The Guiding Light (GL) (known since 1975 as Guiding Light) was a long-running American television soap opera.
Show development
Agnes Nixon wanted to see social issues worked into the plot, and set the tone for much of the material used during the 1960s. One story, which involved Bert's battle with uterine cancer gave many female viewers the incentive to see their gynecologists.
In 1965, Nixon became the headwriter of NBC's Another World, at the behest of her mentor, Irna Phillips, who created both GL and AW, but remained at GL for another year .On March 13, 1967, the show was first broadcast in color. On September 9, 1968, the show expanded from 15 to 30 minutes as did CBS' then other 15 minute daytime drama, Search for Tomorrow. Following the industry trend, the show also switched from broadcasting live to pre-taping in 1968.
Major characters
The Bauers
Papa Bauer (Theo Goetz until end of decade) Meta Bauer Banning (Ellen Demming until June 30, 1966) Bill Bauer (Ed Bryce until 1963, and then September 1965 until July 1969; Eugene H. Smith, 1964 only), character presumed deceased Bert Bauer (Charita Bauer until end of decade) Mike Bauer (Michael Allen until January 3, 1961; Paul Prokopf, January 2, 1962, to January 1963; Gary Francis Pillar (later Carpenter), February 1963 to Fall 1965, Pilar also appeared on Another World as Mike Bauer from February 7, 1966, to February 2, 1967; Robert Pickering, March 18, 1968, to December 13, 1968; Don Stewart, December 16, 1968, until end of decade), character SORASed Dr. William Edward "Ed" Bauer, Jr. (Pat Collins until 1961; Robert Gentry, April 4, 1966, to April 25, 1969; Mart Hulswit, September 24, 1969, until end of decade), character SORASed Dr. Bruce Banning (Lester "Les" Damon until November 1960; Barnard Hughes, June 1961 to June 1966) Julie Conrad Bauer (Sandra Smith}, January 1962 to July 1, 1965), Mike's first legal wife, character committed suicide, off-camera, in January 1966 Hope Bauer (Jennifer Kirschner, October 2, 1963, to August 1965; Elisa Leeds played Hope on Another World from March 25, 1966, to June 30, 1966, and then again from December 1968 until end of decade; Paula Schwartz, March 1968 to December 1968), Mike and Julie's daughter, character born on screen on October 2, 1963 Trudy Bauer Palmer, character talked about, but not seen Clyde Palmer, character talked about, but not seen Leslie Jackson Bauer (Lynne Adams, April 1966 until end of decade), Ed's first wife
The Fletchers and Benedicts and Scotts
Dr. Paul Fletcher (Barnard Grant until end of decade) Anne Benedict Fletcher (Joan Gray until April 1962; Elizabeth Hubbard, May to October 1962), Paul's first wife, character killed off Henry Benedict (John Gibson until April 1960; John Boruff, May 1962 to December 1966; Lester Rawlins, February to September 1967; Paul McGrath, September to December 1967), Anne's father, character written out Helene Benedict (Kay Campbell, May 1962 to May 1964), Anne's mother, character killed off, off-screen in 1966 Dr. John "Johnny" Fletcher (Sheldon Golumb, January to December 1962; Donald Melvin, January 1963 to December 1964; Daniel Fortas, January to August 1965; Don Scardino, September 1965 to July 1967; Erik Howell, July 1967 until end of decade), Paul and Anne's SORASed son Jane Fletcher Hayes (Pamela King, August 1962 to September 1963; Chase Crosley, October 1963 to November 1968), Paul's younger half-sister; character written out Robin Lang Holden Bowden Fletcher (Judy Robinson until April 1960; Abigail Kellogg, April 1960 to October 1961; Nancy Malone, October 1961 to October 1963; Ellen Weston, October 1963 to December 1964; Gillian Spencer, December 1964 to October 1967), was married and her marriage annulled to Mike Bauer in 1961. In 1964, Robin became Paul Fletcher's second wife. The character was killed off in 1967. Margaret "Maggie" Scott (June Graham, May 1965 to March 1968), Bill's secretary, character killed off Benjamin "Ben" Scott (Bernard Kates, December 1965 to April 1967), Maggie's husband, character killed off Peggy Scott Dillman Fletcher (Fran Myers, June 1965 until end of decade), Johnny's wife, her second marriage, Maggie and Ben's daughter George Hayes (Phillip Sterling, January 1962 to November 1968), Jane's husband, character written out
The Norrises
Stanley "Stan" Norris (Michael Higgins, August 18, 1969, until end of decade) Barbara Norris, character talked about but not seen Kenneth "Ken" Norris, character talked about but not seen Andrew "Andy" Norris, character not seen, spoken of as in Vietnam Holly Norris, character talked about but not seen Katherine "Kit" Vestid (Nancy Addison Altman, September 1969 until end of decade), Stanley's second wife