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General Hospital

Wedding Of The Century

By SOD Staff
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ABC's "General Hospital" File Photos
GENERAL HOSPITAL - Luke and Laura's wedding - 11/16/81 Laura (Genie Francis) and Luke (Anthony Geary) put their turbulent past behind them and married on the grounds of the Port Charles mayor's mansion, on Monday, Nov. 16 and Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1981, when ABC Daytime invited the world to tune in to the daytime wedding of the decade, on "General Hospital". The long-awaited nuptials, plus guest star Elizabeth Taylor, served up the highest ratings in soap opera history. GH81 (Photo by Bob D'Amico/ABC via Getty Images) GENIE FRANCIS, ANTHONY GEARY Getty
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Thirty-five years ago today, Luke and Laura said, “I do” on GH in the most-watched wedding in the history of daytime drama. Here are iconic images from their special day!

  1. ANTHONY GEARY, GENIE FRANCIS

    ANTHONY GEARY, GENIE FRANCIS
    GENERAL HOSPITAL (1981) - Starting with the October 26th return of Genie Francis as Laura Spencer, ABC and SOAPnet celebrate the courtship and the 25th anniversary of the marriage of daytime's most beloved couple, Luke and Laura, from the multi-award winning GENERAL HOSPITAL. A record 30 million viewers watched the famous nuptials in 1981. The current celebration includes a special episode to air November 16th (the actual anniversary) on ABC as well as a marathon of historic episodes and an original special on the couple November 24th on SOAPnet. Recently awarded five Emmy¨ Awards -- including a record ninth for Outstanding Daytime Drama -- the daytime drama airs Monday - Friday (3 - 4:00 p.m.,ET, 2 - 3:00 p.m.,PT) on the ABC Television Network, and Monday -Friday at 10:00 p.m.,ET and in Sunday marathons from 2 -7 p.m.ET on SOAPnet. NOTE: For high res images of ABC archive photography please call the NY photo request line (212) 456-6710 or e-mail the request to Photo.request@abc.com. (BOB D'AMICO/ABC PHOTO ARCHIVE) ANTHONY GEARY,GENIE FRANCIS ABC

    Luke and Laura (Anthony Geary and Genie Francis)

  2. SHARON WYATT, JACKIE ZEMAN

    SHARON WYATT, JACKIE ZEMAN
    GENERAL HOSPITAL (1981) - Starting with the October 26th return of Genie Francis as Laura Spencer, ABC and SOAPnet celebrate the courtship and the 25th anniversary of the marriage of daytime's most beloved couple, Luke and Laura, from the multi-award winning GENERAL HOSPITAL. A record 30 million viewers watched the famous nuptials in 1981. The current celebration includes a special episode to air November 16th (the actual anniversary) on ABC as well as a marathon of historic episodes and an original special on the couple November 24th on SOAPnet. Recently awarded five Emmy¨ Awards -- including a record ninth for Outstanding Daytime Drama -- the daytime drama airs Monday - Friday (3 - 4:00 p.m.,ET, 2 - 3:00 p.m., PT) on the ABC Television Network, and Monday -Friday at 10:00 p.m.ET and in Sunday marathons from 2 -7 p.m.ET on SOAPnet. NOTE: For high res images of ABC archive photography please call the NY photo request line (212) 456-6710 or e-mail the request to Photo.request@abc.com. (ERIK HEIN/ABC PHOTO ARCHIVE) SHARON WYATT, JACKIE ZEMAN ABC
    Tiffany (Sharon Wyatt, l.) and Bobbie (Jacklyn Zeman) were among the bridesmaids.

  3. ANTHONY GEARY, TRISTAN ROGERS

    ANTHONY GEARY, TRISTAN ROGERS
    GENERAL HOSPITAL (1981) - Starting with the October 26th return of Genie Francis as Laura Spencer, ABC and SOAPnet celebrate the courtship and the 25th anniversary of the marriage of daytime's most beloved couple, Luke and Laura, from the multi-award winning GENERAL HOSPITAL. A record 30 million viewers watched the famous nuptials in 1981. The current celebration includes a special episode to air November 16th (the actual anniversary) on ABC as well as a marathon of historic episodes and an original special on the couple November 24th on SOAPnet. Recently awarded five Emmy¨ Awards -- including a record ninth for Outstanding Daytime Drama -- the daytime drama airs Monday - Friday (3 - 4:00 p.m.,ET, 2 - 3:00 p.m., PT) on the ABC Television Network, and Monday -Friday at 10:00 p.m.ET and in Sunday marathons from 2 -7 p.m.ET on SOAPnet. NOTE: For high res images of ABC archive photography please call the NY photo request line (212) 456-6710 or e-mail the request to Photo.request@abc.com. (ERIK HEIN/ABC PHOTO ARCHIVE) ANTHONY GEARY,GENIE FRANCIS ABC

    Robert (Tristan Rogers) stood up for his best mate.

  4. ANTHONY GEARY, GENIE FRANCIS

    ANTHONY GEARY, GENIE FRANCIS
    GENERAL HOSPITAL (1981) - Starting with the October 26th return of Genie Francis as Laura Spencer, ABC and SOAPnet celebrate the courtship and the 25th anniversary of the marriage of daytime's most beloved couple, Luke and Laura, from the multi-award winning GENERAL HOSPITAL. A record 30 million viewers watched the famous nuptials in 1981. The current celebration includes a special episode to air November 16th (the actual anniversary) on ABC as well as a marathon of historic episodes and an original special on the couple November 24th on SOAPnet. Recently awarded five Emmy¨ Awards --including a record ninth for Outstanding Daytime Drama --the daytime drama airs Monday - Friday (3 - 4:00 p.m.,ET, 2 - 3:00 p.m., PT) on the ABC Television Network, and Monday -Friday at 10:00 p.m.,ET and in Sunday marathons from 2 -7 p.m.,ET on SOAPnet. NOTE: For high res images of ABC archive photography please call the NY photo request line (212) 456-6710 or e-mail the request to Photo.request@abc.com. (ERIK HEIN/ABC PHOTO ARCHIVE) ANTHONY GEARY,GENIE FRANCIS ABC

    Bride and groom during the ceremony.

  5. KIN SHRINER

    KIN SHRINER
    GENERAL HOSPITAL (1981) - Starting with the October 26th return of Genie Francis as Laura Spencer, ABC and SOAPnet celebrate the courtship and the 25th anniversary of the marriage of daytime's most beloved couple, Luke and Laura, from the multi-award winning GENERAL HOSPITAL. A record 30 million viewers watched the famous nuptials in 1981. The current celebration includes a special episode to air November 16th (the actual anniversary) on ABC as well as a marathon of historic episodes and an original special on the couple November 24th on SOAPnet. Recently awarded five Emmy¨ Awards -- including a record ninth for Outstanding Daytime Drama -- the daytime drama airs Monday - Friday (3 - 4:00 p.m.,ET, 2 - 3:00 p.m. PT) on the ABC Television Network, and Monday -Friday at 10:00 p.m.ET and in Sunday marathons from 2 -7 p.m.ET on SOAPnet. NOTE: For high res images of ABC archive photography please call the NY photo request line (212) 456-6710 or e-mail the request to Photo.request@abc.com. (ERIK HEIN/ABC PHOTO ARCHIVE) KIN SHRINER ABC

    Mr. and Mrs. Spencer — along with viewers — were in for a shock when Laura’s ex-hubby, Scotty (Kin Shriner), crashed the wedding in time to grab the bridal bouquet.

  6. ANTHONY GEARY, GENIE FRANCIS

    ANTHONY GEARY, GENIE FRANCIS
    GENERAL HOSPITAL (1981) - Starting with the October 26th return of Genie Francis as Laura Spencer, ABC and SOAPnet celebrate the courtship and the 25th anniversary of the marriage of daytime's most beloved couple, Luke and Laura, from the multi-award winning GENERAL HOSPITAL. A record 30 million viewers watched the famous nuptials in 1981. The current celebration includes a special episode to air November 16th (the actual anniversary) on ABC as well as a marathon of historic episodes and an original special on the couple November 24th on SOAPnet. Recently awarded five Emmy¨ Awards -- including a record ninth for Outstanding Daytime Drama -- the daytime drama airs Monday - Friday (3 - 4:00 p.m.,ET, 2 - 3:00 p.m., PT) on the ABC Television Network, and Monday -Friday at 10:00 p.m.ET and in Sunday marathons from 2 -7 p.m.ET on SOAPnet. NOTE: For high res images of ABC archive photography please call the NY photo request line (212) 456-6710 or e-mail the request to Photo.request@abc.com. (ERIK HEIN/ABC PHOTO ARCHIVE) ANTHONY GEARY,GENIE FRANCIS ABC

    Sealed with a kiss!

  7. ELIZABETH TAYLOR

    ELIZABETH TAYLOR
    GENERAL HOSPITAL (1981 )- Starting with the October 26th return of Genie Francis as Laura Spencer, ABC and SOAPnet celebrate the courtship and the 25th anniversary of the marriage of daytime's most beloved couple, Luke and Laura, from the multi-award winning GENERAL HOSPITAL. A record 30 million viewers watched the famous nuptials in 1981. The current celebration includes a special episode to air November 16th (the actual anniversary) on ABC as well as a marathon of historic episodes and an original special on the couple November 24th on SOAPnet. Recently awarded five Emmy¨ Awards -- including a record ninth for Outstanding Daytime Drama -- the daytime drama airs Monday - Friday (3 - 4:00 p.m.,ET, 2 - 3:00 p.m., PT) on the ABC Television Network, and Monday -Friday at 10:00 p.m.,ET and in Sunday marathons from 2 -7 p.m.ET on SOAPnet. NOTE: For high res images of ABC archive photography please call the NY photo request line (212) 456-6710 or e-mail the request to Photo.request@abc.com. (ABC PHOTO ARCHIVE) ELIZABETH TAYLOR ABC
    Elizabeth Taylor was tapped to play Helena Cassadine, who cursed the newlyweds. Fun fact! The actress wore a 33-carat ring from her own collection that was valued at $1 million.
Anthony Geary ABC LARGE Anthony Geary genie francis Genie Francis GH_680x315 General Hospital

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