| Genre | Soap opera |
|---|---|
| Running time | 15 minutes |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language | English |
| Syndicates | NBC |
| Starring | Arlene Francis Fern Persons Myron McCormick John Larkin Robert Sloan |
| Written by | Margaret Lewerth |
| Produced by | Frank and Anne Hummert |
| Original release | September 22, 1941 (1941-09-22) – June 30, 1944 (1944-06-30) |
Helpmate is an American old-time radio soap opera. It was broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1941, until June 30, 1944.1
Format
In his book, Frank and Anne Hummert's Radio Factory: The Programs and Personalities of Broadcasting's Most Prolific Producers, radio historian Jim Cox wrote that Helpmate focused on the lives of three couples who were neighbors: Linda and Steve Harper, Grace and Clyde Marshall, and Holly and George Emerson.2 A Chicago Tribune news item previewing the program described the show as "the story of an unselfish woman who sacrifices much to advance the musical career of the man in whom she believes".3
Personnel
Characters in Helpmate and the actors who portrayed them are shown in the table below.
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| Linda Harper | Arlene Francis4 Fern Persons4 |
| Steve Harper | Myron McCormick4 John Larkin4 Robert Sloan5 |
| Grace Marshall | Judith Evelyn4 Ruth Perrott6 |
| Clyde Marshall | Karl Weber4 |
| Holly Emerson | Beryl Vaughn4 |
| George Emerson | Sidney Ellstrom4 |
| Irene Emerson | Jessie Royce Landis5 |
| Holly | Marilyn Erskine5 |
| Ed Somers | Richard Widmark5 |
Frank and Anne Hummert were the producers; Margaret Lewerth was the writer.1
References
References
- Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 315. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- Cox, Jim (2003). Frank and Anne Hummert's Radio Factory: The Programs and Personalities of Broadcasting's Most Prolific Producers. McFarland. p. 164. ISBN 9780786416318. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- "Helpmate, Daily Drama Serial, to Open Tomorrow". Chicago Tribune. Illinois, Chicago. September 21, 1941. p. Part 4 - Page 8. Retrieved April 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 148. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
- "Bob Hope's Show Starts Tuesday Night". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Missouri, St. Louis. September 21, 1941. p. 65. Retrieved April 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- Buxton, Frank; Owen, Bill (1972). The Big Broadcast: 1920-1950. New York: The Viking Press. p. 109.