The soap opera writers' discussion

[Contessa Donatella]

Hyatt, W. (1997). The Encyclopedia of Daytime Television. Billboard Books.

Schemering, C. (1987). The Soap Opera Encyclopedia. Ballantine Books.

"Faraway Hill" was the first televised soap opera but it was one of only 3 on the DuMont network. That was 1946. "These Are My Children" was the first televised soap on a major network. That was NBC in 1949. And, according to both of these sources it ended on Feb. 25, 1949, making today its Endiversary. To all who celebrate I raise a glass! It's just a crying shame that "Television World" printed this in its review, "There is no place on television for this type of program, a blank screen is preferable." And, "Variety" stated "this type of hausfrau fodder will have extremely hard sledding on the medium ... Acting of any of the principals won't win any awards." It aired M-F 5-5:15 pm. It was out of Chicago & it is noted that it was the shortest-lived TV soap. 

Edited February 26 by Donna L. Bridges
typos are always with us

[danfling]

The man who was originally was announced to be the co-creator of Loving (with Agnes Nixon) has passed away.   I will post an obituary of Dan Wakefield later.

[VelekaCarruthers]

Great 1972 article from The New Yorker magazine on soap plots!  Wow.  Amazing details about some classic soap storylines.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1972/02/12/afternoon-television-unhappiness-enough-and-time

[Contessa Donatella]

 

Renata Adler is an American author, journalist, and film critic. Adler was a staff writer-reporter for The New Yorker, and in 1968–69, she served as chief film critic for The New York Times. She is also a writer of fiction who uses the pen name Brett Daniels. She was born October 19, 1938 in Milan, Italy. Her family fled Nazi Germany and later moved to America. She grew up in CT.

 

CANARIES IN THE MINESHAFT: Essays on Politics and Media. by Renata Adler. St. Martin's Press. New York. © 2001. "Afternoon Television: Unhappiness Enough, and Time"

 

This is a book that is out of print but available. There is a kindle edition. However only one of the essays is about soaps, this one. They were not her regular beat. But, she loved them, as we do. Amazon kindle has several of her books that are collected nonfiction, which means they likely are also television criticism. They also have fiction by her. 

Edited March 23 by Contessa Donatella
Amazon info

[Paul Raven]

Chicago Tribune 17 May 2000.

Warren Swanson worked with Irna Phillips. I never knew he was gay. Looks like ha came out later in life. The claim in the article that he was involved  on 15 soaps I find a little suspect. Also a mention of Steve Babecki. Katherine Phillips wrote under that name so perhaps Steve was her husband?

Warren L. Swanson wore many hats–he was an attorney, a soap-opera writer and the co-author of well-known guides to Chicago. He dreamed up the idea of the first Easter Seal telethon and owned some prime real estate in the city.

“He was a Renaissance man,” said his son, Sheridan Christopher. “He tried everything and he had a knack for it.”

The 66-year-old South Loop resident who lived two doors away from Mayor Richard M. Daley died May 7 of a brain hemorrhage in Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago.

Mr. Swanson was born and lived most of his life in Chicago.

Mr. Swanson graduated from the University of Chicago and then Northwestern Law School. He at one time tutored former Gov. James Thompson through law school, his son said.

During the early part of his career, Mr. Swanson butted heads with the late Mayor Richard J. Daley. As one of two special prosecutors in a vote fraud probe 40 years ago, Mr. Swanson won convictions against three Democratic precinct workers who pleaded guilty to altering ballots in the 1960 election. Then, in 1968, when board members of a civic group he headed, the Citizens of Greater Chicago, decided to give the late mayor an award for “safeguarding lives and property” during the Democratic convention, Mr. Swanson resigned the group in protest.

 

But he considered himself a friend of the younger Daley and his wife, Maggie.

Mr. Swanson’s partner of 17 years, Thomas Brown, called him “one of the finest attorneys I know.”

 

Mr. Swanson helped the city of Palos Heights incorporate during the 1950s and then stayed on as the city attorney for 40 years.

It was while working as an attorney that Mr. Swanson landed a job writing for soap operas.

Back in the ’60s, many of the well-known TV dramas were being created in Chicago. An attorney friend who had been asked to write a courtroom drama for “As the World Turns” was not interested and so he passed on the job to Mr. Swanson who took the assignment and ran with it. He became the lead writer for “As the World Turns” and “Another World” and helped create 15 other shows, including “Somerset.”

In 1977, Mr. Swanson joined forces with Steve Babecki and wrote a 38-page guide to Chicago-area museums, “Museums of Chicago.”

Mr. Swanson also owned such properties as the building housing the Ann Taylor store on Oak Street and he once owned the Helene Curtis building in the North Loop.

Survivors also include a grandson. Services were held Friday; the family is planning a celebration of his life at an as yet undetermined date in June.

Edited March 31 by Paul Raven