Thursday, September 26, 2013

Today in Soap Opera History (September 26)

1986: Bobby was alive and well on DALLAS. Pam had only
dreamed he was dead. 1994: AMC's Erica had harsh words
for Kendall then visited Mona's grave. 1995: AW's Grant
shot his brother, Ryan, in the back. 1997: DAYS recast the
role of Jack...in a shower.
"In history, a great volume is unrolled for our instruction, drawing the materials of future wisdom from the past errors and infirmities of mankind."
― Edmund Burke

"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...

1938: Radio soap opera HOUSEBOAT HANNAH premiered on the NBC Red Network. Hard working Dan O'Leary, who lost an arm in a factory accident, moved his financially strapped family aboard a house boat in Shanty Fish Row on San Francisco Bay. Resourceful and resolute Hannah O'Leary became a mother figure to most of the Row. The theme song for Houseboat Hannah was Harry Revel and Mack Gordo's "Laugh Your Way Through Life."

1979: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, John (Larry Bryggman) told David (Henderson Forsythe) he thought Kim (Kathryn Hays) was falling apart inside after Dan's death.



1986: Actor Hugh Franklin died at age 70. His soap roles included Charles Tyler Sr. in ALL MY CHILDREN, Ralph Brown in AS THE WORLD TURNS, Ed Bridgeman in LOVE OF LIFE, Fred McNeill in YOUNG DOCTOR MALONE and Richard Garner in DARK SHADOWS.

1986: On DALLAS, Pam got out of bed and went to the show and found a much-alive Bobby. Everything that happened in the previous year was just Pam's dream.



1993: Actor Biff Warren died at age 37. He played Mark Lewis in AS THE WORLD TURNS.

1994: On ALL MY CHILDREN, Erica (Susan Lucci) told Kendall (Sarah Michelle Gellar) to go back to the Harts. Later Erica visited Mona's grave.



1995: On ANOTHER WORLD, Justine (Victoria Wyndham) shoved Rachel (Victoria Wyndham) off the train trestle. As Ryan (Paul Michael Valley) held Justine at gunpoint, Grant (Mark Pinter) pulled out his own gun and shot Ryan (Paul Michael Valley) in the back.



1997: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Jack, played by Mark Valley, started taking a shower. By the time he was finished the role of Jack was being played by Steve Wilder.



2000: Actor Richard Mulligan, who played Burt Campbell in SOAP, died at age 67.

2006: INTURN winner Alex Charak made his debut on AS THE WORLD TURNS as Elwood Hoffman.

2010: Titanic actress Gloria Stuart died at age 100. She played Catherine in GENERAL HOSPITAL.

2011: Deidre Hall, Drake Hogestyn, Austin Peck and Christie Clark returned to DAYS OF OUR LIVES as Marlena, John, Austin and Carrie.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Olivia Newton-John (ex-Bitsy, SORDID LIVES) - 65
Linda Hamilton (ex-Lauren, KING'S CROSSING; ex-Lisa, SECRETS OF MIDLAND HEIGHTS) - 57
Stephen Markle (ex-Mel, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Ted, THE EDGE OF NIGHT)
Michael Redfield (ex-Max, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 34
Jessie Pavelka (ex-Team Captain, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS) - 31
Sean Hemeon (Brady, HUSBANDS; ex-Max, AS THE WORLD TURNS)
Thore Schölermann (Christian, VERBOTENE LIEBE) - 29
Emma Rigby (ex-Hannah, HOLLYOAKS) - 24

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].

2 comments:

  1. I believe Sean Hemeon turns 32 today, because when interviewed by the L.A. Weekly at a post-election Prop. H8 protest held outside the Los Angeles Mormon Temple, he was described as a "27-year old gay, ex-Mormon" at that time (Nov. 2008).
    Interesting read about what spurred his own involvement at: http://www.laweekly.com/2008-11-13/columns/the-ex-mormon-factor/full/

    In any event, Happy Birthday!

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  2. I remember Erica practically shouting at Dr Tyler because he was hard of hearing. Dr Tyler would say, "There's no need to shout Erica!" So funny and cute. Good for Mr Franklin to be open about his hearing loss.

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