A Day of DAYS To Remember: Why Fans Are EVERYTHING

I attended two very different events this past weekend honoring the 53-year run of Days of Our Lives.

While one was an intimate gathering of DAYS stars past and present, and the other held at Universal Studios to accommodate the thousands of long-time viewers who came to catch a glimpse of their favorite soap stars, both had one thing in common— The Fans, without whom, the longevity of this (or any show) would not be possible.

Friday night’s event, YesterDAYS Once More, was an intimate affair in a small conference room at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City. Nothing fancy.

A dimly lit room with a few appetizers passed around, no decorations, no added frills, but a chance to have real time – up-close and personal time – with the stars who brought their favorite characters to life.

Roz B., flew in from Andrews, North Carolina to attend both YesterDAYS Once More on Friday evening, as well as the annual Days of DAYS on Saturday. She has been watching the soap since the start in 1965, “when I was two years old,” and has seen “over 130 actors from the show” over the years.

Her daughter has attended some of the events with her since the age of three and her granddaughter is a “DAYS fan in training.” Roz has attended at least 20 of these events all across the country and doesn’t show signs of slowing down any time soon!

Then there’s Pam S., who lives in Chino, California, who has attended “at least 15” DAYS events over the years.

She’s been an avid watcher since the early ’70s; however, she was not the only fan in her family. For years, she attended these events accompanied by her service dog, Caramel, who was often “the hit of the fan events,” according to Pam, especially when they would come wearing matching outfits!

The atmosphere was a bit more hectic on Saturday – where thousands of loyal fans gathered to meet their favorites, some arriving as early as 6:00 a.m. to be first in line to grab an autograph and a quick picture with the cast.

And that’s where I met Donna Y., who flew in from the Aloha State, and arrived bright and early to be first in line for an autograph! She was one of the lucky ones who got to ask a question of her favorite pair, Ben and Ciara,” during the Q&A.

She’s also an avid reader of SoapHub (thank you, Donna!), and looks forward to attending Day of Days next year – and every year for as long as possible.

I had a fabulous time meeting all the fans and getting a chance to chat with them. And I’m looking forward not only to next year’s Days of DAYS event, but to meeting up with Roz, Donna, Pam, Launa, Leslie, and all the others I had the pleasure of getting to know ever so briefly. These were truly two very special “Days” to remember!

Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for airtimes.