Today in Soap Opera History (November 25)

November 25, 1960: "The Day Radio Drama Died"

"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...

1960: Often referred to by aficionados as "the day radio drama died" or "the day the radio soap opera died," this day has been identified as a watershed moment in broadcasting. CBS Radio aired the final episodes of the last network radio soap operas: Ma Perkins, Young Doctor Malone (which also aired on NBC-TV), The Right to Happiness (a spin-off of The Guiding Light), The Second Mrs. Burton, The Couple Next Door, Whispering Secrets and Best Seller.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 25)

November 25, 1960: "The Day Radio Drama Died"

"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...

1960: Often referred to by aficionados as "the day radio drama died" or "the day the radio soap opera died," this day has been identified as a watershed moment in broadcasting. CBS Radio aired the final episodes of the last network radio soap operas: Ma Perkins, Young Doctor Malone (which also aired on NBC-TV), The Right to Happiness (a spin-off of The Guiding Light), The Second Mrs. Burton, The Couple Next Door, Whispering Secrets and Best Seller.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 25)

November 25, 1960: "The Day Radio Drama Died"

"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...

1960: Often referred to by aficionados as "the day radio drama died" or "the day the radio soap opera died," this day has been identified as a watershed moment in broadcasting. CBS Radio aired the final episodes of the last network radio soap operas: Ma Perkins, Young Doctor Malone (which also aired on NBC-TV), The Right to Happiness (a spin-off of The Guiding Light), The Second Mrs. Burton, The Couple Next Door, Whispering Secrets and Best Seller.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 25)

November 25, 1960: "The Day Radio Drama Died"

"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...

1960: Often referred to by aficionados as "the day radio drama died" or "the day the radio soap opera died," this day has been identified as a watershed moment in broadcasting. CBS Radio aired the final episodes of the last network radio soap operas: Ma Perkins, Young Doctor Malone (which also aired on NBC-TV), The Right to Happiness (a spin-off of The Guiding Light), The Second Mrs. Burton, The Couple Next Door, Whispering Secrets and Best Seller.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 25)

November 25, 1960: "The Day Radio Drama Died"

"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...

1960: Often referred to by aficionados as "the day radio drama died," this day has been identified as a watershed moment in broadcasting. CBS Radio aired the final episodes of the last network radio soap operas: Ma Perkins, Young Doctor Malone (which also aired on NBC-TV), The Right to Happiness (a spin-off of The Guiding Light), The Second Mrs. Burton, The Couple Next Door, Whispering Secrets and Best Seller. Audiences still loved radio drama, but many stations around the country wanted that air time for local news and information features.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 25)

1960: Known as "The Day Radio Drama Died."

"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...

1960: Has been identified as a watershed in broadcasting. It's often referred to by aficionados as "the day radio drama died." CBS Radio aired the final episodes of the last network radio soap operas: MA PERKINS, YOUNG DOCTOR MALONE (which also aired on NBC-TV), THE RIGHT TO HAPPINESS (a spin-off of THE GUIDING LIGHT), THE SECOND MRS. BURTON, THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR, WHISPERING SECRETS and BEST SELLER. Audiences still loved radio drama, but the local stations wanted all of the air time for local news and information features.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 25)

On this date in...

1960: Has been identified as a watershed in broadcasting. It's often referred to by aficionados as "the day the radio drama died." YOUNG DOCTOR MALONE (which also aired on NBC-TV), THE RIGHT TO HAPPINESS (a spinoff of THE GUIDING LIGHT), THE SECOND MRS. BURTON and MA PERKINS aired their final episodes.

To find out more, check out our 25 Biggest Blunders in Soap Opera History list.

1964: On ANOTHER WORLD, Pat (Susan Trustman) was indicted for murder in the first degree.

1986: On GUIDING LIGHT, Josh (Robert Newman) found a honeymooning couple when he busted into what he thought was Gerhardt's hotel room.

Today in Soap Opera History (November 25)

On this date in...

1960: Has been identified as a watershed in broadcasting. It's often referred to by aficionados as "the day the radio drama died." YOUNG DOCTOR MALONE (which also aired on NBC-TV), THE RIGHT TO HAPPINESS (a spinoff of THE GUIDING LIGHT), THE SECOND MRS. BURTON and MA PERKINS aired their final episodes. To find out more, check out our 25 Biggest Blunders in Soap Opera History list.