One of the first ways to 'hear' the soaps - radio!
Originally, daytime drama could be heard across the USA, via radio. Unlike the hour long programs you and I watch today, these radio broadcasts lasted a mere 15 minutes, with the commercials in between the shows largely focused on selling laundry detergents and cleaning solutions. This in fact was where the term 'Soap Opera' originated!
Mid-way into the 40', soap operas began their run on daytime television. They focused on family interpersonal relationships, marital strife, some form of legal drama and what all soap fans want to see - romance! Soap operas have since evolved and changed some, over the years. They've developed into adventuresome story lines, producing 'super couples'(couples that stay together above all odds), along with high stakes business intrigue, miraculous resurrection, and lastly, the supernatural!
This is all in a day's work!
Backstage,
Soap Operas differ from your regular run of the mill television shows. Their ongoing dramatic story lines are not the only draw for a soap fan. Even though most of us don't realize it, part of the captivation of soaps is caused by the stage set up! The lavish, yet darkly accentuated sets leave us daydreaming about what luxurious homes we could have, while the added touch of lighting technique ensures that all actors look their very best at all times, thus guaranteeing that fans fall for the gorgeous actors and actresses, making the show that much more exciting!
Progression,
The first soap ever heard was on the radio, in the 1930's, in the United States of America! They aired during daytime hours, aiming their target audience at busy 'Homemakers'.
The term 'Soap Opera' was coined at this time, because of the nature of the commercials being aired, during the shows. Specifically, the commercials centered on selling soap detergent products!
In the 1940's, the airing of soaps had evolved, airing on television, with the debut of 'Faraway Hill'. Short lived, it was followed by 'These are my Children', and then 'Hawkins Falls', which ran starting in June of 1950.
The longest running soap is actually the longest running drama in broadcast history ~ The Guiding Light! started back in 1937 and has held strong for nearly seventy years!
Guiding Light has been around since 1937 - on radio!
Guiding Light (1952) (1937 on radio)
As the World Turns (1956)
General Hospital (1963)
Days of Our Lives(1965)
One Life to Live (1968)
All My Children (1970)
The Young and the Restless (1973)
Bold and the Beautiful (1987)
Passions (1999)
Soaps.com has also found that television isn't the newest media used to broadcast the soaps! Soaps can now be broadcast via a newer technology called 'PodCasting'! Those who miss the latest ups and downs of Guiding Light can now download the 30 minute episodes as podcasts, and listen to them on their Apple iPod, or other portable media player!
Why do we stay tuned?
The most simplistic reason could be that it's as entertaining as any prime time drama, or film, but what draws us is how they never end!
Watching Soaps seems to be a tradition, passed down from Mother to daughter, from Grandmother to granddaughter!
Most often I hear women reminisce about how their Grandmothers or Mothers used to watch Soaps, and in fact, when asked, a few of our esteemed writers will regale you with stories about how they love being able to provide entertainment for their beloved Grandmothers 'story', or how their Mothers are boasting about their son or daughter's new job with the soaps!
Millions of people all over the world have respect for the gifted writers, actors, and backstage crew that make our soaps what they are -Remarkable!
Whether you watch soap operas alone, with your Mothers, Grandmothers, friends or lovers, remember the history of Soaps!
UPDATE 09/09/06: Our Guiding Light writer found us this link: History of Guiding Light
Chrissi
Editor
Soaps.com
