Clara, Lu, 'n Em is a radio soap opera, which first aired on June 16, 1930, over WGN-AMChicago, Illinois.[1] The show was picked up by the NBC Blue radio network and premiered at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time on January 27, 1931. Thus, it became the first nationally broadcast radio soap opera.[1] When Clara, Lu 'n Em was moved to a regular daytime time slot on February 15, 1932, it became the first networked daytime soap opera.[1]
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The first daytime serial drama-by-installment program, network or otherwise, is widely considered by scholars of the genre to be Painted Dreams, when it premiered in October 1930.[2][3]
Clara, Lu, 'n Em continued in various forms through the 1930s and early 1940s on the NBC Blue Network and CBS, finally airing as a syndicated series in 1945.[4]
The series began as a Northwestern University sorority sketch by Louise Starkey (Clara), Isobel Carothers (Lu) and Helen King (Em). Rejection by several radio executives in Chicago led the trio to WGN. Program manager Henry Selinger was skeptical of their working without scripts, but their audition convinced him to let them perform without pay. They eventually began writing their own scripts and receiving pay.[5] Super Suds was a sponsor of the program as early as August 1930.[6]
NBCedit
As interest grew, they were sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive and were heard evenings on the NBC Blue Network from January 27, 1931, to February 12, 1932, before moving to weekdays from February 15, 1932, to March 23, 1934. From March 26, 1934, to January 10, 1936, they ran on the NBC (Red) network.[citation needed] On June 26, 1936, they returned to the NBC Blue Network, doing a weekly evening series, with music by Ted Fio Rito. The 30-minute program was sponsored by Frigidaire dealers.[7]
Characters and hiatusedit
Story lines centered on three women who lived in a small-town duplex. Clara Roach and her family lived on one side of the duplex, Emma Krueger lived with her family on the other side. Widow Lulu Casey lived upstairs with her daughter Florabelle. When Carothers suddenly died January 8, 1937, at age 32, Starkey and King decided not to continue.[8]
Return on CBSedit
When the program returned with Starkey and King in 1942 on CBS, another of their Northwestern University friends, Harriet Allyn, portrayed Lu. The show ran three times a week during the daytime.
Syndicated versionedit
In 1945 a syndicated version of the show had a brief run. Allyn continued in the cast as Em, along with Fran Allison as Clara and Dorothy Day as Lu.[4]
See alsoedit
Referencesedit
^ abcCox, Jim (2005-11-15). "Clara, Lu,'n Em". Historical Dictionary of American Radio Soap Operas. Scarecrow Press. p. 59. ISBN978-0-8108-6523-5.
^Cox, Jim (2005-11-15). "Painted Dreams". Historical Dictionary of American Radio Soap Operas. Scarecrow Press. p. 171. ISBN978-0-8108-6523-5.
^Cox, Jim (2003). Frank and Anne Hummert's radio factory: the programs and personalities of broadcasting's most prolific producers. McFarland. ISBN978-0786416318.
^ abDunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 112–113. ISBN978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
^Ray, William (April 21, 1935). "Fate and Gossip Made Them a Fortune". Detroit Free Press. Michigan, Detroit. p. 72. Retrieved November 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^"WGN (August 29, 1930)". Chicago Tribune. 1930-08-29. p. 14. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
^"Clara, Lu 'N' Em Start New Series On NBC-WFBC Tonight". The Greenville News. South Carolina, Greenville. June 26, 1936. p. 20. Retrieved November 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^Thompson, Edgar A. (August 1, 1941). "Riding the Airwaves". The Milwaukee Journal. p. 2. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
Listen toedit
Clara, Lu, and Em 1930 audition show
April 15, 2024
clara, radio, soap, opera, which, first, aired, june, 1930, over, chicago, illinois, show, picked, blue, radio, network, premiered, eastern, time, january, 1931, thus, became, first, nationally, broadcast, radio, soap, opera, when, clara, moved, regular, dayti. Clara Lu n Em is a radio soap opera which first aired on June 16 1930 over WGN AM Chicago Illinois 1 The show was picked up by the NBC Blue radio network and premiered at 10 30 p m Eastern Time on January 27 1931 Thus it became the first nationally broadcast radio soap opera 1 When Clara Lu n Em was moved to a regular daytime time slot on February 15 1932 it became the first networked daytime soap opera 1 Advertisement for Clara Lu and EmThe first daytime serial drama by installment program network or otherwise is widely considered by scholars of the genre to be Painted Dreams when it premiered in October 1930 2 3 Clara Lu n Em continued in various forms through the 1930s and early 1940s on the NBC Blue Network and CBS finally airing as a syndicated series in 1945 4 Contents 1 Background 2 NBC 3 Characters and hiatus 4 Return on CBS 5 Syndicated version 6 See also 7 References 8 Listen toBackground editThe series began as a Northwestern University sorority sketch by Louise Starkey Clara Isobel Carothers Lu and Helen King Em Rejection by several radio executives in Chicago led the trio to WGN Program manager Henry Selinger was skeptical of their working without scripts but their audition convinced him to let them perform without pay They eventually began writing their own scripts and receiving pay 5 Super Suds was a sponsor of the program as early as August 1930 6 NBC editAs interest grew they were sponsored by Colgate Palmolive and were heard evenings on the NBC Blue Network from January 27 1931 to February 12 1932 before moving to weekdays from February 15 1932 to March 23 1934 From March 26 1934 to January 10 1936 they ran on the NBC Red network citation needed On June 26 1936 they returned to the NBC Blue Network doing a weekly evening series with music by Ted Fio Rito The 30 minute program was sponsored by Frigidaire dealers 7 Characters and hiatus editStory lines centered on three women who lived in a small town duplex Clara Roach and her family lived on one side of the duplex Emma Krueger lived with her family on the other side Widow Lulu Casey lived upstairs with her daughter Florabelle When Carothers suddenly died January 8 1937 at age 32 Starkey and King decided not to continue 8 Return on CBS editWhen the program returned with Starkey and King in 1942 on CBS another of their Northwestern University friends Harriet Allyn portrayed Lu The show ran three times a week during the daytime Syndicated version editIn 1945 a syndicated version of the show had a brief run Allyn continued in the cast as Em along with Fran Allison as Clara and Dorothy Day as Lu 4 See also editNorthwestern University LibraryReferences edit a b c Cox Jim 2005 11 15 Clara Lu n Em Historical Dictionary of American Radio Soap Operas Scarecrow Press p 59 ISBN 978 0 8108 6523 5 Cox Jim 2005 11 15 Painted Dreams Historical Dictionary of American Radio Soap Operas Scarecrow Press p 171 ISBN 978 0 8108 6523 5 Cox Jim 2003 Frank and Anne Hummert s radio factory the programs and personalities of broadcasting s most prolific producers McFarland ISBN 978 0786416318 a b Dunning John 1998 On the Air The Encyclopedia of Old Time Radio Revised ed New York NY Oxford University Press pp 112 113 ISBN 978 0 19 507678 3 Retrieved 2019 02 07 Ray William April 21 1935 Fate and Gossip Made Them a Fortune Detroit Free Press Michigan Detroit p 72 Retrieved November 2 2019 via Newspapers com WGN August 29 1930 Chicago Tribune 1930 08 29 p 14 Retrieved 2020 10 10 Clara Lu N Em Start New Series On NBC WFBC Tonight The Greenville News South Carolina Greenville June 26 1936 p 20 Retrieved November 2 2019 via Newspapers com Thompson Edgar A August 1 1941 Riding the Airwaves The Milwaukee Journal p 2 Retrieved 7 April 2015 Listen to editClara Lu and Em 1930 audition show Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Clara Lu 27n Em amp oldid 1212004490, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
