Painted Dreams is an American radio soap opera that premiered on WGN radio, Chicago, on October 20, 1930[1] and last aired in July 1943. It is widely considered by scholars of the genre to be the first daytime soap opera or drama-by-installment serial.[2][1] The first to be broadcast in daytime over a radio network would be Clara, Lu 'n Em, two years later.
In 1930 radio station WGN asked Irna Phillips, who worked for them as an actress, to create a 15-minute daily show "about a family," to air during the day. Painted Dreams was the result.
Phillips wrote and acted in the show until 1932 when she asked WGN to sell the show to a national broadcaster. When they refused, Phillips sued, claiming the show was her property. The dispute was finally settled in 1938, and the show was acquired by CBS. Meanwhile, Phillips had left WGN in 1932, creating Today's Children for rival station WMAQ with virtually the same plot premises and characters.
Phillips' storyline followed the relationship of Irish-American widow Mother Moynihan and her unmarried daughter. Listeners in 1931 heard this dialogue in episode 25:
(Kitchen: Irene and Sue arguing. Mrs. Moynihan preparing breakfast.)
IRENE: I tell you, Sue, it won’t work. I’ve never worn that shade of orchid in all my life. I’d look like a perfect washout. Besides, that’s your very best special occasion dress. I wouldn’t think of taking it.
SUE: Don’t be silly. A wedding is a special occasion, isn’t it? And as long as I won’t need to wear it, you might just as well. If you’re a bridesmaid, you’ve got to look the part, kid.
IRENE: But I don’t look good in that color. I’d look faded or something.
SUE: Cracked ice! You can’t tell. You’ve never had it on. Gee, with gold slippers and a gold turban hat, you’d be a wow! Wouldn’t she, Mrs. Moynihan?
MRS.: Won't you be wearing it, Sue?
SUE: Why no; there's no reasons for my dressing up. I'm not in the wedding party. And I think that it would be just right for Irene, if there were a few tucks taken in around the waist. Anyway, it would save her from buying a dress.
IRENE: Well, who says I don't want to buy a dress? It's about time I was getting a new formal, anyhow. I haven't got a rag that's fit to be seen.[3]
Phillips occasionally played the lead of Mother Moynihan, as did Bess Flynn, who was a member of the show's writing team. Flynn, born August 18, 1899, in Tama, Iowa, went on to script three other soap operas: We, the Abbotts, Bachelor's Children and Martha Webster (originally titled Life Begins). In addition to performing the title role on Martha Webster, she also portrayed the annoying maid Tilda on The Gumps.
^ abCox, Jim (2003). Frank and Anne Hummert's radio factory: the programs and personalities of broadcasting's most prolific producers. McFarland. ISBN978-0786416318.
^Cox, Jim (2005-11-15). Historical Dictionary of American Radio Soap Operas. Scarecrow Press. ISBN978-0-8108-6523-5.
^Allen, Robert C. Speaking of Soap Operas. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press, 1985. (Wisconsin Historical Society: Irna Phillips Collection.) ISBN0-8078-4129-3
External linksedit
The Paley Center for Media: Irna Phillips
April 10, 2024
painted, dreams, american, radio, soap, opera, that, premiered, radio, chicago, october, 1930, last, aired, july, 1943, widely, considered, scholars, genre, first, daytime, soap, opera, drama, installment, serial, first, broadcast, daytime, over, radio, networ. Painted Dreams is an American radio soap opera that premiered on WGN radio Chicago on October 20 1930 1 and last aired in July 1943 It is widely considered by scholars of the genre to be the first daytime soap opera or drama by installment serial 2 1 The first to be broadcast in daytime over a radio network would be Clara Lu n Em two years later Painted DreamsGenreSoap operaCountry of originUnited StatesLanguage s EnglishHome stationWGNStarringIrna PhillipsCreated byIrna PhillipsWritten byIrna PhillipsOriginal release1930 1943Audio formatMonoIrna Phillips creator of Painted DreamsIn 1930 radio station WGN asked Irna Phillips who worked for them as an actress to create a 15 minute daily show about a family to air during the day Painted Dreams was the result Phillips wrote and acted in the show until 1932 when she asked WGN to sell the show to a national broadcaster When they refused Phillips sued claiming the show was her property The dispute was finally settled in 1938 and the show was acquired by CBS Meanwhile Phillips had left WGN in 1932 creating Today s Children for rival station WMAQ with virtually the same plot premises and characters Contents 1 Plot 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksPlot editPhillips storyline followed the relationship of Irish American widow Mother Moynihan and her unmarried daughter Listeners in 1931 heard this dialogue in episode 25 Kitchen Irene and Sue arguing Mrs Moynihan preparing breakfast IRENE I tell you Sue it won t work I ve never worn that shade of orchid in all my life I d look like a perfect washout Besides that s your very best special occasion dress I wouldn t think of taking it SUE Don t be silly A wedding is a special occasion isn t it And as long as I won t need to wear it you might just as well If you re a bridesmaid you ve got to look the part kid IRENE But I don t look good in that color I d look faded or something SUE Cracked ice You can t tell You ve never had it on Gee with gold slippers and a gold turban hat you d be a wow Wouldn t she Mrs Moynihan MRS Won t you be wearing it Sue SUE Why no there s no reasons for my dressing up I m not in the wedding party And I think that it would be just right for Irene if there were a few tucks taken in around the waist Anyway it would save her from buying a dress IRENE Well who says I don t want to buy a dress It s about time I was getting a new formal anyhow I haven t got a rag that s fit to be seen 3 Phillips occasionally played the lead of Mother Moynihan as did Bess Flynn who was a member of the show s writing team Flynn born August 18 1899 in Tama Iowa went on to script three other soap operas We the Abbotts Bachelor s Children and Martha Webster originally titled Life Begins In addition to performing the title role on Martha Webster she also portrayed the annoying maid Tilda on The Gumps See also editList of radio soapsReferences edit a b Cox Jim 2003 Frank and Anne Hummert s radio factory the programs and personalities of broadcasting s most prolific producers McFarland ISBN 978 0786416318 Cox Jim 2005 11 15 Historical Dictionary of American Radio Soap Operas Scarecrow Press ISBN 978 0 8108 6523 5 Allen Robert C Speaking of Soap Operas Chapel Hill North Carolina University of North Carolina Press 1985 Wisconsin Historical Society Irna Phillips Collection ISBN 0 8078 4129 3External links editThe Paley Center for Media Irna Phillips Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Painted Dreams amp oldid 1171188675, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
