Thursday, December 5, 2013

Today in Soap Opera History (December 5)

1966: DARK SHADOWS' Matthew took Victoria hostage.
1985: OLTL's Tina tried to sell Viki's story to a tabloid. 1988: Y&R
debuted a new Ashley. 2006: GH's Skye made Alcazar an offer.
"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, Ellie reluctantly agreed to see Willy (Edward Holmes).

1966: On DARK SHADOWS, Matthew (Thayer David) took Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) hostage at the Old House, hiding her in a secret room behind the drawing room bookcase.

1972: James Douglas debuted as Eliot Carrington in ANOTHER WORLD. Anne Meacham made her first appearance in the same episode as Louise Goddard.

1979: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Carol (Rita Walter) begged Jay (Dennis Cooney) to tell Ralph (Keith Charles) the truth about the pricing scheme with suppliers but Jay tried to blame Don instead of admitting what he did.



1985: On ONE LIFE TO LIVE, Tina (Andrea Evans) offered the National Intruder a story if they paid her $200,000: "Victoria Buchanan is really Niki Smith."



1988: On THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Brenda Epperson debuted as Ashley Abbott. Eileen Davidson had just exited the role on Friday, December 2, after her character's onscreen husband, Dr. Steven Lassiter (Rod Arrants) died from his gunshot wounds. Epperson took over the role the following Monday and is seen here mourning Steven as sister, Traci (Beth Maitland), and father, John (Jerrry Douglas) try to console her. During Epperson's initial scenes, dim lighting and a black funeral veil were used to purposely obscure her face as part of the transition. Would you know it's not Davidson?



Thanks to FoxCrane for sending in the item above.

1990: Actor Steve Shaw died at age 25 in a car accident. He played Karen and Sid's son, Eric Fairgate, on KNOTS LANDING.

1991: On THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Victor (Eric Braeden) promised to help Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) with her drinking problem.

1994: Canada's FAMILY PASSIONS, starring Gordon Thomson, Roscoe Born, Dietmar Schönherr and a young Hayden Christiansen, premiered. The daytime soap, written by Bruce Neckels and Thom Racina, lasted 130 episodes.

1995: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Lexie (Renee Jones) wanted answers from Parrot Man and Celeste in Aremid.



2006: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Skye (Robin Christopher) offered to move in with Alcazar (Ted King) if he promised to never hurt or kill Lulu (Julie Marie Berman)



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Peter Hansen (ex-Lee, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Lee, PORT CHARLES) - 92
Harris Yulin (ex-Michael, AS THE WORLD TURN) - 76
Patricia Harty (ex-Patti, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW) - 72
Pamela Blair (ex-Elizabeth, RYAN'S HOPE; ex-Rita Mae, LOVING; ex-Ronda, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 64
Lewis Arlt (ex-David, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW; ex-David/Ken, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Richard, RYAN'S HOPE) - 64
J. Cynthia Brooks (ex-Taylor, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 62
Morgan Brittany (ex-Katherine, DALLAS) - 62
Kelley Miles (ex-Dana, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 61
Howard McGillin (ex-Roy, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 60
Philip Moon (ex-Keemo, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 52
Andrea McArdle (ex-Wendy, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW) - 50
Famke Janssen (ex-Ava, NIP/TUCK) - 49
Keith Coulouris (ex-Reid/David, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Keith, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 46
Joseph Barbara (ex-Joe, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Paolo, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 46
Judy Reyes (Zoila, DEVIOUS MAIDS) - 46
Sam Page (ex-Craig, SWITCHED AT BIRTH; Greg, MAD MEN; ex-Sam, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES; ex-Colin, GOSSIP GIRL; ex-Trey, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 37
Amy Acker (Claudia, HUSBANDS; ex-Claire, DOLLHOUSE) - 37
Jessica Paré (Megan, MAD MEN; ex-Courtney, JACK & BOBBY) - 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].

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