Remember the first episode of THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS? Wish you could see it again? For the first time in over 30 years, fans will be able to enjoy the very first Y&R installment, airing exclusively on SoapCity.com.

The classic episode has not been available for viewing since its original airing on March 26, 1973, but it will be offered for downloading and viewing from Oct. 26 through Dec. 24, 2004, for only $1.99.

To refresh your memory, the episode begins with stranger Brad Eliot (Tom Hallick) arriving in Genoa City, after having a heated argument with Barbara Anderson (Deidre Hall) about getting an abortion. Brad gets in an accident, losing his watch, ring and car. Barbara receives his watch from the police and is told Brad died in the accident. Meanwhile, medical student Snapper (William Grey Espy) is busy juggling two women. Both are in love with him, but one is pushing for marriage and children — the one who happens to be the daughter of newspaper mogul Stuart Brooks (Robert Colbert).

Hallick recalled his time on the show fondly in a recent interview. "It was difficult. It was hard, but it was a fun kind of difficult," he stated. "You know, everybody got together and grouped together. It was like a repertory theater company. That was the fun part of it." He described the part of Brad as "a great role. I was a guy who could solve everybody’s problems but his own."

Executive producer John Conboy also remembered the excitement of the first few days. "It was like launching a space ship," Conboy asserted. "I wanted to design and cast a show that had never been seen before on daytime. So there were no actors who had been seen on other shows. I wanted the audience to relate ONLY to the new characters that Bill Bell was writing."

And to think they have, 8,000 times since then. "Eight thousand episodes..." marveled Conboy. "Did we know then what a success the show would be? Of course. Bill Bell was writing it. Did we do the math? Absolutely not. We were too busy writing and producing it."

"I hope the audience gets to see 8,000 more episodes. I will always be proud of the work we accomplished," Conboy enthused. "It's still the No. 1 show on daytime."

For more information on downloading the Y&R episode, go to SoapCity (www.soapcity.com).