Today in Soap Opera History (December 22)

1955: Love of Life's Van wanted to adopt Carol. 1986: Search for 
Tomorrow's Jo had a dream. 2000: All My Children's Bianca
came out to Erica. 2008: As the World Turns' Lucinda was happy
with Brian, unaware of his feelings for her grandson.

"Most of us spend too much time on the last twenty-four hours and too little on the last six thousand years."
― Will Durant

"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...

1939: On Bachelor's Children, Sam and Ruth Ann kept an anxious vigil at the hospital as Sam's wife, Janet, delivered their first child. Complications ensued during the birth, and the ordeal stretched late into the night. Sam tried to rest in the deserted waiting room and fitfully dozed as memories spanning the breadth of his relationship with Janet flickered through his semi-conscious mind. Ruth Ann shattered his reverie as she excitedly burst into the room with urgent news.

1939: The final episode of short-lived radio soap opera Career Wife, starring Ann Thomas, aired on NBC Blue.

1955: On Love of Life, Vanessa Raven (Bonnie Bartlett) and her husband, Paul (Richard Coogan), filled out the paperwork required to adopt Carol.



Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the item above.

1961: On The Edge of Night, Phil and Louise attempted to extricate themselves from demented heroin smuggler Scofield Kilborn.

1967: On The Doctors, Nick (Gerald Gordon) told Liz (Pamela Toll) he couldn't marry her, and admitted Althea (Elizabeth Hubbard) was pregnant with his baby.

1975: On Ryan's Hope, Frank (Michael Hawkins) and Jill (Nancy Addison) realized their relationship had to end, following Delia's (Ilene Kristen) big move with the district leaders that saved Frank's seat on the city council.



1977: On One Life to Live, Brad (Jameson Parker) and Jenny (Katherine Glass) said their vows with Father Campion performing the service. Sister Agatha and another Nun were witnesses. Jenny decided to marry Brad to show him she still believed in him (big mistake) as Marco's testimony at the inquest hearing into Lana McClain's death made it look bad for Brad.



Thanks to Jeff for sending in the item above.

1986: On Search for Tomorrow, Jo (Mary Stuart) had a prophetic Christmas dream.





1986: On Santa Barbara, Julia (Nancy Lee Grahn) wanted to have a baby with Mason (Lane Davies).



1995: NBC aired the 8,000th episode of Another World.

1995: On One Life to Live, the residents of Llanview celebrated Christmas Eve. Joey (Nathan Fillion) just missed seeing Kelly's (Gina Tognoni) attempt to surprise him with mistletoe.



2008: On As the World Turns, Brian (Laurence Lau) asked Luke (Van Hansis) to respect his feelings for Lucinda (Elizabeth Hubbard).



2000: On All My Children, Bianca (Eden Riegel) told Erica (Susan Lucci) she was gay.



Thanks to Enrique for sending in the item above.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Elizabeth Hubbard (ex-Althea, The Doctors; ex-Lucinda, As the World Turns; ex-Sair, Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden; ex-Estelle, One Life to Live; ex-Carol, The Edge of Night; ex-Anne, THE Guiding Light) - 81
Hector Elizondo (Carlos, Grey's Anatomy; ex-Vicento, The Edge of Night) - 78
Dan Martin (ex-Brad, The Bold and the Beautiful) - 63
Lauralee Bell (Christine, The Young and the Restless) - 46
Amanda Baker (ex-Babe, All My Children; ex-Jolene, General Hospital: Night Shift) - 35
Chris Carmack (Will, Nashville) - 34
Brooke Nevin (ex-Brooke, Imaginary Bitches) - 32
Alinne Moraes (ex-Monica, Como uma Onda) - 32

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