Thursday, February 22, 2018

Today in Soap Opera History (February 22)

1961: Edge of Night's Sara Karr died.
1989: Guiding Light's Harley married Alan-Michael.
1996: John's life was spared on Days of our Lives.
2011: Brenda and Sonny's wedding was interrupted on GH, but
the couple was married after Brenda's confession.
"Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."
― Machiavelli

"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...

1949: On Lorenzo Jones, Belle (Lucille Wall) got the results of her aptitude test and learned that she has musical talent. But Lorenzo (Lucille Wall) became angry, believing she was neglecting her household chores in order to take piano lessons.

1961: On The Edge of Night, Sara Karr had saved her daughter Laurie on the Friday, Februry 17, 1961 episode but was hit by a speeding car. Sara was in a coma on Monday and Tuesday and died during this (following Wednesday) episode.

Fans were outraged (at least 2,500 protest letters) leading to Teal Ames (Sara) and John Larkin (Mike) doing an on-camera appeal to viewers the next day assuring them that the actress was fine and just wanted to leave the show.

"We could have done the usual thing--sent Sara away on a long trip (at least six weeks), and had another actress pick up the part," the ad agency for EDGE said at the time. "But this would not have been satisfactory. We decided to make it quick and clean, not one of those 17-week illnesses."



1977: On Another World, Clarice insisted she was not interested in Jeff or Burt because Cory came first in her life.

1980: On The Edge of Night, Elliot Dorn (Lee Godart) was forced to verify his alibi during Draper's trial.



1984: On All My Children, Erica (Susan Lucci) tried to convince Tom (Richard Shoberg) that Brooke was jealous of her and went after every man she cared about.



Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the item above.

1985: On Santa Barbara, Peter Flint (Stephen Meadows) took Amy (Kerry Sherman) hostage.



1988: On All My Children, Palmer (James Mitchell) fired Jackson (Walt Willey).



Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the item above.

1989: On Guiding Light, Harley Davidson Cooper (Beth Ehlers) married Alan-Michael Spaulding (Carl T. Evans).



1996: On Days of our Lives, the governor granted John Black (Drake Hogestyn) a stay of execution.

1999: Shari Shattuck and Sandra Nelson last aired as Ashley Abbott and Phyllis Summers on The Young and the Restless.

Thanks to Enrique for sending in the item above.

2004: On primetime soap, American Dreams, daytime vets, John Aniston and Frances Reid, made cameo appearances as "Mr. Victor" and "Alice" while watching that "new show" (Days of our Lives) on a TV set at Jack Pryor's (Tom Verica) electronics store (ca. 1966).

Thanks to FoxCrane for sending in the item above.

2008: Aloma Wright debuted as Maxine Landis in Days of our Lives.

2011: On General Hospital, Brenda (Vanessa Marcil) stopped her wedding to Sonny (Maurice Benard) while Carly watched close by ready to reveal what she knew about Brenda and Dante. Later, Sonny asked her to continue the wedding and the couple was married.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Donald May (ex-Grant, Texas; ex-Brad, Falcon Crest; ex-Adam, The Edge of Night; ex-Mayor, One Life to Live) - 91
Rebecca Schull (ex-Twyla, One Life to Live; ex-Nurse Dunphy, Ryan's Hope) - 89
Geoffrey Scott (ex-Billy, Guiding Light; ex-Mark, Dynasty; ex-Sky, Dark Shadows; ex-David, General Hospital; ex-Jeffrey, Where the Heart Is) - 76
Leslie Charleson (Monica, General Hospital; ex-Iris; Love is a Many Splendored Thing; ex-Alice, As the World Turns) - 73
Arthur French (ex-Al, Another World) - 69
Kyle MacLachlan (Dale, Twin Peaks; ex-Orson, Desperate Housewives) - 59
Ethan Wayne (ex-Storm, The Bold and the Beautiful) - 56
James Wlcek (ex-Linc, As the World Turns; ex-Jack, One Life to Live; ex-Ben, Ryan's Hope) - 54
Thorsten Kaye (Ridge, The Bold and the Beautiful; ex-Nick, Smash; ex-Zach, All My Children, ex-Ian, Port Charles; ex-Patrick, One Life to Live) - 52
Jeri Ryan (ex-Charlotte, The O.C.; ex-Valerie, Melrose Rose) - 49
Michael Rodrick (ex-Cameron, Another World) - 48
Lea Salonga (ex-Lien, As the World Turns) - 47
Liza Huber (ex-Gwen, Passions) - 43
Dichen Lachman (ex-Katya, Neighbours) - 36
Zach Roerig (Matt, The Vampire Diaries; ex-Cash, Friday Night Lights; ex-Casey, As the World Turns) - 33
Josh Helman (ex-Denni, Home and Away) - 32

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

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