Today in Soap Opera History (April 26)

1978: Ryan's Hope's Maeve was disgusted with Delia.
1982: General Hospital's Robert, Tiffany, Jackie & Luke made a pact.
1984: Days of our Lives' Hope moved out of Shenanigans.
2006: Passions' Endora used a rain cloud to wake up Fox.

"Mankind are so much the same, in all times and places, that history informs us of nothing new or strange in this particular. Its chief use is only to discover the constant and universal principles of human nature."
― David Hume

"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...

1935: NBC Radio aired the final episode of soap opera Judy and Jane, produced by Frank and Anne Hummert. Sponsored by Folgers Coffee, it was heard regionally in the midwest only. After the show ended, it continued to be distributed through transcription for 12 more years.

1937: Comedy radio soap opera Lorenzo Jones, also produced by the Hummerts, premiered on NBC Radio. It would run for 18 years.

1940: The Blue Network aired its final episode of Young Doctor Malone. The show moved to CBS Radio the following Monday where it played for the next 20 years.

1946: CBS Radio aired the final episode of the Hummerts-produced radio soap Amanda on Honeymoon Hill, starring Joy Hathaway. The show ran for six years on the Blue Network and CBS Radio.

1973: Singer-pianist Bobby Short made a guest appearance (as himself) on As the World Turns.

1976: On The Edge of Night, Tiffany (Lucy Martin) was pushed to her death out of a tenth floor office window.

1978: On Another World, Burt McGowan left Bay City as actor William Russ left the show. Burt would return for a couple of months in early 1979 played by Joseph Hindy.

1978: On Ryan's Hope, Delia (Ilene Kristen) got no sympathy from Johnny (Bernard Barrow) and Maeve (Helen Gallagher) after they learned of her deception.



Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the item above.

1981: Jim Davis, who played patriarch Jock Ewing in the CBS primetime soap opera Dallas, died at age 65 (Note: Various sites list different ages for Davis at the time of his death. His New York Times obituary said he was 65.). Davis had recently undergone surgery for a perforated ulcer.

1982: On General Hospital, Luke (Anthony Geary), Robert (Tristan Rogers), Tiffany (Sharon Wyatt) and Jackie (Demi Moore) made a pact to go after David Grey.



1984: On Days of our Lives, Hope (Kristian Alfonso) moved out of Shenanigans and said goodbye to her life with Bo (Peter Reckell).



1985: Margaret Michael debuted as Santana Andrade on Santa Barbara.



1991: On Another World, Cass (Stephen Schnetzer) was torn between Kathleen (Julie Osburn) and Frankie (Alice Barrett).

General Hospital star Emily McLaughlin
died in 1991.

1991: Veteran soap actress Emily McLaughlin, who played Jessie Brewer on General Hospital for many years and spoke the show's first line, passed away at age 62. Prior to GH, McLaughlin portrayed Eileen Seaton on Young Doctor Malone.

1997: John Beal, who played Jim Matthews on the very first episode Another World, died at age 87. Leon Janney took over in Episode #3. Beal also played Judge Vail on Dark Shadows.

2006: On Passions, Endora magically put a rain cloud over Fox's bed which woke him up in time to find Kay missing.



2011: Tamara Braun debuted as Taylor Walker on Days of our Lives.



Celebrating a birthday today are:

Michael Damian

Carol Burnett (ex-Verla, All My Children) - 82
Donna Baccala (ex-Gina, General Hospital) - 70
Jeff Eagle (ex-Will, Days of our Lives) - 68
Joan Chen (ex-Jocelyn, Twin Peaks) - 54
Michael Damian (Danny, The Young and the Restless) - 53
Olivia Birkelund (ex-Arlene, All My Children) - 52
Jeanne Marie Ford (Writer, Days of our Lives; ex-As the World Turns; ex-One Life to Live) - 44
Christoph Silber (Former Writer, Der Kriminalist) - 44
McKenzie Westmore (ex-Riley, All My Children; ex-Felicia, The Bay; ex-Sheridan, Passions) - 38
Tom Welling (ex-Clark, Smallville) - 38
Charissa Chamorro (ex-Tory, Guiding Light; ex-Sophia, One Life to Live) - 38
Nate Golon (ex-Jeff, Workshop) - 36
Jordana Brewster (Elena, Dallas; ex-Nikki, As the World Turns) - 36
Shenell Edmonds (ex-Destiny, One Life to Live) - 21

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