Guiding Light

:

Season 44
  • Network: CBS
  • Series Premiere Date: Jun 30, 1952
Season #: 72, 71, 58, 57, 56, 55, 54, 53, 52, 51, 50, 49, 48, 47, 46, 45, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40, 39, 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
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Summary: The late soap journalist Christopher Schemering once wrote that soap operas are not just dramas; "they're little pockets of American history." So it's only fitting to consider that at one time, "The Guiding Light,"-the longest running program in broadcast history, spanning 71 years-- brought fifteen-minute bits of escapism to war-weary housewives, as their men trudged off to fight the indignities of WWII. It brought social awareness to a nation that began to think about the big picture beyond their picket fences and suburban streets. Soap opera is a truly dynamic genre that reflects life as it is lived, the quintessential American art form. Although berated and belittled, the soap opera has an illustrious lineage, with no less than the books of Charles Dickins as an inspiration. Created by the legendary, if not iron-fisted Irna Phillips, "The Guiding Light" began its life on January 25, 1937. Originally, the show focused on the Chicagoan suburb of Five Points, a bustling enclave of German-Jewish immigrants hoping to find their own piece of the American dream. Giving them the hope and inspiration they needed was a kindly minister named Reverend John Ruthledge (voiced by Arthur Peterson of "Soap" fame). The Reverend's sermons of hope and forgiveness made such an impression that a bestselling book was published of his most popular homilies. The Reverend's message could be summed up by his favorite mantra from Edwin Markum "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." On the desk near his window, the minister placed an old lantern, a "guiding light" to those parishioners passing in the cold, hopeless night. In the 1940's the Reverend Ruthledge enrolled as a chaplain to do his part of the war effort. However, when the production of the show moved to the west coast, Peterson refused to join them, so Irna Phillips had the minister die when his plane was shot down overseas. His "friendship lamp" went too with the production move to the town of Selby Flats, California. Reverend Matthews took over for the late Rev. Ruthledge as the center of hope and inspiration. However, by the time that the show was slated to move to television, the religious undertones of the show were virtually gone and the focus was moved yet again to the family Bauer. * Guiding Light was cancelled on April 1, 2009 and the last episode aired on September 18, 2009.

Details

Network: CBS
Genre(s): Drama
Seasons: 72, 71, 58, 57, 56, 55, 54, 53, 52, 51, 50, 49, 48, 47, 46, 45, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40, 39, 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Cast Credit
Amelia Marshall Gilly Grant Speakes (1989 - 1996)
Gil Rogers Hawk Shayne (1985-1992, 1995-1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009)
Marcy Walker Tangie Hill (1993 - 1995)
Vincent Irizarry Lujack (Brandon) Luvonaczeck (1984 - 1986)/Nick McHenry Spaulding (1991 - 1996)
Rebecca Budig Michelle Bauer [#2] (1995 - 1998)
Marj Dusay Alexandra Spaulding [2+4] (9/93-3/25/97; 11/98-2/99; 12/26/02-2009)
Robert LuPone Leo Flynn (1990; 1992 - 1996; 2000)
Rick Hearst Alan-Michael Spaulding [#2] (1990 - 1996)
David Lee Russek Christos (1995)
Barbara Crampton Melinda 'Mindy' Lewis [#4] (1993 - 1995)
John Driscoll Henry Cooper "Coop" Bradshaw (9/2/04 - 2/17/2009)
Scott Hoxby Patrick Cutter (1993 - 1995)
Wendy Moniz Dinah Marler Thorpe Jessup [#3] (Feb 20, 1995 - Feb 04, 1999)
Cynthia Watros Annie Dutton Bauer Lewis (Dec 9, 1994 - Feb 23, 1998)
Lisa Brown Nola Reardon Chamberlain (1980 - 1985; 1995 - 1997)
Barbara Berjer Barbara Norris (1971 - 1981; 1989; 1995-1996)
Justin Deas Frank 'Buzz' Cooper Sr. (2/1993 - 9/2009)
Monti Sharp David Grant (1992 - 1995)
Allison Janney Ginger (1993 - 1995)
Melina Kanakaredes Eleni Andros Cooper [#1] (1991 - 1995)
Peter Brouwer Max Blume (1995 - 1996)
Elizabeth Keifer Christina 'Blake' Thorpe Spaulding Marler (1992 - Present; Rec.)
Jerry verDorn Ross Marler (1979 - 2005)
W.T. Martin Nick Sutton (1987 - 1988)/Sean Reardon (1995)
Kurt McKinney Matt Reardon (1994 - 2000; 2005)
Hillary Edson Eve Guthrie Bauer (1992 - 1995)
David Fonteno Dr. Charles Grant (1995 - )
Robert Newman Joshua 'Josh' Lewis (Oct 1981-Dec 1984; Oct 1986-Jan 1991; Aug 1993-Sept 2009)
Kim Zimmer Reva Shayne Lewis Spaulding Lewis Winslow Cooper Lewis (Nov 18,1983 - Jul 23,1990; Apr 25,1995 - Present; Contract)/ "Dolly Lewi
Margaret Gweneviere Dr. Margaret Sedwick (1979 - Present; Occ. Rec.)
Morgan Englund Dylan Shayne Lewis (1989 - 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002)
Ron Raines Alan Spaulding [3] (7/1994-7/15/2009)
Jay Hammer Fletcher Reade (1984 - 1999)
Maureen Garrett Holly Norris Bauer Thorpe Lindsay Reade [#2] (1976 - 1980; 1988 - Present; Rec. )
Melissa Hayden Bridget Reardon (1991 - 1997)
Michael O'Leary Frederick 'Rick' Bauer (1983 - 91; 95 - Present)
Toby Poser Amanda Spaulding Thorpe [#2] (1995 - 1998)
Vince Williams Hampton 'Hamp' Speakes (1989 - 1995)
Michael Zaslow Roger Thorpe [#1] (1971 - 1980; 1989 - 1997)
Russell Curry David Grant [#2] (1995)
Jean Carol Nadine Corly Cooper Lewis Cooper (1988 - 1995; 2003)
Sonia Satra Lucy Cooper Spaulding (1993 - 1997)
Jennifer Roszell Eleni Andros Cooper [#3] (1995 - 2000; 2001 - 2002)
Maeve Kinkead Vanessa Chamberlain Lewis Reardon (6/1980-8/1981; 2/1982-1987; 7/1989-7/2000; 6/2002; 4-5/2005; 2/2006-9/2009)
William Roerick Dr. Bruce Banning (1974) / Henry Chamberlain (1980 - 1996)
Frank Dicopoulos Frank Achilles Cooper Jr. (10/31/1987 - 9/2009)
Amy Ecklund Abigail Blume Bauer (1995 - 2000)
Rachel Miner Michelle Bauer [#1] [Child] (1989 - 1995)
Peter Simon Dr. William Edward "Ed" Bauer (1981 - 1984; 1986 - 1996; 2002 - 2004)
Brett Cooper Shayne Joshua Lewis [#1] [Child] (1993 - 1997)
Kimberly J. Brown Marah Lewis [#2] [Child] (1993 - 1998)
Casey Rosenhaus Marina Cooper [Infant] [#1] (1993 - 1996)
Geoffrey C. Ewing Griffin Williams (1995 - 1998)
Tina Sloan Lillian Raines (1983-2009)
Petronia Paley Vivian Grant (1992 - 1997; 1998)
Gregory Burke Ben (Sampson) Reade [#1] [Child] (1989 - 1996)
Mary Peterson Nell Cleary (1995 - 1996)
Victoria Boothby Isabella Shankford (1995)
Larry Gates H.B. Harlan Lewis (1983 - 1996)
Bryan Buffinton Harlan 'Billy' Lewis III [#1] [Child] (1989 - 1998)
Eugene Troobnick Stavros Kouperakis (1991 - 1995)
Kevin Mambo Marcus Williams (1995 - 1998)
Sophie Hayden Lucia Renaldi (Aka Regina Tessori) (2003)
Meg Anderson Maggie (1993 - 1995)
Tandy Cronyn Charlotte Blume (1995 - 1996)
Nina Landey Cassie Lawrence (1995 - 1996)
Wendy Kaplan Eleni Andros Spaulding Cooper [#2] (1994 - 1995)
Alysia Zucker Marina Cooper [#1] [Child] (1993 - 1996)
Frank Beaty Brent Lawrence (Aka Marian Crane) [#1] (Mar 1995 - Jun 27, 1995; Aug 14, 1995 - Feb 1996)
Veronica Cruz Gabriella Lopez (1994 - 1995)
Barbara Stein Lila Lawrence (1995)
Nancy Bell Susan Bates Spaulding (1995-1996)

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