Today in Soap Opera History (October 30)

1933: The Romance of Helen Trent premiered.
1987: Matthew Ashford debuted as Jack on Days of our Lives.
1985: Guiding Light's Reva almost ran into Josh at Cedars.
2008: All My Children's Reese and Miranda surprised Bianca.

"The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron

"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: The Romance of Helen Trent debuted over CBS Radio. The show aired 7,222 episodes during its run until June 24, 1960. Created by the husband-and-wife team of Frank and Anne Hummert, Helen Trent was conceived as the epitome of virtue in a world where behavior was usually judged in black-and-white terms. Helen Trent never smoked, drank, or swore—even her thoughts were pure. Virginia Clark played Helen until 1944, when Julie Stevens assumed the role of "queen of the soaps." The show was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1990. It was the Hummerts longest-running series.

1964: On Another World, Pat (Susan Trustman) learned the infection she got after her abortion left her unable to have children. Five years later Pat's (played by Beverly Penberthy) sterility was "cured" with an operation and she had twins Michael and Marianne in 1970.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 6)

1979: Ryan's Hope's Poppy caused trouble for Tom and Faith.
1988: Another World's Amanda gave birth to Alli.
1988: Days of our Lives' Tom was secretly a poet.
2002: Guiding Light's Reva sang to Josh.

"All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"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...

1938: Local New York City radio soap opera Stella Dallas began airing nationwide on NBC Radio.

1938: Young Widder Brown premiered on NBC Radio. Stella Dallas and Young Widder Brown became key components of the network's afternoon lineup.

1944: On the first day of the Invasion of Normandy (D-Day), the CBS Radio lineup of soap operas kept listeners updated on what happened.

10:00 a.m. Valiant Lady (General Mills) - Joan and Tubby were suspected of smuggling.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 30)

1933: The Romance of Helen Trent premiered.
1987: Matthew Ashford debuted as Jack on Days of our Lives.
1985: Guiding Light's Reva almost ran into Josh at Cedars.
2008: All My Children's Reese and Miranda surprised Bianca.

"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: The Romance of Helen Trent debuted over CBS Radio. The show aired 7,222 episodes during its run until June 24, 1960. Created by the husband-and-wife team of Frank and Anne Hummert, Helen Trent was conceived as the epitome of virtue in a world where behavior was usually judged in black-and-white terms. Helen Trent never smoked, drank, or swore—even her thoughts were pure. Virginia Clark played Helen until 1944, when Julie Stevens assumed the role of "queen of the soaps." The show was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1990. It was the Hummerts longest-running series.

1964: On Another World, Pat (Susan Trustman) learned the infection she got after her abortion left her unable to have children. Five years later Pat's (played by Beverly Penberthy) sterility was "cured" with an operation and she had twins Michael and Marianne in 1970.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 6)

1979: Ryan's Hope's Poppy caused trouble for Tom and Faith.
1988: Another World's Amanda gave birth to Alli.
1988: Days of our Lives' Tom was secretly a poet.
2002: Guiding Light's Reva sang to Josh.

"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...

1938: Local New York City radio soap opera Stella Dallas began airing nationwide on NBC Radio.

1938:  Young Widder Brown premiered on NBC Radio. Stella Dallas ad Young Widder Brown became key components of the network's afternoon lineup.

1944: On the first day of the Invasion of Normandy (D-Day), the CBS Radio lineup of soap operas kept listeners updated on what happened.

10:00 a.m. Valiant Lady (General Mills) - Joan and Tubby were suspected of smuggling.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 30)

1933: The Romance of Helen Trent premiered.
1987: Matthew Ashford debuted as Jack on Days of our Lives.
1985: Guiding Light's Reva almost ran into Josh at Cedars.
2008: All My Children's Reese and Miranda surprised Bianca.

"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: The Romance of Helen Trent debuted over CBS Radio. The show aired 7,222 episodes during its run until June 24, 1960. Created by the husband-and-wife team of Frank and Anne Hummert, Helen Trent was conceived as the epitome of virtue in a world where behavior was usually judged in black-and-white terms. Helen Trent never smoked, drank, or swore—even her thoughts were pure. Virginia Clark played Helen until 1944, when Julie Stevens assumed the role of "queen of the soaps." The show was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1990. It was the Hummerts longest-running series.

1964: On Another World, Pat (Susan Trustman) learned the infection she got after her abortion left her unable to have children. Five years later Pat's (played by Beverly Penberthy) sterility was "cured" with an operation and she had twins Michael and Marianne in 1970.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 6)

1979: Ryan's Hope's Poppy caused trouble for Tom and Faith.
1988: Another World's Amanda gave birth to Alli.
1988: Days of our Lives' Tom was secretly a poet.
2002: Guiding Light's Reva sang to Josh.

"If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree."
― Michael Crichton

"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...

1938: Local New York City radio soap opera Stella Dallas began airing nationwide on NBC Radio.

1938:  Young Widder Brown premiered on NBC Radio. Stella Dallas ad Young Widder Brown became key components of the network's afternoon lineup.

1944: On the first day of the Invasion of Normandy (D-Day), the CBS Radio lineup of soap operas kept listeners updated on what happened.

10:00 a.m. Valiant Lady (General Mills) - Joan and Tubby were suspected of smuggling.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 30)

1933: The Romance of Helen Trent premiered.
1987: Matthew Ashford debuted as Jack on Days of our Lives.
1985: Guiding Light's Reva almost ran into Josh at Cedars.
2008: All My Children's Reese and Miranda surprised Bianca.

"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again."
― Maya Angelou

"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: The Romance of Helen Trent debuted over CBS Radio. The show aired 7,222 episodes during its run until June 24, 1960. Created by the husband-and-wife team of Frank and Anne Hummert, Helen Trent was conceived as the epitome of virtue in a world where behavior was usually judged in black-and-white terms. Helen Trent never smoked, drank, or swore—even her thoughts were pure. Virginia Clark played Helen until 1944, when Julie Stevens assumed the role of "queen of the soaps." The show was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1990. It was the Hummerts longest-running series.

1964: On Another World, Pat (Susan Trustman) learned the infection she got after her abortion left her unable to have children. Five years later Pat's (played by Beverly Penberthy) sterility was "cured" with an operation and she had twins Michael and Marianne in 1970.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 6)

1979: Ryan's Hope's Poppy caused trouble for Tom and Faith.
1988: Another World's Amanda gave birth to Alli.
1988: Days of our Lives' Tom was secretly a poet.
2002: Guiding Light's Reva sang to Josh.

"History never looks like history when you are living through it."
― John W. Gardner

"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...

1938: Local New York City radio soap opera Stella Dallas began airing nationwide on NBC Radio.

1938:  Young Widder Brown premiered on NBC Radio. Stella Dallas ad Young Widder Brown became key components of the network's afternoon lineup.

1944: On the first day of the Invasion of Normandy (D-Day), the CBS Radio lineup of soap operas kept listeners updated on what happened.

10:00 a.m. Valiant Lady (General Mills) - Joan and Tubby were suspected of smuggling.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 6)

"History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies."
- Alexis de Tocqueville

"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...

1938: Local New York City radio soap opera Stella Dallas began airing nationwide on NBC Radio. Young Widder Brown premiered on NBC Radio as well. Both were part of the network's afternoon lineup.

1944: On the first day of the Invasion of Normandy (D-Day), the CBS Radio lineup of soap operas kept listeners updated on what happened.

10:00 a.m. Valiant Lady. General Mills. Joan and Tubby are suspected of smuggling.
10:30 a.m. The Open Door. Royal Puddings and Gelatins. John and Rennie Merrick quarreled over whether their parents should re-marry. Listen below.

10:45 a.m. Bachelor's Children. Wonder Bread. Ruth Ann cried over "Joan Gray," a fictitious ex-girlfriend of Dr. Bob's.
11:00 a.m. Amanda of Honeymoon Hill. Phillips Milk of Magnesia. Jeanette regretted mailing a letter to her husband.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 30)

1933: THE ROMANCE OF HELEN TRENT premiered.
1987: Matthew Ashford took over the role of Jack on DAYS.
1985: GL's Reva almost ran into Josh at Cedars. 2008: AMC's
Reese and Miranda surprised Bianca.

"History is a vast early warning system."
― J. 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: THE ROMANCE OF HELEN TRENT debuted over CBS Radio. The show aired 7,222 episodes during its run until June 24, 1960. Created by the husband-and-wife team of Frank and Anne Hummert, Helen Trent was conceived as the epitome of virtue in a world where behavior was usually judged in black-and-white terms. Helen Trent never smoked, drank, or swore—even her thoughts were pure. Virginia Clark played Helen until 1944, when Julie Stevens assumed the role of "queen of the soaps." The show was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1990. It was the Hummerts longest-running series.

1964: On ANOTHER WORLD, Pat (Susan Trustman) learned the infection she got after her abortion left her unable to have children. Five years later Pat's (played by Beverly Penberthy) sterility was "cured" with an operation and she had twins Michael and Marianne in 1970.

FLASHBACK: The Hummert Radio Soap Opera Mill 1939

Radio: Hummerts' Mill

TIME
January 23, 1939

One of the oddest outfits in the very odd business of radio is Blackett-Sample-Hummert Inc. Not only is the company the No. 1 buyer of radio time, it is the No. 1 producer of radio material—and, incidentally, a big source of professional exasperation.

Figures available last week showed that in 1938 B-S-H had placed orders for $9,000,000 worth of air time. This was about one-eighth of all money paid for radio network time and over $3,700,000 more than B-S-H's nearest competitor spent. The commission on this sale was about $1,350,000 for B-S-H.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 6)

On this date in...

1938: Local New York City radio soap opera STELLA DALLAS began airing nationwide on NBC Radio. YOUNG WIDDER BROWN premiered on NBC Radio as well. Both were part of the network's afternoon lineup.

1944: On the first day of the Invasion of Normandy (D-Day), the CBS Radio lineup of soap operas kept listeners updated on what happened.

10:00 a.m. VALIANT LADY. General Mills. Joan and Tubby are suspected of smuggling.
10:30 a.m. THE OPEN DOOR. Royal Puddings and Gelatins. John and Rennie Merrick quarreled over whether their parents should re-marry. Listen below.

10:45 a.m. BACHELOR'S CHILDREN. Wonder Bread. Ruth Ann cried over "Joan Gray," a fictitious ex-girlfriend of Dr. Bob's.
11:00 a.m. AMANDA OF HONEYMOON HILL. Phillips Milk of Magnesia. Jeanette regretted mailing a letter to her husband.
11:15 a.m. SECOND HUSBAND. Dr. Lyons Tooth Powder. A rebellious Fran has moved in with show producer Elsa King.
11:45 a.m. AUNT JENNY'S REAL LIFE STORIES. Spry All-Vegetable Shortening. Jim Abbott stood to inherit a fortune, but only if he agreed to a very unusual condition.
12:15 p.m. BIG SISTER. Rinso. Beautiful Hollis Travers declared her passionate love for John.
12:30 p.m. THE ROMANCE OF HELEN TRENT. Benefax Multivitamins. Helen delivered an ultimatum to Gil-- marry me now or never.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 30)

On this date in...

1933: THE ROMANCE OF HELEN TRENT debuted over CBS Radio. The show aired 7,222 episodes during its run until June 24, 1960. Created by the husband-and-wife team of Frank and Anne Hummert, Helen Trent was conceived as the epitome of virtue in a world where behavior was usually judged in black-and-white terms. Helen Trent never smoked, drank, or swore—even her thoughts were pure. Virginia Clark played Helen until 1944, when Julie Stevens assumed the role of "queen of the soaps." The show was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1990.

1964: On ANOTHER WORLD, Pat (Susan Trustman) learned her infection left her unable to have children.

1967: GENERAL HOSPITAL and LOVE OF LIFE moved from black and white broadcasts to color.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 6)

On this date in...

1938: Local New York City radio soap opera STELLA DALLAS began airing nationwide on NBC Radio.  YOUNG WIDDER BROWN premiered on NBC Radio as well.  Both were part of the networks afternoon lineup.

1944: The first day of the Invasion of Normandy (D-Day).  Here is the CBS Radio lineup for the day,  including the sponsors and a synopsis of what happened.

10:00 a.m. VALIANT LADY. General Mills. Joan and Tubby are suspected of smuggling.
10:30. THE OPEN DOOR. Royal Puddings and Gelatins. John and Rennie Merrick quarreled over whether their parents should re-marry. Listen below.