Today in Soap Opera History (August 20)

1973: Suzanne Rogers debuted as Maggie on Days of our Lives.
1996: General Hospital's Robin & Jason were happy in Montauk.
1987: John Reid was left at the altar on Ryan's Hope.
2001: As the World Turns' Jack rescued Carly from quicksand.

"To believe what has not occurred in history will not occur at all, is to argue disbelief in the dignity of man."
- Mahatma Gandhi

"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...

1973: Suzanne Rogers debuted as Maggie Simmons in Days of our Lives. Amnesiac Mickey Horton (John Clarke) stumbled onto Maggie's farm.

1976: On Another World, Clarice Hobson, pregnant with Robert Delaney's (Nicholas Coster) baby, was threatened by Robert's estranged wife, Iris (Beverlee McKinsey), who ordered her to leave town. While trying to flee her boarding house, Clarice went into labor. End credits rolled during her hospital labor. The unmarried Clarice delivered a son, Cory, on August 23.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 20)

1973: Suzanne Rogers debuted as Maggie on DAYS. 1996: GH's
Robin & Jason were happy in Montauk.  1987: John Reid was
left at the altar on RYAN'S HOPE. 2001: Jack rescued Carly
from quicksand on ATWT.

"Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times."
-Machiavelli

"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...

1973: Suzanne Rogers debuted as Maggie Simmons in DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Amnesiac Mickey Horton (John Clarke) stumbled onto Maggie's farm.

1974: On ANOTHER WORLD, Alice (Jacqueline Courtney) told Steve (George Reinholt) she was freeing him from their marriage.

1979: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Paige (Margaret Colin) encountered a masked man with a gun.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 20)

On this date in...

1973: Suzanne Rogers debuted as Maggie Horton in DAYS OF OUR LIVES.  Amnesiac Mickey Horton stumbled onto Maggie's farm that day.

1974: On ANOTHER WORLD, Alice told Steve she was freeing him from their marriage.

1979: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Tobias was the talk of the town, and Paige encountered a masked man with a gun.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 20)

On this date in...

1979: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Tobias was the talk of the town, and Paige encountered a masked man with a gun.