Jeziorany radio show (since 1960, Poland)
Original title
W Jezioranach
Episode time
30 minutes
Language
Polish
Set in fictitious village of Jeziorany near Pulawy in Poland the radio show tells the story of Jablonski family, their neighbours, relatives, friends and local folklore. Just like many other soap operas it shows every day problems that occur in small community in rural area (similar to f.e. The Archers).
Jeziorany (Polish title W Jezioranach literally means In Jeziorany) was devised in 1960 as counter-weight for other radio soap opera, The Matysiaks (broadcasted since 1956). While The Matysiaks were set in Polish capital, Warsaw, in typical urban working class environment Jeziorany were suppose to appeal to more rural part of the society and show how their lives look like. Of course it did not actually worked as it was planned, since a lot of urban areas population was also looking for entertainment that give the feeling of being closer to nature.
Although Jeziorany is typical soap opera, it was never associated with any form of commercial advertising (in communist times there was no such thing as commercial ads in radio) and also the creators made one rule that made it stand out - the character in Jeziorany dies (or is written out) together with the actor that is playing it, so there were no cases in which any character would be taken over by another actor.
Creators of Jeziorany
screenplay
screenplay
Cast of Jeziorany
as Stefan Jabłoński
as Edek Jabłoński
as Józef Jabłoński
as grandpa Mateusz
as Irena Jabłońska
as Janka Jabłońska
as Zenek Kajfasz
as Wojciaszek Pawlacz
as Jola Jabłońska
as Janusz Tetera
as doctor Ragólski
as Władysław Borek
as Wiesław Sroka
as Teresa Borkowa
as Wanda Janiakówna
as Bolek Jabłoński
as Zbigniew Półtorak
as Polikarp Lepieszko
as Henio Wilczewski
as Krysia Borkówna
as Wiktor Kania
as Zygmunt Pawlacz
as Justyna Kajfasz
Trivia about Jeziorany
Real place called Jeziorany
Although there is a town called Jeziorany (population around 3000, near Olsztyn in Polish lake district) it has nothing to do with the place presented in radio show.
Forced hiatus
Although the soap opera is continuously on air since 1960 there was a forced hiatus since December 1981 until May 1983 (when Martial law was declared in Poland by falling communist party), during that period no new episodes were produced.
