Sunday, September 28, 2014

Today in Soap Opera History (September 28)

1962: Daytime soap operas The Brighter Day (CBS) and
Our Five Daughters (NBC) aired for the final time.  1981: General
Hospital was featured on the cover of Newsweek.
1987: Delia had a courtoom fantasy on Ryan's Hope.
"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...

1962: CBS aired the final episode of daytime soap opera The Brighter Day. The show was created for NBC Radio by Irna Phillips in 1948. The television version premiered on January 4, 1954, and the episodes ran on both TV and radio for 2 years. The Brighter Day was originally set in Three Rivers until a move to New Hope in 1953.

1962: NBC aired the final episode of Our Five Daughters, a daytime soap which starred silent film icon Esther Ralston as Helen Lee, the mother of five young women including Jacqueline Courtney's Ann (pictured, upper right).

1979: On As the World Turns, Grant (James Douglas) told Lisa (Eileen Fulton) that he changed his mind and was now prepared to give her a quick divorce so she could marry Bennett Hadley (Doug Higgins).

1981: The Newsweek cover story called General Hospital "TV's Hottest Show."

1981: On General Hospital, Bennie (George Brenlin) wanted Luke (Anthony Geary) to go into business with him.



1987: On Ryan's Hope, Delia (Ilene Kristen) fantasized about discrediting Ben in court.



1989: The 11th season of Knots Landing premiered on CBS. The show debuted a new opening designed by Castle Bryant Johnsen which showcased the cul-de-sac houses and skyscrapers representing Los Angeles as sandcastles. It was the only version of the opening without pictures of the cast.



1990: On Days of our Lives, the mystery man was revealed to be Lawrence Alamain (Michael Sabatino).



1994: On All My Children, Kendall (Sarah Michelle Gellar) was brought into the hospital after she overdosed on pills.



2006: The U.S. version of Ugly Betty premiered on ABC starring America Ferrera as Betty.



2006: Brandon Beemer debuted as Shawn Brady in Days of our Lives.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Robert Hogan (ex-Vince, Another World; ex-L.J., As the World Turns; ex-Charles, One Life to Live; ex-Scott, Days of our Lives; ex-Phil, General Hospital; ex-DA Stephens, Bright Promise; ex-Tom, Peyton Place; ex-Gillespie, The Young Marrieds) - 81
Joel Higgins (ex-Bruce, Search for Tomorrow; ex-Paul, One Life to Live) - 71
Jennifer Leak (ex-Olive, Another World; ex-Blanche, Guiding Light; ex-Nurse Klupper, Ryan's Hope; ex-Gwen, The Young and the Restless; ex-Elaine, Bright Promise) - 64
Susan Walters (Mrs. Martin, Teen Wolf; ex-Diane, The Young and the Restless; ex-Lorna, Loving) - 51
Steve Blackman (WWE Raw; WWE Smackdown) - 51
Janeane Garofalo (ex-Louise, The West Wing) - 50
Mira Sorvino (ex-Julie, Guiding Light; ex-Sophia, Swans Crossing) - 47
Naomi Watts (ex-Julie, Home and Away) - 46
Todd Rotondi (ex-Bryant, As the World Turns) - 40
Lucas Bryant (Nathan, Haven) - 36
Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea, The Young and the Restless; ex-Annie, All My Children) - 33
Kirsten Prout (ex-Char, The Lying Game) - 24

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you would like to submit a soap history entry for this date or a future date, email [email protected].

1 comment:

  1. Happy Birthday also to Rudolph Walker (Patrick Trueman on EastEnders). He's 75!

    ReplyDelete