Today in Soap Opera History (April 16)

On this date in...

1945: NBC Radio premiered a new soap, BARRY CAMERON. Spencer Bentley starred as Barry Cameron, a veteran returning from three years of war. Richard Leonard and Peggy Blake were the the writers of the 15-minute show which lasted until October 11, 1946.

1975: On ANOTHER WORLD, Dave told Alice they have a ten-year-old girl in the emergency room whose parents, "Peter R. (35) and Janet (27) Spencer," were just killed in a car crash on Route 43. A month later, Alice began thinking about adopting the girl, Sally Spencer.

1980: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Raven was furious to find Calvin and Star babysitting Jaimey.



1987: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Calliope's dog Martha, married the dog that got her pregnant, Reggie.



1991: On ONE LIFE TO LIVE, Bo wondered what Jessica was doing in the woods.

1993: On ALL MY CHILDREN, Kendall (Sarah Michelle Gellar) blurted out to Myrtle that Erica was her mother.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Peter Mark Richman (ex-C.C., SANTA BARBARA; ex-Andrew, DYNASTY; ex-Maynard, DALLAS; ex-Lawrence, BEVERLY HILLS 90210) - 85
Anita Carey (ex-Joyce, CORONATION STREET) - 64
Robin Eisenman (ex-Kelly, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; temp-Nikki, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 59
Scott McKinsey (Director, GENERAL HOSPITAL; Former Director: GENERAL HOSPITAL: NIGHT SHIFT; PORT CHARLES; AS THE WORLD TURNS; GUIDING LIGHT; SEARCH FOR TOMORROW) - 53
Michael Gill (ex-Dr. Hawkins, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Grant, GUIDING LIGHT) - 52
Claire Beckman (ex-Silver, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Sabrina, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 51
Donna Alexander (ex-Kristen, CORONATION STREET) - 47
Gerardo Mejía (ex-Fonseca/Ramon, SANTA BARBARA) - 47
Toby Poser (ex-Amanda, GUIDING LIGHT) - 43
James Watson (ex-John, FAIR CITY) - 42
Sean Maher (Marcus, MAKE IT OR BREAK IT; ex-Adam, PARTY OF FIVE) - 37
Kelli O'Hara (ex-Leslie, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 36
Nikki Griffin (ex-Jess, THE O.C.; ex-Kelly, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 34
Natalie Blair (ex-Carmella, NEIGHBOURS) - 28
Claire Foy (Lady Persephone, UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS) - 28
Rhiana Griffith (ex-Aimee, HOME AND AWAY) - 27
Neil Haskell (ex-Male Dancer, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 25
Lily Loveless (ex-Naomi, SKINS) - 22
Alina Foley (ex-Claire, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 9

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you would like to submit a piece of soap opera history for this daily column, please email it to [email protected].