Daily Bulletin Endicott. Thurs July 26, 1956
'Romance of Helen Trent' Oldest Soap Opera of All by Charles Mercer.
Yesterday a few bars of 'Juanita' sounded from a few million radios across the country and a soap opera called "The Romance of Helen Trent" entered Its 24th uninterrupted year of broadcasting on the CBS Radio network. As far as anybody can find out - and just watch a couple of authorities from somewhere arise to dispute the flat statement- "The Romance of Helen Trent" is now the oldest consecutive soap opera on the air. Its 5900 scripts, if laid end to end would consume fill 61 solid days and nights of heart-throb.
Romance Over 35
Helen has survived by a simple, neat formula that has endeared her to millions of women as they slave .over their ironing boards and cookstoves. She demonstrates, in fact she proves—that a woman of 35 or older may still have romance in her life.
Granted that Helen, a successful Hollywood dress designer may have been 38 when her perpetual and persistent romances began back in 1932. She now is a mere 62—a real spring chicken. One thing about Helen is that she's a mighty good girl, with none of the major or minor vices. She has been courted only "by wealthy men-it's doubtful if anyone knows how many. Yet, not once has she been led to the altar.
Her listeners have their favorite suitors of course. One actor who played a suitor some time ago, says he used to receive constant communications from a listener, a sweet little old lady from Chicago, who was rooting for him.
She's report what were being said about him behind his back on the program. She urged him to "strike back'' But when Helen finally rejects her listeners apparently accept the fact with a fatalism born of the ironing board. Tomorrow there will be somebody else. Tomorrow there will be hope. And there always Is Gil Whitney. Helen's most persistent suitor of the past dozen years.
Helen was the brain-child of Frank and Anne Hummert. a husband and wife writing team. Only nine writers have worked on the show in its lifetime. The present writer is Margo Brooks, of South Salem. Ernest Ricca has been the director for the past 12 years There have been occasional substitute stars but the present Helen, who took the job at the age of 27 and will be 40 in -November, is an actress named Julie Stevens who Is married to a television executive named Charles Underhfll and lives in Armonk. , Helen .has .been aroundL*-long tinw-aiw shows-no' eigne of ever leaving the airways. One fact mint be. faced, however: Helen never can marry. if she ever did there would be no more romance for, a lot of listeners.
By
Paul Raven ·
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