Guiding Light

:

Season 50
  • 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
Richard Biggs Clayton Boudreau [#1] (Oct 1, 2001 - 2003)
Grant Aleksander Phillip Spaulding [#2+#4] (Jun 1982 - Dec 1984; Jan 1987 - Feb 1991; May 1996 - Nov 2004)
Susan Pratt Claire Ramsey (04/1983-12/1986; 04/10/00-08/16/02)
Shari Headley Felicia Boudreau [#1] (Aug 30, 2001 - Mar 7, 2002)
Ricky Paull Goldin Gus Aitoro (Aka Nick Augustino) (2001 - 08)
Roscoe Born Peter Vreeland (2001)
Beth Ehlers Harley Davidson Cooper Spaulding Mallet Spaulding [1] (1987 - 93; 97 - 08)
Ryan Brown Harlen "Bill" Lewis III [#2] (1998 - 2001)
Crystal Chappell Olivia Spencer Lewis Spaulding Lewis(1999 - Present; Contract)
Yvonna Wright Melissande 'Mel' Boudreau Bauer (Sept 20, 2001-2009; Rec.)
Wesley A. Ramsey Sam Spencer (2000 - 2002; 2003; 2004)
Justin Deas Frank 'Buzz' Cooper Sr. (2/1993 - 9/2009)
Thom Christopher Colonel Dax (Jul 1999 - Feb 19, 2002; 2003)
Saundra Santiago Carmen Santos (1999 - 2000; 2001 - 2003)
Miriam Colón Maria Santos [#2] (1999 - 2003)
Mark Dobies Dr. Noah Chase (2000-2001)
Elizabeth Keifer Christina 'Blake' Thorpe Spaulding Marler (1992 - Present; Rec.)
Charissa Chamorro Victoria 'Tory' Granger (Sept 19, 2001 - Jul 16, 2002)
Jerry verDorn Ross Marler (1979 - 2005)
Terrell Tilford David Grant (1998 - 2001)
Laura Wright Cassandra "Cassie" Layne Winslow (Aug 1, 1997 - Present; Contract)
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.)
Billy Kay Shayne Lewis [#6] (1999 - 2003)
Kimberley Simms Melinda 'Mindy' Lewis [#2] (1990 - 1992, 1997)
Lindsey McKeon Marah Lewis [#5] (Nov 6 2001 - Apr 16 2004)
Jessica Jimenez Catalina Quesada Santos (2000 - 2002)
Beth Chamberlin Beth Raines Bauer Spaulding Lemay Winslow (Aka Lorelei Hills) [#2] (1989 - 1991; 1997 - Present; Rec.)
Matthew Bomer Benjamin "Ben" (Sampson) Reade (Oct 23, 2001 - Jul 31, 2003)
Ron Raines Alan Spaulding [3] (7/1994-7/15/2009)
Maureen Garrett Holly Norris Bauer Thorpe Lindsay Reade [#2] (1976 - 1980; 1988 - Present; Rec. )
Melissa Hayden Bridget Reardon (1991 - 1997)
Paul Anthony Stewart Daniel "Danny" Santos (Nov 11, 1998 - Present; Contract)
Paula Garcés Pilar Santos (1999 - 2001)
Jordi Vilasuso Antonio 'Tony' Santos [#1] (Aug 29, 2000 - Oct 3, 2003)
Michael O'Leary Frederick 'Rick' Bauer (1983 - 91; 95 - Present)
Victoria Platt Victoria 'Vicky' Brandon Spaulding [#2] (1998 - 2001)
David Andrew MacDonald Edmund Winslow (1999 - Present; Contract)
Oliver Macready Henry "Romeo" Jones (July 24th, 2001 - June 17th, 2002)
Aubrey Dollar Marina Nadine Cooper [#3] (2001 - 2004)
Jordan Clarke Harlan 'Billy' Lewis II (1983-1987; 1989-1994; 1996; 1999-2009; Rec. )/Dr. Tim Ryan (1974-1976)
Jennifer Roszell Eleni Andros Cooper [#3] (1995 - 2000; 2001 - 2002)
Frank Dicopoulos Frank Achilles Cooper Jr. (10/31/1987 - 9/2009)
Brittany Snow Susan Lemay (Aka Daisy Cooper) (1998 - 2001)
Mary Stuart Meta Bauer [#6] (1996 - 2002)
Peter Simon Dr. William Edward "Ed" Bauer (1981 - 1984; 1986 - 1996; 2002 - 2004)
Nancy St. Alban Michelle Bauer Santos [#4] (2000 - Present; Contract)
Bradley Cole Richard Winslow (1999-2003)/ Jeffrey O'Neill (2003-2009)
Ty Simpkins Jude Cooper Bauer [Child] (2001 - Present)
Paul Wesley Max Nickerson [#2] (1999 - 2001)
Joseph Siravo Carlos Sandoval (1999 - 2001)
Orlagh Cassidy Doris Wolfe (5/1998-9/2009)
Tina Sloan Lillian Raines (1983-2009)
George Alvarez Father Ray Santos [2] (3/30/1999-2007; 2008-2009; Rec.)
Mackenzie Mauzy Lizzie Spaulding [#3] [Child] (Nov 21, 2000 - Jul 16, 2003)
Corey Parker Robinson Remy Boudreau [#1] (Aug 28, 2001 - Apr 4, 2002)
Erin Cottrell Camille Baptiste (2001 - 2002)
Robert Turano Bernardo Sandoval (1999 - 2001)
Magaly Colimon Ruth Lockhart (1999 - 2001)
Katie Sagona Tammy Layne Winslow [#1] [Child] (1997 - 2002)
Hayley Sparks Harley Cooper [#3] (1999; 2001; 2002; Temporary Recast)
Amanda Serkasevich Darci Matthews(Jun 2, 2003 - Aug 2004)
Natasha Roi Perdita Chase (2000 - 2001)

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