Radio daytime drama

Radio drama

Radio drama is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story...

 series were broadcast for decades, and some expanded to television for even more decades. These dramas were often referred to as "soaps," a shortening from the earlier label, "soap opera

Soap opera

A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...

". That term stems from the original dramatic serials

Serial (radio and television)

Serials are series of television programs and radio programs that rely on a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode by episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the full run of the series, which distinguishes them from...

 broadcast on radio that had soap

Soap

In chemistry, soap is a salt of a fatty acid.IUPAC. "" Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. . Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford . XML on-line corrected version: created by M. Nic, J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN...

 manufacturers such as Procter & Gamble

Procter & Gamble

Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....

, Colgate-Palmolive

Colgate-Palmolive

Colgate-Palmolive Company is an American diversified multinational corporation focused on the production, distribution and provision of household, health care and personal products, such as soaps, detergents, and oral hygiene products . Under its "Hill's" brand, it is also a manufacturer of...

, and Lever Brothers

Lever Brothers

Lever Brothers was a British manufacturer founded in 1885 by William Hesketh Lever and his brother, James Darcy Lever . The brothers had invested in and promoted a new soap making process invented by chemist William Hough Watson, it was a huge success...

 as sponsors and producers. These early radio serials were broadcast in weekday daytime slots when mostly housewives would be available to listen; thus the shows were aimed at and consumed by a predominantly female audience.

List of daytime serial dramas on radio

This is a list of radio

Radio

Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...

 soap operas

Show	Region/Country	Began	Ended	Creator	References
Adopted Daughter		1939	1941	Jettabee Anne Hopkins
The Affairs of Dr Gentry		1957	1959
Against the Storm Against the Storm Against the Storm is a radio daytime drama which had three separate runs over a 13-year period; the initial run was on the NBC Red Network from October 1939 to December 1942, with revivals of the series on the Mutual from August to October 1949 and ABC from October 1951 to June 1952...	United States	1939	1952	Sandra Michael
Amanda of Honeymoon Hill Amanda of Honeymoon Hill Amanda of Honeymoon Hill was a 15-minute daily radio soap opera produced by Frank and Anne Hummert. Broadway actress Joy Hathaway had the title role, sometimes described as "the beauty of flaming red hair." The series was broadcast from February 5, 1940 until April 26, 1946, initially on the Blue...	United States	1940	1946	Frank and Anne Hummert
The Archers The Archers The Archers is a long-running British soap opera broadcast on the BBC's main spoken-word channel, Radio 4. It was originally billed as "an everyday story of country folk", but is now described on its Radio 4 web site as "contemporary drama in a rural setting"...	United Kingdom	1951	present	Godfrey Baseley
Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories	United States	1936	1956
Aunt Mary	United States	1942	1951	Leigh and Virginia Crosby & Gil South
Bachelor's Children Bachelor's Children Bachelor's Children was a domestic daytime drama broadcast which originated on Chicago's WGN in 1935-36, continuing on CBS and NBC until 1946....	United States	1935	1946	Bess Flynn
Backstage Wife Backstage Wife Backstage Wife is an American soap opera radio program that details the travails of Mary Noble, a girl from a small town in Iowa who came to New York seeking her future....	United States	1935	1959	Frank and Anne Hummert
Barry Cameron		1945	1946	Richard, Leonard, and Peggy Blake
Betty and Bob	United States	1932	1940	Frank and Anne Hummert
Big Sister Big Sister (radio) Big Sister was a daytime radio drama series created by Lillian Laugerty and broadcast on CBS from September 14, 1936 to December 26, 1952. It was sponsored by Lever Brothers until 1946 when Procter & Gamble became the sponsor....	United States	1936	1952	Julian Funt, Carl Bixby, Bob Newman and Bill Sweets
Bob and Victoria		1947	1947	Lee and Virginia Crosby & Gil South
Brave Tomorrow		1943	1944	Ruth Adams Knight
Brenda Curtis		1939	1940	Ken Roberts Ken Roberts (announcer) Ken Roberts was an American radio and television announcer known for his work during the Golden Age of Radio and for his work announcing the daytime television soap operas The Secret Storm, Texas and Love of Life, each for a two-decade span.-Early life and education:Roberts was born on February...
Bright Horizon	United States	1941	1945	James and Elizabeth Hart, John M. Young, Ted Maxwell, Stuart Hawkins, and Kathleen Noris
The Brighter Day The Brighter Day The Brighter Day is an American daytime soap opera which aired on CBS from January 4, 1954 to September 28, 1962. Originally created for NBC radio by Irna Phillips in 1948, the radio and television versions ran simultaneously from 1954-1956...	United States	1948	1956	Irna Phillips
The Carters Of Elm Street		1939	1940	Mona Kent
Central City	United States	1938	1941	Frank and Anne Hummert
Citizens Citizens (radio show) Citizens was a radio programme that aired from October 1987 to July 1991. There were 388 twenty-five minute episodes and it was broadcast on BBC Radio 4. It was created by M. Imrie and A.J. Quinn.- References :...	United Kingdom	1987	1991	BBC
City Soap	United Kingdom	2005	2008	Preston Fm
Clara, Lu, and Em Clara, Lu, and Em Clara, Lu, and Em was radio's first network daytime soap opera, beginning June 16, 1930 over WGN-AM Chicago, Illinois. It continued through the 1930s and early 1940s on the NBC Blue Network and CBS, finally airing as a syndicated series in 1945...	United States	1930	1942	Louise Starkey, Isobel Carothers and Helen King
College Road	Ireland	2009	-	MightyStudent
Dan Harding's Wife	United States	1936	1938	Ken Robinson
David Harum	United States	1936	1950	Frank and Anne Hummert
Doc Barclay's Daughters	United States	1939	1940	Frank and Anne Hummert
Doctor Paul
The Doctor's Wife		1952	1956
Front Line Family Front Line Family Front Line Family was a British radio soap opera initially broadcast on the BBC's North American Service. It ran from 1941 until 1948 when it was replaced by Mrs Dale's Diary. The show's storylines depicted the trials and tribulations of a British family, the Robinsons, living through the war...	United Kingdom / Canada	1941	1948
Front Page Farrell	United States	1941	1954	Frank and Anne Hummert
Girl Alone Girl Alone Girl Alone was a radio soap opera broadcast on NBC from 1935 to 1941. Sponsored by Kellogg's and Quaker Oats, the series was scripted by Fayette Krum.-Characters and story:...	United States	1935	1941	Fayette Krum
The Goldbergs The Goldbergs The Goldbergs is a comedy-drama broadcast from 1929 to 1946 on American radio, and from 1949 to 1956 on American television. It was adapted into a 1948 play, Me and Molly, and a 1973 Broadway musical, Molly.-Radio:...	United States	1929	1950	Gertrude Berg
Green Valley Line
The Guiding Light Guiding Light Guiding Light is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running drama in television and radio history, running from 1937 until 2009...	United States	1937	1956	Irna Phillips
Harbour Hotel	Ireland
Helpmate	United States	1941	1944	Frank and Anne Hummert
Her Honor, Nancy James		1938	1939
Hilltop House		1937	1957	Adelaide Mar-Lynn Stone
Into the Light		1941	1942	Larry Bearson
Jane Arden		1938	1939
John's Other Wife		1936	1942	Frank and Anne Huumert
Joyce Jordan, M.D.	United States	1938	1956
Judy and Jane Judy and Jane Judy and Jane was a radio soap opera originally heard on CBS from February 8 to June 17, 1932 and on NBC from October 10, 1932 to April 26, 1935. Sponsored by Folgers Coffee, it was heard regionally in the midwest only....		1932	1935	Rodney Hardy Andrews
Just Plain Bill Just Plain Bill Just Plain Bill was a long run 15-minute daytime radio drama program heard on CBS and NBC. The series was sponsored by Anacin for 18 of the program's 23-year run. Other sponsors over the years were Kolynos toothpaste, Clapp’s baby food and BiSoDol...	United States	1933	1936	Rodney Hardy Andrews
Kate Hopkins Angel of Mercy		1949	1942	Gertrude Berg Gertrude Berg Gertrude Berg was an American actress and screenwriter. A pioneer of classic radio, she was one of the first women to create, write, produce and star in a long-running hit when she premiered her serial comedy-drama The Rise of the Goldbergs , later known as The Goldbergs.-Career:Berg was born...  and Chester McCracken
Kitty Foyle	United States	1942	1944
Kitty Keene, Incorporated		1937	1941	Day Keene and Lester Huntly
The Aliens The Aliens The Aliens are a Scottish band consisting of former Beta Band members Gordon Anderson , John Maclean and Robin Jones...	United States	2010	2010	Barika Taheer Edwards
The Life and Love of Dr. Susan		1939	1939	Edith Meiser
Life Begins		1940	1941
Life Can Be Beautiful Life Can Be Beautiful Life Can Be Beautiful was a daytime drama broadcast on NBC and CBS during its 16-year run. The program was also facetiously known to many as Elsie Beebe, a contrived acronym based on the show's initials....		1938	1954	Don Becker and Carl Bixby
Life of Mary Sothern		1934	1938	Don Becker
The Light of the World	United States	1940	1950
Linda's First Love		1939	1950
Lone Journey		1940	1952	Sandra Michael
Lora Lawton	United States	1943	1950
Lorenzo Jones Lorenzo Jones Lorenzo Jones was a daytime radio series which aired on NBC in different timeslots over an 18-year span.Produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, the series could be classified with its own unique category of "comedy soap opera," highlighted by organist Rosa Rio's rollicking rendition of the opening...	United States	1937	1955
Ma Perkins Ma Perkins Ma Perkins is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard simultaneously on both networks...	United States	1933	1960
Matysiakowie Matysiakowie Matysiakowie is one of the most popular Polish radio dramas. The series tells a story of a fictional Polish family, Matysiakowie, from Powiśle, Warsaw....	Poland	1956	present	Jerzy Janicki
Mrs Dale's Diary Mrs Dale's Diary Mrs Dale's Diary was the first significant BBC radio serial drama. It was first broadcast on the BBC Light Programme on 5 January 1948, and subsequently transferred to the newly formed Radio 2 in 1967, where it ran until 25 April 1969...	United Kingdom	1948	1969	Jonqil Antony
Myrt and Marge Myrt and Marge (radio) Myrt and Marge was a popular radio program during the period 1932-1946. It was created by Myrtle Vail based on anecdotal stories of her vaudeville career.-Characters and story:...	United States	1931	1942
Nona From Nowhere
The O'Neills The O'Neills The O'Neills was a radio serial drama which aired on Mutual, CBS and NBC from 1934 to 1943. Created by actress-writer Jane West, the series was sponsored at various times by Gold Dust, Ivory Snow and Standard Brands.-Characters and story:...	United States	1935	1943
One Man's Family One Man's Family One Man's Family, is a long-running American radio soap opera. It was heard for almost three decades, from 1932 to 1959. Created by Carlton E. Morse, it was the longest-running uninterrupted serial in the history of American radio...	United States	1932	1959	Carlton E. Morse Carlton E. Morse Carlton Errol Morse was a Louisiana-born producer/journalist best known for his creation of the radio serial One Man's Family, which debuted in 1932 and ran until 1959 as one of the most popular as well as long-running radio soap operas of the time. He also was responsible for the radio serial I...
Our Gal Sunday Our Gal Sunday Our Gal Sunday was an American soap opera produced by Frank and Anne Hummert and heard on CBS from 1937 to 1959.The origin of this radio series was a 1904 Broadway production, Sunday, which starred Ethel Barrymore...	United States	1936	1959
Painted Dreams Painted Dreams Painted Dreams is an American radio soap opera that was the first daytime radio soap opera program in the United States. It premiered October 20, 1930 and last aired in July, 1943....	United States	1930	1943
Pepper Young's Family Pepper Young's Family Pepper Young's Family was one of radio's more popular daytime drama series, with various format and title changes during its long run from 1932 to 1959...	United States	1932	1959	Elaine Sterne Carrington Elaine Sterne Carrington Elaine Sterne Carrington was an American screenwriter, playwright, novelist and short story author who found her greatest success writing for radio. The woman who originated radio soap opera in 1932, Carrington wrote more than 12,000 daily dramas during her long career...
Perry Mason Perry Mason (radio) The radio criminal serial Perry Mason, based on the novels of Erle Stanley Gardner, was broadcast on CBS Radio from 1943-1955. The series was adapted into Edge of Night which ran on television for an additional 30 years.-Adapting Perry Mason to other media:...	United States	1943	1955	Erle Stanley Gardner Erle Stanley Gardner Erle Stanley Gardner was an American lawyer and author of detective stories, best known for the Perry Mason series, he also published under the pseudonyms A.A. Fair, Kyle Corning, Charles M. Green, Carleton Kendrake, Charles J...
Portia Faces Life Portia Faces Life Portia Faces Life is a soap opera which began in syndication on April 1, 1940. It was broadcast on some stations that carried NBC programs, although it does not seem to have been an official part of that network's programming...	United States	1940	1952
Pretty Kitty Kelly	United States	1937	1940
The Right to Happiness	United States	1939	1960	Irna Phillips
The Road of Life	United States	1937	1959	Irna Phillips
The Romance of Helen Trent The Romance of Helen Trent The Romance of Helen Trent was a radio soap opera which aired on CBS from 1933 to 1960 for a total of 7,222 episodes. The show was created by Frank and Anne Hummert, who were among the most prolific producers during the radio soap era....	United States	1933	1960	Frank and Anne Hummert
Rosemary Rosemary (radio) Rosemary is an American radio soap opera broadcast on NBC Radio from October 2, 1944 to March 23, 1945, and on CBS Radio from March 26, 1945 to July 1, 1955. Starring Betty Winkler as Rosemary Dawson Roberts, the program's only sponsor was Procter & Gamble, primarily for Ivory Snow dishwashing...	United States	1944	1955	Elaine Sterne Carrington Elaine Sterne Carrington Elaine Sterne Carrington was an American screenwriter, playwright, novelist and short story author who found her greatest success writing for radio. The woman who originated radio soap opera in 1932, Carrington wrote more than 12,000 daily dramas during her long career...
The Second Mrs. Burton	United States	1946	1960
Second Spring
Silver Street Silver Street Silver Street was a radio soap opera, the first such to be aimed at the British South Asian community, and was broadcast on the BBC Asian Network. It was introduced in 2004 as part of the Sonia Deol show, which was replaced from 24 April 2006 by the Anita Rani show, and until 12 May 2006 each...	United Kingdom	2004	2010
Stella Dallas Stella Dallas (radio series) Stella Dallas was an America radio soap opera that ran from 1937 to 1955. The title character was the beautiful daughter of an impoverished farmhand who had married above her station in life. She was played for the entire run of the series by Anne Elstner .Her husband Stephen Dallas was portrayed...	United States	1937	1955
The Story of Mary Marlin	United States	1935	1952
The Strange Romance of Evelyn Winters	United States	1944	1952
This is Nora Drake	United States	1947	1959
Today's Children Today's Children Today's Children was a name shared by two thematically related American radio soap operas created and written by Irna Phillips, the earliest of which was her first nationally networked series.-1933-1938 series:...	United States	1933	1938
Today's Children Today's Children Today's Children was a name shared by two thematically related American radio soap operas created and written by Irna Phillips, the earliest of which was her first nationally networked series.-1933-1938 series:...  (second series)	United States	1943	1950
Valiant Lady Valiant Lady Valiant Lady is an American soap opera which ran daily on CBS radio and television from October 12, 1953 through August 1957 at 12:00 PM . The show's title was taken from a 1930s radio soap opera about a young woman struggling through life but is otherwise very different...	United States	1938	1952
We Love and Learn	United States	1942	1956
Wendy Warren and the News	United States	1947	1958
Westway	United Kingdom	1997	2005
When a Girl Marries When a Girl Marries When a Girl Marries was a daytime radio drama which was broadcast on three major radio networks from 1939 to 1957. Created by Elaine Sterne Carrington , it was the highest rated soap opera during the mid-1940s.The series premiered May 29, 1939 on CBS, moving to NBC on September 29, 1941 and then to...	United States	1939	1957	Elaine Sterne Carrington Elaine Sterne Carrington Elaine Sterne Carrington was an American screenwriter, playwright, novelist and short story author who found her greatest success writing for radio. The woman who originated radio soap opera in 1932, Carrington wrote more than 12,000 daily dramas during her long career...
The Woman in My House	United States	1951	1959
Woman in White	United States	1938	1948
A Woman of America	United States	1943	1945
You Me Now You Me Now You Me ... Now is New Zealand's first radio soap opera written and created by All The Way Home Productions. Season One was 25 episodes long and originally aired on Radio New Zealand in 2010...	New Zealand	2010	present	Radio New Zealand Radio New Zealand Radio New Zealand is a New Zealand public service radio broadcaster and Crown entity formed by the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news, current affairs and arts network Radio New Zealand National and classical music and jazz network Radio New Zealand Concert with full government funding...  and All The Way Home Productions
Young Doctor Malone Young Doctor Malone Young Doctor Malone is an American soap opera, created by Irna Phillips, which had a long run on radio and television from 1939 to 1963...	United States	1939	1960
Young Widder Brown Young Widder Brown Young Widder Brown was a daytime radio drama series broadcast on NBC from 1938 to 1956. Sponsored by Sterling Drugs and Bayer Aspirin, it daily examined the life of "attractive Ellen Brown, with two fatherless children to support."...	United States	1938	1956
Your Family and Mine Your Family and Mine Your Family and Mine was a radio drama series which aired in 1938-1940. Promoted as "Radio's Newest Dramatic Serial," it premiered Monday, April 25, 1938...	United States	1938	1940