Today in Soap Opera History (September 30)

1966: A ghost emerged from Josette's portrait on DARK
SHADOWS. 1978: Lucy was devastated when Gary and
Val left Dallas again.  1982: KNOT LANDING's Karen met
Mack Mackenzie.  1985: Despite Tey's death, Frisco told
Robert he will wanted to go through with their plan.

"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...

1966: On DARK SHADOWS, David took Victoria to the Old House to show her the ghosts. After they left, a ghost emerged from the portrait of Josette Collins.



1978: On DALLAS, J.R. (Larry Hagman) set Gary (David Ackroyd) up to fail in a Ewing Oil business deal and he ended up leaving town, despite Valene (Joan Van Ark) begging him to stay for Lucy's (Charlene Tilton) sake. When Val asked J.R. what her future was in Dallas, J.R. told her, "Well, $5,000 and an escort out of the state?" She asked him if there were any other options to which he replied, "An escort out of the state." Lucy was devastated to be without her parents again.



This was David Ackroyd's last appearance as Gary Ewing. He was unavailable to take on the role when it was decided to branch Gary and Valene off to KNOTS LANDING, so Ted Shackelford took over the role in December 1979.

1980: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Raven's lawyer, Jason Ruthlidge, grilled April about her presumed love affair with Logan while Draper was presumed dead.



1982: On KNOTS LANDING, Karen (Michele Lee) met U.S. attorney Marion Patrick "Mack" MacKenzie (Kevin Dobson) after barging into the Federal Prosecutor's office, where he was handling Sid's case.



1985: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Robert (Tristan Rogers) told Anna (Finola Hughes) and Grant (Brian Patrick Clarke) he was washing his hands of Frisco (Jack Wagner), while Felicia was upset that Frisco was missing.



1986: On SANTA BARBARA, Cruz (A Martinez) forced Keith (Justin Deas) to resign as District Attorney.



1991: On ANOTHER WORLD, Rachel (Victoria Wyndham) prepared for Carl's trial as she hid her blurring vision. Meanwhile, Jenna reeled from cutting Matt and Dean out of her life, and Cass (Stephen Schnetzer) confronted Frankie (Alice Barrett) about her pregnancy.

1994: Actor Sydney Walker died at age 73.  He played Dr. Bruce Banning on THE GUIDING LIGHT in the early 1970s.

1999: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Margo (Ellen Dolan) visited Cass Winthrop (Stephen Schnetzer) at his law office in Bay City to find out more about the identity of Eddie's father, Alec Wallace.

2002: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Jack (Michael Park) and Carly (Maura West) were at odds over her working with Craig.



2005: On PASSIONS, Alistair (John Reilly) told the guests at his wedding to Theresa (Lindsay Hartley) he had a gift for all of them.



2011: On EASTENDERS, Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd) paid Vanessa to leave Walford.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Barbara Knox (Rita, CORONATION STREET) - 80
Elizabeth Burr (ex-Barbara, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Noreen, LOVING) - 72
Marilyn McCoo (ex-Tamara, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 70
Ellen Parker (ex-Maureen, GUIDING LIGHT) - 64
Barry Williams (ex-Hannibal, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Greg, THE BRADYS) - 59
William Christian (ex-Derek, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Marshall, ANOTHER WORLD) - 58
Susan Keith (ex-Shana, LOVING; ex-Cecile, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Sam, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 54
Eric Stoltz (ex-Daniel, CAPRICA) - 52
Andrea Roth (ex-Catherine, RINGER) - 46
Ashley Hamilton (ex-Cole, SUNSET BEACH) - 39
Lacey Chabert (ex-Bianca, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 31

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].