Ma Perkins
"Ma Perkins" was a hugely popular and long-running American radio soap opera, often dubbed "America's Mother of the Air."Here's a breakdown of the show:
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- Premise: It followed the life of Ma Perkins, a benevolent, self-sufficient widow who owned and managed a lumberyard in the fictional town of Rushville Center. Ma was known for her homespun philosophy and her willingness to offer advice to anyone who needed it, including her children Evey, Fay, and John, and her business partner Shuffle Shober.
- Airing Dates: The show premiered in August 1933 on Cincinnati station WLW. By December 1933, it moved to the NBC network. From 1942 to 1949, it was broadcast simultaneously on both NBC and CBS. It continued on CBS until its final episode in November 1960. In total, it ran for 7,065 episodes.
- Starring Role: The title role of Ma Perkins was played by actress Virginia Payne for the show's entire 27-year run. Remarkably, Payne began playing the elderly Ma when she was only 23 years old and never missed a performance.
- Creators and Sponsorship: "Ma Perkins" was a brainchild of the prolific soap opera creators Frank and Anne Hummert. For much of its run, it was sponsored by Procter & Gamble's Oxydol soap flakes, leading to the alternative title "Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins." The show is credited with being one of the first serials sponsored by a soap company, thus solidifying the term "soap opera."
- Plotlines and Themes: While it had its share of melodrama and crises, "Ma Perkins" was also known for its slower, more deliberate pacing, indicative of small-town life. Early in its run, Ma's character was more combative, but she evolved into the kindhearted sage of the community. Plotlines included the everyday dilemmas of her family and friends, but sometimes ventured into more dramatic territory, such as Ma exposing a black market baby-napping ring or harboring Soviet political dissidents.
- Cultural Impact: "Ma Perkins" was a cornerstone of daytime radio during its "Golden Age." It was a significant part of the daily routine for countless housewives and helped define the format of the radio soap opera, blending storytelling with product advertising. The show's immense popularity and long run cemented its place in radio history.
Listen to our radio station Old Time Radio https://link.radioking.com/otradio
Listen to other Shows at My Classic Radio https://www.myclassicradio.net/
Entertainment Radio | Broadcasting Classic Radio Shows | Patreon
Remember that times have changed, and some shows might not reflect the standards of today’s politically correct society. The shows do not necessarily reflect the views, standards, or beliefs of Entertainment Radio.
- Update frequency
- every day
- Average duration
- 14 minutes
- Episodes
- 150
- Years Active
- 2020
Ma Perkins 51-02-06 (4562) Tom Drops By For One Of Ma's Dinners
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:14:45 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
Ma Perkins 51-02-02 (4560) Faye Decides To Go To New York
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:14:40 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
Ma Perkins 51-02-01 (4559) Spencer Calls Faye
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:15:20 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
Ma Perkins 51-01-31 (4558) Spencer's Present Has Arrived
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:14:33 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
Ma Perkins 51-01-30 (4557) Tom Welles, the Mysterious 'Surly' So-called Friend
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:14:38 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
Ma Perkins 51-01-29 (4556) Faye Reads Her Letter Over And Over
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:15:00 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
Ma Perkins 51-01-26 (4555) At Last - Spencer Has Written
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:14:47 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
Ma Perkins 51-01-25 (4554) Ma and Faye Meet Tom Welles on the Street
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:14:58 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
Ma Perkins 51-01-24 (4553) Faye Is Deeply in Love with Spencer
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:15:08 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
Ma Perkins 51-01-23 (4552) Effie and Faye Talk About Spencer
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:15:04 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
Ma Perkins 51-01-22 (4551) Spencer Grayson Has Left, and Faye Misses Him
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:14:26 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
Ma Perkins 51-01-19 (4550) Spencer Leaves, Promising Someday to Return
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:13:34 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
Ma Perkins 51-01-18 (4549) Spencer Announces That He Must Return to New York
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:14:32 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
Ma Perkins 51-01-17 (4548) Gladys Pembleton Feels There's More to Spencer Than Meets the Eye
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:14:29 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
Ma Perkins 51-01-16 (4547) Tom Has Decided to Marry Kay
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:14:43 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
Ma Perkins 51-01-15 (4546) Spencer Continues to Pitch Woo at Faye
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:14:52 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
Ma Perkins 51-01-12 (4545) Spencer Asks Shuffle to Help Him
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:13:41 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
Ma Perkins 51-01-11 (4544) Spencer Has His Private Talk with Ma
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:14:52 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
Ma Perkins 51-01-10 (4543) Spencer Grayson Wants to Talk to Ma
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:13:53 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
Ma Perkins 51-01-09 (4542) Mysterious Tom Welles Is Still Angry at Spencer
Ma Perkins (sometimes called Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins) is an American radio soap opera which was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard …
00:14:20 |
Sun 15 Nov 2020
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