The story of general hospital is told through the lives and loves of the people who live in a fictional seaport town of Port Charles, New York. Whether it’s love, sex or danger, there is always something going on in this long-running soap opera. The show first debuted in 1963 and is filmed at the Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood.

Throughout the years, the show has had many different plots, including mafia families, espionage, exotic locales and corporate drama. However, the majority of the stories are centered around medical incidents at the hospital. Despite this, the show still manages to captivate viewers with its compelling characters and high-quality production value.

While General Hospital is most well known for its medical storylines, it has also been at the forefront of a number of social issues. From HIV/AIDS awareness to tolerance and understanding of the gay, lesbian and transgender community, the show has tackled a variety of hot-button topics. Other topics that the show has trailblazed include workplace sexual harassment in the #MeToo era, drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, domestic violence, teen pregnancy and surrogacy and organ donation.

Although General Hospital has been around for more than a half century, it was not until 1978 that the show started to find its footing and begin to rise in the ratings. It was in this year that ABC gave the show a chance to expand to an hour-long format. Gloria Monty took over as executive producer and under her direction, the show started to find its groove.

In 1980, the writers decided to pair Genie Francis and Tony Geary together on the show. Their chemistry was undeniable and the pairing of Luke and Laura became one of the most iconic and memorable romances in soap opera history. The two characters remain adored by fans today.

GH’s longevity has allowed the show to continue to draw top-notch talent and attract millions of loyal viewers. Over the years, the show has had actors like Demi Moore and Rick Springfield gain fame as a result of their General Hospital roles. It is also known for bringing back iconic characters, such as Robert Scorpio and Courtney Matthews.

Aside from its long-running storylines, the show is known for introducing many different mob families. During the mid-1980s, mob bosses like Duke Lavery (Ian Buchanan) and the Jerome family made their way to the infamous ABC soap opera. The mob scenes helped to add a gritty edge and further elevate the drama. In addition, the mob scenes helped resurrect some of the show’s most beloved characters and made them more relatable to the audience.