guiding light

Title card (2008) Genre Soap opera Creator(s) Irna Phillips Senior cast member(s) Kim Zimmer

Jordan Clarke

Robert Newman

Michael O'Leary

Grant Aleksander

Tina Sloan Country of origin United States No. of episodes 15,638 (as of March 27, 2009) Production Executive producer(s) Ellen Wheeler Head writer(s) Christopher Dunn, Lloyd Gold, Jill Lorie Hurst, and David Kreizman Distributor TeleNext Media for Procter & Gamble Productions Running time 15 minutes (1952-1968)

30 minutes (1968-1977)

60 minutes (1977-2009) Broadcast Original channel NBC (radio)

CBS (television) Original airdate January 25, 1937-1956 (radio)

June 30, 1952-Present (television) Links Guiding Light Official Website

Guiding Light (known as The Guiding Light prior to 1975, or simply GL) is an American television program credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the longest-running soap opera in production and the longest running drama in television and radio history.[1]

Guiding Light was created by soap writer Irna Phillips, and began as an NBC radio serial on January 25, 1937 before moving to CBS on June 30, 1952, as a televised serial.

The show's title refers to a lamp in the study of Reverend Dr. John Ruthledge, a major character when Guiding Light debuted in 1937, that family and residents could see as a sign for them to find help when needed.

Guiding Light is currently in its final season on CBS, as the network announced on April 1, 2009 that due to low ratings the series was being canceled. The final episode is scheduled to air on September 18, 2009.[2] Series producer Procter & Gamble Productions has said that they are not going to give up on the series and are exploring other options, including cable networks (a move similar to the one employed by the producers of Passions when the show was canceled by NBC) and Internet broadcasts.[3][4] Contents [hide] 1 Production and locales 2 History, plot development, and cast 2.1 1930s and 1940s 2.2 1950s 2.3 1960s 2.4 1970s 2.5 1980s 2.6 1990s 2.7 2000s 3 Production 4 Cast 5 Broadcast history 5.1 Internet ratings 6 Awards 6.1 Daytime Emmy Awards 6.1.1 Show 6.1.2 Individuals 6.2 Other awards 7 Head writers and executive producers 8 References 9 See also 10 External links //

Production and locales

Guiding Light has been broadcast from three locations: Chicago, Illinois, from 1937 until 1946, Hollywood, California, from 1947 until 1949, and New York City since 1949. It was moved from Chicago to Hollywood (despite objections of both Irna Phillips and Arthur Peterson) to take advantage of the talent pool. Production was subsequently moved to New York City, where it remains. It is currently taped at the CBS studios in midtown Manhattan. Since shortly before