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| 1974: The first Daytime Emmys ceremony was held in New York. 1980: All My Children's Benny tried to get Estelle help. 1990: General Hospital's Shep Casey looked familiar to Anna. 2013: The Young and the Restless aired a special Jeanne Cooper episode. |
- Thomas Carlyle
"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...
1970: On Dark Shadows, Maggie Collins was trying to preserve her marriage to Quentin (David Selby) unaware his first wife, Angelique, had been brought back from the dead, murdered her twin, Alexis, and assumed her identity in Collinwood to get Quentin back. After he found Maggie reading love letters he wrote to Angelique, Quentin became angry and told the family to cancel the following night's masquerade ball. Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) remained suspicious of "Alexis" when she feigned sympathy over Maggie and Quentin's strained union. After Liz convinced Quentin to continue with the party, "Alexis" and her scheming servant, Hoffman, helped Maggie choose a period dress. Maggie didn't realize that it was Angelique's favorite gown until Quentin saw it on her at the gala and stormed off as "Alexis" savored her moment of triumph.
1974: The first Daytime Emmy Awards were held at New York's Rockefeller Center. The 90-minute special aired on NBC at 12 p.m. (Noon) ET. Performers included Mary Stuart and Bill Hayes. Presenters included Ann Flood, Forrest Compton, Arlene Francis, Jacqueline Courtney, Larry Keith, Soupy Sales, Rodney Allen Rippy, Mary Fickett, Ellen Holly, Al Freeman, Jr., Geoff Edwards, Dennis James, Henderson Forsythe, Rosemary Prinz, Susan Seaforth, Bill Hayes, and Jack Gilford.
Below are the Daytime Drama winners (the technical categories mixed all genres at the time):
Outstanding Drama Series: The Doctors
Best Actor: Macdonald Carey, Days of our Lives
Best Actress: Elizabeth Hubbard, The Doctors
Best Individual Director: Wes Kenney, Days of our Lives
Outstanding Technical Direction and Electronic Camerawork: One Life to Live
Outstanding Lighting Direction: The Young and the Restless
Best Writing: Henry Slesar, The Edge of Night
Outstanding Art Direction or Scenic Design: The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Sound Mixing: Days of our Lives
1975: On Another World, Gil (Dolph Sweet) broke it to Rachel (Victoria Wyndham) that Steve had been killed in a helicopter crash on the way to the airport in Sydney.
1980: On Guiding Light, Morgan (Kristen Vigard) became upset with Kelly (John Wesley Shipp) for giving Tim (Kevin Bacon) false encouragement.
1980: On All My Children, Benny (Vasili Bogazianos) did his best to encourage a hospitalized Estelle.
1982: Elizabeth Berridge aired for the final time as Allison Linden on NBC daytime drama Texas.
1984: On Ryan's Hope, Johnno (Jadrien Steele) told Johnny (Bernard Barrow) that Jillian hated him. Meanwhile, Roger (Ron Hale) fell during a violent confrontation with Frank (Geoffrey Pierson).
1986: Original As the World Turns cast member Don MacLaughlin died at age 79. His last ATWT appearance was the show's 30th anniversary in April, which was billed as a 50th anniversary celebration for Chris and Nancy Hughes (Helen Wagner).
1990: On General Hospital, Anna (Finola Hughes) was watching the evening news when she noticed that anchorman Shep Casey (Bradley Lockerman) looked just like Casey the Alien.
2003: Actress Martha Scott died at the age of 90. Her soap roles included Margaret Millington in Secrets of Midland Heights, Patricia Shepard on Dallas, and Jennifer Talbot in General Hospital.
2003: Actor Peter MacLean died at age 67. His soap roles included Shawn Brady on Days of our Lives, Governor Harrison in Rituals, Scott McKenzie on Somerset, John Rainey in Where the Heart Is, and Hugh Clayborn on The Secret Storm.
2004: Actor Gerald Anthony died at age 54. His soap roles included Marco Dane on both One Life to Live and General Hospital, and Rick Madison in Another World.
2013: The Young and the Restless aired a special tribute episode in honor of Jeanne Cooper. The episode is nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award this year in the Outstanding Special Class Special category.
Celebrating a birthday today are:
Sally Stark (ex-Sharon, Days of our Lives; ex-Trish, Guiding Light) - 76
Rudy Giuliani (Guest Star, Guiding Light) - 70
Clement von Franckenstein (ex-Guy, All My Children) - 70
Leah Ayres (ex-Valerie; The Edge of Night; ex-Marcia, The Bradys) - 57
Bruce McDonald (Director, Degrassi; Queer as Folk) - 55
Kylie Minogue (ex-Charlene, Neighbours) - 46
Alicia Minshew (Sara, Beacon Hill; ex-Kendall, All My Children) - 40
Elisabeth Hasselbeck (Guest Star, All My Children; Ugly Betty) - 37
Jesse Bradford (ex-Ryan, The West Wing) - 35
Emily O'Brien (ex-Jana, The Young and the Restless) - 29
Joseph Cross (ex-Casey, As the World Turns) - 28
I thought Mary Fickett won the first Daytime Emmy Award for Lead Actress.
ReplyDeleteMary Fickett actually won at the Primetime Emmys in 1973. They added a "Outstanding Achievement by Individuals in Daytime Drama" category that year that mixed actors, actresses, directors, etc into one category. The next year (1974) Daytime got its own ceremony.
DeleteThe Primetime Emmys had a Daytime category in 1968 as well but didn't award a winner because apparently they didn't feel anyone in daytime was worthy.
Mary Stuart from SFT was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 1962 in the "Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead)" category but lost to Shirley Booth from Hazel.
Sally Stark (Mrs. Ron Harper) also played Katie Phillips on "Love of Life".
ReplyDeleteThis Year would be a perfect time to give Elizabeth Hubbard a Lifetime Achievement Award since it will be 40 years since she won her Daytime Emmy. (Still hard to comprehend how she never won for ATWT!)
ReplyDeleteThere are so many deserving soap actors (and crew) from the past that have never been honored by the academy has given the Lifetime Achievement award to people like The View's Bill Geddie and others. I just posted this week the 1993 Emmys in which Doug Marland was given the award AFTER he had just died. I really hope someone figures this out and honors some of the greats while they are still around to be celebrated.
DeleteITA agree, Roger! So many daytime soap legends who are in their 70s and 80s. Now is the time to give them their due. I think Kathryn Hays needs to be recognized as well and I'm sure you can think of others.
DeleteI much prefer the idea of seeing these actors be able to get onstage and enjoy the recognition.
Posthumous awards make me kinda sad.
Roger, shouldn't you be on this Happy Birthday list? If it is indeed your Birthday, Happy Happy Birthday and Wishing you Many More!
ReplyDeleteContinued success & Happiness/Fulfillment to You!