Today in Soap Opera History (December 4)

1950: The First Hundred Years premiered.
1981: Falcon Crest premiered.
2000: Port Charles kicked off the "Fate" arc.
2009: Venice premiered.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1933: After its August 14 debut on local station WLW in Cincinnati, radio soap opera Ma Perkins graduated to the NBC Red network in the 3 p.m. ET timeslot. The show was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, the prolific team responsible for numerous radio dramas including Just Plain Bill, Backstage Wife and Young Widder Brown.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 4)

1950: The First Hundred Years premiered.
1981: Falcon Crest premiered.
2000: Port Charles kicked off the "Fate" arc.
2009: Venice premiered.

"History is a vast early warning system."
― Norman Cousins

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1933: After its August 14 debut on local station WLW in Cincinnati, radio soap opera Ma Perkins graduated to the NBC Red network in the 3 p.m. ET timeslot. The show was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, the prolific team responsible for numerous radio dramas including Just Plain Bill, Backstage Wife and Young Widder Brown.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 4)

1950: The First Hundred Years premiered. 1981: Falcon Crest
premiered.  2000: Port Charles kicked off "Fate."
2009: Venice premiered.

"More and more, I tend to read history. I often find it more up to date than the daily newspapers."
― Joe Murray

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1933: After its August 14 debut on local station WLW in Cincinnati, radio soap opera Ma Perkins graduated to the NBC Red network in the 3 p.m. ET timeslot. The show was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, the prolific team responsible for numerous radio dramas including Just Plain Bill, Backstage Wife and Young Widder Brown.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 4)

1950: The First Hundred Years premiered. 1981: Falcon Crest
premiered.  2000: Port Charles kicked off "Fate."
2009: Venice premiered.

"The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect is already in the cause."
― Henri Louis Bergson

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1933: After its August 14 debut on local station WLW in Cincinnati, radio soap opera Ma Perkins graduated to the NBC Red network in the 3 p.m. ET timeslot. The show was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, the prolific team responsible for numerous radio dramas including Just Plain Bill, Backstage Wife and Young Widder Brown.

FLASHBACK: A Complete, Concise Yearly History of TV Soap Operas - 1947 to 1977 (Part 1)

Search for Tomorrow's John Sylvester White (Keith) talks with Cliff
Hall (Victor), as Sara Anderson, Lynn Loring (Patti), Bess
Johnson (Irene), and Mary Stuart (Joanne) look on.

A Complete, Concise Yearly History of TV Soap Operas

The Soap Box
Vol. III No. 10 September 1978
by John Genovese

The history of daytime television series is too long and varied to be fully detailed in an article of this size. However, in this issue we are proud to present a survey of every network serial that appeared on television. This is one of the most comprehensive studies of broadcasting flops (as well as successes) available.

1947
Remember the old DuMont network from the early days of television? Although it's long gone, it gave us the first considerable effort in the visual medium on a network basis. It was A Woman to Remember, which bumped along for about two years and starred Patricia Wheel as--oddly enough--a soap opera star. Supporting cast members included Joan Castle, John Raby, Frank Thomas Jr., and Ruth McDevitt. The writer was John Haggart and the producer was Bob Steele.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The exact dates A Woman to Remember aired are not clear, with inconsistency among the various research sources. Most list the show as airing for two months in 1949.  Faraway Hill had premiered on the DuMont network in 1946.

1949
Established soap spinner Irna Phillips will certainly not be best remembered for her NBC creation called These Are My Children, which premiered January 31, 1949, and ran a few short months. Alma Platt played the mother of five children, played respectively by Jane Brooksmith, George Kluge, Martha McCain, Joan Alt and Eloise Kummer.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 4)

1950: The First Hundred Years premiered. 1981: Falcon Crest
premiered.  2000: Port Charles kicked off "Fate."
2009: Venice premiered.

"Most of us spend too much time on the last twenty-four hours and too little on the last six thousand years."
― Will Durant

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1933: After its August 14 debut on local station WLW in Cincinnati, radio soap opera Ma Perkins graduated to the NBC Red network in the 3 p.m. ET timeslot. The show was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, the prolific team responsible for numerous radio dramas including Just Plain Bill, Backstage Wife and Young Widder Brown.

Nancy Malone Dead at 78

Actress, TV director and Emmy-winning producer died Thursday at City of Hope hospital in Duarte, Calif., of pneumonia that arose from complications attributed to a recent battle with leukemia. She was 79.

Malone was born March 19, 1935, on Long Island. She began her career at age 7 as a model and appeared in ads for Kellogg’s cereal, Ford cars and Macy’s. At 10, Malone was chosen for the cover of Life magazine's 10th anniversary issue, “The Typical American Girl.”

She was in the cast of the very first CBS daytime soap opera, The First Hundred Years, playing Margy Martin.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 4)

1950: THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS premiered. 1981: FALCON
CREST made its debut.  2000: PORT CHARLES kicked off
"Fate." 2009: VENICE premiered.

"That is the supreme value of history. The study of it is the best guarantee against repeating it."
- John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1933: After its August 14 debut on local station WLW in Cincinnati, radio soap opera MA PERKINS graduated to the NBC Red network in the 3 p.m. ET timeslot. The show was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, the prolific team responsible for numerous radio dramas including JUST PLAIN BILL, BACKSTAGE WIFE and YOUNG WIDDER BROWN.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 19)

On this date in...

1971: On DARK SHADOWS, Morgan rescued Julia from the tower room where she had been attacked by Gabriel.

1979: On ANOTHER WORLD, Alice was indifferent when Dan made wedding plans.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 4)

On this date in...

1933: Radio soap MA PERKINS moved to the NBC Red network. It had debuted on August 14 on WLW in Cincinnati. The show was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, the prolific team responsible for numerous radio dramas including JUST PLAIN BILL, BACKSTAGE WIFE and YOUNG WIDDER BROWN.

In his New Yorker essay “O Pioneers!,” James Thurber discussed how the Hummerts recognized the potential that the serials that aired in the evenings would have if they were broadcast during the day instead. This simple move acknowledged that women at home were the primary decision makers when it came to purchasing, and rightly recognized that a women’s household routine might be supplemented with narrative escapism. Radio historian and biographer Jim Cox noted that the pair did even more: they “intended to seize the housewives’ attention and alter the pattern of their daily existence.” For sponsors and the female audience, it proved a match made in heaven.

1950: THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS premiered on CBS. It was the first show on television to use the new invention known as a teleprompter. Pictured to the right are two stars of the early TV soap, Nana Bryant (Mrs. Martin) and Olive Stacey (Connie Martin Thayer). The show was replaced in 1952 by a TV version of radio soap THE GUIDING LIGHT.

1974: On ANOTHER WORLD, Ada (Constance Ford) told Sam (Jordan Charney) she wasn't sure Rachel would ever get over Steve.

1981: FALCON CREST premiered.  The show's cast included Jane Wyman, Robert Foxworth and Susan Sullivan.   DALLAS moved to the Friday 9 p.m. ET timeslot (one hour earlier) to provide a strong lead-in for the new primetime soap.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 19)

On this date in...

1971: On DARK SHADOWS, Morgan rescued Julia from the tower room where she had been attacked by Gabriel.

1979: On ANOTHER WORLD, Alice was indifferent when Dan made wedding plans.

FLASHBACK: Gloria Monty Predicts Moving From Daytime Serials to Daytime Serialization 1972

TV's 'Tony' Sees Soap Recycling

By Cecil Smith
Los Angeles Times
August 9, 1972

Up until the last year or so, CBS dominated the daytime TV ratings with its soap operas. Now it's drowning in its own suds.

Gloria Monty says the field is over-saturated. She believes a new suds cycle is inevitable and she doubts it will ever go back to the old form again.

"The transition," she said, "will be from daytime serials to daytime serialization."

Today in Soap Opera History (December 4)

On this date in...

1933: Radio soap MA PERKINS moved to the NBC Red network. It had debuted on August 14 on WLW in Cincinnati. The show was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, the prolific team responsible for numerous radio dramas including JUST PLAIN BILL, BACKSTAGE WIFE and YOUNG WIDDER BROWN.

In his New Yorker essay “O Pioneers!,” James Thurber discussed how the Hummerts recognized the potential that the serials that aired in the evenings would have if they were broadcast during the day instead. This simple move acknowledged that women at home were the primary decision makers when it came to purchasing, and rightly recognized that a women’s household routine might be supplemented with narrative escapism. Radio historian and biographer Jim Cox noted that the pair did even more: they “intended to seize the housewives’ attention and alter the pattern of their daily existence.” For sponsors and the female audience, it proved a match made in heaven.

1950: THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS premiered on CBS. It was the first show on television to use the new invention known as a teleprompter. Pictured to the right are two stars of the early TV soap, Nana Bryant (Mrs. Martin) and Olive Stacey (Connie Martin Thayer). The show was replaced in 1952 by the TV version of THE GUIDING LIGHT.

1981: DALLAS moved to the Friday 9 p.m. ET timeslot with FALCON CREST premiering after at 10 p.m.

Hubert Schlafly, Teleprompter inventor and satellite visionary, dies at 91

Hubert Schlafly, an Emmy Award-winning engineer who helped shape modern television by inventing the Teleprompter and executing the first satellite transmission of a cable program, died Wednesday.

Schlafly, a longtime Greenwich resident who in recent years moved to the Edgehill retirement community in Stamford, was 91. He died at Stamford Hospital after a brief illness, according to close friend Thomas Gallagher of Riverside.

March 19 Birthdays

Michael Ryan (ex-John, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Ben, BEN JERROD)- 82
Gail Kobe (ex-Ann, BRIGHT PROMISE; ex-Doris, PEYTON PLACE) - 79 (later produced several daytime soaps)
Nancy Malone (ex-Robin, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Babby, THE BRIGHTER DAY; ex-Margy, THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS) - 76 (later directed several primetime soaps)
Dalton James (ex-Hank, PASSIONS; ex-Mark, BEVERLY HILLS, 90210) - 40

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.

50 Greatest Soap Actors: #16 Larry Haines

NAME: Larry Haines
RANK: 16
SOAP ROLES: Neil Warren, LOVING (1994-1995); Sidney Sugarman, ANOTHER WORLD (1989); Stu Bergman, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW (1951-1986); TO HAVE AND TO HOLD (1975-1976); THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS (1950); Lew Archer, THE SECOND MRS. BURTON (1952-1960); Joe Roberts, THE GUIDING LIGHT (1950-1951); JOYCE JORDAN MD (1945-1946); ROSEMARY; DAVID HARUM; PEPPER YOUNG'S FAMILY; THE RIGHT TO HAPPINESS; THIS IS NORA DRAKE; YOUNG DOCTOR MALONE

AWARDS:
1988 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Comic Performance by an Actor: Daytime
1988 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Contribution by an Actor/Actress to the Form of Continuing Drama who is currently on a Daytime Serial
1985 Daytime Emmy Special Recognition Award for his longevity and contribution to SEARCH FOR TOMORROW
1981 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series
1980 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for a Daytime Drama Series
1977 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
1976 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
1969 Tony Award nomination for Featured Actor (Musical) “Promises, Promises”
1966 Tony Award nomination for Featured Actor (Play) “Generation”

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Michael Ryan (ex-John, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Ben, BEN JERROD)- 81
Gail Kobe (ex-Ann, BRIGHT PROMISE; ex-Doris, PEYTON PLACE) - 78 (later produced several daytime soaps)
Nancy Malone (ex-Robin, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Babby, THE BRIGHTER DAY; ex-Margy, THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS) - 75 (later directed several primetime soaps)
Dalton James (ex-Hank, PASSIONS; ex-Mark, BEVERLY HILLS, 90210) - 39

50 Greatest Soap Actresses: #13 Mary Stuart

NAME: Mary Stuart
RANK: 13
SOAP ROLES: Meta Bauer, GUIDING LIGHT (1996-2002); Claire Webber, ONE LIFE TO LIVE (1998); Joanne Gardner, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW (1951-1986); THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS (1950-1951)

AWARDS:
1986 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Contribution by an Actor/Actress to the Form of Continuing Drama who is currently on a Daytime Serial
1985 Daytime Emmy Special Recognition Award for her longevity and contribution to SEARCH FOR TOMORROW
1977 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
1976 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
1974 Daytime Emmy nomination for Best Actress in Daytime Drama - For a Series
1962 Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead) for SEARCH FOR TOMORROW

COMMENTS FROM THE PANEL:
Nelson Aspen: Where do I begin? I grew up admiring Mary on a daily basis, thanks to my grandmother's devotion to SFT. When I came to work with her in the '80s my admiration only multiplied exponentialy. She was a pioneer of the genre and watching her work, from script through rehearsal to on-air, was the greatest education anyone in this industry could have. She could do it all, and usually did! Any critic who contended, "Oh, she's just playing herself," never knew the real Mary! She was not only my mentor, but my acting coach...and taught me myriad "tricks" to performing on camera, but more importantly the art of CONVERSATION on camera. She never relied on gimmicks to make her interesting...she just WAS, no matter what the scene. She could make you laugh, cry, care. Even though she did a short stint on OLTL as a judge, I was as thrilled as she was when she recreated the role of "Meta" on GL. (I am proud to say I wrote a 'bible" of the character's history for her...) Mary proved her formidable acting prowess when she moved into the Bauer household as a fiesty but loving matriarch...making the audience believe she'd been there all along! Her scenes with Susan Pratt's "Claire" are still among my favorite of her career. Even as she was suffering with cancer at the end, she kept "Meta" alive for GL fans with the same beautiful, natural style she debuted on the first episode of SFT in 1951. Her autobiography (if you can find it), BOTH OF ME, is must-read material for any fan of daytime history.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Michael Ryan (ex-John, ANOTHER WORLD)- 80
Gail Kobe (ex-Ann, BRIGHT PROMISE; ex-Doris, PEYTON PLACE) - 77 (later produced several daytime soaps)
Nancy Malone (ex-Robin, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Babby, THE BRIGHTER DAY; ex-Margy, THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS) - 74 (later directed several primetime soaps)
Dalton James (ex-Hank, PASSIONS; ex-Mark, BEVERLY HILLS, 90210) - 38