October 20, 1930: The Soap Opera Was Born

Originally published on October 20, 2010.

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Painted Dreams premiered October 20, 1930.

80 YEARS AGO TODAY: THE SOAP OPERA WAS BORN
By Rob Wargo

On October 20, 1930, the soap opera was born, with the debut of the first episode of Irna Phillips’ Painted Dreams. Although the series had a relatively brief network run, compared to Ms. Phillips’ other triumphs, it is widely recognized by broadcast historians as the first very soap opera.

One day in 1930, schoolteacher Irna Phillips visited Chicago’s WGN looking for work. Although initially hired as an actress, her interests soon turned to writing, and she created the series Sue and Irene in which she and Ireene Wicker (best known as radio’s “Singing Lady”) provided all of the voices, with Irna playing “Sue” and Ireene playing “Irene.” Scheduled during the daytime, Sue and Irene was sponsored by Lever Brothers’ detergent “Super Suds.” The dialogue was conversational in tone, rather than full-out acting, similar to another early serialized entry Clara, Lu and Em.

ON THE SCENE: THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS 10,000 Episodes Celebrated at The Paley Center

On August 23, 2012, the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills celebrated the filming of the 10,000th episode of THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS with a panel discussion featuring members of the cast following by a Q&A session. The evening was hosted by Brooks Barnes of The New York Times and the panel consisted of longtime cast members Peter Bergman, Eric Braeden, Jeanne Cooper, Doug Davidson, Christian Leblanc, Joshua Morrow, Melody Thomas Scott, Kristoff St. John, Michelle Stafford, and recently departed head writer and executive producer Maria Arena Bell.

The evening opened with a montage of clips from the show’s long history, starting with scenes from episode #1 and other 1970s episodes featuring actors such as Diedre Hall, Robert Clary, William Gray Espy, David Hasselhoff and Brenda Dickson (although, oddly, no scenes featuring any of the “Brooks” sisters, the pivotal heroines of the show’s early years) up through scenes from recent years. When told by an audience member that the clips brought tears to her eyes, Christian Leblanc remarked “we were sniffling too.”

Moderator Barnes confessed that he was a longtime fan of the show, and posed a series of questions to the panel about the show and their experiences working on it.

Remembering THE YOUNG MARRIEDS, 45 Years Later

REMEMBERING "THE YOUNG MARRIEDS" – 45 YEARS LATER
By Rob Wargo

Forty-five years ago – March 25, 1966, to be exact – ABC aired the 380th and final episode of THE YOUNG MARRIEDS, a companion series of sorts to GENERAL HOSPITAL, launched approximately 18 months prior to TYM’s debut on October 5, 1964. The series was produced in Los Angeles by Selmur Productions, the same in-house production company responsible for producing GENERAL HOSPITAL, and purportedly was set in the same town as GH, although there was no interaction between the characters in the respective series. TYM was created by James Elward and written by him and Frances Rickett. During its 18 months on the air, TYM faced stiff competition from CBS’ THE EDGE OF NIGHT and NBC’s YOU DON'T SAY. Although the show ranked tenth out of seventeen soaps for the 1965-1966 season, ABC still decided to cancel the series. TYM had replaced QUEEN FOR A DAY on the ABC Daytime schedule, and was replaced by the struggling soap THE NURSES in the lineup. THE NURSES would limp along for another year before being canceled, having not improved on TYM’s ratings in the timeslot.

Commemorating 60 Years of Soap Operas on CBS-TV

Commemorating 60 Years of Soap Operas on CBS-TV
By Rob Wargo

On December 4, 1950, CBS-TV aired its very first daytime soap opera – THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS – sponsored by Procter & Gamble. The series starred James Lydon as “Chris Thayer,” who married “Connie Martin” (played originally by Olive Stacey and later by Anne Sargent) during the first week of the series, and thereafter moved his new bride into a decrepit three-story Victorian mansion. The couple’s problems with their living quarters, their middle in-laws, including Connie’s sister Margy, and the typical problems any newlyweds face gave credence to the show’s title, a reference to the old staying that the “first 100 years of marriage are the hardest.”

The series was produced on a budget of $8,650 per week and was directed by Gloria Monty, who subsequently directed THE SECRET STORM and produced GENERAL HOSPITAL.

AS THE WORLD TURNS Photo Tribute

WE LOVE SOAPS TV has been paying tribute to AS THE WORLD TURNS with Rob Wargo's classic photos over the past month. Here is a collection of those images and more from the show's 54 year storied run on television.

CLASSIC ATWT Photo of the Day: Helen Wagner

As we begin the countdown on the final month of AS THE WORLD TURNS, We Love Soaps will be bringing you a Classic ATWT Photo of the Day, provided by Rob Wargo, soap historian and frequent WLS contributor.

The first photo is of legendary actress Helen Wagner who first played Nancy Hughes in the 1955 pilot and continued in the role until her death in May of this year.

Look for a new photo each day of some of the most memorable characters and couples in AS THE WORLD TURNS history.

CLASSIC PHOTOS: Mary Stuart

Mary Stuart was a daytime legend and her memory lives in the hearts and minds of anyone who enjoyed her six decades of performances on television. Here are some classic photos from Mary Stuart's run on SERACH FOR TOMORROW.

Elizabeth Hubbard on THE DOCTORS

Elizabeth Hubbard originated the role of Althea Davis on THE DOCTORS in 1964 and played the role on and off for many of the next 18 years until the show went off the air in 1982.

She left the soap in 1977 but had a much-hyped return in 1981. In the storyline, Althea had gone to Japan with her son-in-law and daughter, Penny. She returned to Madison following Penny's death.

Hubbard won her first Emmy award for this role.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks to Rob Wargo for the photo.

James Mitchell on WHERE THE HEART IS

WHERE THE HEART IS debuted in September 1969 and ran through March 1973. Lou Scofield and Margaret DePriest created the series and before the end of its run it was being head written by Claire Labine and Paul Avila Mayer. Set in the fictional town of Northcross, Connecticut, WHERE THE HEART IS focused on the sexual and psychological intrigues of the dysfunctional Hathaway family. James Mitchell played one of the three Hathaway children, Julian, who was professor of literature at the local university. Diana van der Vlis and Louise Shaffer played his sisters when the show debuted.

CLASSIC PHOTO: Kate Mulgrew & Michael Levin

In honor of Kate Mulgrew being selected as the #38 Greatest Soap Actress of All Time, here is a classic photo of one of the most memorable couples in soap opera history, Mary Ryan and Jack Fenelli, played by Mulgrew and Michael Levin.

Thanks to Rob Wargo for the photo.

'Ma Perkins' Celebrates Thanksgiving

Caption: "Thanks to a bumper turkey crop, CBS Radio's 'Ma Perkins' has ample quantities of the all-American festive favorite for the dual celebration of a long holiday season and her daily program's entry on its 24th year of broadcasting. Virginia Payne stars as 'Ma Perkins.'"

Photo Date: November 29, 1956

Thanks to Rob Wargo