2006-11-19 10:12:02 · 15 answers · asked by beccyf 1 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Television
The term "soap opera" originated from the fact that when these serial dramas were aired on daytime radio, the commercials aired during the shows were largely aimed at housewives. Many of the products sold during these commercials were laundry and cleaning items, and included a jingle praising the product. This specific type of radio drama came to be associated with these particular commercials, and this gave rise to the term "soap opera" — a melodramatic story that aired commercials for soap products. Though soap operas are still sponsored by companies such as Procter & Gamble, the diverse demographic groups that soap operas attract have caused other advertisements for such things as acne medication and birth control, appealing to a much younger audience, as well as to mothers, evidenced by commercials for toys in the baby and toddler age range.
2006-11-19 10:15:01 · answer #1 · answered by )o( 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because soap powder manufacturer sponsored a popular serial drama in 1933. By 1939 the press started calling the shows "soap operas" because so many were sponsored by soap manufacturers.
2006-11-19 10:30:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Daytime dramas are called Soap Operas because they were originally used to advertise soap powder. In America in the early days of TV, advertisers would write stories around the use of their soap powder.
2006-11-19 10:15:14 · answer #3 · answered by Flippin _Greek 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess it's so because people watch them while doing the washing up with their hands full of soap. And opera must be an ironic way of calling that type of artistic genre (opera is for the high-class people, while a serie is the opera of the middle-low class). Just guessing.
2006-11-19 10:20:30 · answer #4 · answered by Eugenio H 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
silverbird is correct.
When first shown in the USA, nobody would take them seriously and refused to sponsor them. But Soap manufacturers thought they would appeal to the housewife and decided to take a risk and sponsor them.
Hence the name Soap Operas!
2006-11-19 10:17:35 · answer #5 · answered by Welshchick 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the first day time dramas of the type were sponsored by Soap Companies who advertised in the breaks!
2006-11-19 10:15:23 · answer #6 · answered by willowGSD 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Once upon a time soap companies sponsored the shows.
2006-11-19 11:19:05 · answer #7 · answered by Carole 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because years ago in America, where they first started, Soap manufacturers used to sponsor them.
2006-11-19 11:31:20 · answer #8 · answered by jaggyjones 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because after watching any of them washing your mouth out with soap seems like a very good idea to remove the bad taste they leave
2006-11-19 23:37:49 · answer #9 · answered by F'Lar 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's because those shows used to be sponsored by soap companies.
2006-11-19 10:21:30 · answer #10 · answered by *shine* 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋