Today in Soap Opera History (January 24)

1980: Miles's condition worsened on The Edge of Night.
1986: Drake Hogestyn debuted as John Black on Days of our Lives.
2000: Passions' Timmy called Dr. Bombay.
2005: As the World Turns' Lucy left town.

"The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect is already in the cause."
― Henri Louis Bergson

"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...

1953: On The Guiding Light, Bert Bauer (Charita Bauer) became upset after reading the story of Kathy Roberts' arrest in the morning paper. Papa Bauer (Theo Goetz) told her not to jump to conclusions about what happen, and that this was no time to selfishly think of herself when Meta was suffering.



Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the clip above.

1968: On Another World, Lee (Barbara Rodell) killed Lefty (Laurence Keith) with a fire poker after he attacked her.

1974: On Days of our Lives, Doug (Bill Hayes) and Alice (Frances Reid) discussed the best course of action for an ill Addie.

1976: On Ryan's Hope, Faith (Faith Catlin) hurt herself while trying to escape from Kenneth (Ty McConnell).



Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the clip above.

1980: On As the World Turns, Claudia (Mary McDonnell) told Barbara (Colleen Zenk) that Raymond was drinking and had started going crazy over dealing with the backlog of medical bills.



1980: On The Edge of Night, Steve (Denny Albee) was shocked when Miles (Joel Crothers) claimed that "Mrs Corey" was really Nola Madisson in disguise.



1985: On Santa Barbara, Cruz (A Martinez) visited Peter's doctor (Michael Swan).



1986: Drake Hogestyn debuted as John Black on Days of our Lives when "The Pawn" was finally unmasked. The character first appeared in November 1985 with his face completely bandaged, played by Glen Vincent (3 episodes), and then Robert Poynton (14 episodes) until Hogestyn was cast and The Pawn's face was revealed.



1995: The O.J. Simpson murder trial began. Prosecutors Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden delivered their opening statements.

1995: On All My Children, Julia (Sydney Penny) met an AIDS patient named Paul at the hospital. The beginning of the episode was interrupted by the O.J. Simpson trial.



2000: On Passions, Timmy (Josh Ryan Evans) called Dr. Bombay (Bernard Fox, who played Dr. Bombay on classic sitcom Bewitched) to help Tabitha.



2004: ABC released a "Daytime's Greatest Weddings" DVD.

2005: Peyton List aired for the final time as Lucy Montgomery in As the World Turns.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Natalie Ross (ex-Enid, All My Children) - 84
Michael Shannon (ex-Jim, Search for Tomorrow; ex-Bill, All My Children) - 73
Sofia Landon Geier (ex-Diane, Guiding Light; ex-Jennifer/temp-Donna, Another World; ex-Theresa, As the World Turns) - 67
Michael Ontkean (ex-Harry, Twin Peaks) - 70
Tonya Crowe (ex-Olivia, Knots Landing) - 45
Steve Silverman (Producer, Winterthorne; The Inn)
Johann Urb (ex-Will, Eastwick) - 39
Kyle Brandt (ex-Philip, Days of our Lives) - 37
Tatyana Ali (ex-Roxanne, The Young and the Restless; ex-Quincy, Buppies) - 37
Justin Baldoni (Rafael, Jane The Virgin; ex-Graham, The Bold and the Beautiful) - 32
Mischa Barton (ex-Sonja, The Beautiful Life; ex-Marissa, The O.C.; ex-Lily, All My Children) - 30

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