Today in Soap Opera History (February 24)

1969: DS' Barnabas found Maggie in 19th century clothes.
1981: GH's Jeff accused Heather of lying about Steven Lars.
1984: DAYS' Eugene thought he was losing his mind.
2003: GH's Alexis threatened Scott.

"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...

1969: On DARK SHADOWS, Barnabas found Maggie sewing in the drawing room, wearing the blue 19th century dress. When he called her by name she asked who he was and why he called her by that name.

1975: On ANOTHER WORLD, Ada (Constance Ford) worried Mac (Douglass Watson) would spoil Jamie the way he spoiled Iris.

1978: On ONE LIFE TO LIVE, Richard Abbott (Luke Reilly) asked Becky Lee Hunt (Jill Voight) to marry him ("What day next week are you free to get married?").



1981: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Jeff (Richard Dean Anderson) accused Heather (Robin Mattson) of faking amnesia and knowing for years that PJ was actually their son, Steven Lars.



1984: On GUIDING LIGHT, Beth (Judi Evans) told her mother, Lillian (Tina Sloan), that she had been raped by her step-father, Bradley.

Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the item above.

1984: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Eugene (John de Lancie) was convinced he was losing his mind when he saw Roman's (Wayne Northrop) "ghost" in the cellar.



1989: On DALLAS, Cally (Cathy Podewell) told J.R. (Larry Hagman) she was pregnant.

1993: Deborah Adair debuted as Kate Roberts in DAYS OF OUR LIVES. She played the role until April 24, 1995.

2000: On PASSIONS, Ivy (Kim Johnston Ulrich) encouraged Theresa (Lindsay Hartley) to come clean.



2003: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) threatened Scott (Kin Shriner) with a letter opener.



2009: On GUIDING LIGHT, Olivia (Crystal Chappell) tried to downplay her feelings about Natalia (Jessica Leccia).



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Jean Alexander (ex-Hilda, CORONATION STREET) - 88
Barry Bostwick (Jerry, SCANDAL) - 69
Debra Jo Rupp (ex-Edna, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Victoria, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 63
Mark Moses (ex-Paul, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES) - 56
Susan Scannell (ex-Gabrielle, RYAN'S HOPE; ex-Roxanne, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Kathy, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Nicole, DYNASTY; ex-Becky, ANOTHER LIFE; ex-Kristin, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW) - 56
Bonnie Somerville (ex-Caitlin, CASHMERE MAFIA; ex-Rachel, THE O.C.) - 39
Jay Kenneth Johnson (ex-Phillip, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 37
Wilson Bethel (Wade, HART OF DIXIE; ex-Ryder, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 30
Andrew Trischitta (ex-Jack, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 19

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].