‘General Hospital’ spoilers confirm that on November 16th and 17th, 1981, Luke Spencer (Tony Geary) and Laura Collins (Genie Francis) (who was Laura Webber Baldwin at the time) wed in the most-watched soap wedding of all time.
‘General Hospital’ Spoilers: The Luke And Laura Controversy
Luke and Laura hold a controversial place in soap history. Their romance began with sexual assault. The story is the stuff of daytime legend, for better or worse.
Luke raped Laura in 1979 at the campus disco the night before he was set to be snuffed out by the mob. The show’s then executive producer, Gloria Monty, was told she had to bring the ratings up within two weeks or the soap would be canceled.
Monty saw an opportunity in Luke and Laura to turn the show’s dismal ratings around. And turn around she did. Luke and Laura were daytime’s first “super couple.”
No other couple has lived up to the hype of the popular pair. Luke and Laura’s adventure-based plots were fresh and innovative for daytime drama.
The couple were married spectacularly at the mayor’s mansion. The mayor officiated the wedding, declaring Luke and Laura as “heroes” and “children of our community.”
Their nuptials broke records as the most viewers ever in history for a daytime drama. Thirty million viewers tuned in to watch the soap darlings get married.
Across the US, college classes were canceled as the teachers knew the kids would skip anyway to watch the long-awaited event. It was a cultural phenomenon.
‘General Hospital’ Spoilers: Elizabeth Taylor Guest-Starred On Luke And Laura’s Wedding Day
Legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor guest starred in the wedding episodes as Helena Cassadine, the vengeful widow. She had been married to Mikkos Cassadine (John Colicos) when he was killed.
Luke and Laura went to stop him from using the Ice Princess, a weather machine the Cassadines were planning to use to freeze the world, and during a fight with Luke, Mikkos was pushed into the ice chamber, where he froze to death.
Elizabeth Taylor, a huge General Hospital fan thanks to Luke and Laura, had a five-day stint. Her character, Helena, placed a curse on Luke and Laura at their wedding.
Tony Geary and Genie Francis were so famous that they couldn’t walk down the street without being mobbed by fans. Princess Diana even sent champagne to the show in honor of Luke and Laura’s wedding.
The wedding party arrived at the mayor’s mansion in classic convertibles. Robert Scorpio (Tristian Rogers) was the best man, and Bobbie Spencer (Jacklyn Zeman), Amy Vining (Shell Kelper), Tiffany Hill Donely (Sharon Wyatt), and Claudia Johnston Phillips (Bianca Ferguson) were all in the wedding party.
The mayor was marrying them at his home because of L&L’s heroics in saving the world from the Cassadine weather machine.
“The two young people before us, through their love for one another, remind us what makes life precious to all of us-love, loyalty, and courage,”
He stated.
“Together in the face of extreme danger to themselves,”
He continued,
“They overcame powerful forces that sought to destroy Port Charles and its people, even the entire world.”
To this day, no soap has been able to top this unforgettable moment in history.
For any other soap opera and entertainment news, please visit again Daily Soap Dish.
