Today in Soap Opera History (April 20)

On this date in...

1942: Radio soap opera THE SECOND MRS. BURTON aired its first episode on the Blue Network.  The show had previously aired on CBS Radio.  Four months later, it moved back to CBS.

1967: During the airing of DARK SHADOWS on ABC, a boom mic could be seen hovering over Carolyn when she interrupted Elizabeth and Jason's first argument in the drawing room at Collinwood.

1984: Newcomer Don Diamont made his DAYS OF OUR LIVES debut as Carlo Forenza.

1987: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Bo and Hope sailed away as "Whatever We Imagine" played in the background.  Peter Reckell and Kristian Alfonso left the show but would return in 1990.

1999: On ANOTHER WORLD, Paulina asked Jake for a $10,000 loan.



1990: On THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Skip and Carol received bad news from Michael Crawford.



2007: Filipino primetime soap opera SANA MAULIT MULI aired its final episode.

2007: Shelley Hennig debuted as Stephanie Johnson on DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

2010: ALL MY CHILDREN aired a tribute episode to the last James Mitchell (Palmer).



Celebrating a birthday today are:
George Takei  (ex-Kaito, HEROES) - 75

Ryan O'Neal (ex-Rodney, PEYTON PLACE) - 71
Gregory Itzin (ex-Howard, SANTA BARBARA) - 64
Jane Daly (ex-Shelley/Kelly, CAPITOL; ex-Molly, BEVERLY HILLS 90210) - 64
Veronica Cartwright (Elizabeth, REVENGE; ex-Bun, EASTWICK) - 63
Jessica Lange (Constance, AMERICAN HORROR STORY) - 63
Steven Hack (ex-Leonard, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 54
Mike Pniewski (Frank, THE GOOD WIFE; ex-Ron, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Les, SANTA BARBARA) - 51
Tim Maculan (ex-Father Jack, SIX FEET UNDER) - 49
Susan Cookson (ex-Judy, EMMERDALE) - 47
Adam Caine (ex-Edmund, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 45
William deVry (Patrick, NIKITA; ex-Storm, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Michael, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Tim, PORT CHARLES) - 44
Shemar Moore (ex-Malcolm, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 42
Brody Hutzler (Kenneth, THE BAY; ex-Patrick, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Zachary, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Cody, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Joseph, SCRIPTS & SCRUPLES) - 41
Scott Beehner  (ex-Frank, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 39
Natasha Symms (ex-Zoe, CORONATION STREET; ex-Kate, HOLLYOAKS) - 34
Nicky Evans (ex-Roy, EMMERDALE) - 33
Van Hughes (ex-Cole, GENERAL HOSPITAL/ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Gil, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 29
Joanne King (ex-Lady Rochford, THE TUDORS) - 29
Katie Foster (Gwen, ORANGE JUICE IN BISHOP'S GARDEN) - 28
Billy Magnussen (ex-Casey, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 27
John Patrick Amedori  (ex-Aaron, GOSSIP GIRL) - 25

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].