Soap Opera History

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Soap Opera History
From LoveToKnow Soap-Operas

America’s soap opera history is rich and extensive, from the airing of daytime’s first serial drama to the multitudes of programs running today for those who need an hourly escape from reality.

Defining the Soap Opera

Just like sitcoms and made-for-TV movies, soap operas have their own genre, and carry one of the most devoted legions of fans the entertainment world has ever seen. In its most basic form, a soap opera is simply a fiction television drama that is episodic in nature.

Most of the soaps on TV today have been airing for decades, and are continuing to go strong. With a regular entourage of characters for viewers to become emotionally invested in, the plot is usually centered on sex, romance and scandal. Unlike a typical dramatic show that follows one story throughout, soap operas usually flip flop between several plotlines, sometimes intersecting them for further twists. Females make up the majority of a soap’s audience demographic, and the classic dramatic format has caught on in other nations such as Mexico and the United Kingdom.

The Beginning of Soap Opera History

The term “soap opera” comes from the original serial radio shows that were sponsored by soap companies such as Colgate-Palmolive and Procter and Gamble. These “primitive” soap operas were broadcast during the day, where housewives became the target audience. This may quite possibly be the reason for the soap opera’s large female following today, as the trend that was sparked only continued to grow in momentum.

The first American soap opera was Guiding Light, which premiered as the first radio drama in the beginning of 1937. The program made the easy transition into television, and it is still on the air today, making it the longest drama ever played out. (Bloggers Note: The first American soap opera happened much earlier with Painted Dreams in 1930.)

Most soap operas have enjoyed over 30 year runs and continues to broadcast, including General Hospital, One Life to Live and All My Children, to name only a few.

Since so many shows have been on for such extended periods of time, many have had various actors play the same role throughout soap opera history. Since the plotlines usually veer so far from reality in terms of content, no one seems to complain about a character suddenly changing in physical appearance with no explanation. Soap opera history is rooted in fantastical works of fiction where viewers can get lost in the over-dramatic existences of several individuals, so casting can successfully be stretched and switched where necessary.

However, some actors have been with their show through thick and thin, such as Helen Wagner of (As The World Turns), who holds the Guinness Book of World Records for being the longest soap actor without interruption.

Moving Into Prime Time

Since the daytime soap opera became so popular, prime time programming got in on the action as well. While they have yet to hold such longevity, some prime time dramas have gone down in soap opera history as successful and memorable in their own right. These include Peyton Place from the 1960s, Dallas and Dynasty from the 1980s, and Beverly Hills 90210 and Dawson’s Creek from the 1990s.

Today we enjoy shows currently making history, such as Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives. On cable, some prime time soaps are pushing the envelope beyond what is allowed on network television, and these shows have developed cult followings as they defy morality and typical storylines.

Daytime Emmys

Since soap operas have played such an extensive role in our entertainment culture, the Daytime Emmy Awards were created in the 1970s to recognize those actors and writers in the soaps industry in the same way the traditional Emmy Awards honors those in primetime. The Daytime Emmys also honor talk shows and children’s educational series, along with other unique and dynamic categories.

Soap opera history continues to be established as new generations discover old favorites of their mothers and grandmothers, and new storylines and characters grace the airwaves. When it comes to television broadcasts, a future of juicy soap opera plots are probably a guarantee!