Frank and Doris Hursley
Encyclopedia
Frank M. Hursley and Doris Hursley (September 29, 1898–May 5, 1984) were a husband-and-wife team who wrote American serials
.
The couple were writers on the Western series Have Gun, Will Travel, but became famous in the soap world starting in 1957 when they began writing for CBS Daytime
's Search for Tomorrow
. They continued to write Search for Tomorrow
even after the show that they created, General Hospital
had premiered. Another married couple of television writer, Theodore and Mathilde Ferro, wrote the show in its early months.
They created the medical drama General Hospital
, for ABC Daytime
in 1963; it was the first serious effort by that network to create a daytime serial. Today, General Hospital is the longest-running daytime serial on ABC. The duo head wrote
the show until 1973, when they handed the reins to their daughter and son-in-law, Bridget and Jerome Dobson
. In 1969, the Hursleys created and wrote the NBC Daytime
soap opera Bright Promise
that starred Dana Andrews
as college president Tom Boswell. However, they soon left that series and it was eventually cancelled in 1972. The Hursleys retired from writing serials.
Doris was the eldest daughter of Socialist Congressman Victor Berger and held a law degree from Marquette University. Frank Hursley left his first wife, Madeleine, and their one year old son, Frank Jr., both of Detroit and became an English professor at the University of Wisconsin's Milwaukee Extension. After Doris's divorce in 1935 from her first husband, Colin Welles, she married Frank in 1936. The couple began writing for radio during World War II and moved from their home in Thiensville, Wisconsin
to California in 1946.
Their daughter Bridget
also became a television writer, creating Santa Barbara
.
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
.
The couple were writers on the Western series Have Gun, Will Travel, but became famous in the soap world starting in 1957 when they began writing for CBS Daytime
CBS Daytime
CBS Daytime is a television programming block on CBS. It's the branding for the CBS Television Network's late morning and early afternoon programming. The block has historically encompassed soap operas, game shows, and talk shows...
's Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow is an American soap opera which premiered on September 3, 1951 on CBS. The show was moved from CBS to NBC on March 29, 1982. It continued on NBC until the final episode aired on December 26, 1986, a run of thirty-five years. At the time of its final broadcast it was the...
. They continued to write Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow is an American soap opera which premiered on September 3, 1951 on CBS. The show was moved from CBS to NBC on March 29, 1982. It continued on NBC until the final episode aired on December 26, 1986, a run of thirty-five years. At the time of its final broadcast it was the...
even after the show that they created, General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
had premiered. Another married couple of television writer, Theodore and Mathilde Ferro, wrote the show in its early months.
They created the medical drama General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
, for ABC Daytime
ABC Daytime
ABC Daytime is a programming block on the ABC Network which has historically encompassed soap operas, game shows and talk shows.-Schedule:...
in 1963; it was the first serious effort by that network to create a daytime serial. Today, General Hospital is the longest-running daytime serial on ABC. The duo head wrote
Head writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
the show until 1973, when they handed the reins to their daughter and son-in-law, Bridget and Jerome Dobson
Bridget and Jerome Dobson
Bridget and Jerome Dobson were writers for American soap operas best known as creators of the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara .Bridget Dobson is the daughter of General Hospital creators Frank and Doris Hursley. Bridget and Jerome married in 1961...
. In 1969, the Hursleys created and wrote the NBC Daytime
NBC Daytime
NBC Daytime is the schedule for the NBC television network's daytime television programming which consists of morning news program Today and soap opera Days of our Lives...
soap opera Bright Promise
Bright Promise
Bright Promise is an American daytime soap opera that ran on NBC from September 29, 1969 to March 31, 1972. It aired weekdays at 3:30 PM Eastern/2:30 PM Central.-Synopsis:...
that starred Dana Andrews
Dana Andrews
Dana Andrews was an American film actor. He was one of Hollywood's major stars of the 1940s, and continued acting, though generally in less prestigious roles, into the 1980s.-Early life:...
as college president Tom Boswell. However, they soon left that series and it was eventually cancelled in 1972. The Hursleys retired from writing serials.
Doris was the eldest daughter of Socialist Congressman Victor Berger and held a law degree from Marquette University. Frank Hursley left his first wife, Madeleine, and their one year old son, Frank Jr., both of Detroit and became an English professor at the University of Wisconsin's Milwaukee Extension. After Doris's divorce in 1935 from her first husband, Colin Welles, she married Frank in 1936. The couple began writing for radio during World War II and moved from their home in Thiensville, Wisconsin
Thiensville, Wisconsin
Thiensville is a village in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,254 at the 2000 census. It was founded by its namesake, John Henry Thien....
to California in 1946.
Their daughter Bridget
Bridget and Jerome Dobson
Bridget and Jerome Dobson were writers for American soap operas best known as creators of the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara .Bridget Dobson is the daughter of General Hospital creators Frank and Doris Hursley. Bridget and Jerome married in 1961...
also became a television writer, creating Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara (TV series)
Santa Barbara is an American television soap opera, first broadcast in the United States on NBC on July 30, 1984, and last aired on January 15, 1993. The show revolved around the eventful lives of the wealthy Capwell family of Santa Barbara, California...
.