Today in Soap Opera History (August 3)

1981: GH's Robert tried to steal the formula from Victor.
1984: Eileen Fulton returned to As the World Turns as Lisa.
1992: ATWT's Margo was raped.
2007: Passions' Sheridan decided to electrocute Theresa.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"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...

1922: Schenectady, New York radio station WGY aired a staged dramatic play for the first time. This tryout was a hit which led to weekly studio broadcasts of full-length stage plays.

1971: On The Guiding Light, Ken tried to intervene in an argument between his mother, Barbara (Barbara Berjer), and 18-year-old sister, Holly (Lynn Deerfield).



1978: On Another World, Susan threw Liz (Irene Dailey) out when she harped on Olive and Dan.

1981: On General Hospital, Heather (Robin Mattson) told Joe (Doug Sheehan) he wasn't a man at all, just a puppet, with Captain Ramsey pulling all the strings. Meanwhile, Robert (Tristan Rogers) tried to get the formula from Victor's (Thaao Penghlis) wallet from under his pillow but was stopped every time from a restless Victor. Hearing a noise, Robert rushed out just as Tiffany and Victor woke up. Victor saw Max wandering the deck and immediately suspected he tried to steal his formula.

Capitol stars Carolyn Jones (Myrna) and
Constance Towers (Clarissa)

1983: Actress Carolyn Jones died at age 53. Best known for playing Morticia in The Addams Family, Jones starred as Myrna Clegg on the CBS daytime soap Capitol in its original 1982 cast, playing the role into 1983 despite having been diagnosed with colon cancer in 1981. She had aggressive treatment for the cancer, but it returned during her time on Capitol and she was told it was terminal. Jones told her sister that she wanted her epitaph to say, "She gave joy to the world."

1983: On Another World, the double ceremony wedding of Mac and Rachel and Sandy and Blaine began. Stephen Yates debuted as Jamie Frame at the end of this episode.



Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the clip above.

1984: Eileen Fulton returned to As the World Turns as Lisa after being off the show for a year and a half. Lisa arrived home and found her husband, Whit McColl, dead on the floor.



1988: On Days of our Lives, Roman (Drake Hogestyn) wondered if Kim's (Patsy Pease) post-hypnotic suggestion may be keeping from remembering Orion. Michael Bays debuted as Julio Ramirez in this episode.

1992: On The Young and the Restless, Michael (Christian LeBlanc) was thrilled Christine (Lauralee Bell) agreed to work with him on the political corruption case.

1992: Sherry Stringfield aired for the final time as Blake Thorpe on Guiding Light.



Thanks to Enrique for sending in the item above.

1993: On As the World Turns, Margo Hughes (Ellen Dolan) was raped.

1994: On General Hospital, Monica Quartermaine's (Leslie Charleson) mammogram revealed a large mass on the left quadrant of her left breast. She agreed to a lumpectomy and biopsy but kept it hidden from Alan (Stuart Damon).



Thanks to Enrique for sending in the item above.

2007: On Passions, Luis (Galen Gering) was sent to the execution chamber while Sheridan decided to electrocute Theresa (Lindsay Hartley).



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Tony Bennett (Guest Star, As the World Turns) - 93
Martin Sheen (ex-Jed, The West Wing; ex-Jack, As the World Turns; ex-Roy, The Edge of Night) - 79
Philip Casnoff (ex-Rob, One Life to Live; ex-Brian, The Edge of Night; ex-Nikolai, Oz) - 70
Jay North (ex-Al, General Hospital) - 68
John C. McGinley (ex-Ned, Another World) - 60
Isaiah Washington (ex-Preston, Grey's Anatomy) - 56
Melissa Ponzio (Melissa, Teen Wolf; ex-Angie, Army Wives; ex-Alice, One Tree Hill) - 47
Michael Ealy (ex-Marshall, FlashForward) - 46
Paulo Benedeti (ex-Tony, The Bold and the Beautiful; ex-Jesse, Guiding Light) - 44
Shanelle Workman (ex-Gabrielle, The Bold and the Beautiful; ex-Flash, One Life to Live) - 41
Evangeline Lilly (ex-Kate, Lost) - 40
Mamie Gummer (ex-Nancy, The Good Wife; ex-Emily, Emily Owens M.D.) - 36
Kyle Schmid (ex-Ryan, Degrassi) - 35

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