On this day in 1970, Doug and Julie (Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth) shared their first kiss on Days of our Lives. In real-life, the duo was happily married for over 50 years. Bill Hayes passed away in January of 2024 at the age of 98.
In 2010 - The cast and crew of As the World Turns taped the show's final episode. It was canceled after a run of almost 54 years due to low ratings and expensive production costs. CBS canceled the show to make room for The Talk, a female-friendly chat program produced for a fraction of the cost of a soap opera.
In 2012 - The 39th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards were broadcast on HLN. The ceremony took place in Beverly Hills, CA and it was a big night for ABC soap opera, General Hospital. Actors Anthony Geary, Jonathan Jackson and Nancy Lee Grahn all won awards, along with General Hospital winning for Outstanding Drama Series.