Sept. 18, 2009 was the final airing of the longest running soap opera on daytime television; 'Guiding Light' ended after 72 years.
Debuting on NBC as a radio show in 1937, the 15-minute serial was produced by household cleaning products giant Proctor and Gamble. It morphed into a television show in 1952. By 1968, 'Light' expanded to 30 minutes and, in 1977, went to the hour format.
Several notable actors got their start on the show including Ruby Dee, Billy Dee Williams and Kevin Bacon. Nia Long played the role Kathryn 'Ka' and Speakes from 1991 to 1994, and Taye Diggs who played Adrian 'Sugar' Hill on a recurring basis in 1997 shortly after originating the role of the nasty landlord Benny in Jonathan Larson's Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning 'Rent.'
While some Blacks weren't given a bigger storyline than others in the past, most of the soaps today have them at the front and center of explosive stories, from the return of Jesse (Darnell Williams) and Angie (Debbie Morgan) on 'All My Children,' to the ongoing saga involving the Winters family (Kristoff St. John, Bryton McClure) on 'The Young and the Restless.'
There have been scores of others who graced the soap opera scene through the past 40 years. Below we take a look at Black Soap Opera Stars: Through The Years.
Believe it or not, soap operas can be a good breeding ground for some of the greatest actors in Hollywood. From Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman to three-time Emmy Award winning thespian Cicely Tyson, many great black actors have cut their teeth on daytime dramas. While Shemar Moore, Victoria Rowell, Tichina Arnold, Tonya Pinkins, Debbi Morgan and Vivica A. Fox were beloved characters on popular serials, they've done well beyond them. Check them out.
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Comments: (7)
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By: BETTYEJ on 9/22/2009 5:48PM
I have watched the soaps for years and most of them have been on CBS. The Young and Restless and the Bold and Beautiful and As The World Turn and the Guilding Light which stop airing this past Friday.
Yes, many of these soaps on all the channels have had many people of color true enough, but very few have had any black writers to really given justice to the many layers to our race and the same apply to Asians/Spanish or any other race that is not white.
What is truly sad is the fact with time, the writing has gotten worst and now you only see a few token minorities on any of the soaps.
Once upon a time, The Young and Restless when the creator/writer, William Bell was behind the wheels, The Winter family were a core black family that most of us black people could relate to. When we saw someone that looked like us and are going thru some of the same things we experience in our daily life, we can relate.
The day William Bell hired Victoria Rowell's, he struck gold. I had the pleasure to meet this very beautiful and gifted actress/dancer and author, here in Savannah, Georgia. To finally meet one of my favorite character in person was a honor. Throughout the years she has enriched my life with so much joy at being able to see a strong black women love her family and husband and go thru life's ups and downs and not let it keep her down.
She made Drucilla Barber/Winters come alive. She often used her own clothes and had to style her hair on many occasions. William Bell often respected her opinion on how the character should act. She brought so many valuable ideals to the show that was used. There is so much more that I could say, but I will end it with this.
All the soaps ought to be yank off the air. In the past they had writers that wrote good scripts that anyone could relate to regardless of race.
I can only speak for the soaps on CBS. When you destroy families and kill babies just for rating, and use sex and gay storylines and cancer just for the sake of rating, then it's time to say goodbye.
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By: rubric on 9/22/2009 7:28PM
All that Ms.BETTYJ!
But as for me, a male having been raised by a single mother who was addicted to the soap operas for some 50 years?, wasting her life away like a junkie on heroin.
From noon to three-thirty p.m.,her attention could not be divided. And then, we had to deal with the side effects. Her squawking to anyone who would listen or wanted the latest "lowdown" on any given episode.Somehow, she could/would not involve herself with our education as she should.
As for us the children, we were left to our own devices, grasping at various realities, attempting to live a normal, productive existence the best we could.
So,I'm convinced the soaps robs mothers and children of precious life and aspirations.A total waste of time.The truth is not taught in schools, you won't get it on the boob-tube either!You have to find out for yourself.
Especially if the lady the programs target have young impressionable children.It deprives them of mothers who already lack parental skills, and growth and development.
Better entertainment/education is sorely needed!
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By: queenofcrafting on 9/22/2009 8:52PM
What ever happened to "Generations"? That was the greatest!!
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By: BETTYEJ on 9/22/2009 9:54PM
Queen, well said! It took me a long time to get off the Television Merry-go-round of family destruction. I think it has cause more harm to our country then any war has ever done.
We let people into our homes that have no respect for us or our children. Flip the switch and on any given station you will find most of them with nothing that can educates or help our children in any form or fashion. School is treated like a joke and families are broken and marriage is mean less.
We are too lazy to get away from the football games or Desperate Housewife's and the rest of the garbage to study and help our children with their home work. Between the cell phones and the computers and other man made devices, we have become dumb down and lazy to even think a clear thought for our self.
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By: Anna M. Jones on 11/22/2009 6:34PM
In the 50's, there was a soap opera, titled "Search for Tomorrow." An actor named Joe Morton had a recurring roll on it. I think he plated a doctor. Of course at that time it was a big thing to see blacks on TV in any capacity. Was he the first black actor a on soap opera?
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By: time after timet on 9/26/2009 4:22PM
Top 5 African American actresses in daytime of all time:
http://timeaftertimeonlinedrama.webs.com/apps/blog/show/1614067-top-5-african-american-actresses-in-daytime-of-all-time
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By: time after time on 9/26/2009 4:35PM
The longest running African American character in daytime has been James Reynolds (Abe, Days Of Our Lives) not Kristoff Saint John. Reynolds plays Abe Carver on the soap opera Days of our Lives. He was a regular from 1981 to 2003, and has returned since his "death" in 2004.
After serving as stalwart police Commander Abe Carver on Days of our Lives for nine years, Reynolds moved to the new series, Generations in 1991 to play powerful business tycoon Henry Marshall, replacing actor Taurean Blacque in the role. He was rewarded for his powerful portrayal with an Emmy nomination as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. With the subsequent demise of that series, Reynolds was invited to return to Days where he was promoted in rank to Commander and named the top law enforcement official in Salem, the mythical community which is home to Days. Reynolds has subsequently established Abe Carver as the longest running African-American character in television history, and Reynolds, of course, is the only African-American actor to portray a single character for so many years.
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