Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]

Viewing Single Post From: The Radio Soaps (Info & Articles)
Matt Apr 4 2011, 02:48 PM
Member Avatar
Classic Soap Fan

 Thought I would jot down a list and some tidbits of info on some of the radio soaps from the Golden Age of radio since they're a direct ancestor of the TV soaps we've watched pretty regularly since about 1950. All information is compiled from a variety of different sources (I tend to pick up a piece of info here and a piece there and mix it all together).


THE GUIDING LIGHT

premiered: January 25, 1937
ended: June 29, 1956

known time slots/networks:
NBC-Red (1/25/37-12/26/41; sponsored by P&G)
NBC-Red (3/13/41-12/29/46; sponsored by General Mills)
1:45pm - 2:00pm; CBS (6/2/47-6/29/56; sponsored by P&G)

ratings:
1937-38 - 6.9/#9
1938-39 - ---------
1939-40 - 8.2/#12
1940-41 - 7.4/#13
1941-42 - ----------
1942-43 - 6.2/#15
1943-44 - ----------
1944-45 - 5.4/#18
1945-46 - 5.7/#14
1946-47 - ----------
1947-48 - 5.7/#17
1948-49 - 7.1/#8
1949-50 - 8.7/#11
1950-51 - 8.3/#4
1951-52 - 7.0/#5
1952-53 - 6.1/#7
1953-54 - 6.8/#2
1954-55 - 5.5/#1
1955-56 - 4.7/#1

CAST/CHARACTERS:

Rev. Dr. John Ruthledge
widowed minister of the Little Church of Five Points (a.k.a. the Church of the Good Samaritan)
More to be added later as I do research on TGL as part of "The General Mills Hour" in the 1940s.
played by: Arthur Peterson (1937-1946)
note: from 1944-46, both Peterson & Ruthledge were away & in the military during WW2. Peterson's letters home were adapted (with permission) and used on -air as letters home from Rutledge

Mary Ruthledge
Rev. Ruthledge's daughter who's in love with her foster brother Ned, who she married in 1941
played by: Mercedes McCambridge (1937-1939); Sarajane Wells (1939-1944); Vivian Fridell (1942)
note: Ms. Wells obituary states that she played Mary from 1938-1946.
Edited by Matt, Apr 5 2011, 01:23 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post
The Radio Soaps (Info & Articles) · Soap Opera History & Discussion