''The Romance of Helen Trent'' was a radio

soap opera A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio drama ...

which aired on

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

from October 30, 1933 to June 24, 1960 for a total of 7,222 episodes. The show was created by Frank and

Anne Hummert Anne Hummert (née Schumacher) (January 19, 1905 – July 5, 1996) was the leading creator of daytime radio serials or soap opera dramas during the 1930s and 1940s, responsible for more than three dozen series. Biography She was born in Baltimore ...

, who were among the most prolific producers during the radio soap era. The program opened with: :And now, ''The Romance of Helen Trent'', the real-life drama of Helen Trent, who, when life mocks her, breaks her hopes, dashes her against the rocks of despair, fights back bravely, successfully, to prove what so many women long to prove, that because a woman is 35 or more, romance in life need not be over, that romance can begin at 35.

Characters and story

The storyline revolved around a 35-year-old dressmaker who fascinates men as she works her way up to become the chief Hollywood costumer designer. Helen was played by three different actresses (Virginia Clark,

Betty Ruth Smith Betty Ruth Smith (May 25, 1915 – February 1, 2008) was an American actress best known for her work in old-time radio. Early years The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sloan H. Smith and a native of Wichita, Kansas, Smith began taking drama lessons when ...

and Julie Stevens).Terrace, Vincent (1999). ''Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 289. Virginia Clark did the role for 11 years, and Julie Stevens portrayed Helen for 16 years. Stevens, who had recently finished playing the title role on the radio soap '' Kitty Foyle'', was only 22 when she joined the cast. She continued in the role from 1944 to the show's cancellation in 1960. Stevens was married to a US Steel executive Charles Underhill, and while portraying Helen Trent during 1951–52, she made her television debut as the female lead of Lorelei Kilbourne on the ''

Big Town ''Big Town'' is a popular long-running radio drama featuring a corruption-fighting newspaper editor initially played from 1937 to 1942 by Edward G. Robinson in his first radio role, with echoes of the conscience-stricken tabloid editor he had ...

'' television series. Stevens said she saw Helen as being similar to

Edith Head Edith Head (October 28, 1897 – October 24, 1981) was an American costume designer who won a record eight Academy Awards for Best Costume Design between 1949 and 1973, making her the most awarded woman in the Academy's history. Head is cons ...

. Stevens felt her character was boring and remembered the director allowed the actors to "fall around and scream with laughter during rehearsals. We had to keep our sanity. By air time we had gotten it all out of our systems and could be dead serious about the story." During the 7,222 episodes (more than any other radio soap), Helen never married, and she always remained at the age of 35. However, she had a long-running beau, Gil Whitney. An unusual incident occurred during a 1948 broadcast, as documented in ''Tune in Tomorrow'' (1968), the memoir by

Mary Jane Higby Mary Jane Higby (May 29, 1909 - February 1, 1986)DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 129. was an American actress in the era of old- ...

, who portrayed Cynthia Carter on the program. As Gil attempted to convince Helen of his love for her, Helen again demurred and hesitated. Suddenly, a voice came over the airwaves, saying, "Ah, for chrissakes, lay the dame and get it over with!" As crew members tried to locate the voice inside the studio, the man proceeded to give sexually graphic examples of what Gil should do with Helen. In spite of the shock, there were few protests from listeners. During one of the opening scenes of the 1956 film '' The Catered Affair'', which filmed in the fall of 1955, an episode of the show is playing on the radio as Tom Hurley arrives home from his night job as a taxi driver.

References

Listen to

*[http://www.aladin.wrlc.org/gsdl/cgi-bin/library?e=d-01000-00---off-0hickman--00-1--0-10-0---0---0prompt-10---4-------0-1l--11-en-600---20-home---01-3-1-00-0-0-11-0-0utfZz-8-00&a=d&cl=CL1.3 John R. Hickman Collection: ''The Romance of Helen Trent'']

External links

*'
Short story based on ''The Romance of Helen Trent'', ''Radio and Television Mirror'', April 1940, page 12
{{DEFAULTSORT:Romance Of Helen Trent American radio soap operas 1930s American radio programs 1940s American radio programs 1950s American radio programs 1960s American radio programs CBS Radio programs 1933 radio programme debuts 1960 radio programme endings

Characters and story

See also

Further reading

References

Listen to

External links