When did soap operas start?

Answer by  Lottadogs (1258)

Soap operas were started on the radio in the 1930's and got their name because companies selling household cleansing products typically sponsored the dramatic continuing radio shows with advertising for their products. As a serial this sort of show kept listeners coming back every day to hear more and in turn they heard more about the sponsor's products.

Answer by  PHOAT (645)

I think some of them started on the radio before TV was invented, as far back as the 1940's. They were called "soap operas" because many of them were sponsored by soap companies, who aired their commercials on them. Guiding Light and Days of Our Lives are 2 of the oldest ones.

Answer by  Anonymous

Housewives got bored of listening to reports of soldiers dying in wwii and the word of this got around to the soap manufacturers so they started playing soap operas so the women wouldn't be so bored. They started on TV in the mid 1950's and everyone was a happy chappy.

Answer by  Anonymous

Soap operas first started in the 1930's. This was because they were started on the radio, first starting with 15 minute timeslots everyday so that housewives at hoe could listen while they worked. TV soaps started in 1950, therefore the early radio soaps are older than the television soaps.

Answer by  kt1969 (72)

Soap operas started as early at the 1930s on radio, where they were sponsored and produced by soap manufacturers. They moved to television in the 1950s.

Answer by  SallyJ64 (3121)

Many soap operas started on the radio as programs in the 1940's. When TV became more popular they changed formats to TVs.