What was “The Edge of Night”?
A: The Edge of Night was an American television mystery crime drama series
and soap opera.
Who created the show?
A: It was created by Irving Vendig and produced by Procter & Gamble
Productions.
When did it debut?
A: On April 2, 1956.
It ran as a live broadcast on that network for most of
its run until when?
A: November 28, 1975.
The series then moved from CBS to what network?
A: ABC, where it aired from December 1, 1975, until December 28, 1984.
How many episodes were produced?
A: 7,420.
The show was originally conceived as the daytime
television version of what?
A: Perry Mason, which was popular in novel and radio formats at the time.
Mason's creator Erle Stanley Gardner was to create and
write the show, but a last-minute tiff between the CBS network and him
caused what?
A: It caused Gardner to pull his support from the idea.
What did CBS insist on?
A: That Mason be given a love interest to placate daytime soap opera
audiences.
In 1956, a writer from the Perry Mason radio show,
Irving Vendig, created a retooled idea of the show for what?
A: For daytime television—and The Edge of Night was born.
Unlike Perry Mason, whose adventures took place in
Southern California, the daytime series was set where?
A: In the fictional city of Monticello, located in the Midwestern United
States.
A frequent backdrop for the show's early scenes was a
restaurant called what?
A: The Ho-Hi-Ho.
The state capital, however, was known generically as
what?
A: "Capital City".
From its beginning in 1956 until roughly 1980, the
downtown skyline of what city stood in as Monticello?
A: Cincinnati.
Procter & Gamble, which produced the show, is based
where?
A: In Cincinnati.
In later years, what skyline replaced that of
Cincinnati?
A: Los Angeles.
Bob Dixon was the first announcer in 1956, followed by
whom?
A: Herbert Duncan.
Who were the two voices most identified with the show?
A: Harry Kramer (1957–1972) and Hal Simms, who announced until the series
ended in 1984.
It was unique among daytime soap operas in that it
focused on what?
A: Crime, rather than domestic and romantic matters.
The show's particular focus on crime was recognized in
1980, when, in honor of its 25 years on the air, The Edge of Night was given
what?
A: A special Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America.
Who was the show's central protagonist?
A: Mike Karr, tireless crime fighter, introduced as a police officer who was
finishing law school.
Karr was portrayed by what three actors?
A: John Larkin, Laurence Hugo, and Forrest Compton.