Today in Soap Opera History (April 25)

1967: DS' Jason discovered bite marks on Willie's arm.  1978:
RH's Pat wanted a divorce from Delia.  1983: GH's Holly &
Robert shared a dance.  2007: Jessica Leccia debuted on GL.

"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...

1938: Radio serial Your Family and Mine premiered. "Share the hopes and fears, the loves and triumphs of the Wilbur family in this thrilling story-Your Family and Mine." The cast included Templeton Fox, Robert K. Adams, William P. Adams and Lucille Wall. The series ran until 1940. It was created by Lillian Laugerty, who also penned the successful series Big Sister.

1941: NBC Radio aired the final episode of soap opera Girl Alone after nearly six years on the air. Betty Winkler starred at Patricia Rogers.

1959: TV Guide magazine ran a feature on the ingenues of detergent dramas featuring The Secret Storm's Joan Hotchkis (Myra Lake), From These Roots star Sarah Hardy (Lyddy Benson), Young Doctor Malone's Kathleen Widdoes (Jill Malone), The Guiding Light's Joan Gray (Anne Benedict) and As The World Turns actress Wendy Drew (Ellen Lowell).

1967: On Dark Shadows, Jason (Dennis Patrick) forced Willie (John Karlen) to apologize to Carolyn and Elizabeth. He discovered bite marks on Willie's arm.



1969: BBC radio aired the final episode of Mrs. Dale's Diary after a 21 year run.

1977: All My Children expanded to an hour daily on a full-time basis. The show remained 60 minutes for the rest of its network television run on ABC.

1978: On Ryan's Hope, despite Delia's (Ilene Kristen) pleas for another chance, Pat (Malcolm Groome) wanted a divorce. Johnny (Bernard Barrow) and Maeve (Helen Gallagher) wanted Delia to take responsibility for her actions.



Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the item above.

1980: Gloria Loring debuted as Liz Chandler in Days of our Lives.

1980: On The Edge of Night, Jamey (James Noseworthy) was rushed to the hospital.



1983: On General Hospital, Robert (Tristan Rogers) and Holly (Emma Samms) shared a dance.



1985: On EastEnders, Sharon was exposed as the anonymous caller who was driving Sue to the edge of sanity.

1988: Jane A. Rogers debuted as Heather Donnelly in Santa Barbara.

1994: On The Young and the Restless, Cole (J. Eddie Peck) and Victor (Eric Braeden) both wanted Victoria (Heather Tom) to go to college.

2007: Jessica Leccia debuted on Guiding Light as Natalia Rivera.

CORONATION STREET's William Roache is the
longest running soap opera actor in history, having
played Ken Barlow for 54 straight years.  He passed
Don Hastings for the record shortly after CBS
canceled As The World Turns.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Lynn Hamilton (ex-Alice, Port Charles; ex-Selita, Sunset Beach; ex-Vivian, Generations; ex-Mae, The Young and the Restless) - 84
William Roache Ken, Coronation Street) - 82
Denny Miller (ex-Max, Dallas) - 80
Katherine Bruce (ex-Sandy, Dark Shadows) - 73
Jeffrey DeMunn (Dale, The Walking Dead) - 67
Neil Tadken (ex-Don, Port Charles) - 54
Lane Caudell (ex-Woody, Days of our Lives) - 52
Heather Rattray (ex-Lily, As The World Turns; ex-Wendy, Guiding Light) - 49
Gina Torres (ex-Magdalena, One Life to Live) - 45
Emily Bergl (ex-Beth, Desperate Housewives) - 39
Marguerite Moreau (ex-Monica, Life as We Know It) - 37
Sara Paxton (ex-Raina, The Beautiful Life; ex-Young Sheridan, Passions) - 29
Casey Jon Deidrick (ex-Chad, Days of our Lives; ex-Gabe, Empire) - 27

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].