Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Today in Soap Opera History (December 11)

1968: Susan Seaforth debuted on DAYS as Julie. 1979: ATWT's
Lisa faced off with Hester at The Willows. 1995: AW's Donna
sang to a suspicious Matt. 1998: Brooke's Bedroom made
it's debut on B&B.
"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...

1957: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Peter Dalton (Stephen Elliott) won the election by a landslide.

1968: Susan Seaforth Hayes debuted as Julie Olson in DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

1974: On ANOTHER WORLD, Iris (Beverlee McKinsey) informed Louise (Anne Meacham) that Liz was moving in with them.

1979: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Lisa (Eileen Fulton) had one final showdown with Hester (Ann Stanchfield) as her story at The Willows concluded.



1979: On ANOTHER WORLD, Eileen Simpson Perrini (Vicky Dawson) died.

1984: Actor Richard McMurray died at age 68.  He played Dr. Mel Bailey in DAYS OF OUR LIVES in the late 1960s and 1970s.

1986: Actor Paul Keenan (Todd Chandler, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; Tony Driscoll, DYNASTY) died at age 31 due to complications from the AIDS virus. Check out our recent World AIDS Day tributes here, which also include actor Tom Fuccello, who was born 77 years ago today.

1991: On THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Paul (Doug Davidson) was upset when he woke up in bed with Lauren (Tracey E. Bregman).

1995: On ANOTHER WORLD, Donna (Anna Stuart) sang "Someone Like You" to Matt (Matt Crane).



1995: On ALL MY CHILDREN, Julia (Sydney Penny) was chloroformed by Louie Greco (John Millard), who then carried her out of Noah's apartment.



1995: On ONE LIFE TO LIVE, Blair (Kassie DePaiva) told Viki (Erika Slezak) that she was pregnant, and Todd wasn't the father. Meanwhile, Patrick (Thorsten Kaye) tried to convince Marty (Susan Haskell) they could still work things out in spite of the baby.



1998: On THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, Forrester Creations held a press conference to launch the company's new Brooke's Bedroom division. But Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) had her own ideas on how to launch the line bearing her name, so she crashed her own party!



Thanks to FoxCrane for sending in the item above.

2000: Actor David Lewis died at age 84.  He was nominated for five Daytime Emmy Awards during his run on GENERAL HOSPITAL as Edward Quartermaine, winning in 1982.

2003: Heather Tom debuted as Kelly Cramer in ONE LIFE TO LIVE.

2009: ALL MY CHILDREN taped for the final time in New York City.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Rita Moreno (ex-Sister Peter Marie, OZ) - 82
Steven Karpf (Co-Creator, CAPITOL; Writer, DYNASTY) - 74
Patrick Tovatt (ex-Cal, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Zane, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Matt, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW; ex-Chuck, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Richard, RYAN'S HOPE) - 73
Donna Mills (ex-Abby, KNOTS LANDING; ex-Sherry, MELROSE PLACE; ex-Laura, LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING; ex-Rocket, THE SECRET STORM) - 73
Jermaine Jackson (Guest Star, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 59
Randy Reinholz (ex-Adam, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 52
Max Martini (Koz, CRISIS; ex-Frank, REVENGE) - 44
Jesse Davis (ex-Eric, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 29
Jessica Davis (ex-Sami, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 29

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].

7 comments:

  1. I thought Lisa's dress caught on fire or something during a confrontation with Hester as I read in the ATWT book put out about 15 years ago, or more.

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    Replies
    1. I've read accounts like that too but don't any any video of anything like that. I also read Grant was at The Willows for the ending and he wasn't there.

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    2. There's a clip of a candle falling and accidentally lighting Lisa's dress on fire and Grant entering soon after during the 40th Anniversary montage. After hearing of the Willows story I thought it was part of that. Here's a link (if I posted it correctly)

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34lSzx19FgE&feature=share

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    3. I have so enjoyed watching this story line. I loved everything about it, but especially not knowing for sure that Hester was responsible for all the bad things happening at The Willows.

      Roger, what happened to the scenes of Hester wearing Lisa's wedding dress, surrounded by candles? Please tell me we can see that somewhere. Thanks, Tracie

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  2. Happy Anniversary to Susan Seaforth Hayes. Are there any other current actors that started in the 60s?

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    Replies
    1. I'm not sure if you mean started on Days or started in soaps in general, but Peggy McCay, who is currently still working on Days, actually started on Love of Life in the 50s!

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  3. Lisa's dress caught on fire during a confrontation with crazy Joyce Hughes in a 1979 episode. I remember the scene visibly. Joyce was supposed to have been killed in a car crash after it was discovered that she had shot her husband played by Conrad Fowkes. She set up a plan to kill her lover Ralph Mitchell but shot her husband by mistake. In true soap opera fashion Joyce was not killed in the car crash and returned to Oakdale. It was after she returned that she had the confrontation with Lisa which led to Lisa's dress being caught on fire by a falling lit candle.

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