News - Soap Buzz

38 April 1st, 2012 Happy 49th Anniversary today to General Hospital!

Of all the soaps on the air, it has been General Hospital who unfortunately had April Fool’s Day as their birthdate! That’s right. GH premiered on April 1, 1963, and after so many years of heartache, romance, intrigue, hospital staffers and loveable or evil mobsters, the show celebrates today it’s 49th anniversary!

Originally created by Frank and Doris Hursley, the show premiered as a half hour and aired in the 1PM EST time slot. The original cast featured John Beradino, Emily McLaughlin, and Roy Thinnes, to name just a few. And after many pivotal executive producer changes, key among them: Gloria Monty, Wendy Riche, Jill Farren Phelps, and now Frank Valentini, the show has aired as of last week around 12, 531 episodes!

Through its glory days to its not-so-glorious days, General Hospital has been a scrappy fighter who several times was on the brink of cancellation, but fought back to become the number one sudser, or remain in the daytime line-up. Now, as we all wait with bated breath to find out if GH can live to see it’s 50th, when ABC made its decisions in the coming weeks if GH or The Revolution will continue on past September 2012, today is a cause for celebration. 49 years is nothing to sneeze at!

Check out this cast photo and our blast from the past, and let us know if you can name all of the actors or their character names in our comment section! Also, please share your thoughts on GH turning 49!

Tags: 49th Anniversary, General Hospital

Leave a comment >

Keith says:

April 1, 2012 at 10:33 am

Ah the memories..who can forget Jessie Brewer and her “7th floor nurses station” every time she answered the phone..lol..always been a watchable show even when not that good and I hope it continues for many years to come.We need daytime drama no matter what network execs think!

Reply
Allison replied April 1st, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Amen! Please DON’T cancel General Hospital!! It’s so so good!!! Love it and love the new look and feel of it, the writing, addition of OL characters, twists and storylines. It’s definitely must see TV again!!!

Reply
Allison replied April 1st, 2012 at 1:39 pm
LONG LIVE GENERAL HOSPIAL!!!

Judy replied April 1st, 2012 at 6:48 pm
My sentiments exactly! Ditto on the new look and feel, writing, etc. It’s been a while since I’ve been so excited and can’t wait to see what the next episode brings. Long live GH!

Bonnie replied April 2nd, 2012 at 6:47 am
Horray, GH has and always has been a great show!!! I hope that ABC does the right thing and makes it live to it’s 50th!! Happy Anniversary!
Dianne says:

April 1, 2012 at 10:39 am

Congrats on 49 years GH! Curious as to why it premiered in April and not in September? Just seems like an odd month for a show to actually premiere. Anyway, I can name most by not all of the characters. I see Jessie Brewer, Tommy Baldwin (Hardy), Audrey Hardy, Jeff Webber, Steve Hardy, Peter Taylor, Rick Webber, Laura Webber, Louise March (?), Scott Baldwin, Heather Webber, Diana Taylor, Lee Baldwin, Gail Baldwin, Monica Quartermaine, Alan Quartermaine

Reply
Kashi says:

April 1, 2012 at 10:55 am

I remember that “7th floor nurses station.” I don’t even know what floor their on now. I like it right now, not loving it, but am hoping. I hope it stays on for many years and that there are less mob involvement.

Reply
Jon replied April 1st, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Most everything in the hospital nowadays takes place on the 10th floor. Hard to tell since that horrible reconstruction of the hospital a few years ago. During the 80′s they would alternate floors by changing the big circled floor number on the elevator doors including Lobby.

Reply
Bonnie replied April 2nd, 2012 at 6:48 am
That is so true and observant!
barbara t says:

April 1, 2012 at 11:00 am

Jessie brewer answers the phone saying 7th floor nurses station ,never got sick of those words.that was when general hospital was general hospital all the stories surrounded the 7th floor.those were the good old days and I hope that our characters of port charles continue for another 49 years.Happy anniversary.abc/disney you should be proud of this show like you should have been proud of all my children and One life to live classic programming you cant replace.

Reply
Keith replied April 1st, 2012 at 11:54 am
didn’t you just love it when they wanted to talk and went into the “medicine room” and shut the door…those were the days

Reply
barbara t replied April 1st, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Yes those were the days and I miss them ,they made general hospital what it is today, hey Keith dont forget all the trips to dr hardys office, where they talked about medicine and every ones problems .

1loveabcsoaps replied April 1st, 2012 at 3:31 pm
U just had to take a jab at ABC, huh? Even though this is about General Hospital. I was reading your post, and I was like, ” Wait, what happened? Who is she now talking to? lol
I just finished eating the leftover lobster ect…. so I’m yarning, deliriously sleepy, going for nap now.

Reply
Ray says:

April 1, 2012 at 11:27 am

General Hospital has been on constant for me, like family! Most of my life from 3-4pm has been devoted to GH! thank you for the many wonderful compelling stories and the entire team for their hard work entertaining me since I began watching around 1980.

Reply
Aria says:

April 1, 2012 at 11:30 am

Happy Bday GH, I’m still loving you no matter what, I’ll be faithfull till the end.

Reply
Trissy says:

April 1, 2012 at 11:34 am

Happy Birthday General Hospital may you have many more birthdays to come.
I also hope one day your families will return home
Quartermaines
Alan
Emily
Aj
Justus
Ned
Dillion
Tracy
Edward
Monica
Michael
Jason
Spencers
Lucky
Luke
Ethan
Laura
Carly
Bobbie
Morgan
Michael

Reply
Melanie replied April 1st, 2012 at 5:33 pm
Ummm, you forgot Lulu and Nicholas.

Reply
Sean says:

April 1, 2012 at 11:48 am

Steve/audrey tom hardy Jessie brewer Gail lee Scott Baldwin , Leslie Jeff Steven Laura weber , Alan Monica quartermain and I wanna say Lars and Rooney but not sure. Sad that previous writers wiped out do many core characters to pretty ruin the different families and legacy. Either way I’ve enjoyed my 30+ yrs watching and hope the longest running soap continues.

Reply
Lady L says:

April 1, 2012 at 12:02 pm

Happy Birthday GH. This show deserves to stay on for another 40 years, replacing it with other new and unpopular shows is so unfair to the fans. Exectives need to listen to Soap viewers and respect their opinions.
Thank you to all the actors who are the reason we watch and love General Hospital.

Reply
Elhu says:

April 1, 2012 at 12:41 pm

I have spent over 35 years enjoying the characters and storylines of General Hospital, and while it has had many wonderful highs and some deep lows, it is a strong soap, with many riviting storylines, and fascinating twists and turns, that I will continue to watch and enjoy. I am a strong supporter of the recent addition of Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivarti, and am enjoying the direction the show is going in. Here is to not only making it to it’s 50th Anniversary, but many more years of enchanting storylines after that!!! As for the photo, what a nice trip down memory lane. Jessie’s smile is and always was infectious (but who could forget how Phil Brewer broke her heart), and Steve Hardy, the patriarch of GH (who could forget his many years of playing Santa Claus at GH), and his always supportive and loving wife Audrey. I loved Rick and Jeff, the battling Webber brothers, especially Jeff, as played by Richard Dean Anderson. A young Monica and Alan Quartermaine, not to mention a very young Laura Webber/Vining, who was probably being courted by Scotty Baldwin during the time this photo was taken. Of course, Scotty’s Dad Lee Baldwin, and his wife, Gail. I cannot make out who the curly, red-haired fellow in the center is. At first I thought it was Ryan Phillipe, but definitely not. Can anyone tell me who that is? Happy 49th Anniversary GH, and I hope we can all enjoy many more years to come!

Reply
Rosie says:

April 1, 2012 at 12:56 pm

Thank you so much for your wonderful tribute to GH!! Happy 49th Anniversary to this beloved and iconic show!! Here’s to many,many more years of unforgettable memories!!

Reply
heidi says:

April 1, 2012 at 1:48 pm

Come on everybody lets get them to the 50th and hopefully 50 more years!!! Congratulations GH!!!

Reply
Heather says:

April 1, 2012 at 2:04 pm

I’m not concerned about whether ABC will choose The Revolution over General Hospital. Even the Deadline article that you posted last week on this website stated that the ABC execs were not willing to kill their 49 years old soap for a talk show such as The Revolution that will unlikely ever be successful.

The threat for General Hospital is not The Revolution, but rather those other shows that ABCD is having in development. If one of these programs is ready by the time ABC has to make its decision, then it’s bye bye General Hospital. In all cases, The Revolution is a goner in September. ABC has lost faith in that show and I don’t even see their promos anymore during the commercials on General Hospital.

Reply
Jon says:

April 1, 2012 at 2:39 pm

I think I see Gary Lansing in there. Who are the two women to the right of Laura Webber? Who is the curly haired guy to the right of Rick Webber? And don’t know the top 3 on the left. Lamont Corbin? Gina something? Please help.

Reply
Jon says:

April 1, 2012 at 2:43 pm

Let’s rebuild the Webbers. Laura, Lesley, Rick, Jeff, Amy Vining, Mikey. Lesley Webber was one of the best characters the show has ever had. DA is a great actress and made Lesley so multidimensional. Bringing her back as a Dr would be great and Monica would have some interaction with someone her own age and with shared history.

Reply
barbara t replied April 1st, 2012 at 3:31 pm
Thats right where is lesley?amy vining cant come back she had kidney failure,the actress did. I agree with what you said about lesley being a doctor It would be nice to see her and monica be friends again.And laura she should have never left port charles.

Reply
1loveabcsoaps replied April 1st, 2012 at 9:58 pm
” Bringing her back as a Dr would be great and Monica would have some interaction with someone her own age and with shared history. ”

* That would be a Great idea, and you’re right, Monica needs more interaction with people of her age, particularly at the hospital. At home, she has Tracy, and Luke, of age and shared history. Of course Edward is older. Love Monica.

Reply
1loveabcsoaps says:

April 1, 2012 at 3:19 pm

I love General Hospital. I love ABC soaps. ABC was always the BEST network for daytime and primetime, and boy…..did they screw themselves up!

We want General Hospital to make the stretch, and so we much continue to fight, BUT not just TALK as we do on this site. WORDS and ACTIONS…… equally results!

1loveabcsoaps for General Hospital. Happy Anniversary!

Reply
Katrina says:

April 1, 2012 at 3:55 pm

I’ve been watching gh since the 2nd grade I remember I would run home from school just to watch GH now am a senior and I have to say BEST DAYTIME SOAP ever!!! Happy 49th General Hospital, and I hope the show doent get cancelled because I have no idea what im going to watch in college, and I have to say I LOVE JASON AND SAM <—- BEST COUPLE EVER …

Reply
Melanie replied April 1st, 2012 at 5:34 pm
JaSam, the most BORING couple ever! Bring on John McBain and Sam, yay!!

Reply
barbara t replied April 2nd, 2012 at 7:44 am
John and sam do look good together ,I loved them in that vampire stuff.
Sheryl says:

April 1, 2012 at 7:04 pm

Lot’s of luck Gh and I hope you be here and celebrating many more years, I’ve been watching for 49 years and hope to for many more. Congratulations to all the wonderful actors and all the people affiliated with the show.

Reply
kay killgore says:

April 1, 2012 at 7:58 pm

Congrats GH! Good luck !

Reply
Jeffrey says:

April 1, 2012 at 9:37 pm

Happy 49th Anniversary,GH(old and new friends)
One more year to becomes 50th Anniversary!!!

Reply
Chris says:

April 2, 2012 at 12:09 am

What year is that old GH cast picture from, Michael?

Reply
Paula Kate Prince-Meserole says:

April 2, 2012 at 10:19 am

From Doctors to Nurses
To Mobsters, Molls and police
From Love in the Afternoon
To the Cassadine’s and their penchant for causing grief

From the underground caves of Port Charles
To the Quartermaine’s castle keep
From Casey the space Alien
To Caleb Morley with those sharp Vampire teeth

From Love to loss through the triumphs and tears
General Hospital’s Port Charles has seen it all through the years

So we lift up our cup in thanks to our great show
Happy 49th General Hospital and here’s to 51 years more years to go.

Paula Kate Prince-Meserole

Reply
MBmomof3 says:

April 2, 2012 at 12:12 pm

Happy 49th Anniversary General Hospital!! Thank you GH and ABC for all the wonderful memories and years of entertainment.

It has to make it to 50 years because my friends and I are already planning the 50th Annniversary Party. We are going to come as GH characters and I’ve decided I’m going to be Lucy Coe. Can’t wait!

Reply
William Joseph Reynolds says:

April 12, 2012 at 11:52 am

Not only did GH premiere on April 1, 1963 on ABC, but on NBC, so did ‘The Doctors,’ (April 1, 1963-Dec. 31, 1982).

Reply

Leave a comment

Michael Fairman - On Air On Soaps

© Michael Fairman Soaps, Inc. Design & development by 35mm Design | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

---