PHILLIPS, IRNA

born July 1, 1901, Chicago, Ill., U.S.

died Dec. 22, 1973, Chicago

U.S. radio producer and director.

She worked as a teacher before turning to writing for radio and creating the first soap opera , Painted Dreams (1930). Later known as "Queen of the Soaps," she introduced techniques such as the organ bridge to give a smooth flow between scenes and the cliff-hanger ending to each episode. Her daytime radio serials included Today's Children (1933–38, 1943–50); The Guiding Light (1937–56; television, 1952–); Road of Life (1937–59); and Women in White (1938–42, 1944–48), the first hospital soap opera. She also created the television serials As the World Turns (1956) and Another World (1964).