SOAPnet General Hospital 50th anniversary marathon episode guide (updated for encore showing)

Updated April 1, 2013, 3:34pm CT

In celebration of the General Hospital 50th anniversary, SOAPnet is re-airing the 50-hour marathon of classic General Hospital episodes that it originally aired last weekend The encore showing of the SOAPnet General Hospital 50th anniversary marathon will air Friday, April 5, at 10pm ET/PT through Monday, April 8, at 12am ET/PT.

As it did last weekend, the marathon will kick off with the very first episode of General Hospital (which ran a half-hour) from April 1, 1963, and includes memorable episodes and characters from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and 2000s. In fact, all of the episodes in the marathon will air just as they did last weekend, in case you missed it the first time, want to see it again, forgot to set your DVR or just can’t get enough GH.

There will be Luke and Laura’s wedding (April 5, 11:30pm), Frisco and Felicia’s wedding (April 6, 4pm), Luke and Laura’s dance at Wyndham’s (April 6, 8am, pictured), Lucky and Liz’s first kiss (April 7, 12pm), Stone’s death (April 6, 9pm), Sonny leaving Brenda at the altar (April 7, 7am), B.J.’s death/Maxie’s heart transplant (April 6, 6pm), the Ice Princess (April 6, 10am & 11am), the Hostage Crisis (April 7, 9pm), the Hotel Fire (April 7, 4pm), Elizabeth finding Carly in the panic room (April 7, 3pm), A.J. discovering he’s Michael’s father (April 7, 1pm), Jason’s car accident (April 6, 10pm) and more.

RELATED: KATIE COURIC SPECIAL GOES BEHIND THE SCENES OF GENERAL HOSPITAL

Here is an episode guide to the classic GH episodes that will be airing during the SOAPnet General Hospital 50th anniversary marathon, with descriptive info from SOAPnet. All times are ET/PT:

April 5
10pm: In the very first episode of General Hospital, Angie is distraught about the damage to her face from the accident; Peggy is frustrated when hospital business ruins a night out on the town with her fiancé, Steve Hardy; and the tension continues to grow in Jessie and Phil’s marriage. (1963)

10:30pm: Luke and Laura prepare for their nuptials. (1981)

11:30pm: Luke and Laura are finally married — but how long will their happiness last after Helena Cassadine (Elizabeth Taylor) puts a curse on them and Laura’s ex, Scotty, shows up to catch the bouquet? (1981)

April 6
12:30am: Just as their raft is headed over the falls, Luke and Laura are saved by a helicopter; Jason and Brenda feel guilty when they realize the truth about Karen. (1993)

1:30am: Luke and Laura tell Lucky he’s going to be a big brother; Steve and Audrey help Miguel get a job at the Outback; Robin and Stone are excited to learn they’re both in Jagger and Karen’s wedding party; Brenda and Sonny flirt at Kelly’s. (1994)

2:30am: After waking from her coma, Laura has an emotional reunion with her family; Ric devises a plan to falsify evidence and frame Sam; Alexis agrees to let Sonny and Carly take care of her kids while she’s in the hospital. (2006)

3:30am: Doctors Hardy and Brewer work on a difficult case; Peggy tells Jessie about her difficult breakup with Dr. Hardy, and Jessie confides in Peggy that she’s insecure about the age difference between herself and her younger husband, Phil Brewer. (1963)

4am: As Lesley struggles to help Monica give birth at home, Monica blurts out that Rick is the father of her baby; Alan and Rick rush through a storm to try and save Monica and her son; Edward and Tracy fear for the worst. (1979)

5am: Rick and Lesley are both hurting on the day of their divorce; Jennifer invites Laura and Scotty for a day of sailing with her and Luke; Dan is frustrated with Jessie’s continued refusal to marry him; Jeff wonders about his future with Anne. (1980)

6am: Monica gets a blood test to try and prove that Alan is her baby’s father; Luke storms over to confront his boss, Frank Smith, for lying, and leaves Bobbie and Ruby afraid for their futures; Amy tells Alan she’ll keep his secrets. (1980)

7am: At the Fourth of July party, Scotty and Laura make plans for their first anniversary; Bobbie covers for Luke so he can search Frank Smith’s office for the black book; Monica wants Alan to admit he tried to kill her and Rick. (1980)

8am: On the run from Frank Smith, Luke and Laura take time out to spend a romantic night together dancing in Wyndham’s department store, unaware that Hutch is there, too. (1980)

9am: Heather sneaks out of the sanitarium and prepares to kill Diana; Jeff is furious with Diana when she finally tells him that PJ is Steven Lars; Alan shows Susan the new love nest he’s bought for her. (1981)

10am: Luke, Laura and Robert make themselves comfortable on the island — until they discover that the Cassadines are directly underground; Tiffany is furious that Victor and Mikkos won’t allow her outside; Hutch and Rose grow closer; Jessie and Dan offer their support to Rick and Lesley. (1981)

11am: As zero hour approaches, will Luke be able to crack the code for the weather machine and save Port Charles? Laura and Robert convince Victor to help their cause; Noah, Anne and Rose attend to those in need at Kelly’s Diner. (1981)

12pm: Luke and Laura arrive at the Whitakers’ farm for their honeymoon; Scotty continues to rage about Luke and Laura, much to Lee and Gail’s dismay; Robert is hesitant to commit to Tiffany. (1981)

1pm: Holly agrees to marry Robert so she won’t be deported; Luke recovers from surgery; Susan is outraged when she discovers Scotty’s interference with baby Jason’s investments; Blackie finds a place to hide Lou. (1983)

2pm: Luke and Holly have a confrontation when he returns to Port Charles and learns she’s now married to Robert; Blackie and Lou are relieved when Rose is legally named as Lou’s guardian. (1983)

3pm: Frisco pulls the hat off the thief in his apartment and reveals Felicia; Jimmy Lee is convinced that Beatrice was murdered and the Quartermaines are involved; Robert questions Holly, hoping to gain some inside information. (1984)

4pm: Frisco serenades Felicia as they’re married at the brownstone; Sean arranges a special wedding night for the newlyweds; Alan tries to catch Sean and Monica having an affair; Anna is intrigued by Port Charles newcomer Duke Lavery. (1986)

5pm: Robert and Anna’s desire to exact revenge upon each other turns passionate; Frisco is amused when he has to set Robert free from Anna’s trap; the protest against the ELQ ship goes awry; Robert is shocked to discover the man he’s just rescued is his brother. (1991)

6pm: When elated Frisco tells Tony they’ve found a heart donor for Maxie, Tony has to break the news that it’s BJ’s; Tony insists on being there for the procedure and shares a tearful goodbye with his daughter. (1994)

7pm: Monica is uncomfortable with the idea of sex with Alan after her mastectomy; Mac is furious with Robin when she admits to having slept with Stone; Brenda gives advice to Stone. (1995)

8pm: Luke and Sonny take out Scully’s men in a shootout at Luke’s house; Stone worries that his HIV-positive blood has gotten on Robin; Brenda is scraped up and scared, but alive; Frisco and Felicia make love. (1995).

9pm: Stone sees Robin one last time before he dies; Sonny offers his support; Lucy is convinced that Sigmund the duck is trying to tell her and Kevin that something is wrong. (1995)

10pm: A.J. fights with his family and storms off in a drunken rage; Jason tries to stop him from driving, but A.J. won’t listen, and the two end up in a fateful car crash; Brenda joins Robin and Sonny as they scatter Stone’s ashes. (1995)

11pm: The Quartermaines are shocked at Jason’s hostility toward them after his accident; Robin tells Brenda she’s attending Sonny and Lily’s wedding; Lois is determined to find a way for Ned to still sing in the band. (1996)

April 7
12am: Jax distracts heartbroken Brenda with sunshine and shopping sprees, but she still dreams of Sonny; a mix-up has Ned and Lois rushing to the emergency room, each thinking the other is hurt; newcomer Carly Roberts arrives in Port Charles. (1996)

1am: Jax and Brenda are married on his yacht; Sonny and Lily’s joy over their baby announcement quickly turns to tragedy; Ned and Lois’ first anniversary celebration is interrupted by Edward. (1996)

2am: Lucky is furious at Laura when she admits that the stranger who saved Lulu’s life is actually his brother, Nikolas; the hospital staff reacts to the death of Steve Hardy; Jason manages to comfort both Carly and Robin. (1996)

3am: Robin convinces Jason she wants to be with him, and the two spend a romantic night together in Montauk; Sonny celebrates Stone’s birthday; Nikolas and Stefan cause further conflict in Luke and Laura’s marriage. (1996)

4am: Bobbie finds Carly in bed with Tony, just as Luke discovers that Carly is Bobbie’s missing daughter, Caroline. (1996)

5:02am: Trapped in the cave and thinking they’re going to die, Sonny and Brenda make love; Jax leads the search to find them; Stefan assures Bobbie that he married her for love; Laura says goodbye to an angry Nikolas. (1997)

6am: Carly carries out her plan, pouring vodka over a drugged A.J., then calling the Quartermaines to tell them he’s been drinking — thus ruining Alan and Monica’s anniversary celebration; charges are dropped against Sonny, Brenda and Jax; Jason informs Sonny of his split with Robin, and convinces Sonny to re-hire him. (1997)

7:02am: Brenda is stunned when Sonny leaves her alone at the altar in front of friends and family on their wedding day; A.J. wants to know if he is the father of Carly’s baby; Jax and V share a moment together. (1997)

8am: When Nikolas is seriously hurt in the shootout at Luke’s club, Jason’s past medical training kicks in and he saves him; Stefan thinks Luke was responsible for Nikolas’ injury. (1997)

9am: Carly shocks Bobbie with the news that she is Bobbie’s daughter; Felicia decides who the real Mac is with a kiss; Robin urges Jason to tell A.J. the truth about Michael. (1998)

10am: Lucky finds a bruised and battered Elizabeth in the bushes and brings her back to his house; Bobbie gives Elizabeth support and medical advice; Ned and Alexis celebrate Valentine’s Day and make love. (1998)

11am: At the Cassadines’ Bacchanalia Ball, Stefan and Katherine celebrate their engagement in grand style, while Brenda and Jax keep theirs a secret; Luke and Alexis plot Helena’s demise; Lucky and Elizabeth share a secret dance outside. (1998)

12pm: Devastated over Brenda’s apparent death, Jax reflects on the highlights of their relationship; Elizabeth gives Lucky a meaningful gift, and they share their first kiss. (1998)

1pm: After Robin stuns A.J. with the news that he is Michael’s biological father, she rushes to tell Jason what she’s done; A.J. confronts Carly; Emily is upset when she catches Nikolas and Katherine in bed together. (1999)

2pm: In the aftermath of the fire, Lucky’s body is identified; Luke and Laura pay a traumatic visit to the morgue; Elizabeth mourns Lucky’s death; Laura breaks the news to Lulu. (1999)

3pm: Elizabeth is stunned to find the panic room and Carly in it; Sonny starts to believe Jason that Ric is responsible for Carly’s disappearance; Dillon turns down Edward’s bail money when Edward insults Georgie; Nikolas and Zander tend to a fragile Emily. (2003)

4pm: With the Port Charles Hotel on fire, Luke demands that they use a lottery system to organize who gets rescued by the helicopter first; Carly and Sonny fall through the hotel floor as it caves in; Emily is devastated to leave Nikolas behind in the burning building as she boards the helicopter. (2004)

5pm: Nikolas and Emily wed, knowing that Nikolas will soon be arrested for murder; Sam drunkenly kisses Jason; Luke plays along with Heather’s delusion in the hope of locating Skye and Laura. (2004)

6pm: When the trains collide, Robin is trapped; Jason is determined to rescue Sam; Alexis goes into labor; Elizabeth fears for injured Lucky’s life. (2005)

7pm: Bobbie and Lucas are at Tony’s side as he succumbs to the virus; Patrick tells Emily it’s up to her whether Sonny or Nikolas should get the antidote; Carly and Jason form a plan to rescue Lucky. (2006)

8pm: In an extravagant celebration, Luke and Laura renew their vows on the 25th anniversary of their first wedding; Jason and Sam find some time for romance amidst the danger that surround them and their new ally, Spinelli. (2006)

9pm: In the aftermath of the hostage crisis, the victims are reunited with their loved ones; Elizabeth has a shocking revelation for Jason; the Quartermaines sit by Alan’s bedside as he fights for his life. (2007)

10pm: Robin and Patrick introduce their family to newborn Emma Grace; Luke attempts to save Laura, who is trapped in Scotty’s car as it dangles over the edge of a cliff; Nikolas and Lulu break into Scotty’s hotel room. (2008)

11pm: Ned and Skye return to town for Edward’s funeral; the Quartermaines reflect on their memories of Edward, and then gather for a traditional Q Thanksgiving filled with fighting, family and pizza. (2012)

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© 1980 ABC, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Courtesy of ABC Photo Archive

22 Comments

  1. I have recorded all 50 (w/some credits cut on a few episodes. am attempting to put on a dvd in chronological order. Can make extra copies for those interested-what are they worth. it will be 5 or 6 discs for the set. can contact me on Facebook if interested.

    • Hello. I am very interested in purchasing a copy of your 50-hour General Hospital 50th Anniversary marathon. Please let me know what to do. Thanks! I love GH!!!

  2. SoapNet Please run the marathon again. Was careful with my DVR settings but had a power outage and lost lost of episodes. Love GH!

  3. Comcast in my area is no longer airing Soapnet. This is so disappointing. If there is any other way to see these old episodes I would really appreciate knowing where they might be available.

  4. have comcast … comcast took soapnet off its tv listings so i cant watch any of it . really mad. would definately buy if the marathon came out on dvd. watched g.h. since its beginning.

  5. Good news for anyone who missed the SOAPnet GH marathon this past weekend, or who wants to watch it again: SOAPnet says they will be re-running the 50-hour General Hospital 50th anniversary marathon starting this Friday, April 5, at 10pm ET/PT, and running through Monday, April 8, at 12am ET/PT.

  6. I have been watching General Hospital since I was a teenager (mid 1960’s). I didn’t see all of the 50 episodes. Yes it would have been nice to see them in order, but they were mostly in order. Soap net showed the episodes that changed characters life, said goodbye to long time characters and hello to what would be long time characters.

    Thank you Soap Net.

  7. Loving this. My DVR is going crazy. Also wished they would have shown them in order. Very confusing.

  8. They could run 50 episodes from each decade! That’d be cool I’m 48 so the first 5 years were lost on me! I’ve said for the last few years there r probably many fans who would pay $5 a month to watch reruns of gh! I’d love to watch from the beginning

  9. I’d subscribe to a cable channel that played all General Hospital all the time 1am would be first decade!2the second etc there’s enough gh to play repeats 24 hours a day for years!

    I’m so happy seeing all the old characters I’d live it if all the previously killed were on an Island somewhere and could come back!

    Here’s to another 50 Years!

  10. Same here – I, too, have been trying to record this marathon and just realized I lost the past 7 hours somehow! I would totally buy it on DVD.

    • I did the same thing and lost several recordings. I realized I must set the DVR to “Record All Episodes” and not just 5 episodes which is what it does without programming it otherwise. Thank you SoapNet for re-running the great marathon!!

  11. I have been looking forward to the 50 episodes since I heard it advertised, only when it comes on soap net is distorted. What a bummer!!!!!!!!!

  12. Why did they not go in order by the year. I’m so confused with all this switching around. They should have started with the first show and in order to the last with Edward dying. I’m not liking this at all.

  13. OH NO! I thought the marathon was NEXT WEEKEND!! HOW DID I GET SO CONFUSED! I have been waiting for this for so long, & I missed recording the first several episodes! Is there any chance Soapnet will repeat these special episodes??? Please oh please say Yes!!! And Yes, I would definetly buy the episodes! I still have hundreds on VHS!

  14. is there anyway to see the hours of soapnet special on 50 anniv. marathon of General Hospital. DVD or internet? we don’t get soapnet anymore thanks

    • Hi, Denise. We’re sorry, but we haven’t heard that SoapNet is making this marathon available online or on DVD. It’s possible that some older episodes may be available on YouTube, but this specific marathon is not available, as far as we have been able to learn.

  15. I would buy the dvds of 50th anniversary of general hospital.That would be wonderful.I have been watching general hospital for over 30 yrs.

  16. Soapnet and ABC should put the marathon episodes on DVD for purchase! I would definitely buy it!!!!!!!

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