| The A to Z of American Radio Soap Operas Contributor(s): Cox, Jim (Author) |
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ISBN: 0810868334 ISBN-13: 9780810868335 Publisher: Scarecrow Press OUR PRICE: $54.45 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: July 2009 Annotation: The dictionary section, made up of more than 500 cross-referenced entries, provides brief vignettes of the more popular and also less well-known soaps, among them Back Stage Wife, Our Gal Sunday, Pepper Young's Family and The Guiding Light. Other entries evoke those who brought these programs to life the actors, announcers, scriptwriters, networks, and even the sponsors. Nor are the basic themes, the stock characters and the gimmick, forgotten. The book's introduction defines the soap opera, examines the span of the radio serial, reviews its origins and its demise, and |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Performing Arts | Radio - Reference |
| Dewey: 791.447 |
| Series: A to Z Guides |
| Physical Information: 0.9" H x 5.4" W x 8.4" (0.95 lbs) 322 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: The period from 1925 to 1960 was the heyday of the American Radio Soap Opera. In addition to being part of popular culture, the soap opera had important commercial aspects as well that were not only related to their production, but also to the desperate need to sell products or perish. Both sides of this story are traced in this comprehensive compendium. The dictionary section, made up of more than 500 cross-referenced entries, provides brief vignettes of the more popular and also less well-known "soaps," among them Back Stage Wife, Our Gal Sunday, Pepper Young's Family and The Guiding Light. Other entries evoke those who brought these programs to life: the actors, announcers, scriptwriters, networks, and even the sponsors. Nor are the basic themes, the stock characters and the gimmick, forgotten. The book's introduction defines the soap opera, examines the span of the radio serial, reviews its origins and its demise, and focuses on the character types that made up its denizens. The chronology outlines the period and the bibliography offers further reading. Together, these elements make a comprehensive reference work that researchers will find invaluable long into the future. |