<P> Radio daytime drama serials were broadcast for decades, and some expanded to television . These dramas are often referred to as "soaps", a shortening from "soap opera". That term stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers such as Procter & Gamble, Colgate - Palmolive, and Lever Brothers as sponsors and producers . These early radio serials were broadcast in weekday daytime slots when mostly housewives would be able to listen; thus the shows were aimed at and consumed by a predominantly female audience . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Show </Th> <Th> Region / country </Th> <Th> Began </Th> <Th> Ended </Th> <Th> Creator </Th> <Th> Ref . </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Adopted Daughter </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1939 </Td> <Td> 1941 </Td> <Td> Jettabee Anne Hopkins </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Affairs of Dr Gentry </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1957 </Td> <Td> 1959 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Against the Storm </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1939 </Td> <Td> 1952 </Td> <Td> Sandra Michael </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Amanda of Honeymoon Hill </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1940 </Td> <Td> 1946 </Td> <Td> Frank and Anne Hummert </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Archers </Td> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> 1951 </Td> <Td> Present </Td> <Td> Godfrey Baseley </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Arnold Grimm's Daughter </Td> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> 1937 </Td> <Td> 1942 </Td> <Td> Margaret Sangster </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1937 </Td> <Td> 1955 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Aunt Mary </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1942 </Td> <Td> 1951 </Td> <Td> Leigh and Virginia Crosby & Gil South </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bachelor's Children </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1935 </Td> <Td> 1946 </Td> <Td> Bess Flynn </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Backstage Wife </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1935 </Td> <Td> 1959 </Td> <Td> Frank and Anne Hummert </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Barry Cameron </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1945 </Td> <Td> 1946 </Td> <Td> Richard, Leonard, and Peggy Blake </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Betty and Bob </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1932 </Td> <Td> 1940 </Td> <Td> Frank and Anne Hummert </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Big Sister </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1936 </Td> <Td> 1952 </Td> <Td> Julian Funt, Carl Bixby, Bob Newman and Bill Sweets </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bob and Victoria </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1947 </Td> <Td> 1947 </Td> <Td> Lee and Virginia Crosby & Gil South </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Brave Tomorrow </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1943 </Td> <Td> 1944 </Td> <Td> Ruth Adams Knight </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Brenda Curtis </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1939 </Td> <Td> 1940 </Td> <Td> Ken Roberts </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bright Horizon </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1941 </Td> <Td> 1945 </Td> <Td> James and Elizabeth Hart, John M. Young, Ted Maxwell, Stuart Hawkins, and Kathleen Norris </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Brighter Day </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1948 </Td> <Td> 1956 </Td> <Td> Irna Phillips </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Carters of Elm Street </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1939 </Td> <Td> 1940 </Td> <Td> Mona Kent </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Central City </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> 1941 </Td> <Td> Frank and Anne Hummert </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Colcloughs </Td> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> 1991 2016 </Td> <Td> Present </Td> <Td> Mike Hopwood </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Citizens </Td> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1991 </Td> <Td> BBC </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> City Soap </Td> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> 2005 </Td> <Td> 2008 </Td> <Td> Preston Fm </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Clara, Lu, and Em </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td> 1942 </Td> <Td> Louise Starkey, Isobel Carothers and Helen King </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> College Road </Td> <Td> Ireland </Td> <Td> 2009 </Td> <Td> 2009 </Td> <Td> MightyStudent </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dan Harding's Wife </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1936 </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> Ken Robinson </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> David Harum </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1936 </Td> <Td> 1950 </Td> <Td> Frank and Anne Hummert </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Doc Barclay's Daughters </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1939 </Td> <Td> 1940 </Td> <Td> Frank and Anne Hummert </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Doctor's Wife </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1952 </Td> <Td> 1956 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Front Line Family </Td> <Td> United Kingdom / Canada </Td> <Td> 1941 </Td> <Td> 1948 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Front Page Farrell </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1941 </Td> <Td> 1954 </Td> <Td> Frank and Anne Hummert </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Girl Alone </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1935 </Td> <Td> 1941 </Td> <Td> Fayette Krum </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Goldbergs </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1929 </Td> <Td> 1950 </Td> <Td> Gertrude Berg </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Guiding Light </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1937 </Td> <Td> 1956 </Td> <Td> Irna Phillips </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Helpmate </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1941 </Td> <Td> 1944 </Td> <Td> Frank and Anne Hummert </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Her Honor, Nancy James </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> 1939 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hilltop House </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1937, 1948 </Td> <Td> 1941, 1957 </Td> <Td> Edward Wolf </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Into the Light </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1941 </Td> <Td> 1942 </Td> <Td> Larry Bearson </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Jane Arden </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> 1939 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> John's Other Wife </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1936 </Td> <Td> 1942 </Td> <Td> Frank and Anne Hummert </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Joyce Jordan, M.D. </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> 1956 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Judy and Jane </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1932 </Td> <Td> 1935 </Td> <Td> Frank and Anne Hummert </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Just Plain Bill </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1932 </Td> <Td> 1955 </Td> <Td> Frank and Anne Hummert </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kate Hopkins Angel of Mercy </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1940 </Td> <Td> 1942 </Td> <Td> Gertrude Berg and Chester McCracken </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kitty Foyle </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1942 </Td> <Td> 1944 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kitty Keene, Incorporated </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1937 </Td> <Td> 1941 </Td> <Td> Day Keene and Lester Huntly </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Life and Love of Dr. Susan </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1939 </Td> <Td> 1939 </Td> <Td> Edith Meiser </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Life Begins </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1940 </Td> <Td> 1941 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Life Can Be Beautiful </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> 1954 </Td> <Td> Don Becker and Carl Bixby </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Life of Mary Sothern </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1934 </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> Don Becker </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Light of the World </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1940 </Td> <Td> 1950 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Linda's First Love </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1939 </Td> <Td> ca . 1950 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lone Journey </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1940 </Td> <Td> 1952 </Td> <Td> Sandra Michael </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lonely Women </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1942 </Td> <Td> 1943 </Td> <Td> Irna Phillips </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lora Lawton </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1943 </Td> <Td> 1950 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lorenzo Jones </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1937 </Td> <Td> 1955 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ma Perkins </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1933 </Td> <Td> 1960 </Td> <Td> Frank and Anne Hummert </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Matysiakowie </Td> <Td> Poland </Td> <Td> 1956 </Td> <Td> present </Td> <Td> Jerzy Janicki </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mrs Dale's Diary </Td> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> 1948 </Td> <Td> 1969 </Td> <Td> Jonqil Antony </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Myrt and Marge </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1931 </Td> <Td> 1942 </Td> <Td> Myrtle Vail </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> "Newarkers" </Td> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> 2013 </Td> <Td> 2013 </Td> <Td> Radio Newark </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The O'Neills </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1935 </Td> <Td> 1943 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> One Man's Family </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1932 </Td> <Td> 1959 </Td> <Td> Carlton E. Morse </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Our Gal Sunday </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1936 </Td> <Td> 1959 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Painted Dreams </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td> 1943 </Td> <Td> Irna Phillips </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Pepper Young's Family </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1932 </Td> <Td> 1959 </Td> <Td> Elaine Sterne Carrington </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Perry Mason </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1943 </Td> <Td> 1955 </Td> <Td> Erle Stanley Gardner </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Portia Faces Life </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1940 </Td> <Td> 1952 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Pretty Kitty Kelly </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1937 </Td> <Td> 1940 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Right to Happiness </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1939 </Td> <Td> 1960 </Td> <Td> Irna Phillips </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Road of Life </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1937 </Td> <Td> 1959 </Td> <Td> Irna Phillips </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Romance of Helen Trent </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1933 </Td> <Td> 1960 </Td> <Td> Frank and Anne Hummert </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rosemary </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1944 </Td> <Td> 1955 </Td> <Td> Elaine Sterne Carrington </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Second Mrs. Burton </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1946 </Td> <Td> 1960 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Silver Street </Td> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Staying Well in Camberwell </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 2011 </Td> <Td> 2011 </Td> <Td> Cheryl L. Davis </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Stella Dallas </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1937 </Td> <Td> 1955 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Story of Mary Marlin </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1935 </Td> <Td> 1952 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Strange Romance of Evelyn Winters </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1944 </Td> <Td> 1952 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> This is Nora Drake </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1947 </Td> <Td> 1959 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Today's Children </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1933 </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> Irna Phillips </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Today's Children (second series) </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1943 </Td> <Td> 1950 </Td> <Td> Irna Phillips (Dialogue by Virginia Cooke) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Valiant Lady </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> 1952 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Waggoners' Walk </Td> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> 1969 </Td> <Td> 1980 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> We Love and Learn </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1942 </Td> <Td> 1956 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Wendy Warren and the News </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1947 </Td> <Td> 1958 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Westway </Td> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2005 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> When a Girl Marries </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1939 </Td> <Td> 1957 </Td> <Td> Elaine Sterne Carrington </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Woman in My House </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1951 </Td> <Td> 1959 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Woman in White </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> 1948 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> A Woman of America </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1943 </Td> <Td> 1945 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> You Me Now </Td> <Td> New Zealand </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2012 </Td> <Td> Radio New Zealand and All The Way Home Productions </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Young Doctor Malone </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1939 </Td> <Td> 1960 </Td> <Td> Irna Phillips </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Young Widder Brown </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> 1956 </Td> <Td> Frank Hummert and Anne Hummert </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Your Family and Mine </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> 1940 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Show </Th> <Th> Region / country </Th> <Th> Began </Th> <Th> Ended </Th> <Th> Creator </Th> <Th> Ref . </Th> </Tr>

What was the first soap opera on radio