American Daytime TV Soap Operas (Past and Present)
by tbell1826 | created - 12 Jan 2017 | updated - 12 Jan 2017 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Faraway Hill (1946– )
30 min | Drama
Newly widowed New Yorker Karen St. John moves to a rural town to be close to her relatives. There she falls for a man who was adopted by her relatives when he was a boy. But, he's already ... See full summary »
Stars: Flora Campbell, Phyllis Coates, Eve McVeagh, Mel Brandt
Votes: 22
2. These Are My Children (1949– )
Drama
One of the first television soap operas, this show focused on an immigrant Irish family who lived in a boarding house in Chicago.
Stars: Joan Arlt, Jane Brooksmith, George Kluge, Eloise Krummer
Votes: 18
3. A Woman to Remember (1949– )
15 min
One of television's first daytime serial dramas (which soon moved to an early-evening slot), this was a creative serial-within-a-serial about the actors and crew on a fictitious radio soap ... See full summary »
Stars: Patricia Wheel, John Raby, Joan Catlin, Ruth McDevitt
Votes: 20
4. One Man's Family (1949–1955)
30 min | Drama
This soap opera was the TV version of the radio serial that had begun in 1932. It tells the story of San Francisco banker Henry Barbour and his family, i.e., Paul, the eldest son; Hazel, ... See full summary »
Stars: Bert Lytell, Marjorie Gateson, Lillian Schaaf, Eva Marie Saint
Votes: 32
5. The First Hundred Years (1950–1952)
Drama
Attorney Chris and Connie Martin are newlyweds adjusting to married life in New York City. Both sets of parents live nearby to give sage advice and not interfere too much in their children's lives.
Stars: Jimmy Lydon, Robert Armstrong, Nancy Malone, Dan Tobin
Votes: 17
6. Hawkins Falls: A Television Novel (1950–1955)
15 min | Drama
Life in small-town America during the 1950s. Broadcast live, some episodes survive as kinescopes.
Stars: Bernardine Flynn, Toni Gilman, Maurice Copeland, Wed Howard
Votes: 29
7. Fairmeadows, U.S.A. (1951– )
30 min | Drama
After his partner kills himself for losing $250,000, John Olcott and his family leave the big city and decide to start anew in the country town of Fairmeadows. However, they face hardships ... See full summary »
Stars: Hazel Dawn Jr., Lauren Gilbert, Monica Lovett, Ruth Matteson
8. The Egg and I (1951–1952)
15 min | Comedy
Newlywed city girl Betty joins husband Jim in his dream of owning a farm. The couple begin raising chickens and getting advice from neighbors the Kettles. Maw Kettle is practical, Paw a bit... See full summary »
Stars: Doris Rich, Frank Tweddell, Bob Craven, Betty Lynn
9. Search for Tomorrow (1951–1986)
30 min | Drama, Romance
Jo Gardner lived in Henderson where she wed many times. She was a motel owner, librarian, then a B&B owner with best pal Stu Bergman. Jo's daughter Patti and Janet Bergman were good friends. Stu married first Marge, then Ellie.
Stars: Mary Stuart, Larry Haines, Dwight Weist, Carl Low
Votes: 335
10. Love of Life (1951–1980)
TV-PG | 25 min | Drama, Romance
Initially set in fictional Barrowsville, New York, this serial tells the story of extremely disparate siblings: long-suffering Vanessa Dale and her bitchy sister Meg. After Meg was written ... See full summary »
Stars: Audrey Peters, Ron Tomme, Peggy McCay, Jean McBride
Votes: 115
11. Miss Susan (1951)
15 min | Drama
The plot of this 15-minute daytime drama centered around Susan Martin, a paralyzed lawyer, and her involvement in the lives of those around her, especially the man she loves, Bill Carter, and the beloved family housekeeper, Laura.
Stars: Susan Peters, Mark Roberts, Helen Ray, Betsy Palmer
Votes: 15
12. Guiding Light (1952–2009)
TV-14 | 60 min | Drama, Romance
This show took place in the fictional Midwestern town of Springfield and centered on the middle class Bauer family.
Stars: Kim Zimmer, Beth Chamberlin, Maureen Garrett, Robert Newman
Votes: 1,862
13. Valiant Lady (1953–1957)
15 min | Drama
Helen Emerson was daytime's "valiant lady", a fortyish matron who was widowed in the serial's first year. Helen valiantly endured sudden financial hardship while alternately fretting over ... See full summary »
Stars: Katherine Anderson, Andrew Duggan, Helen Wagner, Ann Thomas
Votes: 19
14. Follow Your Heart (1953– )
15 min
A TV remake of Elaine Sterne Carrington's radio serial When A Girl Marries, Follow Your Heart was the story of wealthy Julie Fielding who went against her mother and fell in love with Harry... See full summary »
Stars: Maxine Stuart, Anne Seymour, Sallie Brophy, Nancy Sheridan
15. The Bennetts (1953– )
15 min
The fifteen minute weekday soap opera focused on the lives of the Bennett's and their neighbors Blaney and Meg Cobb.
Stars: Don Gibson, Viola Berwick, Sam Gray, Jack Lester
16. Three Steps to Heaven (1953–1954)
15 min | Drama
Mary Claire Thurmond, nicknamed Poco, arrives in NYC to become a model by following 3 steps. Poco quickly gains an admirer in Bill Morgan but also a rival in the neurotic Jennifer Alden from River Lake
Stars: John Marley, Natalie Schafer, Robert Webber, Mark Roberts
Votes: 18
17. The Brighter Day (1954–1962)
25 min | Drama
"Our years are as the falling leaves. We live, we love, we dream, and then we go. But somehow, we keep hoping that our dreams come true on that brighter day." These words opened this ... See full summary »
Stars: Blair Davies, Mona Bruns, Hal Holbrook, Mary Linn Beller
Votes: 35
18. The Secret Storm (1954–1974)
30 min | Drama, Romance
Tells the story of the long-suffering Ames family and their seemingly endless domestic tragedies.
Stars: Jada Rowland, Peter Hobbs, Lori March, Bibi Besch
Votes: 272
19. The Greatest Gift (1954–1955)
15 min | Drama
This short-lived NBC soap centered around Dr. Eve Allen, portrayed by Anne Burr. When her uncle died, she decides to move to Connecticut and take over his small town practice. The original ... See full summary »
Stars: Jack Klugman, Anne Meara, Ward Costello, Anne Burr
20. Concerning Miss Marlowe (1954– )
Drama
This daytime serial ran for exactly one year (July, 1954 to July, 1955) and concentrated on the forgettable adventures of a forty-year-old New York actress. Its contribution to TV history ... See full summary »
Stars: Louise Allbritton, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Helen Shields, John Raby
21. First Love (1954– )
Drama
This short-lived soap opera centered around newlyweds Zack and Laurie James and the interactions they had with others. Specifically it was the interaction with good friends, Chris and Amy, another couple and Laurie's family.
Stars: Patricia Barry, Howard Smith, Frankie Thomas, Jay Barney
Votes: 11
22. Golden Windows (1954– )
This short-lived NBC soap opera centered around Juliet Goodwin, played by Lelia Martin, who leaves her home in Maine to pursue a singing career in New York City.
Stars: Lelia Martin, Harriet E. MacGibbon, Dean Harens, Barbara Cook
23. The Inner Flame (1954–1955)
Drama
Stars: Frances Reid, Donald Woods, Jean Gillespie, Mark Miller
Votes: 13
24. Woman with a Past (1954– )
15 min | Drama, Mystery
Lynn Sherwood is a New York dress designer who has arrived in town with her daughter, Diane, and a terrible secret. This secret, that Diane was illegitimate, becomes her worst nightmare, as... See full summary »
Stars: Jean Stapleton, Constance Ford, Lilia Skala, Jay Barney
Votes: 13
25. The Road of Life (1954– )
Romance
Stars: Don MacLaughlin, Virginia Dwyer, Charles Dingle, Barbara Becker
Votes: 10
26. A Time to Live (1954– )
15 min | Drama
Julie Byron is an up-and-coming writer who reports on various scandals around town. However, one hits close to home when her boyfriend, Chick Buchanan, is framed for the murder of Lenore Eustice.
Stars: Viola Berwick, Len Wayland, Barbara Foley, Pat Sully
Votes: 9
27. As the World Turns (1956–2010)
TV-14 | 60 min | Drama, Romance
The focus in on the upper class Hughes and Stewart families plus their tribulations in Midwest Oakdale. The Stewarts fade away eventually to be replaced by the rural Snyders and wealthy Lucinda Walsh with her many intrigues.
Stars: Elizabeth Hubbard, Jon Hensley, Ellen Dolan, Colleen Zenk
Votes: 2,279
28. The Edge of Night (1956–1984)
TV-14 | 30 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Attorney Mike Karr and his colleagues are involved in solving crimes and intrigue which touch the lives of many citizens.
Stars: Ann Flood, Forrest Compton, Donald May, Joel Crothers
Votes: 469
29. Kitty Foyle (1958– )
30 min | Drama
"Kitty Foyle" was a radio serial for sixteen years before coming to life on the small screen in January, 1958. It's brief run-it was cancelled in June, 1958-was notable primarily for its casting of eleven-year-old Patty Duke.
Stars: Kathleen Murray, William Redfield, Bob Hastings, Ralph Dunne
Votes: 16
30. Young Dr. Malone (1958–1963)
30 min | Drama
Set in fictional Denison, Maryland, this daytime serial focused the on the father-and-son team of doctors Jerry and David Malone, who practiced at Valley Hospital. "Young Dr. Malone" was ... See full summary »
Stars: William Prince, John Connell, Augusta Dabney, Michael Ingram
Votes: 26
31. From These Roots (1958–1961)
30 min | Drama
The fictional New England community of Strathfield was the setting for this remarkably well-written serial. The drama focused on the romantic exploits of newspaper journalist Liz Fraser, who married playwright David Allen.
Stars: Audra Lindley, Len Wayland, Ann Flood, Billie Lou Watt
Votes: 22
32. The Clear Horizon (1960–1962)
30 min | Drama
Space opera would be a more accurate description of this daytime serial, which focused on astronaut Roy Selby, his family, and his co-workers at Cape Canaveral.
Stars: Jan Shepard, Ted Knight, Michael Fox, John Mitchum
Votes: 16
33. Full Circle (1960–1961)
30 min | Drama
This short-lived (June, 1960 to March, 1961) daytime serial starred a very young Dyan Cannon as Lisa Crowder, a young widow who fell in love with a romantic drifter.
Stars: Dyan Cannon, Jean Byron, Sam Edwards, Robert Fortier
34. Our Five Daughters (1962– )
30 min
Stars: Esther Ralston, Jon Cypher, Frank Schofield, Ed Griffith
35. General Hospital (1963– )
TV-PG | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
Families, friends, enemies, and lovers experience life-changing events in the large upstate city of Port Charles, New York, which has a busy hospital, upscale hotel, cozy diner, and dangerous waterfront frequented by the criminal underworld.
Stars: Maurice Benard, John Beradino, Laura Wright, Rachel Ames
Votes: 5,532
36. The Doctors (1963–1982)
30 min | Drama, Romance
Dr. Matt Powers is chief of Hope Memorial Hospital in the city of Madison, and he cares about the lives of staff and patients.
Stars: James Pritchett, David O'Brien, Lydia Bruce, Elizabeth Hubbard
Votes: 249
37. Ben Jerrod (1963– )
30 min | Drama
Like CBS-TV's "The Edge of Night", this serial focused on the legal exploits of a small-town attorney. Title character Ben Jerrod practiced law in the fictional community of Indian Hill, ... See full summary »
Stars: Michael Ryan, Addison Richards, Jeanne Baird, Lyle Talbot
Votes: 12
38. Another World (1964–1999)
TV-14 | 90 min | Drama, Romance
The life in the Midwestern town of Bay City, and the love, loss, trials, and triumph of its residents, who come from different backgrounds and social circles.
Stars: Victoria Wyndham, Constance Ford, Hugh Marlowe, Linda Dano
Votes: 1,147
39. A Flame in the Wind (1964–1966)
25 min | Drama, Romance
Drama centered in the town of Haviland with the focus on the Farrell, Reynolds, and Skreba/Driscoll families. Fellow citizen Kate Austen has written a book with the flawed characters based on people she knows.
Stars: Kathleen Maguire, Lesley Woods, Richard Thomas, Tom Holland
Votes: 14
40. The Young Marrieds (1964–1966)
30 min | Drama
"The Young Marrieds" centered around the difficulties in the lives of several newly-married couples. There were Walter and Ann Reynolds (Walter was having an affair with model Carol West); ... See full summary »
Stars: Susan Brown, Michael T. Mikler, Peggy McCay, Paul Picerni
Votes: 36
41. Moment of Truth (1964–1965)
30 min | Drama
Soap opera about a Doctor who was a psychology professor that deals with a whole range of issues with his patients
Stars: Chris Wiggins, Louise King, Fernande Giroux, Douglass Watson
Votes: 8
42. The Nurses (1965–1967)
30 min | Drama
The Nurses is a serialized primetime medical drama that was broadcast on CBS.
Stars: Mary Fickett, Melinda Cordell, Nicholas Pryor, Paul Stevens
Votes: 27
43. Morning Star (1965– )
30 min | Drama
A soap centered on aspiring fashion designer Katy Elliot living in New York, her Connecticut family, and other people in her orbit.
Stars: Elizabeth Perry, Edward Mallory, Adrianne Ellis, Nina Roman
Votes: 15
44. Never Too Young (1965–1966)
25 min | Drama
Alfy ran The High Dive, the younger set hang out featuring the hottest bands. His girl Barbara wanted him to be more ambitious. Race car driver Chet won't stay faithful to Joy while Tad worried an injury will ruin his football career.
Stars: Tony Dow, Michael Blodgett, Merry Anders, David Watson
Votes: 47
45. Paradise Bay (1965– )
TV-14 | 30 min | Drama
The California coastal community of Paradise Bay was the setting for this daytime soap. The serial focused on the Morgan family and their involvement in the mysterious murder of teenager ... See full summary »
Stars: Keith Andes, Marion Ross, Heather North, Dennis Cole
Votes: 18
46. Days of Our Lives (1965– )
TV-14 | 60 min | Drama, Romance
A chronicle of the lives, loves, trials and tribulations of the citizens of the fictional city of Salem.
Stars: Deidre Hall, Kristian Alfonso, Drake Hogestyn, Alison Sweeney
Votes: 7,438
47. Dark Shadows (1966–1971)
TV-PG | 30 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
The rich Collins family of Collinsport, Maine is tormented by strange occurrences.
Stars: Jonathan Frid, Grayson Hall, Alexandra Isles, Nancy Barrett
Votes: 5,433
48. Love Is a Many Splendored Thing (1967–1973)
30 min | Drama
Mia Elliot, a Korean immigrant who fell in love with Paul Bradley and Dr. Jim Abbott. These interracial relationships stirred trouble for those involved.
Stars: Leslie Charleson, Donna Mills, Robert Burr, Judson Laire
Votes: 86
49. One Life to Live (1968–2013)
TV-PG | 60 min | Drama, Romance
One Life to Live centres takes place in the fictional town of Llanview, PA.around the wealthy Lord family, and the middle-class Woleks and Rileys.
Stars: Erika Slezak, Michael Storm, Michael Easton, Kristen Alderson
Votes: 2,635
50. Hidden Faces (1968–1969)
30 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Set in the law office of Masonesque attorney Arthur Adams, this crime/suspense serial attempted to emulate the success of CBS's "The Edge of Night". Arthur's first-and-only case involved ... See full summary »
Stars: Conard Fowkes, Gretchen Walther, John Towey, Louise Shaffer
Votes: 14
51. Bright Promise (1969–1972)
30 min | Drama
Trials, tribulations, affairs & heartbreaks of students, faculty & administration of fictitious Bancroft College.
Stars: Susan Brown, Paul Lukather, Dana Andrews, Susannah Darrow
Votes: 44
52. Where the Heart Is (1969–1973)
25 min | Drama
Set in Northcross, Connecticut, "Where the Heart Is" followed the dysfunctional lives of the Hathaway family and those near them. The problem of the Hathaway family was quite simple: ... See full summary »
Stars: James Mitchell, Diana Van der Vlis, Louise Shaffer, Terry O'Connor
Votes: 31
53. All My Children (1970–2011)
TV-PG | 60 min | Drama, Romance, Mystery
Set in the fictional East Coast suburb Pine Valley, this show is the decades-old, risk-taking soap that centers around Erica Kane and her long line of husbands.
Stars: Susan Lucci, David Canary, Michael E. Knight, Cameron Mathison
Votes: 3,265
54. A World Apart (1970–1971)
30 min | Drama
The disparity between generations, races, and genders (people who found themselves psychologically "a world apart" from one another) motivated this short-lived serial. Although generally ... See full summary »
Stars: William Prince, Susan Sarandon, Susan Sullivan, Augusta Dabney
Votes: 35
55. Somerset (1970–1976)
30 min | Drama
Somerset debuted as a daytime drama, revolving around the powerful conglomerate Delaney Brands and its effect on the fictional community of Somerset, Illinois. Two years into its run, the ... See full summary »
Stars: Georgann Johnson, Paul Sparer, Susan MacDonald, Joel Crothers
Votes: 92
56. The Best of Everything (1970– )
30 min | Drama
Based on the novel and 1959 motion picture of the same name, this daytime soap focused on three career girls, who became friends at powerful Manhattan publishing company Key Publishing. ... See full summary »
Stars: Geraldine Fitzgerald, Katherine Glass, Gale Sondergaard, Patty McCormack
Votes: 31
57. Return to Peyton Place (1972–1974)
30 min | Drama
This daytime soap was a sequel of sorts to the primetime series Peyton Place, revolving around the lives of the citizens of that community. It did not carry over the stories, however, and ... See full summary »
Stars: Julie Parrish, Warren Stevens, Lawrence P. Casey, Katherine Glass
Votes: 59
58. The Young and the Restless (1973– )
TV-PG | 37 min | Drama, Romance
Set in Genoa City, this is the long-running soap that tells the story of the struggle behind the business, and sex-savvy Abbott and Newman clans.
Stars: Eric Braeden, Doug Davidson, Peter Bergman, Joshua Morrow
Votes: 6,844
59. How to Survive a Marriage (1974–1975)
30 min | Drama
The daily struggles of several female characters--some feminists, others more conservative--who deal with loss, divorce, individualism, and love.
Stars: Jennifer Harmon, Fran Brill, Joan Copeland, Rosemary Prinz
Votes: 44
60. Ryan's Hope (1975–1989)
TV-14 | 30 min | Drama, Romance
The trials and tribulations of The Ryans, an Irish-American family in New York City.
Stars: Helen Gallagher, Bernard Barrow, Nancy Addison, Michael Levin
Votes: 558
61. For Richer, for Poorer (1977–1978)
A serial focusing on the relationship between the Saxtons, a struggling Chicago family, and the affluent Cushings, who live in the suburbs.
Stars: Rod Arrants, Richard Backus, Ron Randell, Margaret Barker
Votes: 23
62. Texas (1980–1982)
60 min | Drama, Romance
Daytime Drama, spun off from "Another World," which followed Iris Carrington from Bay City as she rediscovered Alex Wheeler, a former love, and moved to the Houston area. The stories ... See full summary »
Stars: Carla Borelli, Beverlee McKinsey, Jerry Lanning, Lisby Larson
Votes: 128
63. Another Life (1981–1984)
30 min | Drama
Another Life explored the lives, faith and loves of the people of the fictional town of Kingsley, centered around the Davidson family.
Stars: MaryJean Feton, Jeanette Larson, Darrel Campbell, John Corsault
Votes: 46
64. Capitol (1982–1987)
30 min | Drama, Romance
Follow the political struggles for power and personal machinations between two conflicting families, the wealthy Cleggs and the middle-class McCandlesses.
Stars: Constance Towers, Debrah Farentino, Rory Calhoun, Carolyn Jones
Votes: 151
65. The Catlins (1982–1985)
30 min | Drama
The Catlins focused on the lives of two wealthy and feuding families. The Catlin family, a wealthy family who had their hands in diverse businesses, headed by matriarch, Catherine Catlin ... See full summary »
Stars: Mary Nell Santacroce, Michael Forrest, Pamela Burrell, Jerry Homan
Votes: 18
66. Loving (1983–1995)
30 min | Drama, Romance
"Loving" takes place in the fictional town of Corinth, Pennsylvania and centers on the lives of the wealthy Alden family. Love, betrayal, and the struggle for power form the focus of this long-running drama.
Stars: Lisa Peluso, Laura Wright, Lauren-Marie Taylor, Christine L. Tudor
Votes: 382
67. Santa Barbara (1984–1993)
TV-PG | 45 min | Drama, Romance
In Santa Barbara, California, the fascinating lives of the wealthy Capwells revolve around the Lockridge, the rival family, and other more modest families such as the Andrades and the Perkins, whose fates know the same torments.
Stars: A Martinez, Marcy Walker, Nancy Lee Grahn, Jed Allan
Votes: 2,841
68. Rituals (1984–1995)
30 min | Drama
The lives, and loves, of several families in a Virginia town.
Stars: Kin Shriner, Kevin Spirtas, Gina Gallego, Philece Sampler
Votes: 82
69. The Bold and the Beautiful (1987– )
TV-PG | 19 min | Drama, Romance
The saga of high fashion glamour, honor, romance, passion, and most importantly, family.
Stars: Katherine Kelly Lang, Ronn Moss, John McCook, Susan Flannery
Votes: 8,277
70. Generations (1989–1991)
30 min | Drama
Soap opera about two families, one black and one white.
Stars: Kelly Rutherford, Kristoff St. John, Joan Pringle, Jonelle Allen
Votes: 455
71. Tribes (1990)
30 min | Drama
This show was introduced to audiences in 1990 as an after-school soap opera for teens. The series has 5 seasons and 250+ episodes. The storylines revolved around the teens and families of ... See full summary »
Stars: Michael Aron, Joseph Burke, Stephen Burleigh, Mark Costello
Votes: 65
72. Swans Crossing (1992)
TV-14 | 30 min | Drama
A short-lived half-hour serial following the lives, loves, and intrigues of twelve wealthy teenagers who stir up scandal and excitement in their small town.
Stars: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Brittany Daniel, Eddie Robinson, Stacey Moseley
Votes: 373
73. The City (1995–1997)
30 min | Drama, Romance
"The City" picks up where "Loving" left off. After a rash of serial killings, several of Corinth, Pennsylvania's residents move to an apartment building in SoHo to start a brand-new life. ... See full summary »
Stars: George Palermo, Laura Wright, Ted King, Roscoe Born
Votes: 112
74. Sunset Beach (1997–1999)
TV-14 | 60 min | Drama, Romance
After discovering her fiancé Tim Truman kissing another woman, Meg Cummings leaves her home in Kansas on their wedding day to start a new life in Sunset Beach, California.
Stars: Lesley-Anne Down, Sam Behrens, Susan Ward, Clive Robertson
Votes: 2,625
75. Port Charles (1997–2003)
TV-14 | 30 min | Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Residents at the hospital, doctors,friends and their families are constantly threatened by Dr. Greg Cooper who may be the Homicide killer, avenging on all of them because he was dropped from the hospital's intern program.
Stars: Julie Pinson, Jon Lindstrom, Lynn Herring, Jay Pickett
Votes: 542
76. Passions (1999–2008)
TV-14 | 60 min | Drama
In the world of power and money, the wealthy and powerful Crane family rule the town of Harmony from their mansion on Raven Hill.
Stars: Lindsay Hartley, McKenzie Westmore, Galen Gering, Juliet Mills
Votes: 5,154
77. Spyder Games (2001)
TV-14 | 30 min | Drama
Stars: Enrique Murciano, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Nectar Rose, Shawn Batten
Votes: 166
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