Guiding Light
From The TV IV
| Guiding Light | |
 | |
| Premiere | June 30, 1952 |
| Finale | September 18, 2009 |
| Airs | |
| Creator | Irna Phillips |
| Network | CBS |
| Style | soap opera
15-minute (1952-1968) 30-minute (1968-1977) 60-minute (1977-2009) |
| Company | Procter & Gamble Productions |
| Episodes | 15,762 |
| Origin | USA |
Guiding Light was a soap opera that aired on CBS. It remains the longest running soap on US television, having aired for 58 seasons.
The show began as The Guiding Light in 1937 on the NBC Red radio network and dealt with the trials and tribulations of a small town minister. It graduated to television in 1952, airing on CBS in 15-minute installments. It expanded to 30 minutes in 1968 and a full hour in 1977. In spite of winning over 60 Emmys (daytime edition), the show has been in the ratings cellar over the last twenty years, being bested by ABC's General Hospital. Guiding Light was replaced by a revival of the game show Let's Make a Deal.
Contents |
Cast
For a full listing of all cast members, see cast listing
Seasons
| Season | Premiere | Finale | # |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBS | |||
| Season One | June 30, 1952 | December 31, 1952 | 131 |
| Season Two | January 2, 1953 | — | — |
| Season Three | 1954 | December 31, 1954 | — |
| Season Four | 1955 | — | — |
| Season Five | 1956 | — | — |
| Season Six | 1957 | December 31, 1957 | — |
| Season Seven | January 2, 1958 | — | — |
| Season Eight | January 2, 1959 | December 31, 1959 | — |
| Season Nine | January 4, 1960 | December 31, 1960 | — |
| Season Ten | January 2, 1961 | December 29, 1961 | — |
| Season Eleven | January 2, 1962 | December 31, 1962 | — |
| Season Twelve | January 2, 1963 | December 31, 1963 | — |
| Season Thirteen | January 2, 1964 | December 31, 1965 | — |
| Season Fourteen | January 4, 1965 | December 31, 1965 | — |
| Season Fifteen | January 3, 1966 | December 30, 1966 | — |
| Season Sixteen | January 3, 1967 | December 29, 1967 | — |
| Season Seventeen | January 2, 1968 | December 31, 1968 | — |
| Season Eighteen | January 2, 1969 | December 31, 1969 | — |
| Season Nineteen | January 2, 1970 | December 31, 1970 | — |
| Season Twenty | January 2, 1971 | December 31, 1971 | — |
| Season Twenty-One | January 3, 1972 | December 31, 1972 | — |
| Season Twenty-Two | January 2, 1973 | December 31, 1973 | — |
| Season Twenty-Three | January 2, 1974 | December 31, 1974 | — |
| Season Twenty-Four | January 2, 1975 | December 31, 1975 | — |
| Season Twenty-Five | 1976 | December 31, 1976 | — |
| Season Twenty-Six | January 3, 1977 | December 30, 1977 | — |
| Season Twenty-Seven | January 3, 1978 | December 29, 1978 | — |
| Season Twenty-Eight | January 2, 1979 | — | — |
| Season Twenty-Nine | 1980 | — | — |
| Season Thirty | 1981 | — | — |
| Season Thirty-One | January 4, 1982 | — | — |
| Season Thirty-Two | 1983 | — | — |
| Season Thirty-Three | 1984 | — | — |
| Season Thirty-Four | 1985 | — | — |
| Season Thirty-Five | January 2, 1986 | — | — |
| Season Thirty-Six | 1987 | December 31, 1987 | — |
| Season Thirty-Seven | 1988 | — | — |
| Season Thirty-Eight | 1989 | — | — |
| Season Thirty-Nine | January 2, 1990 | December 31, 1990 | — |
| Season Forty | 1991 | — | — |
| Season Forty-One | 1992 | — | — |
| Season Forty-Two | January 4, 1993 | — | — |
| Season Forty-Three | 1994 | — | — |
| Season Forty-Four | 1995 | December 31, 1995 | — |
| Season Forty-Five | 1996 | — | — |
| Season Forty-Six | January 2, 1997 | — | — |
| Season Forty-Seven | January 2, 1998 | — | — |
| Season Forty-Eight | January 4, 1999 | December 30, 1999 | — |
| Season Forty-Nine | January 3, 2000 | December 28, 2000 | 250 |
| Season Fifty | January 2, 2001 | December 28, 2001 | 244 |
| Season Fifty-One | January 2, 2002 | — | — |
| Season Fifty-Two | January 2, 2003 | — | — |
| Season Fifty-Three | 2004 | — | — |
| Season Fifty-Four | 2005 | — | — |
| Season Fifty-Five | 2006 | — | — |
| Season Fifty-Six | January 2, 2007 | — | — |
| Season Fifty-Seven | January 2, 2008 | December 30, 2008 | — |
| Season Fifty-Eight | January 2, 2009 | September 18, 2009 | 181 |
In-Depth
- At a Glance: Additional information about the series
- Character Listing:
- Crew Listing:
DVD Releases
There is currently no DVD Releases for this series.
External Sites
- The Official Guiding Light Website at CBS.com
- Marcy's World Marcy Walker - Tangie Hill on GL
Categories: Program | CBS | Drama | Soap Opera | Based on Radio Program | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 1952 Premieres | 2009 Finales | Guiding Light
