In 1932, Phillips urged WGN to sell "Painted Dreams" to a national network. When they refused, Phillips took them to court, claiming the series as her own property. WGN manager Henry Selinger claimed to have come up with the original daytime serial to sell products for women. However, Phillips was hired to write as well as perform in this first series. Disputes of ownership over the innovative serial ended Phillip's association with WGN and she was picked up by opponent station WMAQ. "Painted Dreams" was then changed to "Today’s Children" featuring the same plot and debate over starting a career or starting a family. Phillips had then learned to retain all rights and ownership to her newly titled show and the many that followed in her career.