Today in Soap Opera History (December 26)

1986: In the series finale of Search for Tomorrow, Stu asked, "What is it, Jo? What is it you're searching for?"
Jo's reply: "Tomorrow. And I can't wait."

"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...

1941: After being canceled by the network, NBC Radio aired what was intended to be the final episode of radio soap opera The Guiding Light. The network received 75,000 protest letters and the show returned 11 weeks later on March 16, 1942, running for four and a half more years on NBC Radio before being canceled again. CBS Radio picked up the show in 1947 and the series ran on radio and television (starting in 1952) until September 18, 2009.

Note: There are conflicting sources about whether this was truly The Guiding Light's first time leaving the air. Some suggest it was also off for a time during its second season (October-December 1939).

1952: The final episode of Big Sister aired on CBS Radio.

1966: On Another World, Sam Groom debuted as Russ Matthews. Russ returned to Bay City to do his internship at Memorial Hospital.

1966: On Search for Tomorrow, Eunice (Ann Williams), Stu (Larry Haines), Marge (Melba Rae), Bob (Carl Low) and Patti (Gretchen Walther) were gathered at Jo's house for Christmas.  Mary Stuart (Jo) played guitar as the girls sang "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella." Later, Jo sang "O Jesus, So Sweet."

Today in Soap Opera History (December 26)

1966: SFT's Joanne and Stu celebrated Christmas with family and
friends. 1986: In the final scene of Search for Tomorrow,
Stu asked, "What is it, Jo? What is it you're searching for?"
Jo's reply: "Tomorrow. And I can't wait."

"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...

1941: After being canceled by the network, NBC Radio aired what was intended to be the final episode of radio soap opera The Guiding Light. The network received 75,000 protest letters and the show returned 11 weeks later on March 16, 1942, running for four and a half more years on NBC Radio before being canceled again. CBS Radio picked up the show in 1947 and the series ran on radio and television (starting in 1952) until September 18, 2009.

Note: There are conflicting sources about whether this was truly The Guiding Light's first time leaving the air. Some suggest it was also off for a time during its second season (October-December 1939).

1952: The final episode of Big Sister aired on CBS Radio.

1966: On Another World, Sam Groom debuted as Russ Matthews. Russ returned to Bay City to do his internship at Memorial Hospital.

1966: On Search for Tomorrow, Eunice (Ann Williams), Stu (Larry Haines), Marge (Melba Rae), Bob (Carl Low) and Patti (Gretchen Walther) were gathered at Jo's house for Christmas.  Mary Stuart (Jo) played guitar as the girls sang "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella." Later, Jo sang "O Jesus, So Sweet."

Today in Soap Opera History (December 26)

1966: SFT's Joanne and Stu celebrated Christmas with family and
friends. 1986: In the final scene of Search for Tomorrow,
Stu asked, "What is it, Jo? What is it you're searching for?"
Jo's reply: "Tomorrow. And I can't wait."

"More and more, I tend to read history. I often find it more up to date than the daily newspapers."
― Joe Murray

"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...

1941: After being canceled by the network, NBC Radio aired what was intended to be the final episode of radio soap opera The Guiding Light. The network received 75,000 protest letters and the show returned 11 weeks later on March 16, 1942, running for four and a half more years on NBC Radio before being canceled again. CBS Radio picked up the show in 1947 and the series ran on radio and television (starting in 1952) until September 18, 2009.

Note: There are conflicting sources about whether this was truly The Guiding Light's first time leaving the air. Some suggest it was also off for a time during its second season (October-December 1939).

1952: The final episode of Big Sister aired on CBS Radio.

1966: On Another World, Sam Groom debuted as Russ Matthews. Russ returned to Bay City to do his internship at Memorial Hospital.

1966: On Search for Tomorrow, Eunice (Ann Williams), Stu (Larry Haines), Marge (Melba Rae), Bob (Carl Low) and Patti (Gretchen Walther) were gathered at Jo's house for Christmas.  Mary Stuart (Jo) played guitar as the girls sang "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella." Later, Jo sang "O Jesus, So Sweet."

'The Doctors' and 'Another World' Star Fred J. Scollay Dead at 92

Fred J. Scollay was an original cast member of The Doctors.

Veteran television and movie actor Fred J. Scollay died November 3 in Hobe Sound, FL. He was 92.

Scollay was born March 19, 1923, in Roxbury, Massachusetts. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 67 years, Ann (Barr) Scollay in 2013. They lived most of their professional lives in Queens, NY with their lake house in Voluntown, CT their weekend getaway.

After serving in the Navy during WWII, Scollay had a long and successful acting career in daytime and primetime television, movies, and commercials.

On daytime TV, Scollay was an original cast member of NBC's The Doctors, playing hospital chaplain Rev. Sam Shafer (1963-1964). On Another World (1977-1980), he played Charley Hobson, the last husband of Ada Hobson (Constance Ford). He also had roles on several other soap operas including Somerset (as Harry Wilson aka Ike Harding), Love Is a Many Splendored Thing (Police Chief Rame), The Edge of Night (Dr. John Carpenter and Lobo Haines) and Search for Tomorrow (Arthur Kendricks).

Today in Soap Opera History (December 26)

1966: SFT's Joanne and Stu celebrated Christmas with family and
friends. 1986: In the final scene of Search for Tomorrow,
Stu asked, "What is it, Jo? What is it you're searching for?"
Jo's reply: "Tomorrow. And I can't wait."

"The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect is already in the cause."
― Henri Louis Bergson

"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...

1941: After being canceled by the network, NBC Radio aired what was intended to be the final episode of radio soap opera The Guiding Light. The network received 75,000 protest letters and the show returned 11 weeks later on March 16, 1942, running for four and a half more years on NBC Radio before being canceled again. CBS Radio picked up the show in 1947 and the series ran on radio and television (starting in 1952) until 2009.

Note: There are conflicting sources about whether this was truly The Guiding Light's first time leaving the air. Some suggest it was off for a time during its second season as well.

1952: The final episode of Big Sister aired on CBS Radio.

1966: On Another World, Sam Groom debuted as Russ Matthews. Russ returned to Bay City to do his internship at Memorial Hospital.

1966: On Search for Tomorrow, Eunice (Ann Williams), Stu (Larry Haines), Marge (Melba Rae), Bob (Carl Low) and Patti (Gretchen Walther) were gathered at Jo's house for Christmas.  Mary Stuart (Jo) played guitar as the girls sang "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella." Later, Jo sang "O Jesus, So Sweet."