Today in Soap Opera History (April 12)

1967: Dark Shadows' Jason asked patience from Willie.
1979: Guiding Light's Rita had a nightmare about Roger.
1985: As the World Turns' Bob and Kim were married.
1994: Another World's Carl planned on proposing to Rachel.

"Mankind are so much the same, in all times and places, that history informs us of nothing new or strange in this particular. Its chief use is only to discover the constant and universal principles of human nature."
― David Hume

"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...

1967: On Dark Shadows, Jason McGuire (Dennis Patrick) implored Willie Loomis (John Karlen) to wait on getting revenge against Burke Devlin (Mitchell Ryan) until after they got their money.



1979: On Guiding Light, Rita Bauer (Lenore Kasdorf) had a nightmare about Roger Thorpe (Michael Zaslow), a foreshadowing of their iconic Hall of Mirrors scene that would take place less than 10 months later.



Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the clip above.

1982: On General Hospital, Rick (Chris Robinson) tried to help Lesley (Denise Alexander), who didn't want to accept that Laura was gone.



1985: On As the World Turns, Dr. Bob Hughes (Don Hastings) married his true love, Kim Andropolous. This is the episode Kim (Kathryn Hays) finally met Bob's sister, Penny (Rosemary Prinz).



1991: On Guiding Light, Ross (Jerry verDorn) encouraged Peter Jessup to leave his grandson, Hart, in Ireland after their trip.



Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the clip above.

1994: On Another World, Iris (Carmen Duncan) ruined the mood when Carl (Charles Keating) tried to propose to Rachel (Victoria Wyndham).



1999: NBC canceled Another World.

"We've known for quite some time that NBC's decision could go either way," said Mickey Dwyer-Dobbin, executive in charge of production at Procter & Gamble Productions, which owned the show. "Although we certainly wish the outcome were different, it is a sad comment on the television industry as a whole that a soap, especially one with so much history, has to be canceled to make room for a new one. The loss of the show is a loss for the industry."

2004: On All My Children, Bianca Montgomery (Eden Riegel) kidnapped Bess.



2010: Actor Peter Haskell died at age 75. His soap roles included C.J. in Rituals, Hollis in Ryan's Hope and Lloyd on Search for Tomorrow.

2012: Actress Linda Cook died at age 63. The actress played memorable roles on a number of soaps including The Edge of Night, Ryan's Hope, Loving, All My Children and As the World Turns.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Ellen Falcon (Former Director, Santa Barbara) - 70
Ed O'Neill (ex-Lenny, Another World; ex-All My Children) - 69
Wayne Northrop (ex-Roman/Alex, Days of our Lives; ex-Rex, Port Charles; ex-Michael, Dynasty) - 68
Dan Lauria (ex-Gus, One Life to Live) - 68
Maia Danziger (ex-Judy, All My Children; ex-Katy, The Doctors; ex-Glenda, Another World) - 65
Elissa Leeds (ex-Steffi, General Hospital; ex-Hope, Another World; ex-Hope, The Guiding Light; ex-Lisa, The Edge of Night; ex-Rachel, How to Survive a Marriage; ex-Brooke, All My Children) - 56
Alicia Coppola (ex-Lorna, Another World) - 47
Shannen Doherty (ex-Brenda, Beverly Hills, 90210) - 44
NiCole Robinson (ex-Margaret, The West Wing) - 43
Christina Moore (ex-Tracy, 90210) - 42
Sarah Jane Morris (ex-Paula, Undressed; ex-Julia, Brothers & Sisters) - 38
Claire Danes (Carrie, Homeland; ex-Angela, My So-Called Life) - 36
Jennifer Morrison (Emma, Once Upon A Time) - 36
Jamie Misiak (Nurse, Anacostia)

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