Today in Soap Opera History (February 16)

1968: DS' Barnabas was shocked by what Josette looked like
in death.  1981: GH's Heather snuck out of the sanitarium and
stole a nurse's car to escape. 2009: ATWT aired a special
fairy tales episode. 2009: AMC's Reese and Bianca were
officially married

"There is no present or future, only the past happening over and over again - now."
- Eugene O'Neill

"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...

1966: On ANOTHER WORLD, John (Michael M. Ryan) tried to convince a doubtful Pat (Susan Trustman) that Mike Bauer (Gary Pillar) was the type of person he needed in his firm.

1968: On DARK SHADOWS, Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) went to Josette's (Kathryn Leigh Scott) grave and commanded her to listen to him. He told Josette he wanted her to return to him and then heard her sobbing voice. Josette told him that the dead must rest. Barnabas went to the Old House to wait for Josette in her room and continued to call for her to come to him. A figure in a white gown walked slowly through the cemetery, into the Old House, and upstairs into the bedroom where Barnabas was waiting. Barnabas was pleased to see her but Josette wanted to return to her grave. He refused to let her go back so she lifted her veil to show him what she had become in death. Barnabas was frightened and repulsed by her horribly disfigured face.

1980: John McCook (Lance, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; now Eric, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) married Laurette Spang.

1981: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Heather (Robin Mattson) snuck out of the sanitarium with plans for killing Diana after stealing a nurse's car.



1984: On GUIDING LIGHT, Lillian (Tina Sloan) asked Bradley (James Rebhorn) for a divorce.

Thanks for Jennifer for sending in the item above.

1998: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Marlena (Deidre Hall) made all the arrangements for Jennifer Horton Deveraux's (Stephanie Cameron) memorial service. At the service, friends and family members said their goodbyes to Jennifer, and Abe brought Jack (Steve Wilder) in at the last minute to comfort Abby. In an attempt to free Jack and prove Peter Blake was alive, Jennifer had faked her death.



1998: On ANOTHER WORLD, after learning Shane's (Robert Kelker Kelly) car collided with Michael's (Kale Browne), Joe (Joseph Barbara) and Donna (Anna Stuart) rushed to the crash site where they found Shane unconscious. As Donna found Vicky (Jensen Buchanan), who had been in the car but unseen by anyone, Shane was rushed to the hospital where Lila (Lisa Peluso) tried unsuccessfully to tell him she was pregnant before Shane died.



2009: On ALL MY CHILDREN, the ground-breaking wedding of Reese Williams (Tamara Braun) and Bianca Montgomery (Eden Riegel) concluded. Erica Kane (Susan Lucci) made a toast to the happy couple. Bianca wore a Grecian-inspired satin dress, designed by Monique Lhuillier, who is famous for her wedding gowns; while Reese wore a more form-fitting silk and satin design by Michael Gm.



Also in the episode, during an argument with Zach (Thorsten Kaye) Kendall (Alicia Minshew) ran Greenlee (Rebecca Budig) off the road into a ravine where she was presumed dead.

Thanks to Enrique for sending in the item above.

2009: AS THE WORLD TURNS aired a special Valentine's show. Parker (Mick Hazen) and Liberty read fairytales to Johnny, enacted by all the people Johnny was related to in one way or another.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Jill Andre (ex-Sara, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Sandy, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Corrine, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Nan, DALLAS; ex-Mrs. Cordell, SANTA BARBARA) - 79
William Katt (ex-Paul, MODELS INC.) - 63
Hunt Block (ex-Lee, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Craig, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Ben, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Guy, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Peter, KNOTS LANDING) - 61
Lisa Loring (ex-Cricket, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 56
Richard Steinmetz (ex-Joe, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Martin, PASSIONS; ex-Jeff, LOVING) - 55
Don Jeffcoat (ex-Joey, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 38
Emily Harper (ex-Fancy, PASSIONS) - 36
Agim Kaba (ex-Aaron, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 34
Kari Corbett (ex-Caroline, HOLLYOAKS) - 30
Mike Weinberg (ex-Billy, 7TH HEAVEN) - 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].