Sunday, December 31, 2017

Today in Soap Opera History (December 31)

Four NBC daytime soap operas aired for the final time on
December 31st: Somerset (1976), Texas (1982),
The Doctors (1982) and Sunset Beach (1999).
"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...

1965: On Scarlett Hill, Kate (Beth Lockerbie) and Pearl discussed their fears that Ruth was only marrying Mr. Quill for his money. Sheila became extremely rude to Pearl when Pearl tried to show her pictures of the five-year-old she was about to adopt. Sheila revealed a bit of her tragic life to Stan. Ruth openly admitted to Kate that she was only getting married for the money, knowing there was nothing Kate could do to stop her, and Ruth discovered the recording device Pearl planted in the hopes of catching the avaricious woman's plans on tape.

Note: Scarlett Hill, a daytime serial about the residents of a hotel in Scarlett Hill, New York, originally ran in Canada from 1962-1964. This episode is from the show's first syndicated run in the United States.

1972: On The Edge of Night, Adam Drake (Don May) ran through the streets of Manhattan in an attempt to find and propose marriage to Nicole Travis (Maeve McGuire) by midnight.

1976: NBC aired the final episode of the Another World spin-off Somerset after a six year run. The show was canceled to make room for another P&G soap, Lovers & Friends.

1980: On Another World, as the party guests counted down to the New Year, an intoxicated Pat Randolph (Beverly Penberthy) collapsed just as Philip Lyons (Robert Gentry) proposed. The Brady Bunch star Christopher Knight made his first appearance as Leigh Hobson.



Thanks to Scott for sending in the item above.

1982: NBC aired the final episode of daytime soap opera The Doctors, ending a run of 5,280 episodes that began on April 1, 1963.



1982: NBC aired the final episode of daytime soap opera Texas after two years on the air. The show was a spin-off of Another World with Iris (Beverlee McKinsey) moving to Houston. She left the show a year later when it became "Texas: The New Generation."

1983: Dorrie Kavanaugh, who played Cathy Craig Lord on One Life to Live, died at age 38 after a battle with breast cancer. She also had roles on Guiding Light, Ryan's Hope, The Edge of Night and Dark Shadows.

1983: On Days of our Lives, Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) and Hope Williams (Kristian Alfonso) began to make love after her 18th birthday party.

1986: Actor Lloyd Haynes died age age 52. He played Ken Morgan in General Hospital and guest-starred as Judge Horatio Quinlan on Dynasty.

1986: On As the World Turns, Lisa (Eileen Fulton) married Earl Mitchell (Farley Granger).



1990: Guiding Light used the "My Guiding Light" theme for the last time. "Hold On To Love" debuted in the next episode.

Thanks to Enrique for sending in the item above.

1996: Actor Wesley Addy died at age 83. He played Cabot Alden on Loving, William Price Woodard in Ryan's Hope, and Dr. Cooper on Days of our Lives.

1996: On The City, Gino announced to everyone at the bar that he and Tracy (Jane Elliot) were engaged.



1999: NBC aired the final episode of Sunset Beach just shy of its third anniversary.



2003: On General Hospital, Dillon (Scott Clifton) had a silent movie dream on New Year's Eve.



2013: SOAPnet ceased operations.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Ben Kingsley (ex-Ron, Coronation Street) - 74
Barbara Carrera (ex-Angelica, Dallas) - 72
Tim Matheson (ex-Brick, Hart of Dixie) - 70
Jane Badler (ex-Diana, Neighbours; ex-Meredith, Falcon Crest; ex-Melinda, One Life to Live; ex-Natalie, The Doctors) - 64
Brett Porter (ex-Jack, The Young and the Restless; ex-Tug, Loving; ex-Brett, Search for Tomorrow) - 61
Joanna Johnson (ex-Karen/Caroline, The Bold and the Beautiful) - 56
Don Diamont (Bill, The Bold and the Beautiful; ex-Brad, The Young and the Restless; ex-Carlo, Days of our Lives) - 55
Julian Stone (ex-Jerry, General Hospital) - 55
Michael McDonald (ex-The Face in the Pool, Passions) - 53
Lance Reddick (ex-Phillip, Fringe; ex-John, Oz; ex-Matthew, Lost) - 48
Chandra West (ex-Devon, The Gates; ex-Gail, 90210) - 47
Kamilla Bjorlin (ex-Evil Serpent, Days of our Lives) - 47
Elizabeth Hobgood (ex-Allison, All My Children; ex-May, Guiding Light) - 47

Actress Rosalind Cash was born 79 years ago today. The General Hospital star, who played Mary Mae Ward, passed away in 1995 at age 56. Actress Margaret Mason was born on this day in 1940. She died in 1999 at age 58. Her soap roles included Eve Howard on The Young and the Restless, Linda Anderson on Days of our Lives and Selena Cross Rossi in Return to Peyton Place.

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

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