Guiding Light

Guiding Light is America’s longest running soap opera in history as well as the longest running drama in television and radio history. Guiding Light got its start on the radio in 1937, as creator and writer Irna Phillips based the story lines on her personal experiences. Often tying in spiritual aspects into the program, Guiding Light enjoyed success as a radio program until the early 50’s when the television captivated audiences with its introduction to the entertainment market. As a radio program Guiding Light had aired on NBC, however it moved to the CBS networks when the show transitioned into a 15-minute length television program. During the 50’s Phillips moved to As the World Turns and her protégé, Agnes Nixon, took over the head writing position for the show. The 50’s were based around the Bauers, who were an immigrant family from Germany. The plot lines were largely based around this family and their ties with society, as well as their obvious personal turmoil’s and relationships. During the 60’, more controversial plot lines such as the introduction of Cancer played a pivotal role in the inception of the show. The 60’s also had a lot of transition as color was introduced as well as an increased time format from 15 to 30 minutes. The 70’s were all about transition as pressure from some of the younger soap operas were introducing younger more innovative plot lines into the mix. Therefore Guiding Light hired some new writers to inject some new and fresh ideas. More complex relationships were initiated including the love/hate relationship of Roger and Holly. The show was also mainly focused on two families in the 70’s including the Bauers and the Spauldings. The next two decades of the show managed to bring back the character of Bill Bauer, which was controversial because he was thought to have died in a plane crash. The shows young starlet, Leslie Jackson Bauer was also killed off which was found to be shocking among viewers. The show also won its first Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in a Daytime Drama in 1980. More recently Guiding Light has tried to take advantage of more social issues that can resonate with fans such as addiction, homosexuality, cancer, AIDS, and wrongful death. Since Guiding Light got a head start of many other popular soap operas it was always able to rely on its veteran actors. The strong acting styles of their most veteran actors could always be relied upon if the newer characters could not provide audiences with the depth that it had become accustomed to. Although, CBS has cancelled Guiding Light it will continue to air on the Internet and possible on cable networks. Guiding Light currently holds the Guinness Book Of World Records for being the longest running soap opera in production and will always be remembered for being innovative in its field for years and generations to come. Guiding Light’s fan base is tremendous and will continue to support all their endeavors in the future due to their superior loyalty to the show.

This site is in no way associated with or endorsed by Guiding Light