soap and opera

[keannu]

As I know, "soap opera" was coined to refer to countless commercials on TV drama. But according to this paragraph, it seems it was invented in radio times. Did radio have many commercials back then?
2-4)Likewise, the words soap and opera had been around for several hundred years, but the term soap opera was coined only after the invention of the radio. Cab, which is short for taxi cab, and skyscraper also reflect the emergence of new inventions or phenomena.

 

[Rover_KE]

Click here to read the definition of 'soap opera'.

It has nothing to do with commercials.

 

[keannu]

Thanks, but it has something to do with soap manufacturers as below, so I can't help but conclude that even radio had such commercials.

soap opera n

• a serialized drama, usually dealing with domestic themes and characterized by sentimentality, broadcast on radio or television

Etymology: 20th Century: so called because manufacturers of soap were typical sponsors

 

[JMurray]

not a teacher

I believe the term "soap opera" originated in late-30s US radio, for the reason stated in your source. The daytime melodramas aimed at housewives were typically sponsored by soap manufacturers and were punctuated by advertisements for their products.