1979: General Hospital's Laura wanted a job at the disco. 1987: Lizzie demanded answers on Ryan's Hope. 1989: As the World Turns' Shannon lost her baby. 2007: One Life to Live's John arrive to arrest Lindsay.

"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...

1970: Murial Williams returned to Another World as Lenore's (Judith Barcroft) mother, Helen Moore. Williams remained with the show until April 8, 1976.

1976: Rosemary Forsyth debuted as Laura Horton on Days of our Lives.

1977: On Another World, Mac (Douglass Watson) listened in through the intercom as Dave (David Ackroyd) told Pat (Beverly Penberthy) he had always been in love with Rachel. Mac shut off the intercom before Dave told her that Rachel still loved Mac. Dave left Bay City to live in Boston on the next episode.

1978: On All My Children, Tara Martin Brent (Nancy Frangione) told Chuck Tyler (Richard Van Vleet) that she hadn't heard from Philip.



1979: On Guiding Light, Mike Bauer (Don Stewart) refused to accept that his daughter, Hope (Elvera Roussel), and Alan Spaulding (Christopher Bernau) would probably never be found. Meanwhile, on the island, Hope told Alan she owed him her life.



Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the clip above.

1979: On General Hospital, Laura Webber Baldwin (Genie Francis) asked Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary) for a job at the campus disco. The episode opened with Richard Simmons' exercise class.



1979: On The Edge of Night, Sarah (Jenny Lyons) and Raven Swift (Sharon Gabet) fought over Elliott.



1984: On Santa Barbara, Joe Perkins (Dane Witherspoon) and Augusta Lockridge (Louise Sorel) woke up together after spending the night together. "Joe, you did things to me last night, you made me feel things that I've never felt," Augusta told Joe.



1987: On Ryan's Hope, Lizzie Ransome (Catherine Larson) confronted John Reid Ryan (Jason Adams) about his affair.



1989: On As the World Turns, Shannon O'Hara (Margaret Reed) lost her baby.



1997: Actor Stanley Grover died at age 71. Grover played roles in Somerset, Dark Shadows, The Edge of Night and The Best of Everything.

2007: On The Young and the Restless, the people of Genoa City testified for and against Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) at her sentencing hearing. Brad opened with, "Phyllis Newman is a menace." Next up on was Nikki who started by saying,"Phyllis Newman is a curse on my family." Neil and Lily also testified against her. Daniel and Nick testified for Phyllis.

2007: On One Life to Live, Lindsay Rappaport (Catherine Hickland) is honored at the Woman of the Year banquet. Later, the police arrive and Lindsay reveals they are there to arrest her for the murder of Spencer Truman.



2012: Actress Claire Malis, who played Dorian Lord on One Life to Live from 1977-1979, died at age 69.

2012: Kathleen Gati debuted as Dr. Liesl Obrecht on General Hospital.

2013: Actress Julie Harris (Lilliemae Clements on Knots Landing), passed away at age 87.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Anne Archer (ex-Cassandra, Falcon Crest) - 71
Ray Laska (ex-Russ, General Hospital; ex-Boris, Spyder Games; ex-Harvey, The Bold and the Beautiful) - 69
Stephen Fry (ex-Alastair, 24) - 61
Steve Guttenberg (ex-Woody, Veronica Mars) - 60
Marlee Matlin (ex-Melody, Switched at Birth; ex-Jodi, The L Word; ex-Joey, The West Wing; ex-Alisa, Desperate Housewives) - 53
Jennifer Lien (ex-Hannah, Another World) - 44
Bonnie Root (ex-Eve, As the World Turns) - 43
James D'Arcy (ex-Edwin, Agent Carter) - 43
Beth Riesgraf (ex-Samantha, Complications; ex-Loretta, Undressed) - 40
Rachael Carpani (ex-Miranda, Home and Away) - 38
Chad Michael Murray (Edgar, Riverdale; ex-Xander, Star; ex-Jack, Agent Carter; ex-Lucas, One Tree Hill; ex-Dan, Undressed) - 38
Blake Berris (ex-Nick, Days of our Lives) - 34

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