5 Favorite Soap Moments From ‘Days of Our Lives,’ ‘Dark Shadows’ & More
Romance, heartbreak, intrigue—daytime drama is here again!
And what better way to celebrate these new episodes of our favorite soaps than to look back on past picks and sizzling storylines? Scroll down for our staffers’ favorite daytime memories, from classics like Dark Shadows and Sunset Beach to the still-airing Days of Our Lives and General Hospital.
Dark Shadows
Among my earliest TV memories is racing home from school to watch the supernatural soap Dark Shadows. The brooding vampire Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) was my favorite, even more so when, in 1967, the show delved into his tragic origins in the 1700s, when a curse by jealous witch Angelique (Lara Parker) turned him into a vampire and doomed his romance with Josette (Kathryn Leigh Scott). I had Barnabas plastic fangs, his faux onyx ring, the board game.… I was an 11-year-old Barnabas groupie! —Matt Roush, Senior Critic
Dark Shadows
When I was a kid, the Sci-Fi Channel (as it was called then) aired two episodes of the original Dark Shadows weekdays at 11am. One summer I watched the entire 1795 storyline (it first aired in 1967 and 1968), in which virtuous governess Victoria (Alexandra Moltke Isles) traveled back in time. The moment she is hanged for witchcraft—and then returns to present-day 1967—was shocking. But it was also a rare instance of resolution in a show whose storylines could drag on. —John Russell, Staff Writer
Days of Our Lives
In 1982, the Salem Strangler terrorized locals for months. On a Friday episode, Marlena (Deidre Hall) was home alone when he came up behind her and choked her dead. Fans freaked out! The following week it was revealed that Marlena’s twin, Samantha (played by Hall’s twin, Andrea), had unexpectedly come to town and was the one murdered. It was awesome. —Jim Halterman, West Coast Bureau Chief
General Hospital
General Hospital is known for its mob wars, and in 1995, hitmen going after Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Luke (Anthony Geary) attacked three locations simultaneously: Luke’s home, his club and Sonny’s penthouse, where his girlfriend, Brenda (Vanessa Marcil), was taking a shower. Everyone survived, but Stone (Michael Sutton) took a bullet—and after seeing his blood splattered on his girlfriend, Robin (Kimberly McCullough), he finally admitted he was HIV-positive. It was GH at its best with action, romance and a dose of real life. —Amy Miller, Deputy Editor
Sunset Beach
The Aaron Spelling–produced soap went all out with a monthlong “Shockwave” stunt in 1998. A massive earthquake and tsunami left the residents of the coastal hamlet fighting for their lives both on land and at sea aboard an overturned cruise liner. Bonkers, yes, but the underwater sequences were Titanic-ally impressive. —Damian Holbrook, Senior Writer
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P
The original Dark Shadows, plus it’s multiple incarnations (including a new, updated series rumored to be in the works) continues to attract new, next generation and beyond, fans. My younger cousin has watched all 1225 episodes four (soon to be five) times thanks to the coffin-shaped box that holds the entire series on DVD. Back in 1991 I chatted with Matt Roush on the phone when he interviewed me as the Washington DC area liaison for the nationwide effort to stop NBC from
cancelling the wonderful Dark Shadows remake. Sadly, we were unsuccessful. Even sadder, that series’ Barnabas, Ben Cross, passed away just yesterday. Nevertheless, both Barnabas’s and all of the other magical characters from Collinsport, Maine, will live forever in reruns and on DVD, not to mention in the hearts of those of us who rushed home from school to watch!
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J
I remember being outside, playing with friends, when someone would yell "It's four o'clock!" All us kids would make a bee-line for the nearest house to sit in front of the TV & watch Dark Shadows. It was wonderful at the time. (Watching it now is kind of a culture shock, but it was definitely awesome.)
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R
"it was revealed that Marlena’s twin...had unexpectedly come to town and was the one murdered."
I guess Dr. Rolf was not available in 1982...to bring Marlena back to life!!??!!
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