General Hospital (commonly abbreviated GH) is an American daytime soap
opera. It is listed in Guinness World Records as the longest-running
American soap opera in production, and the second longest-running
drama in television in American history after Guiding Light.
Concurrently, it is the world's third longest-running scripted drama
series in production after British serials The Archers and Coronation
Street, as well as the world's second-longest-running televised soap
opera still in production. General Hospital premiered on the ABC
television network on April 1, 1963. General Hospital is the
longest-running serial produced in Hollywood, and the longest-running
entertainment program in ABC television history. It holds the record
for most Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Series, with 13
wins.The show was created by husband-and-wife soap writers Frank and
Doris Hursley, who originally set it in a general hospital (hence the
title), in an unnamed fictional city. In the 1970s, the city was named
Port Charles, New York. From its beginning, General Hospital starred
John Beradino and Emily McLaughlin, and both actors stayed with the
show until their deaths in 1996 and 1991, respectively. They were
joined a year later by Rachel Ames who remains to date the longest
serving actress on an ABC soap opera, having been continuously on the
show from 1964 to 2007. General Hospital was the second soap to air on
ABC (after the short-lived Road to Reality, which aired for several
months during the 1960â€"61 season). In 1964, a sister soap was
created for General Hospital, The Young Marrieds; it ran for two
years, and was canceled because of low ratings. General Hospital also
spawned the daytime series Port Charles (1997â€"2003) and the
primetime spin-off General Hospital: Night Shift (2007â€"2008). Taped
at The Prospect Studios, General Hospital aired for a half-hour until
July 23, 1976. The series was expanded from 30 minutes to 45 minutes
on July 26, 1976, and then to a full hour on January 16, 1978.
opera. It is listed in Guinness World Records as the longest-running
American soap opera in production, and the second longest-running
drama in television in American history after Guiding Light.
Concurrently, it is the world's third longest-running scripted drama
series in production after British serials The Archers and Coronation
Street, as well as the world's second-longest-running televised soap
opera still in production. General Hospital premiered on the ABC
television network on April 1, 1963. General Hospital is the
longest-running serial produced in Hollywood, and the longest-running
entertainment program in ABC television history. It holds the record
for most Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Series, with 13
wins.The show was created by husband-and-wife soap writers Frank and
Doris Hursley, who originally set it in a general hospital (hence the
title), in an unnamed fictional city. In the 1970s, the city was named
Port Charles, New York. From its beginning, General Hospital starred
John Beradino and Emily McLaughlin, and both actors stayed with the
show until their deaths in 1996 and 1991, respectively. They were
joined a year later by Rachel Ames who remains to date the longest
serving actress on an ABC soap opera, having been continuously on the
show from 1964 to 2007. General Hospital was the second soap to air on
ABC (after the short-lived Road to Reality, which aired for several
months during the 1960â€"61 season). In 1964, a sister soap was
created for General Hospital, The Young Marrieds; it ran for two
years, and was canceled because of low ratings. General Hospital also
spawned the daytime series Port Charles (1997â€"2003) and the
primetime spin-off General Hospital: Night Shift (2007â€"2008). Taped
at The Prospect Studios, General Hospital aired for a half-hour until
July 23, 1976. The series was expanded from 30 minutes to 45 minutes
on July 26, 1976, and then to a full hour on January 16, 1978.
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