Today in Soap Opera History (October 2)

1946: TV's first network soap opera premiered. 1981: GH's Robert
left the WSB. 1987: Chase Gioberti died on FALCON CREST.
2009: Crystal Chappell returned to DAYS.

"We should always be aware that what now lies in the past once lay in the future."
― F.W. Maitland

"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...

1944: Procter & Gamble soap opera ROSEMARY premiered on NBC Radio. The show was created by Elaine Carrington and ran until July 1, 1955, switched from NBC to CBS on March 26, 1945.

1946: FARAWAY HILL, from David P. Lewis, premiered on the DuMont Network as the very first television soap opera broadcast on a network. The show lasted until December 18. The plot revolved around a widowed New Yorker, Karen St. John (played by Flora Campbell), who moved to a small town to be near relatives. NBC and DuMont were the only two networks in operation at that point.

WAR BRIDE is considered to be the first television soap overall, debuting a few months earlier on WRGB, a General Electric Station in Schenectady, New York. The show was the 13-part story of a returning GI and his new wife.

1963: On THE GUIDING LIGHT, Meta, Papa Bauer, and Bert waited for word on Julie, who was pregnant and had been in an accident. Bert told Meta that Julie was already pregnant when Julie and Michael got married. Bruce Banning called from the hospital and told Meta to bring Bert and Papa Bauer there at once. In the hospital waiting room with George Hayes, Michael expressed remorse over the circumstances of his marriage to Julie. In the operating room, Dr. Banning and others delivered Julie's baby girl, Hope Bauer.



1981: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, after Mike's grandmother, Molly, died an upset Noah (Rick Springfield) asked Anne out. Meanwhile, the WSB tried to fire Robert (Tristan Rogers) but he set the record straight before he left, "You didn't fire me, I quit!" Kansas City Royals teammates Amos Otis and Clint Hurdle made a guest appearance in this episode.



1984: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Pete (Michael Leon) stopped by to talk to Hope (Kristian Alfonso) about Melissa.



1985: On DYNASTY, the Carringtons returned from Moldavia to Denver for Luke Fuller's funeral.

1985: Actor Rock Hudson died at age 59.   His final role was Daniel Reece in DYNASTY.

1985: THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS star Melody Thomas (Nikki Newman) was a celebrity player on THE $25,000 PYRAMID.



1987: On the Season 7 premiere of FALCON CREST, Chase's body wasn't found in the water of the San Francisco Bay, and he was presumed dead.



1995: On LOVING, Neil (Larry Haines) told Kate (Nada Rowand) he was Gwyneth's father.



1996: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Monica (Leslie Charleson) dumped Pierce (Tuc Watkins).



2001: On THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Nick (Joshua Morrow) had dinner with Sharon (Sharon Case) and the kids. After dessert, they tucked the kids into bed and noticed how peaceful they were. Sharon wanted Nick to remember what they had together.  He reminded her that when she had him it wasn't enough for her.

2001: On ALL MY CHILDREN, Erica (Susan Lucci) demanded to know why Frankie (Elizabeth Hendrickson) was in Bianca's (Eden Riegel) bedroom.

2009: Crystal Chappell reprised her role as Dr. Carly Manning in DAYS OF OUR LIVES after a 16 year absence, along with Michael Sabatino as Lawrence Alamain.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Robin Riker (Angelica, DEVANITY; ex-Beth, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) - 61
Lorraine Bracco (ex-Janice, LIPSTICK JUNGLE; ex-Jennifer, THE SOPRANOS) - 59
Brian Regan (ex-Terry, BROOKSIDE) - 56
Kelly Ripa (ex-Hayley, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 43
Tiffany (Performer/Guest Star on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; GREEK) - 42
Brianna Brown (Taylor, DEVIOUS MAIDS; ex-Lisa, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 34
Erik Fellows (Young Steve, THE BAY; ex-Troy, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 32
Alan Simpson (ex-Henry, PASADENA) - 30

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].