The Secret Storm didn't expand until 1962 (along with The Brighter Day, which was the first soap to have a religious theme).

Did Guiding Light carry none of their initial religious focus over to television?

Edited June 16, 201510 yr by Titus Andronicus

GL was the first soap to address superfecundation (i.e. twins having different fathers) with Blake, Rick, and Ross. I was one of the few that actually liked the story and hated it when it turned out that both twins were indeed Ross'.

The Secret Storm didn't expand until 1962 (along with The Brighter Day, which was the first soap to have a religious theme).

My mistake. So LOL holds that title alone.

TGL did have Reverend Keeler in the cast in the early 50's but he was not the focus,

The Cradle Will Fall was the first TV movie to use daytime characters.

First TV movie to use and promote soap actors - Fantasies ABC 1982 John Gabriel,Peter Bergman,Stuart Damon,Robin Mattson and Robert S Woods all appeared.

Edited June 17, 201510 yr by Paul Raven

First show to be cancelled and return The Clear Horizon. Cancelled in March 61 and returned Feb 62.

First real life death to be written into the story Theo Getz Papa Bauer GL 1973

First 'feature length' premiere How To Survive a Marriage 90 min Jan 74

Days first soap that had crappy sets

Days first soap that had crappy sets

Actually I'd give that one to Love of Life. I've seen a 1953 ep of GL and 1953 ep of Love of Life. GL's set was all well furnished and polished looking like I Love Lucy at the time. LOL on the other hand just had some furniture on a sound-stage with hanging pictures from the ceiling...

First deaf actor/character Linda Bove as Melissa Hayley Search for Tomorrow 1973

First blind actor/character Tom Sullivan as Michael Kendall Search for Tomorrow 1983

First late in life pregnancy story Ada McGowan Another World 1974

GL was the first soap to address superfecundation (i.e. twins having different fathers) with Blake, Rick, and Ross. I was one of the few that actually liked the story and hated it when it turned out that both twins were indeed Ross'.

Guiding Light was so over the top during that time. Of course Megan McTavish was HW so what could I expect.

First cloning story GL Reva

I can tell you all how often I've been looking for Fantasies on YouTube. The Robin Mattson scenes were enough to interest me.

Placeholder, First Soap to Earn a TV Guide Cover. I believe it's As The World Turns, 1971, but the magazine's website features every cover, and, well, it's worth verifying, and checking out the rather melodramatic shots from the '50s, like this one of Janis Paige: http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/archive/suboffer/1950s/1956/19560128_c1.jpg.html

This the TV Guide cover.Interesting that at that time ATWT was beginning to falter in the ratings.The article would have been an interesting read.

First soap star to score a TV Guide cover Rod Arrants (Travis Sentell SFT) August 1979

Edited July 5, 201510 yr by Paul Raven

This the TV Guide cover.Interesting that at that time ATWT was beginning to falter in the ratings.The article would have been an interesting read.

What year was that?

August 1971

No Bob or Ellen in that pic

Edited July 5, 201510 yr by Paul Raven

First Academy Award winning best actor to appear on a soap - Jose Ferrer. Best Actor in 1952 for Cyrano de Bergerac. Appeared on AW in 1982.

First Academy Award winning best actress to appear on a soap - Elizabeth Taylor Best Actress in 1960 for Butterfield 8. Appeared on GH in 1981.

First Academy Award winner to appear on a soap.Gale Sondergaard. Won best supporting actress in 1936 for Anthony Adverse. Appeared on The Best of Everything in 1970.

Edited July 6, 201510 yr by Paul Raven