Irna Phillips

Irna Phillips (July 1, 1901 - December 22, 1973) wrote and created many of the first American soap operas. She is considered by many to be the mother of the genre.

Early Life

Phillips was one of ten children born to an Jewish family in the Midwest United States. She studied drama at the University of Illinois, receiving a Master of Arts degree before going on the postgraduate studied at the University of Wisconsin.

Related Topics:
Jewish - Midwest United States

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From 1925 to 1930 she worked as a school teacher in Dayton, Ohio teaching drama and theatre history to schoolchildren. While working in this capacity she continued to attempt a career as an actress and after performing several acting roles for radio productions at WGN in Chicago she left her career as a teacher.

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