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Faraway Hill

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Faraway Hill
Genre Soap Opera
StarringFlora Campbell
Mel Brandt
Julie Christy
Barry Doig
Munroe Gabler
Jack Halloran
Vivian King
Ben Low
Eve McVeagh
Frederic Meyer
Lorene Scott
Ann Stell
Hal Studer
Jacqueline Waite
Country of origin United States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerDavid P. Lewis
Original release
NetworkDuMont Television Network
ReleaseOctober 2, 1946 –
December 18, 1946

Faraway Hill was the first soap opera broadcast on an American television network, running on the DuMont Television Network from October 2, 1946 to December 18, 1946. David P. Lewis, the writer and director, had a budget of around $300 an episode. For many years A Woman to Remember was considered the first television soap opera, but actually debuted in 1949.

The show's plot revolved around a widowed New Yorker, Karen St. John (played by Flora Campbell), who moved to a small town to be near relatives. There she met a man who had been adopted by her family, and with whom she fell in love. However, he was already engaged to another woman. In addition, there were clashes between the sophisticated St. John and her rural relatives.

Other actors included Mel Brandt and Julie Christy (not to be confused with Julie Christie).

The half-hour show was broadcast live, although filmed excerpts were interspersed, and slides of scenes from previous shows were included in later episodes to bring viewers up to date with regard to plot elements which had previously transpired. A narrator gave Karen's thoughts as bridges between scenes.

Reference

Brooks, Time and Marsh, Earle, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, ISBN 0-345-45542-8