Where were you on 8 November 1965? Or in March 1987? It's not a trick question, but important dates for any soapie fan.

Believe it or not, but those were the dates that Days of our Lives and The Bold and the Beautiful went on air – two of the most well-known international soaps in South Africa.

Let's go down memory lane as we give you a peek into the important pilot episodes and who was there in those magical 30 minutes.

Days of our lives
When it began: We first saw the faces of Salem in South Africa on 2 January 1992. But in America, Days first went on air on 8 November 1965 – the year The Beatles' Eight Days a Week was top of the pops and Mary Poppins topped the box office.

Deidre Hall and her twin sister Andrea had just graduated high school, while Peggy McCay and Susan Seaforth were starring together in another soapie, The Young Marrieds.

How it began: The show opens with Alice's granddaughter Julie Olsen stealing a fur coat from a department store to impress her friends. Then the classic Days voiceover states, "Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives. Days of Our Lives – a new dramatic serial starring Macdonald Carey."

At the Hortons' house, 54-year-old Alice and 55-year-old Tom Horton are sighing about the last of their children Marie leaving home to marry Tony Merritt (they jokingly suggest that The Beatles play at their wedding).

They're looking through a family album and we see a naked baby pic of Mickey! Then the police call and tell Tom Julie's been arrested and he sneaks down to the station with Mickey to hush up the scandal.

When Tom confronts Julie, she tells him she steals because nobody cares – her parents are never home and she throws a real teenage tantrum. Within half an hour the soapie has been established – this is a rich, respectable family with trouble brewing.

Who was there: Back then the only faces we'd recognise are Frances Reid as Alice and John Clarke as Mickey Horton.

Biggest difference between now and then: Teen thrills – Julie rebels by shoplifting. Later spoiled little rich girls would rebel by putting a naked porn site of a school kid on the internet. We also see Mickey just starting his career and he's described as brilliant – his long losing streak as Salem's worst lawyer is yet to come.

What viewers didn't know then: Viewers then did not know about the evil DiMeras and their feud with the Brady family, that demon possession was possible or that their town would one day be duplicated on an island by a megalomaniac who plotted for Alice to choke on a doughnut.

7de laan
When it began: April 2000
How it began: The residents of Hillside were excited when they learned that the eldest son of the Terreblanche dynasty, Jan-Hendrik, announced his engagement to Petra.

His mother Madel was not very happy about the news and did not approve her of future daughter-in-law. Thabile started working as a doctor and the residents of Hillside did not want to accept that a black doctor was working in the area.

Then the mysterious and sly Sandra Stutterheim purchased a clothing shop in 7de Laan while the area's coffee shop was called Koffiekant.

Who was there: Newly-engaged couple Petra (Yvonne Van den Berg) and Jan-Hendrik (Waldemar Schultz). The role of Thabile was played by Nthathi Mosesh while Sello was played by Fezile Mpela.

Anna Mart van der Merwe could be seen as Madel Terreblanche's daughter Christelle while Leon de Lange was portrayed by Dawid Minnaar.

Biggest difference between now and then: The show commenced with only two episodes a week being aired on SABC2 and it now flights five times a week. The popular coffee shop now goes by the name Oppiekoffie.

Sandra Stutterheim bought and owned the clothing shop that would now become known as The Boutique – the centre of the ladies' attraction in Hillside. There's also now a club in town and it is now taken care of by the recently-appointed manager, Alyce Morapedi.

What viewers didn't know then: Little did they know that Madel Terreblanche would become such a devious woman in protecting her interests – including the legacy of her family and happiness of her two sons.

This would mean even being the cause of Sandra being shot on her ill-fated wedding day. Also that Tiaan would make Petra pregnant and be the cause of a huge sibling rift between him and his brother, while shaming the family.

Oubaas Van Zyl and his beloved Hilda would also have to endure such "tests" in their marriage at the hands of Matron Netta Nortjie.

Generations
When it began: 1994
How it began: The first scene saw all weeping at the funeral of a Moroka family member. Viewers soon find out that the funeral symbolises the dreams, hopes and deceit that will soon take over the lives of the Generations characters in a war between two advertising companies – New Horizons and Isos.

who was there: Karabo (Connie Ferguson), Busang, Archie (Sello Maake ka-NcCube) and Paul Moroka (David Phetoe), the Managing Director of New Horizons, are all caught weeping in the very first episode.

The Moroka family empire is soon established, as is their influence on other characters. Nontombi, after having an affair with Paul, also appeared in the show back then.

biggest difference between now and then: What started out as an intense rivalry between two advertising companies has since evolved into a competition between two media enterprises – Ezweni and Afro-Media (previously Mashaba Media).

The cast has grown extensively to 16 lead actors with various guest actors appearing in the show over the years. It's also played home to some of the biggest SA TV stars such as Pamela Nomvete, Tina Jaxa, Cedwyn Joel, Dini Nondumo and Strini Pillai.

The sets were very simplistic with most of the scenes being based at the offices of the advertising agencies and the home of Baba, which later became a boarding house.

What viewers didn't know then: That Zakes was actually Paul Moroka's child and he wanted to outsmart his father at New Horizons and possibly take over the company. Although unproven, Zakes may also have been involved in the death of his brother Busang.

Margaret hid her affair from Archie and their fling resulted in the birth of Khensani. Viewers also didn't know how Karabo Moroka's mother died. It is presumed she died while giving both to Karabo.

The bold and the beautiful
When it began: It was only a few months after The Bold and the Beautiful premiered in America March of 1987 that South Africans were introduced to the Forresters on 17 October 1987.

How it began: Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California. Fashion house Forrester Creations unveils its winter/fall collection. The models strut their stuff the catwalk and the paparazzi go wild.

Eric Forrester (John McCook), the head designer and founder of the company, is busy backstage making sure his latest collection is his best yet. Eric's personal assistant Margo Lynley (Lauren Koslow) stands by his side as he excitedly celebrates this milestone – 20 years of running his own fashion empire.

Ridge (Ronn Moss), Eric's oldest son, designer and vice-president of the company, waits on the sidelines less than impressed with his father's latest designs. Ridge witnesses Eric’s flirty behaviour with Margo and wonders if the two are having an affair.

He mentions this possibility to younger brother Thorne (Clayton Norcross), who is the technical director of the company. Thorne stands loyal to his father and believes Ridge is just trying to undermine Eric.

Who was there: Some of the faces then are still on today like Ronn Moss (Ridge Forrester), John McCook (Eric Forrester Sr) and Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke Logan Marone).

And some have vanished into the big TV void like Stephen Shortridge (Dave Reed), Nancy Sloan (Katie Logan), Lauren Koslow (Margo Lynley), Joanna Johnson (Caroline Spencer Forrester), James Storm (Bill Spencer), Clayton Norcross (Thorne Forrester).

Biggest difference between now and then: Besides the big hair-dos and oddly shaped clothes, nothing major has changed. Eric is still there and so are Ridge and Brooke.

The only notable difference is the various faces of Thorne. In the beginning Clayton Norcross played the role of Thorne for two years, only to be replaced by Jeff Trachta who starred for six years before the most recent reincarnation of Thorne where Winsor Harmon took over.

What viewers didn't know then: Hard to believe that the innocent looking blonde Brooke would worm her way into the Forrester family by sleeping with every Forrester man!

From dad Eric to his sons Ridge and Thorne and bearing children for most of them. No wonder the Forrester matriarch Stephanie can't stand the blonde bimbo.

Isidingo
when it began: 7 July 1998.
How it began: Economic factors had a huge influence on the future of the mining industry in South Africa.

There were obvious class differences, but it was not race that divided people in the mining workplace, but rather financial status. Mine Manager Pierre de Villiers holds back important information when he decides to buy the mine on Horizon Deep for his sole benefit.

The brains of head office Derek Nyati has a bad feeling that the mine will show no profit, but fails in making Pierre see his point of view. Cherel and Lorain, who both want the best in life, use their charm and persuasive ways on their devoted partners as well as the many men around them.

Who was there: Cherel de Villiers (Michelle Botes), Pierre de Villiers (Wilson Dunster), Derek Nyati (Hlomla Dandala), Don Mlangeni (Zeb Matabane), Godlieb Mofekeng (Rapulana Seiphemo), Mike O’Reilly (Jamie Bartlett), Clinton Lamberti (Ashley Taylor) and Lorain Dhlomo (Tina Jaxa).

Biggest difference between now and then: Most of the original cast members either left the show on their own terms or they got killed off like Pierre de Villiers (Wilson Dunster).

The cast has grown tremendously and even though the mine is still a major part of Isidingo, television stations and topical issues that affect our communities form a huge chunk of today's storylines.

What viewers didn't know then: We certainly didn't know that Isidingo would become on of the biggest soaps in South Africa.

Storyline-wise – Cherel de Villiers turning out to be a murderer will definitely go down in the history books as something viewers never saw coming.

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