Friday, June 16, 2017

Today in Soap Opera History (June 16)

1930: Clara, Lu & Em premiered.
1989: Another World's Rachel said goodbye to Mac.
1992: One Life to Live's Asa married Blair.
2006: Days of our Lives' EJ and Sami danced the tango.
"History is a vast early warning system."
― Norman Cousins

"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...

1930: Clara, Lu and Em, radio's first network daytime soap opera, premiered on WGN-AM in Chicago. It continued through the 1930s and early 1940s on the NBC Blue Network and CBS, finally airing as a syndicated series in 1945.



1972: On Another World, Gerald (Walter Mathews) dialed Steve's number, handed Rachel (Robin Strasser) the phone, and told her to tell Steve he could only see Jamie today if she came along.

1978: On One Life to Live, the hostage crisis ends as Ed Hall (Al Freeman Jr.), posing as the Handy Man, rescued Jenny and captured Bonnie (Kim Zimmer).



Thanks to Jeff for sending in the item above.

1980: The Edge of Night debuted a new opening, the fourth since the show's premiere in 1956.



1988: On Santa Barbara, Julia (Nancy Lee Grahn) broke down at Mason's funeral.



1989: Another World aired Mac Cory's funeral, six weeks after the actor who portrayed him for 15 years, the legendary Douglass Watson, passed away in real life.  Watch a beautiful performance by Watson's longtime co-star, Victoria Wyndam, below as Rachel says good bye to Mac.





1992: On One Life to Live, Blair (Mia Korf) married Asa (Philip Carey) after having sex in her wedding dress with Max (James DePaiva).



1998: On The Young and the Restless, Paul (Doug Davidson) and Christine (Lauralee Bell) invited Mary (Carolyn Conwell) over to tell her they wanted to declare Carl legally dead.

1999: On Another World, singer-songwriter Chely Wright performed her hit "Single White Female" at Etta Mae Burrell's (Elain R. Graham) Lucky Lady night club.

2006 Ewa Da Cruz debuted as Vienna Hyatt on As the World Turns.

2006: On Days of our Lives, Sami (Alison Sweeney) and EJ (James Scott) danced the tango.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Joan Van Ark (ex-Gloria, The Young and the Restless; ex-Valene, Knots Landing; ex-Valene, Dallas; ex-Janie, Days of our Lives; ex-Paula, Peyton Place) - 74
Geoff Pierson (ex-Frank, Ryan's Hope; ex-Barney, Days of our Lives; ex-Dr. Sullivan, Search for Tomorrow; ex-Roger, Another World; ex-Detective Donovan, Texas) - 68
Ken Corday (Executive Producer, Days of our Lives) - 67
Kale Browne (ex-Miles, Days of our Lives; ex-Newscaster, General Hospital; ex-Frank, Rockland County; ex-Sam, One Life to Live; ex-Micheal, Another World) - 67
Laurie Metcalf (ex-Carolyn, Desperate Housewives) - 62
Ian Buchanan (ex-Duke, General Hospital; ex-Ian, Days of our Lives; ex-Greg, All My Children; ex-Joshua, Port Charles; ex-James, The Bold and the Beautiful) - 61
James Patrick Stuart (Valentin, General Hospital; ex-Dick, Supernatural; ex-Will, All My Children) - 47
Eddie Cibrian (ex-Cole, Sunset Beach; ex-Matt, The Young and the Restless) - 43
Fred Koehler (ex-Andrew, Oz; ex-Oyster, All My Children) - 42
Sibel Kekilli (Shae, Game of Thrones) - 37
Missy Peregrym (ex-Candice, Heroes) - 35
Diana DeGarmo (ex-Angelina, The Young and the Restless) - 30
Nathan Parsons (ex-Ethan, General Hospital; Jackson, The Originals; ex-James, True Blood; ex-Godot, Bunheads) - 29

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. HAPPY JUNE 16, 2017 BIRTHDAY TO BEAUTIFUL MISSY PEREGRYM! & ALL THE BEST WISHES OF EVERYTHING TO YOU MISSY! I HOPE THAT ALL YOUR BIRTHDAY WISHES& DREAMS COME TRUE FOR YOU! MISSY PEREGRYM! & THAT YOUR BIRTHDAY TREATS YOU GOOD MISSY PEREGRYM!

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