‘Days of Our Lives’ Drama: 50 Years of Scandals, Serial Killers and Satan (PHOTOS)
Survivor: Salem
So much has happened over half a century in the soapy world of Salem. And with 12,713 TV episodes, the citizens of the sleepy town have definitely seen enough for a lifetime, from Satanic possession to scandals to serial killers. Here, we take you through the Days highlights of the past 50 years.
1965
Making the Peacock proud, Days becomes the first daytime soap to premiere “in living color.”
1971
Days hits No. 1 in the daytime ratings, ending As the World Turns’ 12-year dominance.
1974
The good doctor: Leading man Macdonald Carey (with Frances Reid, who played his wife, Alice) wins the first of two back-to-back Emmys.
1976
Bill and Susan Hayes make the cover of Time magazine, which calls Days TV’s “most daring drama.”
1982
The unkillable Stefano DiMera—whose crimes range from kidnapping and organ trafficking to drug dealing and murder—hits Salem. Thirty-three years later, he’s still raising hell. Read More: Thaao Penghlis on the Return of Andre DiMera
1985
The babe and the biker boy: Bo and Hope become the hottest soap couple since General Hospital’s Luke and Laura. Read More: Kristian Alfonso on Hope’s Marriage Proposal
1988
The Patch and Kayla wedding (below) is a Nielsen knockout, bringing Days back to No. 1. Stephen Nichols zooms up the TVQ popularity poll to No. 2, behind Bill Cosby.
1994–95
Biblical plagues! Burning churches! Naked girls! Yep, Satan has come to town.
1997-98
Eileen Davidson juggles five characters at once, including vixen Kristen, nun Sister Mary Moira and Mary’s gangster brother, Thomas.
2004
The Salem Stalker slaughters half the town. Psych out! Everyone’s alive and well on a weird island called Melaswen, aka “New Salem.”
2014
Sonny and Will say “I do” in soaps’ first all-male marriage. But so much for LGBT history: One year later, Will is strangled to death.
2015
Days’ executive producer Ken Corday is honored with the perfect 50th anniversary gift—an Emmy for Outstanding Daytime Drama.
The Gang's All Here
Pictured: (l-r) Eric Martsolf as Brady Black, Judie Evans as Adrien Kiriakis, Jen Lilley as Thersea Donovan, John Aniston as Victor Kiriakis, Meredith Scott Lynn as Anne Milbauer, Josh Taylor as Roman Brady, Peggy McCay as Caroline Brady, Stephen Nichols as Steven Johnson, Mary Beth Evans as Kayla Brady, Greg Vaughan as Eric Brady, Alison Sweeney as Sami Brady, Drake Hogestyn as John Black, Christopher Sean as Paul Narita, Deidre Hall as Dr. Marlena Evans, Bill Hayes as Doug Williams, Susan Hayes as Julie Willimas, Kate Mansi as Abigail Deveraux, Robert Scott Wilson as Ben Rogers, Kristian Alfonso as Hope Brady, Missy Reeves as Jennifer Horton, Suzanne Rogers as Maggie Horton, Casey Moss as JJ Deveraux, Camila Banus as Gabi Hernandez, James Reynolds as Abe Carver, Sal Stowers as Lani, A. Martinez as Eduardo, Thaao Penghlis as Tony DiMera, Bryan Dattilo as Lucas Roberts, Lauren Koslow as Kate Roberts, Joe Mascolo as Stefano DiMero, Billy Flynn as Chad DiMero- Days of Our Lives: 50 Years of Daytime Drama
- Stephen Nichols, Kristian Alfonso and Galen Gering on What Shows They Watch
Days of Our Lives Actors on Favorite Moments
- Stephen Nichols | Suzanne Rogers | Melissa Reeves | Bryan Dattilo | Kristian Alfonso | Deidre Hall | Executive Producer Ken Corday
Days of Our Lives hits its 50th Anniversary on Sunday, Nov. 8.
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