''Stella Dallas'' was an American radio

soap opera A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term ''soap opera'' originat ...

that ran from October 25, 1937, to December 23, 1955. ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' described the title character as "the beautiful daughter of an impoverished farmhand who had married above her station in life." The series was created and produced by the husband and wife team of Frank and

Anne Hummert Anne Hummert (née Schumacher) (January 19, 1905 – July 5, 1996) was the leading co-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 Balt ...

, based on the 1923 novel '' Stella Dallas'' by

Olive Higgins Prouty Olive Higgins Prouty (January 10, 1882 – March 24, 1974) was an American novelist and poet, best known for her 1923 novel ''Stella Dallas (novel), Stella Dallas'' and her pioneering consideration of psychotherapy in her 1941 novel ''Now, Voyag ...

. The 15-minute drama began on October 25, 1937, as a local show on WEAF in New York City, in the wake of the successful movie version starring

Barbara Stanwyck Barbara Stanwyck (; born Ruby Catherine Stevens; July 16, 1907 – January 20, 1990) was an American actress and dancer. A stage, film, and television star, during her 60-year professional career, she was known for her strong, realistic screen p ...

, and it was picked up by the

NBC Radio The National Broadcasting Company's NBC Radio Network (also known as the NBC Red Network from 1927 to 1942) was an American commercial radio network which was in continuous operation from 1926 through 1999. Along with the NBC Blue Network, it wa ...

network beginning June 6, 1938, running weekday afternoons. Stella was played for the entire run of the series by

Anne Elstner Anne Elstner Matthews (January 22, 1899 – January 29, 1981) was an American actress best known for her role in the radio soap opera '' Stella Dallas'' during its entire run from 1937 to 1955. For 18 years, Elstner voiced the serial's title char ...

. Her husband Stephen Dallas was portrayed at various times by Leo McCabe, Arthur Hughes and Frederick Tazere. Initially, Joy Hathaway played Stella's daughter Laurel with Vivian Smolen later taking over the role. Laurel's husband was Dick Grosvenor (played by

Carleton Young Captain Carleton Scott Young (October 21, 1905 – November 7, 1994) was an American character actor who was known for his deep voice. Early years Young wasborn in Fulton, Oswego County, New York, the second and only surviving child ...

Macdonald Carey Edward Macdonald Carey (March 15, 1913 – March 21, 1994) was an American actor, best known for his role as the patriarch Dr. Tom Horton on NBC's soap opera '' Days of Our Lives''. For almost three decades, he was the show's central cast membe ...

, Spencer Bentley, George Lambert and Michael Fitzmaurice). The program's opening told the premise of the drama: :We give you now ''Stella Dallas'', a continuation on the air of the true-to-life story of mother love and sacrifice, in which Stella Dallas saw her own beloved daughter, Laurel, marry into wealth and society and, realizing the differences in their tastes and worlds, went out of Laurel's life.Luther F. Sies, ''Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920–1960'', McFarland & Company, 2000, p. 554. . The radio play inspired the name of the home furnishing store Stella Dallas in Dallas, Texas.

Non-acting personnel

Announcers for ''Stella Dallas'' were

Ford Bond David Ford Bond (October 23, 1904 – August 15, 1962) was an American radio personality. He was the announcer for several popular radio shows in the 1930s and 1940s, earning him a spot on the '' This Is Your Life'' television show. For his wo ...

Frank Gallop Frank Gallop (June 30, 1900 – May 17, 1988) was an American radio and television personality who was born in Boston, Massachusetts and died in Palm Beach, Florida. Radio Early days Frank Gallop went into broadcasting by chance. Born and r ...

Howard Claney Howard Moorhead Claney (April 17, 1898 - April 30, 1980) was an American actor, an announcer on old-time radio, and a narrator of films. Early years The son of William J. Claney and Mary J. Claney, he was born in the Manchester neighborhood of ...

, Jimmy Wallington, Jack Costello, and Roger Krupp. Directors included Ernest Ricca, Richard Leonard, and Norman Sweetser.

References

External links

*
Hummerts' Mill
, ''Time'', January 23, 1939. {{US radio soaps American radio dramas American radio soap operas NBC radio programs

Non-acting personnel

See also

References

External links