Today in Soap Opera History (November 24)

1989: Another World's Rachel and the Cory family
celebrated Thanksgiving, their first without Mac.

"Most of us spend too much time on the last twenty-four hours and too little on the last six thousand years."
― Will Durant

"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...

1967: On Dark Shadows, Angelique (Lara Parker) put a handkerchief around the toy soldier's neck. As she tightened it, Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) began to choke, and he eventually collapsed on the floor.



1975: On Ryan's Hope, Mrs. Huber (Martha Greenhouse) complained to Frank (Michael Hawkins) about her apartment building possibly being sold without the tenant's approval. As Frank pledged his help in organizing tenants, Nick (Michael Fairman) planned to keep him from doing just that.

1981: Scott Palmer debuted as Joshua Fallon in Days of our Lives.

1983: On Knots Landing, Gary (Ted Shackelford) invited Cathy (Lisa Hartman) to live and work at the ranch.

1987: On Santa Barbara, Mason (Lane Davies) and Julia (Nancy Lee Grahn) made love in the cave after Keith (Justin Deas) kicked them out of the car during the hunt for Cruz.

1988: John William Corrington died at age 56. Along with his wife, Joyce, he was a writer for daytime soap operas including Search For Tomorrow, Another World, Texas, General Hospital, Capitol and One Life to Live. He was also a story consultant for Rituals.

1989: On Another World, Rachel Cory (Victoria Wyndham) made the Thanksgiving dinner toast in the Cory family's first Thanksgiving without Mac.



1990: Actor Geoffrey Lumb died at age 85. He was Daytime's first crossover actor playing the role of Mitchell Dru on As the World Turns, The Brighter Day and Another World. He also played Geoffrey Crane in Search for Tomorrow.

1992: On Santa Barbara, B.J. (Sydney Penny) remembered Frank Goodman committed suicide by shooting himself.

1993: On The Young and the Restless, Cole (J. Eddie Peck) proposed to Victoria (Heather Tom).

1995: On Days of our Lives, Tony (Thaao Penghlis) framed John (Drake Hogestyn) for shooting him.



1999: On As the World Turns, Jake (Tom Eplin) and Julia (Annie Parisse) were trapped in a warehouse while the Hughes family gathered at WOAK to serve food to the homeless.



1999: Nadia Bjorlin made her first appearance as Chloe Lane in Days of our Lives.



2003: On The Young and the Restless, Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) was stunned, but excited to see Danny (Michael Damian). Phyllis apologized for her past behavior, and mentioned she missed their son. Danny admitted to Phyllis that he believed she has changed.

2004: On Guiding Light, much of Springfield celebrated Thanksgiving with the Coopers. Harley (Beth Ehlers) was recently released from jail while Lizzie had just gained ownership of Company from Phillip in his will. Watch here.

Thanks to Megan for sending in this item.

2006: CBS aired a one-hour Inturn "best of" special episode on TV from the first season of the As the World Turns casting reality show that had aired on the web.

2008: John Callahan debuted as Dr. Richard Baker in Days of our Lives.

2010: On One Life to Live, Eddie Ford (John Wesley Shipp) crashed Dorian's (Robin Strasser) Thanksgiving gathering.



Thanks to Terrence for sending in the item above.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Roscoe Born (ex-Mitch, One Life to Live; ex-Trent, Days of our Lives; ex-Tom, The Young and the Restless; ex-Peter, Guiding Light; ex-Nick, The City; ex-Jim, All My Children; ex-Joe, Ryan's Hope; ex-Quinn/Robert, Santa Barbara; ex-Warden, Passions; ex-Adamski, As the World Turns; ex-Mark, Paper Dolls; ex-Kyle, Family Passions) - 64
Susan Bedsow-Horgan (Former Head Writer/Producer, As the World Turns; Former Producer/Head Writer, One Life to Live)
Wortham Krimmer (ex-Andrew, One Life to Live; ex-Cal, Days of our Lives) - 61
Lisa Howard (ex-April, Days of our Lives; ex-Meg, Ryan's Hope) - 51
Garret Dillahunt (ex-Charlemagne, One Life to Live) - 50
Rick Dalton (ex-Rick, Ragged Isle)
Katherine Heigl (Charleston, State of Affairs; ex-Izzie, Grey's Anatomy) - 36
Karine Vanasse (Margaux, Revenge; ex-Colette, Pan Am) - 31
Sarah Hyland (ex-Heather, One Life to Live; ex-Rain, Another World; ex-Karen, All My Children; ex-Ali, As the World Turns) - 24

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you would like to submit a soap history entry for this date or a future date, email [email protected].