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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!

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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!

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!!!

LONG LIVE GENERAL HOSPIAL!!!

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!

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!

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

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.

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.

That is so true and observant!

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.

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

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 .

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.

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.

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

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

Ummm, you forgot Lulu and Nicholas.

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.

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.

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!

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!!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

” 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.

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!

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 …

JaSam, the most BORING couple ever! Bring on John McBain and Sam, yay!!

John and sam do look good together ,I loved them in that vampire stuff.

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.

Congrats GH! Good luck !

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

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

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

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!

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

General Hospital

Lane Davies Joins the Cast of General Hospital Setting up a ‘Santa Barbara’ Reunion with Nancy Lee Grahn

Some very intriguing casting news out of General Hospital. The ABC daytime drama has cast former Santa Barbara favorite, Lane Davies (ex-Mason Capwell), in the role of Fergus Byrne, an attorney who crosses paths with Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn).

According to TV Insider, Davies will make debut the week of May 22nd.  As soap fans know, together with the aforementioned Grahn, they created the Santa Barbara supercouple of Mason and Julia Wainwright. Davies portrayed Mason Capwell family from 1984 through 1989.

Interestingly enough, this isn’t the first time in Port Charles for Lane. From 2002-2004 he played Dr. Cameron Lewis and also shared on-screen story with Grahn.  At that time Davies, played Xander Smith’s father.

Photo: NBC

GH fans are wondering about the last name of Davies new character, “Bryne”. If you recall, Alexis got herself involved with therapist Dr. Neil Bryne, who died when Harmony broke into Alexis‘ house and killed Neil by injecting him with opioids.

Photo:

Taking to her Instagram, Grahn shared her excitement at the upcoming on-screen reunion with Davies, “It never gets old. We do 😂…. but it doesn’t 😍. Lookin’ forward to another romp.”

So, what do you think about Lane Davies returning to GH to play an attorney in Alexis’ orbit? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Nikolas Gets an Earful from Ava About Sonny and His Meds; Nina and Drew Can’t Seem to Resist Each Other

Ava (Maura West) seems to feel she has a confidante in a jailed Nikolas (Adam Huss) on the Monday, April 29th episode of General Hospital. In story, Ava heads to Pentonville to visit her ex-husband before he is set to get transferred out of state.

When discussing her living relationship with Sonny (Maurice Benard), which Nikolas already knew about, Ava says she is happy about how her relationship with Sonny has been evolving, Nikolas ask if she’s in love with Sonny. Ava denies it, but goes on to say how great it is for her daughter, Avery to be living with both her parents, who are on the same side and not at odds.

Nikolas believes that Ava loves being in Sonny’s inner sanctum and the power that comes with it. Ava fires back that she spent years looking in from the outside and that everyone despised her. When Nikolas brings up Nina (Cynthia Watros), she says Nina never really could understand the true type of man that Sonny is.

Courtesy/ABC

Then, Ava launches in on Carly (Laura Wright), and how she would love to stick it to her, for all the times she blocked Ava from seeing her child and Carly’s attitude towards her. Then, Ava admits to Nikolas that she knows that Sonny has a watered-down version of his bipolar medication, which is making him more vulnerable and she’s capitalizing on it for her own gain. She says she needs to figure out who is responsible, but Nikolas voices concern for Ava’s plan and that if Sonny ever found out she knew about it and did nothing, he would be on the warpath against her. Ava promises she knows what she’s doing. When she says goodbye to Nikolas, he looks upset and sad, as he still seemingly cares for Ava.

Courtesy/ABC

Meanwhile in Drew’s (Cameron Mathison) office, Nina walks in complaining about Carly giving her a hard time about maintenance in her office. Nina wants payback for Jason (Steve Burton) buying Carly the hotel, but Drew is not up for playing games with her.  She says they both want revenge on Jason and Carly, which Drew denies. Next thing you know, Nina grabs Drew and kisses him. Although, it seems he might walk out the door and away from her, he locks it, and the two proceed to have round 2 of their hate-sex.

Courtesy/ABC

Elsewhere, Anna tells Jason about her shooting Charlotte and her concern about Valentin’s (James Patrick Stuart) involvement with Pikeman. Meanwhile, Valentin visits Jack Brennan (Charles Mesure) in Pentonville, where threats are laid out to make Sonny look like the guilty party in eliminating Jason, while Anna is the line of fire, if she doesn’t keep her nose out of Pikeman business, which worries Valentin, who doesn’t want Anna getting hurt in any of this.

So, what do you think about Ava’s plans? Did you like seeing Nikolas back on the canvas? Are you all for a Drew/Nina continued affair? Will Anna get caught in the crossfire only to be saved by Valentin? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.

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Breaking News

Haley Pullos Receives 90-Day Jail Sentence Following DUI Charge And Wrong-Way Car Crash

Former General Hospital actress, Haley Pullos (ex-Molly Lansing-Davis) is going to be doing time in jail, exactly one-year after her arrest from a hit and run wrong-way car collision.

The crash resulted in bodily harm and damages to the other driver, and now Pullos who pleaded “no contest” to the charges and will serve 90 days in jail. She was taken in custody on Monday, April 29th, after the ruling.

According to Haley’s attorney, Mark Daniel Melnick, the 25-year-old actress struck a plea deal and after her three months in jail will be sentenced on July 29th. As part of that sentencing, she must serve five years probation, 200 hours of community service and pay $8,260 in restitution to Courteney Wilder, the other driver in the crash and her driver’s license is revoked for a year.

Courtesy/ABC

According to TMZ, the plea deal for Pullos has the “no contest” to one DUI, while the judge dropped the felony DUI causing bodily injury and misdemeanor hit and run charges.

Melnick said in a statement to PEOPLE, “Haley is very grateful to the court for a minimum sentence and for recognizing her remorse and the strides she has made in her sobriety.”

Pullos had played the daughter of Alexis Davis (played by Nancy Lee Grahn) on the ABC soap opera since 2009, but after her car crash and DUI she was replaced by three different actresses until the show finally settled on the current Molly, Kristen Vaganos.

Photo: Pasadena PD

Back in April 29 of 2023, and at the scene of the crash, the police found edibles and mini-bottles of tequila in Pullos’ vehicle and that she was intoxicated. As it turned out, this was to be the second hit and run in the evening for Pullos who had an earlier collision with another car.

The courts decision follows a year-long legal battle with Haley’s pleas changing throughout it, ranging from “not guilty” to “no contest”. She sought treatment for her drinking at a rehab following the crash.

Nancy Lee Grahn, who portrayed Pullos’ on-screen mom took to X on Monday night, April 29th and shared on the sentence and the specific jail, Haley will be serving time: “As Haley’s TV mom I can tell some truths about her as I’ve loved her since she was little girl. She made a HUGE mistake, knows it, owns it & has spent the last yr doing EVERYTHING imaginable to take responsibility 4 it. It’s not that I oppose jail. It’s that I oppose this jail.” The jail in question by Grahn is the L.A. county jail.

So, what do you think about Haley Pullos serving a 90-days jail sentence, and the other rulings that will be part of her sentencing? Comment below.

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