The history of soap opera

"Soap Opera" is the most lucrative genre of American television. Appearing in the 5O's, some of them lasted for decades. And still serials are collected million viewers in front of the screens.

Endless television series, referred to as simple-American soap operas, which means “soap operas”, is a unique contribution of America's history to world culture. Or subculture. Many soap operas look offensively primitive, but no matter how critics and cultural studies reviled, multi-billion dollar industry production and screening of a television “soap” is a serious business, which is alive and well in a country where the average family spends in front of a 7:00 daily. TV novels are in second place after the evening news programs in terms of advertising investment, and it is not surprising that American TV shows are no less than fifty soap operas designed to reach each population.


The first objective of the genre was inherited from the era of  radio by  housewives. It is for them in the late 20's - early 30-s radio studios began producing 15-minute melodramas, the denouement of which was postponed until the next transfer. They were broadcasted during the day. Sponsors and major advertisers were the companies that manufacture soap, powders, detergents, etc. Hence, the definition of the genre is soap opera. His popularity was unusual. Even during the war, 40 percent of female audience continued to listen to "soap opera". In the early 50's serials were moved to the rapidly growing television. One of the first examples of this genre was the drama Ma Perkins. Since 1933, it sounded on the radio and from 1942 and until 1960 it was shown on broadcaster C-PBS. For the first time Virginia Paine performed the main character in 1923, she appeared in 7065 episodes and had a fabulous salary for those days - 50 thousand dollars a year. The same long-liver has become, Mary Stewart, who played in the series Search for Tomorrow since its launch in 1951 and up to the last show in 1986.

Sponsors have remained the same - the corporation Procter and Gamble and Unilever. The most striking thing is that some of the soap operas of those times have survived until today. Guiding Light is continuously flowing from the radio in 1952 and still goes on CBS. It has a record in the history of radio and television. From 1956 on the same channel is shown "While the earth is spinning". Literary creator of the immortal creation was IRNA Phillips, the Queen of soap operas.