Anyway, there was a rich variety of programming, like soap operas and serials. BTW, soap operas, introduced on radio, were so named because they were sponsored largely by the big name laundry soaps of the day. Radio was also the world which would give birth to the forerunner of what would become reality TV. Among the first of that genre was a show called Queen for a Day. Born on the radio in the 1940's, the show jumped media tracks to TV and ran concurrently on radio and TV for several years. The show lasted on TV until 1967.
The premise of the show was pure genius. Collect four down on their luck women to tell their tales of woe. Fill a studio with rubes to hear the stories and pass judgement on which of the four was the saddest sack of the lot. Use the "Applause-O-Meter" to judge which of them has made the best (worst?) impression. Parade the winner on stage in a robe and crown while Pomp & Circumstance plays, shower her with gifts (seems it was always a washing machine, how regal!)the rubes scream in approval and the home audience feels simultaneously superior and gratified by the biggest loser becoming the winner. If this sounds naggingly contemporary, think Jerry Springer Show with a throne, and instead of DNA testing there's a washing machine in the goody bag.
So, while I was grinning through the research on this bit of our contemporary American history, I found that there is a present day version of Queen for a Day. It's an organization that provides a bit of pampering and special treatment for pediatric cancer patients, giving them a little special treatement to shine a little sunshine into a challenging time. Take a look at http://www.qfad.org/
Queen for a Day, from the ridiculous to the sublime.
That is all.
