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Tell me about Soap Operas

J

johnbasalla

As we watch the dying or at least shrinking of the TV soap opera, please reminisce about radio soaps and answer a few questions.

What were the Soap Operas that started on radio and made the transition to TV? "Guiding Light" was one. Was "Guiding Light" the longest running soap when you combine/add the radio version and the TV version.

Did the TV transplants remain on radio simultaneously for a while?

When did the last radio Soap Opera go off the air, and what was it?

What were the radio soaps like? Lots of sound effects or not? Done live or pre-recorded?

Any notable controversies with any of the radio soaps? More questions as I think of them, if you don't mind.
 
One of the longest running was "Ma Perkins" which was heard beginning in 1933 and lasting until 1960. It began on WLW in Cincinnati and was picked up by the NBC Red Network that same year. CBS began airing the show in 1942 and it ran simultaneously on NBC and CBS until 1949. It then continued on CBS until the last show on November 25, 1960. Virginia Payne played the title role of "Ma Perkins" for the entire 27 years, beginning when she was just 23 years old.
 
While you're at it, read all you can about the two greatest figures in the genre's history, Irna Phillips and her protege, Agnes Nixon.
 
"The Brighter Day" began on NBC in 1948, moved to CBS
the following year, and was on CBS television from 1954
to 1962. One of the longest-running radio soaps, "Road
Of Life," was a dismal failure on television, lasting only a
few weeks on CBS in 1954. "Young Dr. Malone" ran
on NBC television from 1959 to 1963, but it should have
been called "Young Dr. Malone: The Next Generation,"
since television's Dr. Malone was the son of radio's.

"Young Dr. Malone" was one of four soaps that ran until
the last day of radio soaps, Nov. 25, 1960. "Ma Perkins"
has already been mentioned; the other two were "Right
To Happiness" and "The Second Mrs. Burton."

But note: radio soaps are alive and well in the UK; "The Archers"
is celebrating its 60th year this year and there's no end in sight.
 
But note: radio soaps are alive and well in the UK; "The Archers" is celebrating its 60th year this year and there's no end in sight.
Click to expand...
Since its past 50 years, maybe it should be "The Golden Archers". ;D







I'll go away now...
 
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