Days of our Lives Photos Tribute: The Von Amberg Coronation Massacre

There’s still more Olympic coverage left to go on NBC, but that shouldn’t preclude you from getting your Days of our Lives fix. Today, we’re taking a look back at the sensational, blood-soaked ending to Greta Von Amberg’s coronation.

Days of our Lives – Royal Rumble

Victor Kiriakis (John Aniston), Brandon Walker (Matt Cedeño), and Greta Von Amberg (Julianne Morris) are all marked for death! Kate Roberts Kiriakis (Lauren Koslow) has convinced mafioso Vincent Moroni (Carl Weintraub) to kill Victor so that she might inherit his vast fortune, and Vincent, in turn, has arranged for Brandon to be assassinated as punishment for marrying his daughter, Angela Moroni (Ayda Field), under false pretenses.

The setting for the systematic slaughter will be the grand ball, serving as the prelude to Greta’s crowning as Princess; unbeknownst to the soon-to-be-royal, the Grim Reaper stalks her as well, in the form of a disgruntled employee of the Von Amberg estate.

A cortege of Salemites – including John Black (John Black) and Marlena Evans Black (Deidre Hall), Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) and Hope Williams Brady (Kristian Alfonso), Stefano DiMera (Joe Mascolo), Chloe Lane (Nadia Bjorlin), and Jennifer Horton Deveraux (Melissa Reeves) – are flown to Paris for the coronation.

Once arrived, and dressed in the finery, the group makes the acquaintance of several aristocrats – memorably portrayed by several beloved daytime veterans such as Ian Buchanan, Maeve Kinkead, John Reilly, Roscoe Born, and Kathleen Noone.

At the climax of the already event-filled evening – which saw, among other developments, the shocking return of her estranged husband, Jack Deveraux (Matthew Ashford), disguised as a waiter, and a major blow-up between best friends Belle Brady (then, Kirsten Storms; now, Martha Madison) and Mimi Lockart (Farah Fath) – Greta received her ornate headdress…and the bullets began to fly!

Victor was hit, as planned; and the gunman aiming for Greta hit his target. However, Angela wound up taking the brunt of the ammo meant for Brandon; John and Mimi became casualties of the fray, as did several of the sovereign attendees. So much bloodshed, so much damage wrought.

In the end, Angela succumbed to her injuries; Greta recovered with the aid of a blood transfusion from Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney), and John and Mimi fared just as well. For a time, Victor was presumed dead – but the rumors to that effect were greatly exaggerated.

DAYS Photo Gallery

Days of our Lives History

DOOL made its debut in 1965 and is one of the longest-running daytime soap operas in American history. It has outlasted other soaps to become a mainstay for many households. Needless to say, five decades of storylines have kept viewers locked in and wanting more.

From Sami Brady’s (Alison Sweeney) crazy schemes to Victor Kiriakis’s (John Aniston) one-liners to the epic love story of John (Drake Hogestyn) and Marlena (Deidre Hall), Days of our Lives knows how to entertain and keep fans coming back for more. Fans love their daytime soap operas and the excitement in Salem is non-stop.

Current Soap Operas

It is one of four soap operas currently on the air. The other three daytime dramas include General Hospital (GH), The Young and the Restless (YR), and The Bold and the Beautiful (BB). Days of our Lives airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for air times.

Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Salem, check out all the latest that’s been posted on DAYS spoilers, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.