Today in Soap Opera History (May 1)

1969: Days of our Lives' Julie thanked Alice for her support.
1981: Dallas' Cliff found a dead woman in the Southfork pool.
1992: Robert Flack performed on Guiding Light.
2002: As the World Turns' Jake McKinnon died.

"All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"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...

1937: Jackie Ormes, the first African American female cartoonist, created her earliest cartoon. It was an action, romance and soap opera comic featuring a Black heroine named Torchy Brown.

1939: Radio soap opera Los Jasmines Del '80 debuted in Argentina.

1968: On Dark Shadows, Joe ordered Willie to stay away from Maggie.

1969: On Days of our Lives, Alice Horton (Frances Reid) told her granddaughter, Julie (Susan Seaforth), that it's what we do after making a mistake that counts.

1972: Susan Sarandon debuted as Sarah Fairbanks in Search for Tomorrow.

1972: Regina Gleason returned to Days of our Lives for one day as Kitty Horton.

Douglass Watson

1973: The character of Mackenzie Cory debuted on Another World. Mac was played for the first year by Robert Emhardt and then by Douglass Watson for 15 years (see below).

1978: On One Life to Live, Jenny reacted after Brad hit her.

Thanks to Jeff for sending in the item above.

1981: On the season finale of Dallas, Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval) found a brunette woman dead in the Southfork pool. "She's dead," Cliff said as he looked up at J.R. standing on the balcony over the pool. "You bastard." At the time, fans speculated that it might be Pam or Sue Ellen. When the show returned in the fall, it turned out to be Kristin Shepard (Mary Crosby), Sue Ellen's sister and the person who shot J.R.



1984: On The Edge of Night, Mitzi Martin (Lela Ivey) wondered what underhanded dealings Russ Powell (J. Kenneth Campbell) was involved in.



1986: On Another World, the women of Bay City surprised Sally Frame (Taylor Miller) with a bachelorette party, while the men threw a bachelor party for Catlin Ewing (Thomas Ian Griffith).



1989: Actor Douglass Watson, best known to soap fans as Mackenzie Cory in Another World, died at age 68. He won two Daytime Emmys for the role that he played from 1974 until his death.  Watson also played roles on Love of Life, Search for Tomorrow and Moment of Truth.

1990: On Guiding Light, Beth (Beth Chamberlin) and Phillip (Grant Aleksander) announced they were having a baby.

Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the item above.

1992: Roberta Flack performed at Hamp and Gilly's wedding reception on Guiding Light.

Lee Mathis

1996: Lee Mathis died at age 44.  The actor attracted national attention in 1993 when he placed a $99 advertisement in Variety acknowledging that he was HIV-positive and seeking acting roles in order to maintain his Screen Actors Guild health insurance. Several casting directors responded, offering bit parts and eventually he landed a recurring role on General Hospital. He played Jon Hanley, co-chair of the Nurses Ball, until his death.

1997: On General Hospital, Alan (Stuart Damon) and Monica (Leslie Charleson) met with an addiction counselor, while Pierce (Tuc Watkins) comforted Emily (Amber Tamblyn).



2002: On As the World Turns, Jake McKinnon (Tom Eplin) died in the hospital after being shot by Mary the nanny. The character of Jake, who first appeared on NBC's Another World in February 1985, moved to CBS' As the World Turns in June 1999 following the cancellation of Another World.



2004: Passions co-stars Lindsay Korman and Justin Hartley were married.  The couple divorced in 2012.

Helen Wagner

2010: Legendary actress Helen Wagner passed away at age 91. She spoke the first line on As the World Turns in 1956 and remained with the soap for most of the next 54 years until her death.  Wagner also played roles in The Guiding Light and Valiant Lady.

2012: On The Bold and the Beautiful, while skiing in Aspen, Hope Logan (Kim Matula) lost control and ran into Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood), knocking her out temporarily. Liam Spencer (Scott Clifton) sympathized with Steffy, and the two of them ended up growing closer following the accident.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Judy Collins (ex-Judith, The Doctors) - 79
Stephen Macht (ex-Trevor, General Hospital; ex-Joe, Knots Landing) -76
Joanna Lumley (ex-Elaine, Coronation Street) - 72
Paul Tulley (ex-Larry, One Life To Live; ex-Scott, Another World; ex-John, Knots Landing; ex-Mr. Miller, Dallas; ex-Calvin, Falcon Crest; ex-Father Wilson, Models Inc.) - 66
Michele Conaway (ex-Beth, General Hospital) - 61
Chris Henry Coffey (ex-Rex, Guiding Light) - 47
Julie Benz (ex-Robin, Desperate Housewives) - 46
Bailey Chase (ex-Chris, As the World Turns) - 46
Darius McCrary (ex-Malcolm, The Young and the Restless) - 42
Ben Easter (ex-Carl, Undressed) - 39
Farah Fath (ex-Gigi, One Life to Live; ex-Mimi, Days of our Lives) - 34
Matt Di Angelo (ex-Deano, EastEnders; ex-Francesco, Borgia) - 31
Caitlin Stasey (ex-Kenna, Reign; Rachel, Neighbours) - 28

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