"The Guiding Light" (1952)TV series 1952-????

Creator:

Irna Phillips

Seasons:

1 | unknown

Release Date:

30 June 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

There is a destiny that makes us brothers, none goes his way alone. All that we send into the lives of others, comes back into our own.

Plot:

Guiding Light takes place in the fictional Midwestern town of Springfield. In its early years the stories centered on the middle class Bauer family...

Plot Keywords:

Shipper | Soap Opera | Soap | Based On Radio Show | Springfield

Awards:

87 wins & 348 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. May 13	10:00 AM	CBS
Wed. May 14	10:00 AM	CBS

Cast

Lia Yang	...	Susan (507 episodes, 1993-2007)
Kim Zimmer	...	Reva Shayne Lewis Cooper Spaulding Lewis Lewis / ... (404 episodes, 1983-2008)
Robert Newman	...	Joshua Lewis / ... (396 episodes, 1981-2008)
Beth Ehlers	...	Harley Davidson Cooper Spaulding Mallet Spaulding Aitoro / ... (355 episodes, 1987-2008)
Beth Chamberlin	...	Lorelei Hills / ... (340 episodes, 1994-2008)
Ron Raines	...	Alan Spaulding / ... (288 episodes, 1994-2008)
Nicole Forester	...	Cassie Winslow / ... (254 episodes, 2005-2008)
Bradley Cole	...	Jeffrey O'Neill / ... (247 episodes, 1999-2008)
Justin Deas	...	Frank Achilles 'Buzz' Cooper, Sr. / ... (220 episodes, 1993-2008)
Ricky Paull Goldin	...	Gus Aitoro / ... (220 episodes, 2001-2008)
Mandy Bruno	...	Marina Cooper / ... (214 episodes, 2004-2008)
Michael O'Leary	...	Dr. Frederick 'Rick' Bauer, M.D. / ... (208 episodes, 1983-2008)

Also Known As:

Guiding Light (USA) (new title)

Runtime:

15 min (1952-1968) | 30 min (1968-1977) | 60 min (1977-)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (1952-1967) | Color (1967-)

Sound Mix:

Mono (1952-1987) | Stereo (1987-)

Certification:

USA:TV-14

Filming Locations:

CBS Broadcast Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP)

Trivia:

"The Guiding Light" began on radio, on 25 January 1937, and originally revolved around a minister named Rev. Dr. John Ruthledge (played by Arthur Peterson) and his congregation in Five Points, IL. At 68 years (although on radio it was cancelled by NBC, five times: 1939, 1941, 1942, 1944 and 1946; with audiences having huge letter writing campaigns to have NBC revive it and then was picked up by CBS in 1947), it is the longest running drama series in history. It was on radio and television (the actors/actresses had to perform scripts twice during the day), from June 30, 1952 to June 30, 1956. It is also the only broadcast show to actually be on three networks, NBC would split in two in 1946 (NBC and what would later become ABC; and "The Guiding Light" was on both versions of NBC: NBC Red and NBC Blue) and then went to CBS where it has stayed to today. It also has changed location three times, from 1937 to 1946 it was in Five Points, IL (a fictional suburb of Chicago), then it moved, from 1947 to 1965 to Selby Flats, CA (a fictional suburb of Los Angeles) and then finally to its current location of the fictional Springfield, Illinois in 1966.

Quotes:

[Later, the two of them discuss their day]
Harley: Did you buy or seel any small countries today?
Gus: No, that's tomorrow at 4.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Law & Order: Profile - Jesse L. Martin (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Die Springfield Story

Please watch Guiding Light and Save television history from cancellation!

I love Guiding Light. In fact last Friday, our CBS affiliate in New York interrupted for "breaking news" within minutes of the show's finale. It's bad enough on a Friday a few minutes before the credits ran. I have watched Guiding Light for 14 years now and I am hooked. This year, CBS will decide it's fate. With only 2 million Nielson viewers, the show could be canceled and replaced with useless television talk shows which are cheaper to make. If Guiding Light and As The World Turns are canceled, daytime television would be in enormous trouble. I remember a time when New York City was the capital of the soaps but now only 4 soaps remain. I was furious with Mayor Giuliani for not preventing the cancellation of Another World in 1999. He did nothing but yet his wife appeared on the show and others as well. If Guiding Light gets canceled, Irna Phillips and Charita Bauer would be turning over in their graves over the loss. I hope CBS makes the right decision! I hope you watch the show for its continuous excellence in acting, writing, and directing. This show deserves to be recognized as a part of American history. Believe me, the Roger and Holly relationship far outweighed any couple on daytime or prime-time television. I love Doug Hutchison's portrayal of the mysterious Sebastian Hulce. I love my veteran performers like Marj Dusay, Ron Raines, Jerry ver Dorn, Maureen Garrett, Beth Ehlers, Frank Dicopoulos. Believe me, there is nothing on prime-time or in the cinema that is like Guiding Light! If you can watch Desperate Housewives, give daytime a try. You just might like it.