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Luke and Laura’s Wedding, 1981
Abc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock
(The following is excerpted from PEOPLE’s collector’s editionGeneral Hospital: Celebrating 60 Years of Love & Dramaavailable now on Amazon or wherever magazines are sold.)
02of 11Stone Battles AIDS, 1995ABC/Craig SjodinIt was the most impactful storyGHever told: Orphan Stone Cates (Michael Sutton) experimented with drugs before falling in love with Robin Scorpio (Kimberly McCullough), and they both later tested positive for HIV—with Stone eventually contracting AIDS. Robin and Sonny cared for Stone as he battled the disease, losing his eyesight near the end. His last words were, “I see you … Oh Robin, I see you!““The love that poured through us that day was a reflection of the best of us, when we can see through the prejudice and fear of a disease and treat the person with compassion,“McCullough wrote on Instagram in 2020. “Telling stories can be a vehicle for enlightenment, and yes, even soap operas can change the world.”
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Stone Battles AIDS, 1995
ABC/Craig Sjodin
It was the most impactful storyGHever told: Orphan Stone Cates (Michael Sutton) experimented with drugs before falling in love with Robin Scorpio (Kimberly McCullough), and they both later tested positive for HIV—with Stone eventually contracting AIDS. Robin and Sonny cared for Stone as he battled the disease, losing his eyesight near the end. His last words were, “I see you … Oh Robin, I see you!”
“The love that poured through us that day was a reflection of the best of us, when we can see through the prejudice and fear of a disease and treat the person with compassion,“McCullough wrote on Instagram in 2020. “Telling stories can be a vehicle for enlightenment, and yes, even soap operas can change the world.”
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BJ’s Heart Transplant, 1994
MICHAEL YARISH/ABC
“Not Barbara Jean!” cried Felicia as she fell to the floor at the hospital upon learning whose heart had saved her daughter. Then Tony snuck into Maxie’s hospital room to listen to his late daughter’s heart beating in her chest. Can you say tearjerker?
04of 11Clink-Boom, 1996ABCIt was a devastating day for Sonny (Maurice Benard). His ex Brenda (Vanessa Marcil) wed Jax (Ingo Rademacher) at the exact moment Sonny’s pregnant wife, Lily (Lilly Melgar), died in a car bomb meant for Sonny.The episode was famously nicknamed “Clink-BOOM” in a nod to newlyweds Brenda and Jax clinking their champagne glasses as the camera cut to Lily turning (a tipsy) Sonny’s keys to start his car, which then exploded (à la Michael Corleone’s wife, Apollonia, inThe Godfather). “No!” Sonny screamed as his car was engulfed in flames. Yes.
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Clink-Boom, 1996
ABC
It was a devastating day for Sonny (Maurice Benard). His ex Brenda (Vanessa Marcil) wed Jax (Ingo Rademacher) at the exact moment Sonny’s pregnant wife, Lily (Lilly Melgar), died in a car bomb meant for Sonny.
The episode was famously nicknamed “Clink-BOOM” in a nod to newlyweds Brenda and Jax clinking their champagne glasses as the camera cut to Lily turning (a tipsy) Sonny’s keys to start his car, which then exploded (à la Michael Corleone’s wife, Apollonia, inThe Godfather). “No!” Sonny screamed as his car was engulfed in flames. Yes.
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Alan Tries to Kill Rick and Monica, 1980
Jealousy can make people do crazy things. Just ask Dr. Alan Quartermaine (Stuart Damon, right), who went crazy after his wife, Monica (Leslie Charleson), cheated on him with fellow doctor Rick Webber (Chris Robinson, left) and became pregnant.
06of 11Jason Loses His Memory, 1995ABCWho knew a head injury could turn a bright young med student into a Mob enforcer? That’s what happened to Jason Quartermaine (Steve Burton) after he jumped into the passenger seat of A.J.’s car to stop his brother from driving drunk. A.J. (Sean Kanan, left, with Burton) hit a tree, and Jason was ejected. He woke up with no recollection of the past, but he knew enough to dislike most of his family. Jason dropped out of medical school and went to work for Sonny as a hit man. In a soap rarity, Jason never regained his memories.
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Jason Loses His Memory, 1995
Who knew a head injury could turn a bright young med student into a Mob enforcer? That’s what happened to Jason Quartermaine (Steve Burton) after he jumped into the passenger seat of A.J.’s car to stop his brother from driving drunk. A.J. (Sean Kanan, left, with Burton) hit a tree, and Jason was ejected. He woke up with no recollection of the past, but he knew enough to dislike most of his family. Jason dropped out of medical school and went to work for Sonny as a hit man. In a soap rarity, Jason never regained his memories.
07of 11Tracy Withholds Edward’s Heart Medication, 1980ABCTracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) learned her father was going to disinherit her, so when it appeared that Edward (David Lewis) was having a heart attack, she elected not to help him unless he promised to keep her in his will.As Edward lay lifeless on the floor, Tracy lamented he was the only man she had ever loved and finally reached for the phone to call 911. Oops! Edward grabbed her from behind and told her he had faked the episode as a test. “Tonight I’m going to sign a new will,” he announced. “Watch me.” We did.
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Tracy Withholds Edward’s Heart Medication, 1980
Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) learned her father was going to disinherit her, so when it appeared that Edward (David Lewis) was having a heart attack, she elected not to help him unless he promised to keep her in his will.
As Edward lay lifeless on the floor, Tracy lamented he was the only man she had ever loved and finally reached for the phone to call 911. Oops! Edward grabbed her from behind and told her he had faked the episode as a test. “Tonight I’m going to sign a new will,” he announced. “Watch me.” We did.
08of 11Anna and Robert Have a Daughter, 1985ABCRobin arrived in Port Charles with the last name Soltini, a grandmother named Filomena and a “family friend” called Anna (Finola Hughes) who she soon learned was her mother. When Anna’s ex Robert (Tristan Rogers) met the 6-year-old, he did the math on her birth. “She captured my heart just like someone else did seven years ago,” he deduced. “Robin Soltini. Should be Scorpio, shouldn’t it?”
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Anna and Robert Have a Daughter, 1985
Robin arrived in Port Charles with the last name Soltini, a grandmother named Filomena and a “family friend” called Anna (Finola Hughes) who she soon learned was her mother. When Anna’s ex Robert (Tristan Rogers) met the 6-year-old, he did the math on her birth. “She captured my heart just like someone else did seven years ago,” he deduced. “Robin Soltini. Should be Scorpio, shouldn’t it?”
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Heather Frames Anne for Murder, 1981
Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images; ABC Photo Archives; ABC
Heather broke into Diana’s house to kill her but found her already dead — so Heather wrote Anne’s name in blood with Diana’s hand to (literally) finger her for the crime. Heather’s efforts to vanquish Anne from Jeff’s life failed when Anne was exonerated and the real killer was revealed: It was Heather’s mother, Alice Grant (Lieux Dressler)!
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Felicia Kills Peter August, 2022
ABC/Troy Harvey
“The death of Peter was an extraordinary moment,” Hughes tells PEOPLE. “Ultimately Anna didn’t give the defining blow, but she sat there with him and didn’t call the emergency team. She waited.” So it’s not murder when you’re protecting a loved one?
11of 11General Hospital at 60For more on all thingsGeneral Hospital,pick up PEOPLE’s special collector’s editionGeneral Hospital: Celebrating 60 Years of Love & Dramaavailable now on Amazon or wherever magazines are sold.
11of 11
General Hospital at 60
For more on all thingsGeneral Hospital,pick up PEOPLE’s special collector’s editionGeneral Hospital: Celebrating 60 Years of Love & Dramaavailable now on Amazon or wherever magazines are sold.
source: people.com
