Vintage Soap Opera Pairs or Groups Quiz

Answer: As the World Turns

In the 1960s, young Dr. Bob Hughes (Don Hastings) married Lisa Miller (Eileen Fulton) when Lisa's character became pregnant. They divorced 5 years later due to a volatile relationship fueled by Lisa's narcissism and adultery. Over the run of the show, which ended in 2010, Bob had 5 other wives, and Lisa had 7 other husbands, but their core relationship persisted, possibly making them daytime soap's first supercouple.

Answer: Days of Our Lives

After "Days of our Lives", Mike Farrell became better known for his 1975-1983 portrayal of Dr. B.J. Hunnicutt on the hit TV series "M.A.S.H."

Susan Seaforth Hayes portrayed Julie on "Days of our Lives" ("DOOL") from 1968-1984 continuously, but in fact has appeared in episodes of "DOOL" in all 6 decades that the show has been on the air. In 1974 Susan married her husband, Bill Hayes, a love interest (Doug Williams) on "DOOL".

Answer: Another World

From May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999, the soap opera "Another World" aired on NBC. The storyline of Rachel (Robin Strasser) and Mac Cory (Douglass Watson) figured prominently in the metamorphosis of Rachel's character from evil villainess to a more multi-faceted person.

Answer: Dark Shadows

On the daytime TV serial, "Dark Shadows", which ran from 1966 to 1971, Barnabas Collins played by actor Jonathan Frid joined the cast in 1967. The role of Barnabas Collins, introduced Gothic horror elements to the show, and Frid is often credited with saving the show from almost certain cancellation.

The Barnabas Collins character was a heady mixture of charisma in the ultimate bad boy, a vampire. Barnabas' love interest, throughout the centuries as the show featured time travel, was Josette DuPres' (Kathryn Leigh Scott). Original TV cast members Jonathan Frid, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Lara Parker (the witch, Angelique), and David Selby (Quentin Collins) reunited in England in 2012 for a cameo appearance in the "Dark Shadows" movie starring Johnny Depp.

This movie was Jonathan Frid's final performance before his death.

Answer: Love is a Many Splendored Thing

Mark Elliott and Laura Donnelly, on "Love is a Many Splendored Thing", were played by a number of actors, yet David Birney and Donna Mills are the most memorable and widely known. When these 2 main actors left the show, the ratings took a nose dive, leading to the show's cancellation in 1973.

Answer: The Secret Storm

The role was 27-year-old Christina's but when she took emergency sick leave, "Mommie Dearest", Joan Crawford, who was in her mid-60s, filled in, purportedly so that the role would not be recast before Christina could return. Ratings for the show nearly doubled for the 4 days that Joan appeared.

Answer: The Guiding Light

When this soap opera broadcast its last episode on September 18, 2009, this daytime serial was the longest-running soap opera in history. The radio show was started in 1937 on NBC and ten years later the radio show switched networks to CBS. Then from 1952 till its cancellation in 2009 it was broadcast on CBS. This adds up to a total of 72 years (15 years on radio and 57 years on TV).

Answer: The Edge of Night

Because "Edge of Night's" themes were gritty, dark, and more criminally sophisticated in nature; the show garnered more male viewers than any previous or contemporary soap by roughly 40%. This soap was so popular that when it was cancelled by the network, the show ended with a cliffhanger because CBS was sure another network would immediately pick up the show.

Unfortunately, the show ended then and the cliffhanger was never resolved.

Answer: Love of Life

In the early days of "Love of Life", it was owned by conglomerate American Home Products and syndicated by CBS affiliates, which meant that there were no commercial interruptions. All ads appeared either before or after the show.

Answer: Search for Tomorrow

Many notable actors appeared on "Search for Tomorrow". They include, Kevin Bacon, Angela Bassett, Olympia Dukakis, Morgan Fairchild, Larry Hagman, Don Knotts, Susan Sarandon and others.