#classicsoaps — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #classicsoaps, aggregated by home.social.
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🌞 Happy Wednesday!
This rare photo of Deidre Hall, taken around 1966–68, shows her in her pre-acting days—young, radiant, and full of promise.
Leaning against a car with an ice cream cone in hand, she’s a portrait of mid-60s charm. A beautiful reminder that every icon has a beginning.
#DeidreHall #SoapOperaHistory #BeforeTheFame #1960sStyle #TVIcons #ClassicSoaps #LegacyLove #RarePhoto #WednesdayVibes
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Eileen Fulton (1933-2025) was so popular on daytime TV that CBS gave her own *primetime* spinoff.
OUR PRIVATE WORLD was a twice-weekly nighttime series in the summer of 1965 that focused on her AS THE WORLD TURNS character Lisa.
#EileenFulton #RIPEileenFulton #AsTheWorldTurns #ClassicSoaps
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Farewell to Eileen Fulton (1933-2025) — a soap opera icon as Lisa on AS THE WORLD TURNS.
She turned a three-month story into a 50-year run by making the “girl next door” one of daytime’s greatest divas.
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RYAN’S HOPE debuted on this date in 1975.
20-year-old Kate Mulgrew was the breakout star of this ABC soap opera set in New York City.
Helen Gallagher + Bernie Barrow starred as bar owners Maeve and Johnny Ryan for the entire 14-year run.
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THE GUIDING LIGHT debuted on TV #OTD in 1952 (after 15 years on radio).
It aired until 2009 — the longest-running dramatic series in history.
Charita Bauer was its star for half its 72-year run — including 4 years doing the TV show in the morning and the radio show in the afternoon.
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Raise a glass for Helen Gallagher (1926-2024) — Broadway musical star, two-time Tony winner, 3-time Emmy winner as matriarch Maeve Ryan on RYAN’S HOPE.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/27/arts/helen-gallagher-dead.html
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Today in 1975 – RYAN’S HOPE debuted on ABC.
20-year-old Kate Mulgrew was the breakout star of this Emmy-winning soap set in New York City.
And Helen Gallagher + Bernie Barrow starred as bar owners Maeve and Johnny Ryan for the entire 14-year run.
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Tonight in 1960 — Mystery writer Henry Slesar made his TV writing debut on ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS.
“40 Detectives Later” starred James Franciscus and Jack Weston.
Slesar’s crime-with-a-twist style would reach its apex as Emmy-winning head writer of THE EDGE OF NIGHT.
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Today in 1956 — THE EDGE OF NIGHT debuted on CBS.
The Emmy-winning soap brought crime stories to daytime, w/ genius mystery scribe Henry Slesar (1927-2002) as head writer for 16 years.Not streaming, but you can watch 1,000+ shows on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAg2DUkk2Tt7xSqAB26RviX4PQXHT_57i&si=vnUFsnY9OIxqPAgv
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“Don't let anybody tell you it can't be done. I did it. You can, too." — Lela Swift (1919–2015) #BornOnThisDay
She rose from the CBS secretarial pool to become a groundbreaking director of 1950s live TV, then iconic soaps like DARK SHADOWS and RYAN’S HOPE (for which she won 3 Emmys).
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Bridget Dobson (1938-2024) — Emmy-winning co-creator of SANTA BARBARA.
With husband Jerome Dobson, she was also co-head writer of GENERAL HOSPITAL, THE GUIDING LIGHT, and AS THE WORLD TURNS.
https://michaelfairmantv.com/bridget-dobson-co-creator-co-head-writer-santa-barbara-dead/2024/01/07/ #SoapOpera #SantaBarbara #ClassicSoaps
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Bill Hayes (1925-2024) — Actor, singer, DAYS OF OUR LIVES star since 1970.
As Doug and Julie Williams, he and wife Susan Seaforth Hayes were a couple on and off-screen for half a century.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/bill-hayes-dead-days-lives-1235787188/ #DAYS #ClassicSoaps
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Today in 1984 — THE EDGE OF NIGHT ended its 28-year run.
TV's only #FilmNoir soap opera brought crime and murder mystery stories to daytime, courtesy of Emmy-winning head writer Henry Slesar.
Inexplicably not streaming, but hundreds of episodes are on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@SharonRoseGabet #ClassicSoaps #TheEdgeOfNight #1970sTV #1960sTV #1980sTV
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Today in 1972 — Beverlee McKinsey (1935-2008) made her debut as Iris on ANOTHER WORLD.
She earned 4 Emmy nominations — and her work w/ Victoria Wyndham (as Rachel) and Douglass Watson (as Mac) was a highpoint of the show's 1970s heyday.
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“I thought, ‘I’m tired of being the sweet girl next door. I can’t change the lines, but I can change my intention.’”
Eileen Fulton is 90 today.
The soap icon starred as Lisa on AS THE WORLD TURNS for half a century.
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Nancy Frangione (1953-2023) — a soap opera icon as Cecile on ANOTHER WORLD.
She also played Tara on ALL MY CHILDREN + appeared on shows like THE NANNY, MATLOCK, and BUCK ROGERS.
https://tvline.com/news/nancy-frangione-dead-cause-of-death-another-world-cecile-depoulignac-obituary-1235032271/ #ClassicSoaps #SoapOperas #AnotherWorld
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Today in 1984 — SANTA BARBARA debuted on NBC.
It won 24 Emmys during a 9-year run — including Outstanding Drama 3 times — and was a hit in 40 countries, but it's still not streaming.
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Today in 1975 – RYAN’S HOPE debuted on ABC.
20-year-old Kate Mulgrew was the breakout star of this soap set in New York City.
And Helen Gallagher + Bernie Barrow starred as bar owners Maeve and Johnny Ryan for the entire 14-yr run!
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#RobertGerringer (1926-1989) was born on this day.
He was a familiar face on soap operas like THE EDGE OF NIGHT, TEXAS and GUIDING LIGHT.
But he’s best remembered for #DarkShadows, where he lost his job because he wouldn't cross the picket line of a NABET technician’s strike.
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ANOTHER WORLD debuted #OnThisDay in 1964. It was the first #SoapOpera to
-switch from B&W to color 1966
-get a daytime spinoff 1970
-expand to 60 min 1975
-expand to 90 min 1979
-get a 2nd spinoff 1980
-have a vocal title theme that was a hit 1987#ClassicSoaps #ClassicTV #AnotherWorld #BeverleeMcKinsey #DouglassWatson #VictoriaWyndham
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Today in 1956 — THE EDGE OF NIGHT debuted.
Developed as the TV version of #PerryMason, it was retooled when creator #ErleStanleyGardner backed out. #JohnLarkin (radio's Perry Mason) starred as renamed attorney Mike Karr.
For 28 years, it brought murder mysteries to daytime.
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Tonight in 1982 — #Capitol debuted on CBS.
The daytime soap set in a Washington D.C. suburb got a primetime premiere after #Dallas!
#CarolynJones (#TheAddamsFamily) starred as scheming Myrna Clegg “daytime’s answer to J.R. Ewing.”
#ClassicTV #ClassicSoaps #SoapOpera #1980sTV #1980s #Nostalgia
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#GabrielleUpton (1922-2022) — Screenwriter, best known for #Gidget (1959).
She also wrote for anthology TV shows like #AlfredHitchcock, Westerns like #TheVirginian and was head writer on the soap operas #TheGuidingLight, #TheSecretStorm and #LoveOfLife.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/gabrielle-upton-dead-gidget-1235333558/ #SoapOpera #Soaps #ClassicSoaps #ClassicTV
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Today in 1993 — #SantaBarbara ended its 8 1/2-year run on NBC.
At one time, it aired in more than 40 countries and was the most popular American #SoapOpera in the world!
#OnThisDay #ClassicTV #ClassicSoaps #1980sTV #1980sTV #Nostalgia
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Today in 1989 — the finale of #RyansHope aired on ABC.
Set in New York City, the Emmy-winning daytime #SoapOpera featured #HelenGallagher and #BernardBarrow as Maeve and Johnny Ryan for it’s entire 13 1/2-year run.
#OnThisDay #ClassicTV #ClassicSoaps #1970sTV #1980sTV #Nostalgia
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#Tonight in 1976 — #MaryHartmanMaryHartman debuted in first-run syndication.
#LouiseLasser starred in this satirical #SoapOpera from producer #NormanLear.
#OnThisDay #ClassicTV #1970s #1970sTV #Nostalgia #MaryHartman #ClassicSoaps
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Today in 1970 — The daytime #SoapOpera #AllMyChildren debuted.
#SusanLucci played Erica Kane for the entire 41-year run on ABC!
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#AnotherWorld (1964-1999, NBC) existed in what we would today call a "universe.”
Characters crossed over w/ sister shows like #AsTheWorldTurns, #TheGuidingLight and #ForRicherForPoorer + migrated to spinoffs #Somerset (1970–76) and #Texas (1980-82) and back!
And characters lived on elsewhere after the parent show was cancelled!
#ClassicTV #ClassicSoaps #1970 #1970sTV #Nostalgia #SoapOperas
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This week in 1977 — #LoversAndFriends debuted on NBC.
The short-lived daytime #SoapOpera was created by #AnotherWorld head writer #HardingLemay + producer #PaulRauch and replaced the AW spinoff #Somerset — but it was not an AW spinoff!
It was pulled after 17 weeks, but returned in Dec, 1977 w/ a new title #ForRicherForPoorer. This time, the lead characters *were* introduced on AW, and AW characters crossed over!
#ClassicTV #ClassicSoaps #1970 #1970sTV #Nostalgia #SoapOperas
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Today in 1976 — The daytime #SoapOpera SOMERSET ended its 6 1/2 year run on NBC.
The first #AnotherWorld spinoff was written (for 2 1/2 years) by mystery writer #HenrySlesar, who did double duty writing #TheEdgeOfNight. (Both were produced by Procter & Gamble).
After SOMERSET, star #JoelCrothers joined the cast of EDGE!
#ClassicTV #ClassicSoaps #OnThisDay #SoapOperas #DarkShadows
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Today in 1986 — #SearchForTomorrow ended its run after more than 9,000 episodes!
The iconic #SoapOpera starred #MaryStuart and #LarryHaines for 35 years — and gave early work to future stars #KevinBacon, #MorganFairchild and #JaneKrakowski!