Today in Soap Opera History (May 11)

1979: Ryan's Hope's Maeve reminisced. 1984: Guiding Light's
Mindy was rushed to the hospital. 1989: Dynasty ended its run.
1990: Dallas' JR was double-crossed by James.

"If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree."
― Michael Crichton

"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...

1964: On Another World, Jim (Leon Janney) questioned Pat (Susan Trustman) about her date with Tom Baxter (Nicholas Pryor).

1970: On Dark Shadows, William Loomis (John Karlen) continued to interview Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) for his book.

1972: NBC aired the 2,000th episode of Another World.

1976: The 3rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards were held at New York's Lincoln Center. Winners included Another World (Drama Series), Days of our Lives (Writing), One Life to Live (Directing), Search for Tomorrow's Larry Haines (Actor) and Ryan's Hope's Helen Gallagher (Actress).

1979: On Ryan's Hope, Maeve Ryan (Helen Gallagher, who sang) reminisced about her family.



Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the item above.

1984: On Guiding Light, a pregnant Mindy (Krista Tesreau) was rushed to the hospital.



1988: On General Hospital, Lucy (Lynn Herring) wanted Scott (Kin Shriner) to help her get a seat on the hospital board.



1989: ABC aired the Dynasty series finale. Blake Carrington (John Forsythe) and Jeff Colby (John James) were set up by a corrupt cop, with Blake ending up taking a bullet. Fallon (Emma Samms) and Krystina (Jessica Player) were stuck in a collapsing mine shaft, while Alexis (Joan Collins) and Dex (Michael Nader) took a plunge from a balcony. A Dynasty reunion movie aired in 1991 to tie up loose ends.



1990: On the season finale of Dallas, J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) was left trapped in the sanitarium.



1995: On Another World, Justine (Victoria Wyndham) plotted to take over Rachel's (Victoria Wyndham) life.



2006: Emily O'Brien debuted on The Young and the Restless as Jana Hawkes.

2012: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows movie was released in theaters.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Donna Wandrey (ex-Barbara, As the World Turns; ex-Roxanne, Dark Shadows; ex-Angie, Another World; ex-Dr. Meyers, Ryan's Hope; ex-Allison, The Edge of Night) - 68
Frances Fisher (ex-Suzette, Guiding Light; ex-Deborah, The Edge of Night; ex-Gladys, Days of our Lives) - 64
Gerard Christopher (ex-Dr. Brock, Sunset Beach) - 57
Roark Critchlow (ex-Mike, Days of our Lives; ex-Dr. Ackland, Passions) - 53
Marguerite MacIntyre (Liz, The Vampire Diaries; ex-Nicole, Kyle XY) - 51
Jonathan Jackson (Avery, Nashville; ex-Lucky, General Hospital) - 34

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