Today in Soap Opera History (November 29)

1968: DARK SHADOWS' Adam tried to kill Victoria. 1984: EON's
Calvin wanted to have children. 1985: DAYS' Shane needed
Bo's help. 1995: GH's Stone died.

"That is the supreme value of history. The study of it is the best guarantee against repeating it."
- John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir

"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...

1946: THE GUIDING LIGHT aired for the final time on NBC Radio. CBS Radio picked up the show and began airing new episodes on June 2, 1947.

1968: On DARK SHADOWS, just as Adam (Robert Rodan) was about to throw the switch that would have electrocuted Victoria (Betsy Durkin), Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) shot him.

1969: Robert Milli debuted as Wayne Addison in ANOTHER WORLD. In the episode, Wayne told Bernice (Janis Young) it would take time to swindle Steve. Ada (Constance Ford) and Ernie (Harry Bellaver) were married (offscreen) that day.

1979: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, pressure mounted on Jay (Dennis Cooney).



1982: Debbie Lytton aired for the final time as Melissa Anderson in DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

1984: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Calvin (Irving Allen Lee) pressured Didi (Mariann Aalda) to have a baby.



1984: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Shane (Charles Shaughnessy) wanted Bo's (Peter Reckell) help finding the prism.  Watch here.

1989: Gregory Burke debuted as Ben Reade in GUIDING LIGHT.

1989: On ANOTHER WORLD, Donna (Anna Stuart) and Michael (Kale Brown) were given custody of Mikey.

1991: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Shane (Charles Shaughnessy) forgave Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) for keeping the truth about Jeannie's (now known as Theresa) paternity from him.

1994: Cynthia Watros debuted on GUIDING LIGHT as Annie Dutton.

1995: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Stone (Michael Sutton) died after asking Robin (Kimberly McCullough) to stand in the light by the window so he could see her.



Read our interview with Michael Sutton here. Check out our interviews with former GH executive producer Wendy Riche here and head writer Claire Labine here. Check back on December 1st for our annual World AIDS Day features.

1995: On ALL MY CHILDREN, Adam (David Canary) bought a television station and offered Brooke (Julia Barr) her own show.



2011: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Robin (Kimberly McCullough) visited the bridge to talk with Stone and told him there was so much she wasn't going to get to see.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Jerry Lawler (WWE/WWF) - 64
John Ashton (ex-Mickey, DOCTORS; ex-Cahill, EASTENDERS) - 63
Tom Wright (ex-Eugene, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Colt, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW) - 61
Jeff Fahey (ex-Frank, LOST; ex-Gary, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 61
Charles Grant (ex-Grant, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Evan, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Preacher, THE EDGE OF NIGHT; ex-Connor, SANTA BARBARA) - 56
Sharon Smyth (ex-Sarah, DARK SHADOWS; ex-Susan, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW) - 56
Elizabeth Storm (ex-Katherine, PASSIONS; ex-Hollis, SANTA BARBARA; ex-Janice, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Leslie, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 55
Kim Delaney (ex-Claudia Joy, ARMY WIVES; ex-Jenny, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 52
Jane Cameron (ex-Nancy, ANOTHER WORLD)
David Lambert (Brandon, THE FOSTERS) - 21

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].