Watch and learn about the history of soap operas, how they developed, how they got their name, and how they became a vehicle for advertising.

Video Transcription

watchmojo.com Hey! Welcome to watch.mojo.com. I am your host Melissa and today I am going to introduce you to the world of soaps. Now, I know what you’re thinking, soaps are only for women who stay whole home all day and that is kind of true. That is how they start but there is a little bit to them than that. You see, in the 1920’s, the medium of radio was booming and urged increase station profits, broadcasters aside to get advertisers in on the act. So, radio stations convinced businesses selling consumer goods to sponsor their shows. Now, in order to appeal to the proper consumer of these good, the female homemakers, the radio stations created a day time serial drama. Soon all networks who are carrying this series even dozens at a time and they were all directed toward women. And by 1939, they start calling them soap office simply because so many of them were sponsored by soap manufacturers. Soaps eventually made the move to television and the longest running soap also happens to be the longest running drama in broadcast history. The Guiding Light made its radio debut in 1937 and in 1952, it made its television debut. Now, many soaps have come and gone since then and today there are 9 soaps on air. So, what the daytime series drama may have started out as a peer form of entertainment for housewives has clearly become a favorite of many and who can blame them? From now, if you excuse me I am going to get back to my soap.