Today in Soap Opera History (March 9)

1987: One Life to Live's Tina went over the Iguazu Falls to
her presumed death.

"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...

1953: On LOVE OF LIFE, nine-year-old Ben "Beanie" Harper (Dennis Parnell) and his roommate planned to escape from the boarding school. Note: Christopher Reeve played Ben as an adult.



Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the item above.

1970: On DARK SHADOWS, Carolyn Stoddard (Nancy Barrett) told Jeb Hawkes (Christopher Pennock) she could not go through with the wedding.

1976: On ANOTHER WORLD, Mac (Douglass Watson) and Ada (Constance Ford) were devastated when Dave told them Rachel's baby boy didn't survive the operation.

1981: On ANOTHER WORLD, Cecile announced she and Jamie were married during Blaine's housewarming party.



1981: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Jeff (Richard Dean Anderson) was unhappy with the prospect of Heather being treated as an outpatient.



1987: On ANOTHER WORLD, Michael Hudson (Kale Browne) and Donna Love (Philece Sampler) were married.

1987: On ONE LIFE TO LIVE, in Argentina, the boat with Tina (Andrea Evans) in it went over the waterfall. A distraught Cord (John Loprieno) took out his anger on Max.



Note: Andrea Evans guest-starred in this week's episode of DEVANITY.

1987: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Margo (Hillary B. Smith) was surprised to find Barbara (Colleen Zenk) and Paul (Andrew Kavovit) at Hal's apartment.



1996: Aaron Spelling's short-lived primetime soap opera MALIBU SHORES premiered on NBC. It ran for only 10 episodes.



2001: Diane Sommerfield, who played Valerie Grant on DAYS OF OUR LIVES in the early 1980s, died at age 51.

2006: On GUIDING LIGHT, Jonathan (Tom Pelphrey) and Tammy (Stephanie Gatschet) made love.



2007: Y&R's Ashley Abbott crossed over to THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL when Eric Forrester put a plan in motion to launch a fragrance line for his new fashion house, Forrester Originals.



Thanks to Enrique for the clip above.

2011: Gothic web series RAGGED ISLE premiered. The show has since won four Indie Series Awards including Best Web Series (Drama) in 2012.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Taina Elg (ex-Olympia, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Ingrid, GUIDING LIGHT) - 84
Joyce Van Patten (ex-Janice, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Clara, YOUNG DOCTOR MALONE) - 80
Joseph Gallison (ex-Neil, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Steven, RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE; ex-Tom, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Bill, ANOTHER WORLD) - 79
Charles Siebert (ex-Wally, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Stuart, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Peter, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW) - 76
Trish Van Devere (ex-Meredith, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Patti, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW) - 71
Jaime Lyn Bauer (ex-Lorie, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Laura, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 65
Conrad Dunn (ex-Nick, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - formerly known as George Jenesky
Lauren Koslow (Kate, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Margo, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Lindsey, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 61
Brad Lockerman (ex-Zed, CAPITOL; ex-Casey, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 58
Finn Carter (ex-Sierra, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 54
Brian Lane Green (ex-Sam, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Brian, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 52
Kerr Smith (ex-Ryder, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Jack, DAWSON'S CREEK) - 42
Nathan Owens (ex-Cameron, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 30
Brittany Snow (ex-Susan, GUIDING LIGHT) - 28

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].