AS THE WORLD TURNS Aired Its Final Episode 13 Years Ago — Relive Its Most Memorable Moments!
After an epic 54-year run, the world stopped turning forever when AS THE WORLD TURNS aired its final episode on Sept. 17, 2010. Although many of the soap’s stars have gone on to appear in film, primetime, and even other soaps, their ATWT alter egos are still missed dearly by fans even today.
For more than five decades, fans followed the lives and loves of the residents of Oakdale, including the Hughes, Stewart, and Snyder families. Stars like Helen Wagner (Nancy), Don Hastings (Bob), Kathryn Hays (Kim), and Eileen Fulton (Lisa) were touchstones, remaining with the soap for nearly its entire run.
ATWT premiered on April 2, 1956, and was one of the first soaps to be 30 minutes in length. (Prior to this, daytime dramas were just 15 minutes long each day!) It took a year to get going, but by its second year, ATWT was at the top of the ratings, a position it held for the next decade. The show went to color in 1967, and in 1975, it grew in length to one hour of drama every day. Over its years on the air, ATWT earned the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series four times, in 1987, 1991, 2001, and 2003.
Relive the glory days of ATWT with these classic photos in the gallery below, featuring fan favorites like Martha Byrne (Lily), Jon Hensley (Holden), Colleen Zenk (Barbara), Michael Park (Jack), and Maura West (Carly)!
