Ma Perkins
Encyclopedia
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. Oxydol
dropped its sponsorship in 1956.
The series was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert
with scripts by Robert Hardy Andrews, Orvin Tovrov and others. Ma Perkins began August 14, 1933 on WLW in Cincinnati. On December 4 of that year, it graduated to the NBC Red network. On NBC and CBS the series ran for a total of 7,065 episodes.
"America’s mother of the air" was portrayed by actress Virginia Payne
, who began the role at the age of 23 and never missed a performance during the program's 27-year run. Kindly, trusting widow Ma Perkins had a big heart and a great love of humanity. She always offered her homespun philosophy to troubled souls in need of advice.
town of Rushville Center (population 4000), where the plotlines pivoted around her interactions with the local townsfolk and the ongoing dilemmas of her three children, Evey, Fay and John. One of her children died during World War II
. Ma's daughter Fay was played by Isabelle Krehbiel and Rita Ascot. Gilbert Faust had the role of John. Evey Perkins was played by Dora Johnson, Laurette Fillbrandt and Kay Campbell
, who later became known for playing Grandma Kate Martin on the television soap opera All My Children
. Shuffle Shober, Ma's best friend, was played by Charles Egelston (and later Edwin Wolfe). Murray Forbes (1905-1987) was heard as Willie Fitz, and Cecil Roy
portrayed Junior Fitz.
In "Sounds from the Past," Chris Plunkett offered an overview of the series:
When the show finally ended on Friday, November 25th, 1960, the day after Thanksgiving Day
, it was one of only eight entertainment shows still on the CBS radio network. The last episode was the only one in which Virginia Payne's name was mentioned, by Payne herself in a farewell speech. In all other episodes, the announcer at the close of the show would run down the names of all the actors in the cast (but one), and then say, "... and Ma Perkins."
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,...
which was heard on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard simultaneously on both networks. Oxydol
Oxydol
Oxydol is the name of a laundry detergent sold in the United States and in the United Kingdom. It was created in 1914. Purchased by Procter & Gamble in 1927, it was P&G's first detergent. In the 1930s, Oxydol was the sponsor of the Ma Perkins radio show, considered the first soap opera. As Oxydol...
dropped its sponsorship in 1956.
The series was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert
Anne Hummert
Anne Hummert was the leading creator of daytime radio serials during the 1930s and 1940s, responsible for more than three dozen drama series....
with scripts by Robert Hardy Andrews, Orvin Tovrov and others. Ma Perkins began August 14, 1933 on WLW in Cincinnati. On December 4 of that year, it graduated to the NBC Red network. On NBC and CBS the series ran for a total of 7,065 episodes.
"America’s mother of the air" was portrayed by actress Virginia Payne
Virginia Payne
Virginia Payne was an American radio actress, best known for her 27-year role as Ma Perkins. In 1939, in addition to Ma Perkins, she took over the role of Mrs...
, who began the role at the age of 23 and never missed a performance during the program's 27-year run. Kindly, trusting widow Ma Perkins had a big heart and a great love of humanity. She always offered her homespun philosophy to troubled souls in need of advice.
Characters and story
Ma owned and operated a lumber yard in the small SouthernSouthern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
town of Rushville Center (population 4000), where the plotlines pivoted around her interactions with the local townsfolk and the ongoing dilemmas of her three children, Evey, Fay and John. One of her children died during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Ma's daughter Fay was played by Isabelle Krehbiel and Rita Ascot. Gilbert Faust had the role of John. Evey Perkins was played by Dora Johnson, Laurette Fillbrandt and Kay Campbell
Kay Campbell
Catherine "Kay" Campbell was an American actress.Campbell began her career as a model in Chicago. She first rose to fame playing the role of Evey Perkins on the radio serial Ma Perkins from 1945 to 1960. Her first regular televised serial role was as Helene Benedict on The Guiding Light from 1957...
, who later became known for playing Grandma Kate Martin on the television soap opera All My Children
All My Children
All My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...
. Shuffle Shober, Ma's best friend, was played by Charles Egelston (and later Edwin Wolfe). Murray Forbes (1905-1987) was heard as Willie Fitz, and Cecil Roy
Cecil Roy
Cecil H. Roy was a radio actress who was well known in broadcasting of the 1930s and 1940s as The Girl of a Thousand Voices.Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, she grew up in Oklahoma...
portrayed Junior Fitz.
In "Sounds from the Past," Chris Plunkett offered an overview of the series:
- Typical of Hummert productions, Ma Perkins had her share of tears, crises, and drama, but with a plotline much slower paced than the average soap opera. In a typical year, no more than three or four major complications were covered --interspersed by long "quiet spells," filled with (brutally) protracted discussions on the meaning of life amid the ever-changing tapestry of family, friends and the small town around them... Early in the drama’s run Ma was portrayed as quite combative and spiteful, but her character soon developed (and softened) into the kindhearted sage and conscience of the entire community. There were various dramas that unfolded over the years, some more far-fetched than others. Two of the more memorable plot stretches involve Ma exposing a black market baby-napping ring, and Ma harboring Soviet political dissidents inside her home.
When the show finally ended on Friday, November 25th, 1960, the day after Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving (United States)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
, it was one of only eight entertainment shows still on the CBS radio network. The last episode was the only one in which Virginia Payne's name was mentioned, by Payne herself in a farewell speech. In all other episodes, the announcer at the close of the show would run down the names of all the actors in the cast (but one), and then say, "... and Ma Perkins."
Cast
- Virginia PayneVirginia PayneVirginia Payne was an American radio actress, best known for her 27-year role as Ma Perkins. In 1939, in addition to Ma Perkins, she took over the role of Mrs...
- Ma Perkins - Charles Egelston - Shuffle Shober, Ma's best friend (1933-1958)
- Edwin Wolfe - Shuffle Shober (1958-1960)
- Dora Johnson - Evey Perkins (1933-1944)
- Laurette Fillbrandt - Evey Perkins (1944-1945)
- Kay CampbellKay CampbellCatherine "Kay" Campbell was an American actress.Campbell began her career as a model in Chicago. She first rose to fame playing the role of Evey Perkins on the radio serial Ma Perkins from 1945 to 1960. Her first regular televised serial role was as Helene Benedict on The Guiding Light from 1957...
- Evey Perkins (1945-1960) - Isabelle Krehbiel - Fay Perkins (1933)
- Rita Ascot - Fay Perkins
- Margaret Draper - Fay Perkins
- Gilbert Faust - John Perkins
Further reading
- Andrews, Robert Hardy. A Corner of Chicago. Boston: Little, Brown, 1963.
- Cox, Jim. The Great Radio Soap Operas. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland, 1999.
- LaGuardia, Robert. From Ma Perkins to Mary Hartman: The Illustrated History of Soap Operas. New York: Ballantine Books, 1977.
- Ohmart, Ben. It's That Time Again. Albany: BearManor Media, 2002. ISBN 0-9714570-2-6
- Stumpf, Charles. Ma Perkins, Little Orphan Annie and Heigh Ho Silver. Carlton, 1971.