Why is it really called a SOAP OPERA?!
Question: I can understand the opera part- as it would tell a story but why soap?
Answers: I can understand the opera part- as it would tell a story but why soap?
Those shows had big soap advertisers for all kind of soap, mainly because they thought the people watching them would be housewives.
Then when they put on the adds, people would see them and possibly buy the product.
Arpeggionist
Soap operas were traditionally considered to be daytime programming, geared at an audience made up mostly of women who were stuck in the house while their husbands were out working. During the shows the commercials - also geared at the women - were mostly for cooking and cleaning supplies, with soaps and detergents the most popular items for advertising. Hence "soap opera" is so called because of what the commercial breaks were like.
Mar 06 06, 1:35 PM
kaylofgorons
I remember hearing that it started with radio programs, daytime programming as Arpeggionist said, that were sponsered by soap companies for publicity.
(Compare this to the popular Christmas film in which Ralphie's cowboy serial was sponsered by Ovaltine.)
The trend probably continued through to televisions.
Mar 06 06, 2:57 PM
xfacilitatorx
Definately because of sponsorship.
Mar 06 06, 3:21 PM
ElDoradoRiches
from soap commercials
Mar 06 06, 4:09 PM
lindarandell
Originally in the break the adverts which were aimed at housewive would mostly be for washing powder or soap powder, because of this the programmes were then nickname soaps.
Mar 22 06, 8:18 AM
opinions from http://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question6...
BDPF (see reference) supports the existing answers relating to daytime advertising of soap etc.
Soap Opera is everything that is against God. Lies, Betrayal. Adultery, fornication etc.
I wonder myself.