The Soap Opera Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia
The Soap Opera Encyclopedia is the name of two books by different authors which assemble comprehensive information about the television serial
s known as soap opera
s. The first is a 1985 publication by Christopher Schemering which covers all daytime
and prime time
soap operas broadcast up to the date of publication; it was revised in 1987 and reprinted in 1987 and 1988, but is currently out of print. The second Soap Opera Encyclopedia was written by Gerard J. Waggett in 1997, and covered only daytime series.
Schemering also includes a "Short History of Television Soap Opera," as well as profiles of major performers, writers and producers in the genre in a section entitled "Who's Who in Soap Opera." Finally, the book contains 30 pages of photos from various programs.
Published in a time before the internet
, the Encyclopedia was a primary source of background information and commentary on soap opera; it and Schemering have been quoted in various articles, books and web pages.
and had published film and television articles in The New Republic
, USA Today
, the Chicago Tribune
, the San Francisco Chronicle
, the New York Daily News
and other publications. Schemering is also the author of Guiding Light: A 50th Anniversary Celebration (1986).
daytime soap opera that had aired prior to the book's publication. It also discusses background, significant storylines and impact of each program, and lists performers and characters.
Wagget includes "The Soap Opera 100," his look at "Daytime's 100 Most Noteworth Actors, Writers, and Producers." The book also gives overviews and background for the Daytime Emmy Award
s and Soap Opera Digest Awards
, and lists nominees and winners. Finally, the book lists US daytime soap opera ratings from 1952 through 1997.
Serial (radio and television)
Serials are series of television programs and radio programs that rely on a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode by episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the full run of the series, which distinguishes them from...
s known as soap opera
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,...
s. The first is a 1985 publication by Christopher Schemering which covers all 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....
and 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...
soap operas broadcast up to the date of publication; it was revised in 1987 and reprinted in 1987 and 1988, but is currently out of print. The second Soap Opera Encyclopedia was written by Gerard J. Waggett in 1997, and covered only daytime series.
1985 Schemering Encyclopedia
Schemering's 1985 The Soap Opera Encyclopedia features commentary, analysis and criticism of "every daytime and prime-time television soap opera broadcast on the three major networks, as well as a selection of syndicated, cable, and foreign efforts." It also discusses background, significant storylines and impact of each program, and lists performers and characters.Schemering also includes a "Short History of Television Soap Opera," as well as profiles of major performers, writers and producers in the genre in a section entitled "Who's Who in Soap Opera." Finally, the book contains 30 pages of photos from various programs.
Published in a time before the internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, the Encyclopedia was a primary source of background information and commentary on soap opera; it and Schemering have been quoted in various articles, books and web pages.
About the author
According to the Encyclopedia, Schemering "spent fifteen years collecting memorabilia and information about the soap opera phenomenon" and wrote a syndicated column on the genre. He was also a regular contributor to The Washington Post Book WorldThe Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
and had published film and television articles in The New Republic
The New Republic
The magazine has also published two articles concerning income inequality, largely criticizing conservative economists for their attempts to deny the existence or negative effect increasing income inequality is having on the United States...
, USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
, the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
, the New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
and other publications. Schemering is also the author of Guiding Light: A 50th Anniversary Celebration (1986).
1997 Waggett Encyclopedia
Waggett's 1997 The Soap Opera Encyclopedia features commentary, analysis and criticism of every AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
daytime soap opera that had aired prior to the book's publication. It also discusses background, significant storylines and impact of each program, and lists performers and characters.
Wagget includes "The Soap Opera 100," his look at "Daytime's 100 Most Noteworth Actors, Writers, and Producers." The book also gives overviews and background for the Daytime Emmy Award
Daytime Emmy Award
The Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming...
s and Soap Opera Digest Awards
Soap Opera Digest
Soap Opera Digest is a weekly magazine covering American daytime soap operas. It features onscreen and offscreen news about the series, interviews with and articles about performers, storyline summaries and analysis, and related promotional information...
, and lists nominees and winners. Finally, the book lists US daytime soap opera ratings from 1952 through 1997.