Old Radio

January 27, 1931: Through NBC's Blue Network, listeners were introduced to Clara, Lu 'n' Em . It started on a nighttime slot but later on moved to its daytime slot, thus making it the first daytime network radio serial. Clara, Lu, and Em was the first radio soap opera on radio network. It aired beginning June 16, 1930 over WGN-AM Chicago, Illinois an lasted until 1930s. Then in early 1940s was broadcast on the NBC Blue Network and CBS, finally airing as a syndicated series in 1945.The program became the first network daytime radio serial when it was moved from its original evening time slot to days. The drama series was about Northwestern University's students,  Clara (Louise Starkey), Lu  (Isobel Carothers) and Em  (Helen King). Their friends suggested they go on the radio, so the trio approached WGN and did their first shows for no pay.

  January 25, 1937: For the first time The Guiding Light was broadcast on NBC. Sponsored by the Proctor and Gamble, Irma Phillips'  The Guiding Light   was the longest-running radio soap opera of all time. It started as a 15-minute radio show from 1937 to 1947, and was then adopted as television drama in 1956. For some time, it was simultaneously heard on radio and watched on television. The television series lasted up to 2009. The story was said to be based on Phillips' life experiences.  When she was aged 19, she gave birth to unfortunately a still-born baby, after which she found comfort by listening to the sermons of a preacher named Preston Bradley. Those sermons formed the basis of " The Guiding Light  ," which she created 27 years later. She also published them through her best selling book. The " Right to Happiness " was a spin-off series generated from " The Guiding Light  ."