Today in Soap Opera History (September 17)

2010: CBS aired the final episode of AS THE WORLD TURNS.

"History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves, and of our common humanity, so that we can better face the future."
― Robert Penn Warren

"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...

1959: On THE RIGHT TO HAPPINESS, Carolyn's (Claudia Morgan) husband Lee need (Les Damon) to make a sudden business trip to New York, which fed into her insecurity that Lee's priority was his beautiful widowed client, Sharon (Claire Niesen).

1962: Rex Ingram became the first African American featured on a daytime soap opera in a contract role when he appeared as an ordained minister named Victor Graham in THE BRIGHTER DAY. Sadly, the soap aired its final episode 11 days later on September 28.

1974: Actress Claudia Morgan died at age 63. She played Mildred Bryer on THE EDGE OF NIGHT in 1958-1959.

1981: On ANOTHER WORLD, Clarice (Gail Brown) continued to receive strange phone calls while Jamie (Richard Bekins) told Rachel (Victoria Wyndham) and Ada (Constance Ford) he was going to to Cory Cabin alone.



1981: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Mikkos brought Luke and Laura to the control room where Luke ordered the guards to put their guns down by threatening them with explosives.



1984: Actor Berkeley Harris died. His soap roles included Phil Roberts on TEXAS, Peter Willis in HOW TO SURVIVE A MARRIAGE and Joe Werner on THE GUIDING LIGHT. He was married to daytime superstar Beverlee McKinsey. The two met when they both starred in LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING where he played Jim Whitman. His daughter was Susan Harris, who is known for creating many primetime series including SOAP and THE GOLDEN GIRLS.

1984: On ANOTHER WORLD, Sally (Mary Page Keller) shot Catlin (Thomas Ian Griffith).

1986: Camilla More debuted as Gillian Forrester in DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

1991: Tom Spackman played the role of Grant Harrison for this episode, temporarily replacing Dack Rambo who aired for the final time the next day. Mark Pinter took over the role on September 27.

2001: At the end of its first aired episode since the 9/11 terrorist attack, the cast of DAYS OF OUR LIVES sang "America The Beautiful."



2006: Actor Edwin Owens died at age 64.  His soap roles included Frank Schuster on SANTA BARBARA and Ralph Fletcher in GENERAL HOSPITAL.

2007: PASSIONS made its DirecTV debut on The 101 Network after an eight-year run on NBC.



2009: On THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Colleen Carton (Tammin Sursok) was drowning in the water when her late father Brad (Don Diamont) appeared and took her in his arms.



2010: AS THE WORLD TURNS aired its final episode after 54 years on CBS.  Read Irna Phillips original story bible for the show here.



Earlier in the day, CBS' THE EARLY SHOW aired a feature on the end of AS THE WORLD TURNS.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Aaron Lustig (ex-Tim, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Tim, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) - 57
Kyle Chandler (ex-Eric, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS; ex-Dylan, GREY'S ANATOMY) - 48
Suzy Cote (ex-Samantha, GUIDING LIGHT) - 45
Matthew Settle (ex-Rufus, GOSSIP GIRL; ex-Jonathan, BROTHERS & SISTERS) - 44
Nate Berkus (DAYS OF OUR LIVES guest star) - 42
Felix Solis (ex-Benicio, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 42
Erika Page (ex-Amber, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Roseanne, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 38
Constantine Maroulis (ex-Constantine, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) - 38
Billy Miller (Billy, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Charlie, RINGER; ex-Richie, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 34
Sandra Vidal (ex-Sofia, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL)
Augustus Prew (ex-Prince Alfonso, THE BORGIAS) - 26
Denyse Tontz (Miranda, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 19

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].