Long-running Soap Opera, which aired on CBS from 1951 to 1980.
Love of Life focused on heroine Vanessa Dale and (in the words of the announcer in the show's early years) "her courageous struggle for human dignity". Many storylines throughout the years contrasted Vanessa with her bad-girl sister Meg.
This show provides examples of:
- Cliffhanger: The show ended its run on an unresolved cliffhanger, during the murder trial of Ben Harper; after testifying at the trial, Betsy Crawford collapsed... and the show faded to black.
- Dramatic Half-Hour: Expanded from 15 minutes in 1958. Technically averted for much of its run, though; due to the show's mid-day timeslot, it typically ran for 25 minutes to allow for a five-minute newscast.
- Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: Meg was obviously the foolish one while Van was quite clearly the responsible one, in fact up to the point that Van was a Parental Substitute for Meg's son, Ben.
- Long Runner: 7,315 episodes over 29 years.
- Soap Opera: Literally; in its early days, the show was produced and packaged by American Home Products.
