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December is almost here, which means the holiday season is around the corner. While the drama won’t cool down in the land of soap operas during this festive season, there are some annual feel-good Christmas traditions fans look forward to each year.

Below are the top 4:

The Bold And The Beautiful – Eric Forrester Leads Christmas Carol Singing

The Forrester mansion is always decked out in festive flair as the family, along with extended family members, gather on Christmas Eve.

That’s generally when Eric Forrester (John McCook) pulls a seat toward the piano to play some favorite Christmas carols, as friends, loved ones, and sometimes rivals, are welcomed to sing along.

Days Of Our Lives – The Hortons Gather To Trim The Christmas Tree

At this point, almost everyone in Salem has their own customized ornament for the Horton Christmas tree, although in the beginning this Days of Our Lives (Dool) tree-trimming event,...

‘General Hospital’ (Gh) spoilers reveal that on August 1, 1997, a new resident came to Port Charles. A young, pretty, and rebellious teenager named Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) arrived on the scene as the daughter of Jeff Webber (Richard Dean Anderson) and Carolyn Webber (Denise Crosby).

‘General Hospital’ Spoilers: Rebecca Almost Wasn’t Cast On Gh

She’s also the granddaughter of Steve Hardy (John Beradino) and Audrey Hardy (Rachel Ames). Liz came to town to live with Audrey and her sister, Sarah Webber (Jennifer Sky).

Rebecca almost wasn’t cast on Gh. She initially tested for the role of Sarah, but she didn’t get the part. However, the writers were so impressed by her that they wrote a new part specifically to suit her.

That’s how she got the role of Liz. Rebecca started to shine as an actress after her character was raped. Liz’s personality drastically changed after that happened.

Two long-running, hospital-set soaps — ABC’s General Hospital and NBC’s The Doctors — debuted on the same day on April 1, 1963. The Doctors ran for nearly 20 years, but General Hospital has lasted three times as long — and counting! Six decades into the soap’s run, and ABC is honoring the show with a primetime special, General Hospital: 60 Years of Stars and Storytelling, airing on Thursday, January 4, at 10/9c. The General Hospital that started that day in 1963, however, is very different from the show fans see today, and not just because it aired in black and white and not color. For starters, General Hospital was a half-hour show at the time; it didn’t expand to its current, hour-long format until 15 years later. And whereas today’s General Hospital boasts a cast of nearly three dozen, Episode #1.1 focused on only five characters on the seventh floor of the titular medical center — particularly Dr.

In the 1950s daytime programming became extremely popular, with game shows and soap operas becoming a staple in American households. Although the Emmy Awards had been established in 1949, the categories were limited for the first few years, and performers from all genres, and from both daytime and nighttime programs, were lumped together in one or two acting categories, with daytime performers usually left out.

In 1962 Mary Stuart became the only soap opera actress nominated for a Primetime Emmy, for her role as Joanne Gardner on “Search for Tomorrow.” In 1968 a category for Best Achievement in Daytime Programming was attempted, but judges decided that no one was deserving. Outraged pioneers of the genre, such as writer Agnes Nixon and “General Hospital” star John Beradino, lobbied for recognition of daytime television. In 1972 the first Emmy Awards specifically honoring daytime programming were bestowed to “The Doctors” for Best Daytime Drama and to Mary Fickett...

This Civil War thriller has so much truth to say about War, Patriotism and combatant-vs.-civilian terror that we can hardly believe it was released in 1954. It’s based on a true event from 1864, a daring undercover mission that hit the Union far away from the conventional fighting. Van Heflin is the vengeance-seeking advance agent, Anne Bancroft a war widow, Richard Boone a maimed Union veteran and Lee Marvin a loose cannon with a hair trigger. The anti-war message is stronger than anything from the Vietnam years! The 20th-Fox release is not on quality home video, and is in great need of restoration.

The Raid

Not on Home Video

CineSavant Revival Screening Review

1954 / Color / 1:66 widescreen / 83 min.

Starring: Van Heflin, Anne Bancroft, Richard Boone, Lee Marvin, Tommy Rettig, Peter Graves, Douglas Spencer, Paul Cavanagh, Will Wright, James Best, John Dierkes, Helen Ford, Lee Aaker, Claude Akins, John Beradino, Robert Easton,...

John Clarke, the Days of Our Lives actor who portrayed lawyer Mickey Horton on the NBC soap opera for nearly four decades, right from the very beginning, died Wednesday in Laguna Beach, California. He was 88.

Clarke also appeared on the fourth Twilight Zone episode, "The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine," which first aired in 1959, and played an Lapd cop opposite Leslie Nielsen and future General Hospital star John Beradino on the Quinn Martin/ABC drama The New Breed, which ran for a season (1961-62).

Clarke starred as one of the sons of Macdonald Carey's Dr. Tom Horton on Days of ...

John Clarke, the Days of Our Lives actor who portrayed lawyer Mickey Horton on the NBC soap opera for nearly four decades, right from the very beginning, died Wednesday in Laguna Beach, California. He was 88.

Clarke also appeared on the fourth Twilight Zone episode, "The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine," which first aired in 1959, and played an Lapd cop opposite Leslie Nielsen and future General Hospital star John Beradino on the Quinn Martin/ABC drama The New Breed, which ran for a season (1961-62).

Clarke starred as one of the sons of Macdonald Carey's Dr. Tom Horton on Days of ...

1972: Victoria Wyndham debuted as Rachel on Another World.

1980: Edge of Night's Kelly had competition for Jody.

1986: As the World Turns' Nancy mourned her husband.

1987: Days of our Lives' welcomed a new Jack."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...

1962: Actor Les Damon died at age 54. His soap roles included Ed Palmerlee in The Edge of Night, Jim Lowell in As the World Turns, and Bruce Banning on The Guiding Light.

1965: On General Hospital, Dr. Steve Hardy (John Beradino) and Nurse Jessie Brewer (Emily McLaughlin...

1967: Dark Shadows' Maggie disappeared from the hospital.

1980: Edge of Night's "Kirk" (aka Draper) was hit by a car.

1992: Days of our Lives' Brady was born.

1994: General Hospital's Tony listened to B.J.'s heart in Maxie."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent 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...

1964: On Another World, Janet (Liza Chapman) learned that her father, Will, had a cardiac condition for the past five years which he kept secret from his family. Note: Will had just died when Another World premiered.

1967: On Dark Shadows,...

1967: Dark Shadows' Barnabas gave Maggie a music box.

1984: Guiding Light's Nola wanted help from The Wizard.

1985: Santa Barbara's Eden was unhappy after her interrupted wedding.

1996: Victor clashed with Jill in a primetime Y&R episode."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent 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...

1952: On Young Widder Brown, after leaving the Tea Room in a black rage, Dr. Anthony Loring drove out to the farm of Uncle Josh for some comforting advice.

1953: On Love of Life, Vanessa Dale (Peggy McCay) attempted to help her nephew,...

1963: The Doctors premiered on NBC, while General Hospital

made its debut on ABC."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent 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...

1963: NBC premiered a new daytime drama, The Doctors, created by the Orin Tovrov. The Doctors did not start as a serial; it began as a "half-hour anthology series of medical dramas, set in the large metropolitan Hope Memorial Hospital, and with the four principals alternating daily in the lead role, according to NBC's original announcement. The roles were Dr. William Scott (played by Jock Gaynor), Dr. Jerry Chandler...

Family and friends gather to celebrate Christmas on As the World Turns (1965), Guiding Light (1979), General Hospital (1982) and The Young and the Restless (1992)."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...

1965: On As the World Turns, Ellen Stewart (Patricia Bruder) told her husband, David (Henderson Forsythe), about a Christmas long ago when she was pregnant. Their conversation was interrupted by Paul (Edmund Gaynes) and Dan (Jeffrey Rowland), who opened a gift from his grandmother. Later, David told Ellen he already knew about her child.

1968: On Dark Shadows, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid...

1963: The original Doctor Who premiered.

1970: Dark Shadows' Daphne and Quentin held a seance on.

1984: Days' Stefano shot Roman, who fell off a cliff.

1988: General Hospital's Cheryl was delirious."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"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...

1963: The original Doctor Who series premiered on the BBC. The show depicts the adventures of the Doctor, a Time Lord—a time-travelling humanoid alien. He explores the universe in his Tardis, a sentient time-travelling space ship.

1964: On Another World, Pat Matthews (Susan Trustman) sent a letter to the Baxter family which said she did not kill Tom.

1966: On Dark Shadows,...

1979: Eon's Deborah began receiving mysterious phone calls.

1984: Days' twins Eric and Sami were born.

1992: Days' Abigail was born.

2006: Gl's Olivia told Gus about her rape."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"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...

1965: On General Hospital, Bill (Curtis Taylor) made his feelings clear about Dr. Steve Hardy (John Beradino).

1965: On A Time For Us, Dave (Terrence Logan) listened to Steve's (Tom Fielding) confession.

1965: On The Young Marrieds, Ann (Susan Brown) made an effort to charm Mandy (Marla Palmer).

1970: On Another World, Rachel (Robin Strasser) gave Russ (Sam Groom) a signed legal...

One of the splashier WW2 combat sagas adapts Norman Mailer’s respected book but ends up a bona fide mess. Aldo Ray, Cliff Robertson and Raymond Massey flail about in a compromised screen story, augmented with side-dish appearances by sultry Barbara Nichols and — even though she’s allowed to contribute almost nothing — famous ecdysiast Lili St. Cyr. Let the search for outtakes begin.

The Naked and the Dead

Blu-ray

Warner Archive Collection

1958 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 131 min. / Street Date August 28, 2018 / available through the WBshop / 21.99

Starring: Aldo Ray, Cliff Robertson, Raymond Massey, Lili St. Cyr, Barbara Nichols, William Campbell, Richard Jaeckel, James Best, Joey Bishop, Jerry Paris, Robert Gist, L.Q. Jones, Max Showalter, John Beradino, Saundra Edwards, Lydia Goya, Val Hidey, Taffy O’Neil, Liz Renay, Grace Lee Whitney.

Cinematography: Joseph Lashelle

Film Editor: Arthur P. Schmidt

Original Music: Bernard Herrmann

Written by Denis Sanders & Terry Sanders from the novel by Norman...

1972: Victoria Wyndham debuted as Rachel on Another World.

1980: Edge of Night's Kelly had competition for Jody.

1986: As the World Turns' Nancy mourned her husband.

1987: Days of our Lives' welcomed a new Jack."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"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...

1962: Actor Les Damon died at age 54. His soap roles included Ed Palmerlee in The Edge of Night, Jim Lowell in As the World Turns, and Bruce Banning on The Guiding Light.

1965: On General Hospital, Dr. Steve Hardy (John Beradino) and Nurse Jessie Brewer (Emily McLaughlin) filled Mike Costello in on the latest developments with Angie.

1967: Dark Shadows' Barnabas gave Maggie a music box.

1984: Guiding Light's Nola wanted help from The Wizard.

1985: Santa Barbara's Eden was unhappy after her interrupted wedding.

1996: Victor clashed with Jill in a primetime Y&R episode."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"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...

1952: On Young Widder Brown, after leaving the Tea Room in a black rage, Dr. Anthony Loring drove out to the farm...

1963: The Doctors premiered on NBC, while General Hospital

made its debut on ABC."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"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...

1963: NBC premiered a new daytime drama, The Doctors, created by the Orin Tovrov. The Doctors did not start as a serial; it began as a "half-hour anthology series of medical dramas, set in the large metropolitan Hope Memorial Hospital, and with the four principals alternating daily in the lead role,...

Just as there have been advances in the field of medicine over the past 55 years that have resulted in people living longer, so, too, have there been changes and improvements at “General Hospital” that have kept the long-running soap opera thriving in today’s crowded TV landscape.

“Soap operas are an original American art form that’s been copied into other forms of television, but our show is a drama that also has elements of comedy and action-adventure,” says executive producer Frank Valentini. “It’s rare for a show to encompass all of that, while at the core being a show about love, family and relationships. We tell stories from all perspectives. We’ve held onto all these elements and that is how we maintain our place in the television landscape.”

Valentini notes that the most significant differences between television in 1963 when “General Hospital” first debuted and today is the “increased competition” and tightening budget.

Family and friends gather to celebrate Christmas on As the

World Turns (1965), Guiding Light (1979), General Hospital

(1982) and The Young and the Restless (1992)."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...

1965: On As the World Turns, Ellen Stewart (Patricia Bruder) told her husband, David (Henderson Forsythe), about a Christmas long ago when she was pregnant. Their conversation was interrupted by Paul (Edmund Gaynes) and Dan (Jeffrey Rowland), who opened a gift from his grandmother. Later, David told Ellen he already knew about her child.

1968: On Dark Shadows, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) found Joe Haskell (Joel Crothers) had been attacked by the werewolf...

What does one give for a 52nd anniversary? Closure, apparently.

ABC’s General Hospital on Wednesday, April 1, will at long last reveal the truth about what caused Luke Spencer’s (Anthony Geary) psychotic break, as promised in the new promo above (which will air during tonight’s Grey’s Anatomy).

RelatedDaytime Emmys Ceremony Returns to TV

Guest-starring in the episode will be Dee Wallace (E.T.), as Luke’s long-lost sister Patricia, who will help answer the long-brewing, dark questions.

RelatedDaytime Emmys 2015: Betty White to Receive Special Honor

Also to mark the anniversary, select scenes from the sudser’s April 1, 1963 debut will be recreated,...

Are There Big Bucks in Daytime Soaps?

By Isobel Silden

The Baltimore Sun

July 27, 1980

The names may not be blaring from the headlines of the movie magazines in the supermarkets, but the top soap opera actors are genuine stars with an adoring--or sometimes angry--public. And there are jealousies, salary disputes and ego problems. Here, in the last of a five-part series, is a look behind the scenes of the soaps.

Everyone involved with daytime TV, either as a performer or a viewer, has favorite cherished stories.

Helen Gallagher (Maeve on Ryan's Hope) says producer Claire Labine cherishes one specific letter. "It was from a girl who'd been raped. She wrote Helen that the aftermath with the police was so awful, she tried to think of the nicest thing she could. That was Maeve Ryan. Helen cries when she talks about it."

Still, all is not sweetness and light with every actor on every soap.

What was hot in the month of June in the soap world? We Love Soaps TV is using data to try to find out. By compiling data from number of reads on each post, the number of searches on our website and hits on our videos, we are ranking the Top 10 People and Shows for the month of June. The combination of her Emmy win for Venice and her exit from Days propelled Crystal Chappell to the top spot for the month.  Both shows made the Top 10 soaps list as well.

10 Hottest People In June (Top 10 Ranking Last Month)

1. Crystal Chappell (-)

2. Francia Raisa (-)

3. Maurice Benard (-)

4. Ken Baumann (-)

5. Lindsay Hartley (-)

6. Deidre Hall (-)

7. Olivia Newton-John (-)

8. Jason Thompson (-)

9. John Beradino (-)

10.Josh Duhamel (-)

10 Hottest Soaps In June

1. Days Of Our Lives (5)

2. General Hospital (4)

3. One Life To Live (1)

4. All My Children (2)

5. The Young And The Restless...

In Part One of our interview with Denise Alexander, the legendary actress spoke about her early career on radio and television, her first three TV soaps including the breakthrough role of Susan Hunter Martin on Days Of Our Lives. She also revealed how her guest appearance on the web series Pretty came about. In Part Two below, Alexander talks about leaving Days and joining the cast of General Hospital as Lesley Webber, her years on that soap, and how it felt during the height of fame during the show's glory years.

We Love Soaps TV: I've read that you left Days Of Our Lives during a period of time when your contract had lapsed and General Hospital snapped you up.

Denise Alexander: It's a longer story than that, but that is absolutely true.

We Love Soaps TV: So you were a star on Days and Gh wasn't doing well...