Today in Soap Opera History (December 12)

1979: EON's Geraldine updated her will. 1986: RH's Rick and
Ryan had trouble finding time for each other. 1995: OLTL's
Viki remembered Tori killed Victor.  2003: ATWT's Rose 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...

1957: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Ed (Les Damon) confessed his guilt to Mike about stabbing Thompson in the back.

1970: Actress Carolyn Craig, who played Cynthia Allison in GENERAL HOSPITAL, died at age 36.

1972: Mike Hammett debuted as Dennis Carrington in ANOTHER WORLD.

1979: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Bennett (Doug Higgins) gave Lisa (Eileen Fulton)a copy of his novel which included a special message for Lisa in the last paragraph: "And so it was Lisa who finally taught me what love and loving are all about. Like her laughter, she'll always be in my memory, and wherever I go and whatever I do that's worthwhile in my lifetime, it will be because she once loved me."



1979: On ANOTHER WORLD, Jeff (Dan Hamilton) tried to force Iris (Beverlee McKinsey) to swallow pills.

1979: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Geraldine (Lois Kibbee) named Jamey her beneficiary.



1984: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Alice (Frances Reid) advised Hope (Kristian Alfonso) to give Bo (Peter Reckell) time to come around.



1986: On RYAN'S HOPE, Rick (Grant Show) was frustrated by Ryan's (Yasmine Bleeth) schedule.



Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the item above.

1988: On LOVING, Stacey (Lauren-Marie Taylor) battled for custody of her son.

1995: On ONE LIFE TO LIVE, Viki (Erika Slezak) confessed that Tori had killed Victor Lord and not Dorian (Robin Strassser).



2003: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Rose D'Angelo (Martha Byrne) died after asking Paul (Roger Howarth), "Why did you do this to me?"



2006: On ALL MY CHILDREN, Erin Lavery (Connie Fletcher) was killed by the Satin Slayer.

2007: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Emma (Kathleen Widdoes) invited Noah (Jake Silbermann) to the farm for Christmas.



Thanks to Stacey for sending in the item above.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Dan Hamilton (ex-David, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Robert, THE SECRET STORM; ex-Hal, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Jeff, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Wade, THE EDGE OF NIGHT; ex-Thornton, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Eric, DALLAS) - 68
Wings Hauser (ex-Greg, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Jay, BEVERLY HILLS, 90210) - 66
Ernie (Townsend) Pysher (ex-Cliff, THE EDGE OF NIGHT; ex-Kent, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Larry, FALCON CREST) - 65
Ana Alicia (ex-Melissa, FALCON CREST; ex-Alicia, RYAN'S HOPE) - 56
Sheree J. Wilson (Claudia, DEVANITY; ex-April, DALLAS) - 55
Holly Gagnier (ex-Ivy, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Cassie, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 51
Teresa Blake (ex-Gloria, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 50
Burke Moses (ex-Curtis, LOVING; ex-Briggs, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Sean, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Bulge, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Andrew, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 49
Mädchen Amick (ex-Catherine, GOSSIP GIRL; ex-Carrie, CENTRAL PARK WEST; ex-Shelly, TWIN PEAKS) - 43
Regina King (ex-Sandra, 24; ex-LOVING) - 43
Rod Brogan (ex-Tripp, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 40
Mayim Bialik (ex-Wilameena, THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER) - 38

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].