Today in Soap Opera History (September 13)

1977: Soap premiered. 1979: Raven clashed with Elliott on The 
Edge of Night. 1985: Days of our Lives' Marlena & Richard
made love.  1985: General Hospital's Anna
told Robert that Robin was his daughter.

"Prepare for the unknown by studying how others in the past have coped with the unforeseeable and the unpredictable."
George S. Patton

"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: Susan Lucci and Helmet Huber were married. Lucci joined All My Children for its debut a few months later playing ambitious teenager Erica Kane. The Hubers are celebrating their 45th anniversary today.

1977: Primetime comedic serial Soap premiered on ABC. The show told the story of two families, the affluent Tates and their working-class relatives, the Campbells. In the first episode, Burt fought with his stepson, Danny, over Danny's mob connections; and Jessica committed her first act of infidelity with her daughter's lover, tennis-pro Peter Campbell.



1977: On Guiding Light, Ben McFarren (Stephen Yates) told Eve Stapleton (Janet Grey) that he loved her for the first time.

Thanks to Scott for sending in the item above.

1979: On The Edge of Night, Elliott asked Raven (Sharon Gabet) how she could love someone else when she didn't even like herself.



1985: On General Hospital, Anna (Finola Hughes) admitted to Robert (Tristan Rogers) that Robin (Kimberly McCullough) was his daughter. Frisco (Jack Wagner) learned Josh Clayton (Jimmy McNichol) had died.



1985: On Days of our Lives, Marlena (Deidre Hall) and Richard (Rod Arrants) made love for the first time.



1990: In the Season 12 premiere of Knots Landing, Kathleen Noone and Stacy Galina debuted as Claudia and Kate Whittaker.

1999: On All My Children, Trevor (James Kiberd) body slammed Adam (David Canary) during a fight about Hayley and Mateo.



2000: On Passions, Rebecca (Andrea Evans) warned Gwen (Liza Huber) that Theresa still had a week before the wedding to work her wiles on Ethan.



2001: Actress Dorothy McGuire died at age 85.  She played Victor Newman's mother, Cora Miller, on The Young and the Restless.

2004: Julie Pinson debuted as Billie Reed in Days of our Lives.

2009: CBS Sunday Morning aired a segment on the end of Guiding Light after more than 75 years on television and radio.



2009: Actor Tom O'Rourke, best known for playing Justin Marler on Guiding Light, died at age 65. He also appeared on One Life to Live and Santa Barbara.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Gene Dynarski (ex-Jed, General Hospital) - 82

As the World Turns legend Eileen Fulton.

Eileen Fulton (ex-Lisa, As the World Turns; ex-Lisa, Our Private World) - 81
Joe E. Tata (ex-Rudy, General Hospital; ex-Nat, 90210; ex-Nat, Beverly Hills, 90210; ex-Warren, Days of our Lives) - 78
Jacqueline Bisset (ex-James, Nip/Tuck) - 70
Jean Smart (ex-Martha, 24) - 63
Randy Jones (ex-Cowboy, Texas) - 62
Geri Jewell (ex-Rose, The Young and the Restless) - 58
Roger Howarth (Franco/ex-Todd, General Hospital; ex-Todd, One Life to Live; ex-Paul, As the World Turns; ex-Jory, Guiding Light; ex-Kent, Loving) - 46
Tyler Perry (Creator, The Haves and the Have Nots; If Loving You Is Wrong) - 45
Dominic Fumusa (ex-Gray, As the World Turns) - 45
Jason Cook (ex-Matt, General Hospital; ex-Shawn, Days of our Lives) - 34
Taylor Gildersleeve (ex-Sydney, All My Children; ex-Leah, One Life to Live) - 23

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you have a tip on a bit of soap history on this date or future dates, let us know. Send an email to [email protected]