Guiding Light

:

Season 51
  • 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)
Mary Kay Adams India Von Halkein Spaulding (1984 - 1987; 1990 - 1991; 1998 - 1999; 2002)
Mark Pinter Mark Evans (1981 - 1983)/ Brad Green [#2] (2003 - 2004)
Allison Hirschlag Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Spaulding [#4] (Aug 12, 2002 - Jan 28, 2003)
Gil Rogers Hawk Shayne (1985-1992, 1995-1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009)
Daniel Cosgrove Harlan 'Bill' Lewis III [3] (2002-2005; 2007-2009)
Terrell Anthony Rusty Shayne (1986 - 1989,1990,1996-97,1998, 1999, 2000, 2002)
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)
Marj Dusay Alexandra Spaulding [2+4] (9/93-3/25/97; 11/98-2/99; 12/26/02-2009)
Ricky Paull Goldin Gus Aitoro (Aka Nick Augustino) (2001 - 08)
Beth Ehlers Harley Davidson Cooper Spaulding Mallet Spaulding [1] (1987 - 93; 97 - 08)
Stephanie Gatschet Tammy Layne Winslow [#2] (Jul 5, 2002 - Present; Contract)
Signy Coleman Annie Dutton (Aka Teri DeMarco) [#2] (Jul 30, 1998 - Jul 20, 1999; Jan 2003)
Stephen Schnetzer Cass Winthrop (2002)
Crystal Chappell Olivia Spencer Lewis Spaulding Lewis(1999 - Present; Contract)
Catherine Mary Stewart Naomi (2002)
Yvonna Wright Melissande 'Mel' Boudreau Bauer (Sept 20, 2001-2009; Rec.)
Wesley A. Ramsey Sam Spencer (2000 - 2002; 2003; 2004)
Joan Collins Alexandra Spaulding (2002)
Linda Cook Brenda Jensen (2003)
Michael Swan Brad Green (2003)
Justin Deas Frank 'Buzz' Cooper Sr. (2/1993 - 9/2009)
John Fiore Vinny Salerno (2003 - 2004 )
Tonja Walker Marie Green (2003 - 2004)
Thom Christopher Colonel Dax (Jul 1999 - Feb 19, 2002; 2003)
Saundra Santiago Carmen Santos (1999 - 2000; 2001 - 2003)
Russ Anderson Dr. Christopher Langham (Jun 6, 2003 - 2004 )
Miriam Colón Maria Santos [#2] (1999 - 2003)
Elizabeth Keifer Christina 'Blake' Thorpe Spaulding Marler (1992 - Present; Rec.)
Kassie DePaiva Chelsea Reardon (1986 - 1991)
Jerry verDorn Ross Marler (1979 - 2005)
Krista Tesreau Melinda 'Mindy' Lewis [1] (5/26/1983-4/1989; 10/2002; 3/6/2009-9/18/2009)
Crystal Hunt Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Spaulding [4] (2/25/03 - 1/31/06)
Laura Wright Cassandra "Cassie" Layne Winslow (Aug 1, 1997 - Present; Contract)
Jeffrey Scaperrotta Kevin Marler [Child] (2002 - Present; Rec.)
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.)
Nicholas Art Alan 'Zachary' Cooper Spaulding [Child] (2002 - Present; Rec.)
Marty West Shayne Joshua Lewis [5] (2/14/03 - 8/04)
Billy Kay Shayne Lewis [#6] (1999 - 2003)
Rebecca Hollen Trish Lewis Norris (1980 - 1985; 1997; 2002)
Lindsey McKeon Marah Lewis [#5] (Nov 6 2001 - Apr 16 2004)
Morgan Englund Dylan Shayne Lewis (1989 - 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002)
Carrie Nye Susan Piper (1984) / Carrie Carruthers (2003 - 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. )
Paul Anthony Stewart Daniel "Danny" Santos (Nov 11, 1998 - Present; Contract)
Jordi Vilasuso Antonio 'Tony' Santos [#1] (Aug 29, 2000 - Oct 3, 2003)
Michael O'Leary Frederick 'Rick' Bauer (1983 - 91; 95 - Present)
David Andrew MacDonald Edmund Winslow (1999 - Present; Contract)
Jean Carol Nadine Corly Cooper Lewis Cooper (1988 - 1995; 2003)
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)
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)
Frank Dicopoulos Frank Achilles Cooper Jr. (10/31/1987 - 9/2009)
Mary Stuart Meta Bauer [#6] (1996 - 2002)
Peter Simon Dr. William Edward "Ed" Bauer (1981 - 1984; 1986 - 1996; 2002 - 2004)
Jim Davidson Alonzo Baptiste (Aka William Winslow)
Nancy St. Alban Michelle Bauer Santos [#4] (2000 - Present; Contract)
Teresa Hill Eden August [#1] (Aug 9, 2002 - Sept 18, 2003)
Bradley Cole Richard Winslow (1999-2003)/ Jeffrey O'Neill (2003-2009)
Ty Simpkins Jude Cooper Bauer [Child] (2001 - Present)
Robert Cuccioli Chief Franklin (2002? - 2003)
Colleen Dion Ramona Hendon (2003)
Paul Michael Valley Joel Silver (2002)
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)
Michael Philip Dr. Ethan Pierce (2002)
Geoffrey Arend The Mole [Voiceover Only] (2003)/Gavin(2003)
Erin Cottrell Camille Baptiste (2001 - 2002)
Victor Slezak Andy Ferris (1984 - 1985)/Dr. Webster (2000)/Roy Baker (2003)
Sophie Hayden Lucia Renaldi (Aka Regina Tessori) (2003)
Kim Brockington Felicia Boudreau [#2] (May 6th, 2002 - Present; Rec.)
Katie Sagona Tammy Layne Winslow [#1] [Child] (1997 - 2002)
Fay Wolf Sunny Adelman (2002)
Meghan Wolf Monica Parker (2002 - 2003)
Stephen Zinnato Nolan (2002 - 2003?)
Hayley Sparks Harley Cooper [#3] (1999; 2001; 2002; Temporary Recast)
Gavin Alexander Houston Remy Boudreau [#2] (May 14, 2002 - Present; Rec.)
James Kukinski Jason Marler [Child] (2002 - Present; Rec.)
Amanda Serkasevich Darci Matthews(Jun 2, 2003 - Aug 2004)
Justin Klosky Joey Luppo (2003 - 2004)
John Riggins Mitchell Hendon (2003)
Stuart Ambrose John Schmidt (Nov 8 - 11, 2002)

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