Saturday, June 27, 2015

Today in Soap Opera History (June 27)

1966: Dark Shadows premiered on ABC.
1984: Guiding Light's Bert stood after losing her leg.
1995: One Life to Live's "Tommy" was enraged.
2003: Passions paid homage to the musical Chicago.
"History never looks like history when you are living through it."
― John W. Gardner

"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...

1952: ABC Radio aired the final episode of Lone Journey after a 12 year run on multiple networks with multiple sponsors.

1955: On The Brighter Day, Lydia Hamilton (Murial Williams) struggled with her conscience after taking a silver clock.

1966: Dark Shadows premiered on ABC. The show opens with Victoria Winters on her way to Collinsport and the following voice over:

"My name is Victoria Winters. My journey is beginning - a journey that I hope will open the doors of life to me, and link my past with my future. A journey that will bring me to a strange and dark place - to the edge of the sea high atop Widow's Hill - a house called Collinwood. A world I've never known, with people I've never met. People who tonight are still only shadows in my mind, and who will soon fillthe days and nights of my tomorrows."

Six months into the Dan Curtis-created show's five year run, ghosts were introduced and then other supernatural elements which helped the afternoon soap opera become a favorite among younger viewers.



1968: On The Doctors, Ed Stark (Conrad Roberts) told Nick (Gerald Gordon) about how the Vietnam War changed the life goals he had mapped out before.

1969: NBC aired the final episode of daytime soap opera Hidden Faces. The series was created by Irving Vendig and focused on a law firm that was dealing with a high profile murder case throughout its six month run. Some of the show's stars were Conard Fowkes, Louise Shaffer, Tony Lo Bianco, Stephen Joyce and Linda Blair.

1984: On Guiding Light, Bert Bauer (Charita Bauer) stood up for the first time after losing her leg.



1991: At the 18th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, winners included As the World Turns (Drama Series), Santa Barbara (Writing, Directing), Peter Bergman (Lead Actor), Finola Hughes (Lead Actress), Bernie Barrow (Supporting Actor), Jess Walton (Supporting Actress), Rick Hearst (Younger Actor), Anne Heche (Younger Actress).



1995: On One Life to Live, Viki's (Erika Slezak) teenaged boy personality, Tommy, was enraged when his car stalled.



2003: One of Passions' famous musical production numbers, "I Ain't Sorry!" aired. It's a full-scale rendition of Chicago's "Cell Block Tango," as Edna Wallace (Kathleen Noone) fantasized what prison life would be like if she, daughter Beth (Kelli McCarty), Charlie (Jordan Baker), and even Precious (BamBam) were to be arrested for kidnapping Sheridan Crane. NOTE: The film Chicago had just won the Academy Award for Best Picture a few months prior to this episode.



Thanks to FoxCrane for sending in this item.

2005: On As the World Turns, Lily (Martha Byrne) and Holden (Jon Hensley) told Luke (Jake Weary) about Lucinda's breast cancer.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Julia Duffy (ex-Karen, One Life to Live; ex-Penny, The Doctors; ex-Gerry, Love of Life) - 64
Robert Newman (ex-Josh, Guiding Light; ex-Kirk, Santa Barbara; ex-Prescott, General Hospital) - 57
J.J. Abrams (Executive Producer, Lost; Fringe; Revolution) - 49
Yancey Arias (ex-Tom, Revenge; ex-Emilio, One Life to Live) - 44
Courtney Ford (ex-Kate, Revenge; ex-Tonia, True Blood) - 37
John Driscoll (ex-Chance, The Young and the Restless; ex-Coop, Guiding Light) - 34
Ed Westwick (ex-Chuck, Gossip Girl) - 28
Chandler Riggs (Carl, The Walking Dead) - 16

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

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for the GL/Bert Bauer physical therapy clips episode, Roger. My father, who was born on 6/28/1912 & had died on 6/9/1976, lost both of his legs to severe diabetes before his death. Charita Bauer herself was outlived by her 90-something-year-old father for 2 years after her real life 1985 death. Thanks Again, Roger!

    Brian :-)

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