Hawkins Falls
Encyclopedia
Hawkins Falls, Population 6200 is the first successful American television soap opera
. Sponsored by Unilever
's blue detergent, Surf
, the program began as a one hour comedy-drama
on June 17, 1950, and ran in prime time
on the NBC
network until October 12, 1950.
On April 2, 1951, the series was moved to a fifteen minute daytime
slot where it was retitled Hawkins Falls: A Television Novel, and developed into a soap opera format. Hawkins Falls ran until July 1, 1955, making it NBC's longest running soap opera until The Doctors exceeded it in 1967.
. Among the series announcers were Hugh Downs
.
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,...
. Sponsored by Unilever
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
's blue detergent, Surf
Surf (detergent)
Surf is the name of a brand of laundry detergent made by Unilever and sold in the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa and many other countries. In the United States the Surf product line is owned by Sun Products...
, the program began as a one hour comedy-drama
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
on June 17, 1950, and ran in prime time
Prime time
Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast programming during the middle of the evening for television programing.The term prime time is often defined in terms of a fixed time period—for example, from 19:00 to 22:00 or 20:00 to 23:00 Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast...
on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
network until October 12, 1950.
On April 2, 1951, the series was moved to a fifteen minute daytime
Daytime television
Daytime television is the general term for television shows produced that are intended to air during the daytime hours on weekdays. This article is about American daytime television, for information about international daytime television see Daytime television....
slot where it was retitled Hawkins Falls: A Television Novel, and developed into a soap opera format. Hawkins Falls ran until July 1, 1955, making it NBC's longest running soap opera until The Doctors exceeded it in 1967.
Overview
The Drewer family lived in the town of Hawkins Falls. Lona Drewer was played by Bernardine Flynn, while her husband was played by Frank Dane. After the first year, according to Hugh Downs, Dane came to feel that as the lead actor he was indispensable to the show. He demanded more money and fewer hours. In a move that set the model for countless future encounters between imprudent stars and their management, Dane walked off the set and refused to return until his demands were met. The producer and writer saw their chance to accommodate Dane's desire for less work and crafted a script that sent Mr. Drewer on a plane flight that was lost over the sea. Actor Jim Bannon was happy to join the cast as Lorna's new romantic interest.Cast
- Jim BannonJim BannonJim Bannon was an actor in radio and Hollywood western films during the 1940s and 1950s. He is best remembered as the fourth cinema Red Ryder from 1949 - 1950...
as Mitch Fredericks (1954–1955) - Doug Chandler as Sheriff Boylan (1954)
- Maurice CopelandMaurice CopelandMaurice Copeland was an American actor. He had supporting roles in films such as Arthur, The Pope of Greenwich Village and Trading Places.-External links:...
as Dr. Floyd Corey (1953–1955) - Brigid Daly BazlenBrigid BazlenBrigid Mary Bazlen was an American actress. Although she made only three Hollywood films, The Honeymoon Machine, King of Kings, and How the West Was Won, because all three remain popular films from the early 1960s, she is still remembered...
as Nellie Corey - Bruce Dane as Roy Bettert Corey
- Frank Dane as Knap Drewer (1951–1953)
- Bernardine Flynn as Lona Drewer Corey
- Michael Golda as Dr. Floyd Corey (1950–1953)
- Lee Henry as Dr. Glen Bowden (1954)
- Philip Lord as Judge Sharp
- Tom PostonTom PostonThomas Gordon "Tom" Poston was an American television and film actor. He starred on television in a career that began in 1950...
as Toby Winfield (1953) - Russ Reed as Spec Bassett (1953)
- Elmira Roessler as Elmira Cleebe (1953)
- Win StrackeWin StrackeWinfred “Win” J. Stracke was an American Folk Musician and Co-Founder of the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, Illinois. Stracke was a Chicago fixture in music, theater, and television in the 1940s and was known for his booming bass voice...
as Laif Flagle (1951–1952) - Hope SummersHope SummersHope Summers was an American character actress known for her work on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry RFD, portraying Clara Edwards.-Career:...
as Belinda Catherwood (1951–1952) - Ros Twohey as Millie Flagle (1953–1954)
- Art Van Harvey as Calvin Sperry (1954–1955)
Production notes
Hawkins Falls was broadcast live from ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Among the series announcers were Hugh Downs
Hugh Downs
Hugh Malcolm Downs is a long time American broadcaster, television host, news anchor, TV producer, author, game show host, and music composer; and is perhaps best known for his role as co-host the NBC News program Today from 1962 to 1971, host of the Concentration game show from 1958 to 1969, and...
.
External links
- Hawkins Falls, Population 6200 at Soap Opera History
- Hawkins Falls memoir at the "The Chicago School of Television" history