Today in Soap Opera History (August 10)

1979: The Edge of Night's Steve saved Paige's life.
1981: General Hospital's Mikkos hosted a dinner party.
1984: Santa Barbara's Joe broke into the Capwell estate.
2004: Martha Madison debuted as Belle on Days of our Lives.

"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...

1945: On radio soap opera Portia Faces Life, Kathie was shocked to see Portia's late husband, Walter (Bartlett Robinson), alive and well!

1967: On Dark Shadows, Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) returned to the Blue Whale Café -- and ran into her former tormentor, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid).

1972: On Another World, Pat Randolph (Beverly Penberthy) brought her twins, Michael (Tom Ruger) and Marianne (Loriann Ruger), over for a visit with their grandpa Jim.

1976: On Ryan's Hope, Maeve (Helen Gallagher) and Johnny (Bernard Barrow) decided to ask Delia and LJ to stay with them.



1979: On The Edge of Night, Steve Guthrie (Denny Albee) saved Paige Madison's (Margaret Colin) life.



1981: On Another World, Lenny (Ed O'Neill) forced Dr. Rick Halloway (Tony Cummings) to treat his injury while Sandy tried to convince Lenny to let Rick see Mac. Lenny asked Cecile (Nancy Frangione) how much it was worth to her to have a doctor see Mac.



1981: On General Hospital, Victor (Thaao Penghlis) showed the guests to the main entrance to the Cassidine compound, made of rock which opened to reveal an elevator. The guests were escorted to the fabulous Crystal Room where the reclusive Mikkos Cassidine (John Colicos) made his entrance. Mikkos informed the group that nobody was allowed to leave the island under any circumstances.



1982: Patty Weaver aired for the final time as Trish Clayton Banning on Days of our Lives. Soon after, Weaver joined the cast of The Young and the Restless as Gina Roma.

1984: On Santa Barbara, Joe Perkins (Dane Witherspoon) broke into the Capwell estate.



1987: Robert Kelker-Kelly debuted on Another World as Sam Fowler, Mitch Blake's (William Gray Espy) brother. In the episode, Mitch and Felicia Gallant (Linda Dano) became passionate and made their way to Mitch's bed, but Felicia quickly realized that someone was in the bed with them.

1987: Vera Allen, who played Granny Matthews in Another World's original cast, died at age 89. She also played Kass in From These Roots and Ida on Search for Tomorrow.

1993: On Guiding Light, Roger Thorpe (Michael Zaslow) married Jenna Bradshaw (Fiona Hutchison). Also, Leonard Stabb aired for the final time as Hart Jessup.

1994: On All My Children, Noah (Keith Hamilton Cobb) told Julia (Sydney Penny) she had messed with the wrong man.

2004: Martha Madison debuted as Belle Black on Days of our Lives.

Thanks to Enrique for sending in the item above.

Celebrating a birthday today are:

James Reynolds

Bruce Neckels (ex-Del, The Young and the Restless; Former Writer, Days of our Lives; Spyder Games; Family Passions; Santa Barbara; Generations; The Young and the Restless) - 72
James Reynolds (Abe, Days of our Lives; ex-Henry, Generations) - 70
Nick Stringer (ex-Andy, Holby City; ex-Frank, Coronation Street) - 68
Daniel Hugh Kelly (ex-Winston, As the World Turns; ex-Travis, All My Children; ex-Frank, Ryan's Hope) - 64
Eric Schiff (ex-Kevin, Days of our Lives) - 58
Justin Theroux (ex-Gary, Central Park West; ex-Joe, Six Feet Under) - 45
Krissy Carlson (ex-Fancy, Passions; ex-Amy, Sunset Beach; ex-Renata, Undressed) - 37
JoAnna Garcia (Betty, The Astronaut Wives Club; Ariel, Once Upon a Time; ex-Megan, Privileged; ex-Bree, Gossip Girl) - 37
Roxanne McKee (ex-Doreah, Game of Thrones) - 36
Jon Prescott (ex-Chad, One Life to Live; ex-Mike, As the World Turns) - 35
Katherine Boecher (ex-Bobbi, Undressed) - 35
Ryan Eggold (ex-Ryan, 90210) - 32

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