap opera Houseboat Hannah premiered on the NBC Red Network. Hard working Dan O'Leary, who lost an arm in a factory accident, moved his financially strapped family aboard a house boat in Shanty Fish Row on San Francisco Bay. Resourceful and resolute Hannah O'Leary became a mother figure to most of the Row. The theme song for Houseboat Hannah was Harry Revel and Mack Gordo's "Laugh Your Way Through Life."

1979: On As the World Turns, John (Larry Bryggman) told David (Henderson Forsythe) he thought Kim (Kathryn Hays) was falling apart inside after Dan's death.



1986: Actor Hugh Franklin died at age 70. His soap roles included Charles Tyler Sr. in All My Children, Ralph Brown in As the World Turns, Ed Bridgeman in Love of Life, Fred McNeill in Young Doctor Malone and Richard Garner in Dark Shadows.

1986: As the 10th season of Dallas kicked off, Pam (Victoria Principal) got out of bed and went to the shower, where she found a very much-alive Bobby (Patrick Duffy). It turned out everything that happened in the previous year was just Pam's dream. Below is the cliffhanger from the previous season.



1993: Actor Biff Warren died at age 37. He played Mark Lewis in As the World Turns.

1994: On All My Children, Erica (Susan Lucci) told Kendall (Sarah Michelle Gellar) to go back to the Harts. Later, Erica visited Mona's grave.



1995: On Another World, Justine (Victoria Wyndham) shoved Rachel (Victoria Wyndham) off the train trestle. As Ryan (Paul Michael Valley) held Justine at gunpoint, Grant (Mark Pinter) pulled out his own gun and shot Ryan (Paul Michael Valley) in the back.



1997: On Days of our Lives, Jack, played by Mark Valley, started taking a shower. By the time Jack was finished with the show the role was being played by Steve Wilder.



2000: Actor Richard Mulligan, who played Burt Campbell in Soap, died at age 67.

2006: Inturn winner Alex Charak made his debut on As the World Turns as Elwood Hoffman.

2010: Titanic actress Gloria Stuart died at age 100. She played Catherine in General Hospital.

2011: On EastEnders, Zainab (Nina Wadia) optimistically believed her estranged husband's visit was a sign that Masood (Nitin Ganatra) was prepared to reconcile with her, when instead, he'd come to tell her of his decision that they should divorce by reciting the Muslim ritual of the "triple talaq."



Thanks to FoxCrane for sending in the item above.

2011: Deidre Hall, Drake Hogestyn, Patrick Muldoon and Christie Clark returned to Days of our Lives as Marlena, John, Austin and Carrie.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Olivia Newton-John (ex-Bitsy, Sordid Lives) - 66
Linda Hamilton (ex-Lauren, King's Crossing; ex-Lisa, Secrets of Midland Heights) - 58
Stephen Markle (ex-Mel, One Life to Live; ex-Ted, The Edge of Night)
Michael Redfield (ex-Max, Days of our Lives) - 35
Jessie Pavelka (ex-Team Captain, Friday Night Lights) - 32
Sean Hemeon (Ken, Bloomers; Brady, Husbands; ex-Max, As the World Turns)
Thore Schölermann (Christian, Verbotene LIebe) - 30
Emma Rigby (ex-Hannah, Hollyoaks) - 25

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]

1 comment:

  1. I love the soap history. My favorite part of the site. Many thanks for compiling the info each day.

    A slight correction. In 2011 when Marlena, John, Carrie and Austin returned to Days, Patrick Muldoon was playing the part of Austin, not Austin Peck.

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