Today in Soap Opera History (January 14)

1965: Peyton Place's Allison met Elliot. 1974: Days of our Lives'
Addie gave birth to Hope. 1983: General Hospital's Bobbie
was shocked to learn of Luke's death. 1994: Brookside's Beth
and Margaret shared an historic kiss.

"More and more, I tend to read history. I often find it more up to date than the daily newspapers."
― Joe Murray

"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...

1958: On The Edge of Night, Mike Karr (John Larkin) and Peter Dalton (Stephen Elliot) discussed the Nicholson-McGinnis case and determined they would have to be tried separately. Peter would prosecute Commissioner Wheeler Nicholson, while Mike took on newspaperman Mac McGinnis.

1965: On Peyton Place, the newly paroled Elliot Carson (Tim O'Connor) met Allison Mackenzie (Mia Farrow) at the Book Gallery, where they discussed their mutual love for writing. Leslie Harrington (Paul Langton) spotted Elliot talking to Connie and offered him a job at the mill, but Elliot was surly and refused. Leslie declared that Elliot was his own worst enemy.



1970: On Dark Shadows, Quentin (David Selby) and Desmond (John Karlen) escaped from prison, but Desmond was shot.

1972: On The Doctors, Dr. Steve Adrich (David O'Brien) encouraged Carolee Simpson (Carolee Campbell) to burn Dan's journal in the fireplace.



1972: On Another World, Steve (George Reinholt) was unhappy when Walter and John made plans to fly Mark Venable in from New York for a meeting. Mark's firm was "Short, Potter, and Trach," an inside joke in reference to Bob Short (a Procter & Gamble executive in charge of AW), Allen Potter (AW's original producer) and Ed Trach (P&G supervisor who had recently been transferred to another soap).

1974: On Days of our Lives, the Horton family learns that Addie Williams gave birth to a baby girl. The birth began on the Friday, January 11, and continued in this Monday episode with Dr. Tom Horton telling the new mother, "Addie—it’s a girl. You have a perfect baby girl."



Note: Proud parents Doug and Addie did not choose the name "Hope" until the the January 24 episode.

DOUG: Looking at—what you are. What there is about you, Your courage, your trust…
ADDIE: Oh, Doug…
DOUG: But most of all…Well, your---HOPE.
(Addie’s eyes light up at this word for a name)
ADDIE: Hope?
DOUG: It's something you've had all along for the three of us…
(Addie’s eyes fill with tears)
ADDIE: You want to name the baby Hope?
DOUG: Yes—if you do…
ADDIE: I can't think of a more beautiful name. Our little girl—Hope.
(He takes her hand)
DOUG: Which we'll never lose.
ADDIE: You'll never lose Hope now, Doug.

1979: Dallas aired for the last time in its Sunday at 10 p.m. ET time slot. Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) moved in with her mother (Martha Scott) and sister Kristin (Colleen Camp) after seeing J.R. with another woman.

1980: On As the World Turns, Sheila (Martha Lambert) drank too much and crashed her car after Tom (Tom Tammi) broke things off with her.



1983: On General Hospital, Robert (Tristan Rogers) told Holly (Emma Samms), Ruby (Norma Connolly) and Bobby (Jacklyn Zeman) about Luke's death.



1985: On Guiding Light, with her sight back, Beth Raines (Judi Evans) claimed she knew "Lenny" was really Lujack (Vincent Irizarry) all along.

1985: On Santa Barbara, Summer Blake's (Jonna Leigh Stack) body was found after she had been murdered by the Carnation Killer.



1986: Actress Donna Reed died at age 64. She played Miss Ellie on Dallas for one season.

1988: On Knots Landing, Mack (Kevin Dobson) invited Johnny (Peter Reckell) to stay with them, much to Paige's chagrin.

1994: On Brookside, Beth Jordache (Anna Friel) took Margaret Clemence (Nicola Stephenson) in her arms and sealed their romance with the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss on British television.



1997: Thyme Lewis aired for the final time as Jonah Carver in Days of our Lives.

2003: On Passions, Antonio Lopez-Fitzgerald (Christopher Douglas) collapsed while waiting for Sheridan to return with his medication.



2007: Actress Darlene Conley died at age 72. She was best known to soap fans for her roles as Sally Spectra on The Bold and the Beautiful and Rose DeVille on The Young and the Restless.

2009: Actor Ricardo Montalban died at age 88. He played Zach Powers on The Colbys and Dynasty.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Holland Taylor (ex-Jill, All My Children; ex-Denise, The Edge of Night; ex-Rught, Somerset; ex-Trish, Love is a Many Splendored Thing) - 74
T-Bone Burnett (Former Executive Music Producer, Nashville) - 69
Brandon Johnson (ex-Chuck, One Life to Live) - 49
Andrew Lawton (ex-Jake, Neighbours; ex-Logan, One Life to Live) - 39
James Scott (ex-EJ, Days of our Lives; ex-Ethan, All My Children; ex-Sutherland, EastEnders) - 38
Zach Gilford (ex-Matt, Friday Night Lights) - 35
Grant Gustin (Barry, Arrow; ex-Sebastian, Glee) - 27

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