Happy Anniversary to AS THE WORLD TURNS — Relive the Drama and Romance!
On April 2, 1956, viewers were introduced to the lives and loves of the people of Oakdale when AS THE WORLD TURNS made its debut on CBS. And for over five decades, the soap was beloved by its fans right up until the airing of its final episode on Sept. 17, 2010.
Created by Irna Phillips, ATWT was one of the first soaps to air in 30-minute episodes, as the rest of the serials were all still 15 minutes in length. It was also the first CBS sudser to expand to 60 minutes in 1975. ATWT was the number one rated daytime drama from 1958 until 1978 and actors like Don Hastings (Bob), Helen Wagner (Nancy), and Eileen Fulton (Lisa) became television icons, appearing for nearly the entire run of the series.
ATWT was also the launching pad for stars like Julianne Moore (Frannie/Sabrina), Meg Ryan (Betsy), and Marisa Tomei (Marcy). Supercouples like Bob and Kim, Lily and Holden, Jack and Carly, and Luke and Noah had legions of loyal fans who followed their ups and downs over the years until the world sadly stopped turning.
Celebrate the decades of romance and adventure on ATWT with our special flashback gallery below!
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