Since its inception in the 1930s, the enduring presence of the beloved soap opera has been a mainstay in American culture. But why are they referred to as soap operas?
Discover the interesting history behind this television genre and why it has deservedly earned the nickname “soap” opera. Furthermore, explore what it is about soap operas that has made them so long-lasting and popular around the world.
Why is it called soap opera?
It is commonly understood that soap operas were named after the main sponsors of the programs in the past, which were usually soap manufacturers. They used the daytime slot to provide a platform to promote their products, thus naming the shows.This is not the entire story, however. The term “soap opera” was first used in the United States in the 1930s to refer to radio shows sponsored by the makers of laundry soaps.
The origin of the term is attributed to writer and broadcaster, Pearce Goldberg. He is said to have coined the term from the sponsor’s advertisements where suds from laundry soap were used to illustrate the effectiveness of the product. These ads were often referred to as “soap operas.
“The other popular explanation of the term is that it was a play on the term “horse opera. ” This phrase was used to refer to low-budget western films in the same way “soap operas” came to refer to the low-budget melodramatic shows on the radio.
The association between the two continued with TV soap operas beginning in the 1950s. By the 1970s, the term “soap opera” was well-established to refer to the wildly popular daytime serials with sensational storylines that had taken the nation by storm.
The term has stuck around ever since and is recognized as a popular reference to the style of drama that has been broadcasted since the 1930s.
Conclusion
Soap operas were named after the main sponsors of the programs in the past, often being soap manufacturers, but the term was first used in the 1930s by radio writer and broadcaster, Pearce Goldberg. The term was also a play on the term “horse opera”, used to refer to low-budget western films.The term became commonly used to refer to the wildly popular daytime serials with sensational storylines by the 1970s, and is still recognized today. Citations: https://www. thebalancesmb. com/history-of-soap-operas-4099509https://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Soap_opera_history