The Guiding Light (TGL) (known since 1975 as Guiding Light) is a long-running American television soap opera.About the show "Guiding Light" at CBS.Com

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Show development Writers Robert Soderberg and Edith Sommer wrote the show for several years until the spring of 1973. Then James Gentile, Robert Cenedella, and James Lipton continued until near the end of October 1975.

Under Soderberg and Sommer's leadership, several storylines concluded, including the gaslighting of Dr. Sara McIntyre by her first husband, Lee Gantry, and his housekeeper Miss Mildred Foss. The killing of Stanley Norris was also set up, and the mystery lasted for several months until the last-minute confession by another woman, who died in court. Another focus was the villainesses Katherine "Kit" Vested and Charlotte Waring Bauer.

The character of Roger Thorpe was introduced, played by Michael Zaslow, and became a fan favorite. His on-and-off again romance with Holly Norris Bauer Thorpe, Stanley Norris' daughter, created by Soderberg and Sommer, became one of the most popular and riveting romances on television.

Longtime cast member Theo Goetz, who played Papa Bauer on The Guiding Light, died on December 29, 1972 at the age of 78. Soderberg and Sommer wrote a tribute episode that aired on February 27, 1973, after Papa Bauer's death was incorporated into the show. The episode featured a memorial service where Dr. Ed Bauer gave a eulogy and Mike Bauer sang one of Papa's favorite songs.

Under Soderberg and Sommer, the romantic triangle between the Bauer sons, Mike and Ed, and Leslie Jackson Bauer Norris heated up, with Bert finding out about the romance during Leslie's trial for supposedly murdering Stanley Norris. This storyline was criticized by Charita Bauer, who played Bert, for not focusing on the show's main theme of family support.

In 1975, Procter & Gamble hired head writers Bridget and Jerome Dobson to compete with newer, more youth-oriented serials. The Dobsons took over from Gentile, Cenedella and Lipton, and focused on core characters, giving Bert her first real storyline in years when her husband Bill returned from the dead. They also created two families that remained prominent in storylines until the show's end in September 2009, the Spauldings and the Marlers. The Dobsons introduced characters like Alan Spaulding in November 1977, and Ross Marler in March 1979. Under the Dobsons, the longest-running recurring character, Cedars Hospital's OB-GYN Dr. Margaret Sedwick, first appeared in September 1979, helping many women through pregnancies and miscarriages over the years and playing a significant role in Lillian Raines' breast cancer diagnosis and recovery. Dr. Sedwick last appeared a few months before the show ended in 2009.

The Dobsons are credited with presenting the first-ever marital rape storyline on daytime television when Roger Thorpe raped his wife Holly Norris Bauer Thorpe in the March 5, 1979 episode of Guiding Light. This storyline was controversial and thought-provoking, leading to a major trial where attorney Ross Marler defended Roger, followed by Holly shooting him three times in the chest in June 1979. Roger was declared dead and Holly spent six months in prison for his murder until his body was exhumed, proving it wasn't his. The rape scene was considered one of the most realistic-looking in daytime history, in contrast to a previous rape scene involving Roger and Rita Stapleton that was criticized for romanticizing violence.

The Dobsons received criticism for killing off Leslie Jackson Bauer Norris Bauer in June 1976. Similarly, the decision to bring back Bill Bauer from the "dead" in the fall of 1977 was met with backlash from long-time viewers who remembered his supposed death in 1969. Although the character made brief appearances in the storyline, he was ultimately killed off in August 1983.

In early 1974, the show's theme and background music was changed from acoustic organ-based to orchestra-based. The opening and closing themes, "La Lumière," were re-scored in an orchestral version by composer Charles Paul and the billboards and titles were also updated.

On November 5, 1975, The Guiding Light changed its name to Guiding Light in an effort to modernize and also adopted a new theme song, "Ritournelle," by Charles Paul, with a visual of sunlight filtering through leaves on a tree. The show expanded to an hour-long format on November 7, 1977. The show embarked on several remote location shoots in the late 1970s, with filming in Nassau, Bahamas and Santo Domingo in June and July to September 1978.

The band Television paid tribute to the show by including a song entitled "Guiding Light" on their debut album Marquee Moon in 1977.

Major characters

The Bauers

Papa Bauer (Theo Goetz) until December 29, 1972. Meta Bauer Banning (Ellen Demming), written out on November 22, 1974. Bert Bauer (Charita Bauer until end of decade) Mike Bauer (Don Stewart until end of decade) Dr. Ed Bauer (Mart Hulswit until end of decade) Bill Bauer AKA Bill Morey (Ed Bryce, August 19, 1977, to May 31, 1978, November 1978), character brought back from the dead, came back briefly for Ed and Rita's wedding. Dr. Bruce Banning (Sydney Walker, March 1970 to December 1971; William Roerick, January to November 1974), written out. Hope Bauer (Elissa Leeds, until December 31, 1973; Tisch Raye, September 1975 to May 21, 1976; Robin Mattson, May 24, 1976, to January 14, 1977; Katherine Justice, January 19, 1977, to April 22, 1977, and November 1978; Elvera Roussel, March 19, 1979 until end of decade), SORASed daughter of Mike and Julie Bauer. Frederick "Freddie" Bauer (Albert Zungalo III, August 18, 1970, to December 1971; Gary Hannoch, January 1972 to August 1976; Robbie Berridge, August 1976 to August 1978), son of Ed and Leslie Bauer. Hillary Bauer (Linda McCullough, May 23, 1977, to February 24, 1978; Marsha Clark, March 2, 1978, until end of decade), Bill Bauer and Simone Kincaid's daughter. Paul Kincaid, Victor and Simone Kincaid's son only child. Mentioned to be in Europe but never seen. Trudy Bauer and husband Clyde Palmer (died 1974), mentioned, never seen. Leslie Jackson Bauer Norris Bauer (Lynne Adams until March 9, 1971, and then again from September 3, 1973, to June 7, 1976; Kathryn Hays, temporary replacement, March 10 to May 4, 1971; Barbara Rodell, May 5, 1971, to August 1973), Ed's first wife, Mike's third wife, Freddie's mother, character killed off. Charlotte Waring Bauer (Dorrie Kavanaugh, temporary replacement, January 2 to 16, 1970, July to October 1972; Victoria Wyndham, January 19, 1970, to June 1971; Melinda Fee, July 1971 to July 1972, October 1972 to September 1973), Mike's second wife, character killed by Kit Vestid. Dr. Stephen Jackson (Stefan Schnabel until end of decade) Victoria Ballenger (Carol Teitel, December 1973 to November 1974), Leslie's mother, character written out. Roy Mills (Josef Sommer, January to November 1974), Leslie Jacksons biological father from a long ago affair with Victoria Ballenger. Left town divorced from wife Audrey after Leslie's real parentage was disclosed. Audrey Frost Mills (Louise Troy, January to November 1974), sister of Dr. Wilson Frost, left town in 1974 after divorcing husband Roy Mills over his long ago affair with Victoria Ballenger that produced his daughter Leslie Jackson. Elsie Miller Franklin (Ethel Remey (radio and television, 1956; television only, 1957). Bert and Alma-Jean Millers mother. Died off-camera in 1977 in Arizona. Alma-Jean Miller, talked about but never seen. Phoned Bert about their mother Elsie's death. Attended with sister Bert their mother's funeral in Arizona in 1977.

The Norrises/Masons/Thorpes

Stanley Norris (Michael Higgins until August 14, 1970; William Smithers, September 14, 1970, to November 1971), character killed by Marion Conway. Barbara Norris Thorpe (Augusta Dabney, January 2, 1970, to December 28, 1970; Barbara Berjer, January 25, 1971, until end of decade), Stanley's first wife, later married Adam Thorpe. Kenneth "Ken" Norris (Roger Newman, April 20, 1970, to October 30, 1972, February 26, 1973, to April 25, 1975), Stanley and Barbara's oldest son. In 1971 and 1972 he was the Assistant District Attorney of Springfield, written out. Andrew "Andy" Norris (Bernard "Barney" Joseph McFadden, June 1975 to December 1975), son of Stanley and Barbara Norris, written out. Holly Margaret Norris Bauer Thorpe (Lynn Deerfield, August 1970 to August 20, 1976; Maureen Garrett, October 4, 1976, until end of decade), Stanley and Barbara Norris' daughter, Ed's second wife, Roger's second wife. Janet Mason Norris (Caroline McWilliams until June 24, 1975), Ken's wife, written out. Emily Norris, Ken and Janet's daughter, written out. Grove Mason (Vince O'Brien, 1970), Janet's father, died on-screen. Ellen Mason (Jeanne Arnold, 1970–1973), Janet's mother, written out. Roger Adam Thorpe (Michael Zaslow, April 1, 1971, to January 1973, April 1974 until end of decade), Holly's second husband Adam Thorpe (Robert Gerringer, 1972; Robert Milli, May 1972 until end of decade), Roger's father, Barbara's second husband. Marjorie Thorpe, character talked about but not seen, Roger's mother, Adam's first wife, deceased. Christina "Chrissy" Thorpe (originally named Christina Bauer) (Gina Foy, July 9, 1975, to May 1978; Cheryl Lynn Brown), January 1979 until end of decade), Roger and Holly's daughter, originally thought to be Ed's daughter. Peggy Scott Fletcher Thorpe (Fran Myers, until September 1977; recurring October 1977 – November 1979), Roger's first wife, written out.

The Stapletons/McFarrens

Rita Stapleton Bauer (Lenore Kasdorf, October 1975 until end of decade), Ed's third wife. Eve Stapleton McFarren (Janet Grey, May 1976 until end of decade), Rita's younger sister. Viola Stapleton (Sudie Bond, February to October 1976 (recurring); Kate Wilkinson, November 1976 until end of decade), Rita and Eve's mother. Benjamin "Ben" McFarren (Stephen Yates, February 1976 until end of decade), Eve's husband. Jerry McFarren (Peter Jensen, June to December 1975; Mark W. Travis, January 1976 to February 1977 and then again in November 1978), Ben's younger brother, character written out.

The Marlers

Dr. Justin Marler (Tom O'Rourke, May 1976 until end of decade), Phillip Spaulding's biological father. Elizabeth Spaulding Marler (Lezlie Dalton, November 7, 1977, until end of decade), Alan's first wife, Justin's second wife, thought to be the biological mother of Phillip, but back in 1969 Alan bought Phillip in a deal with Dr. Paul LaCrosse to replace Elizabeth's stillborn child, Elizabeth had an affair with Mike Bauer both before and during her marriage to Justin that Jackie found out about when she found the two of them together in a hotel room in Aspen, Colorado in December 1979. Ross James Marler (Jerry verDorn, March 23, 1979, until end of decade), Justin's younger brother. Elaine "Lainie" Marler (Kathleen Kellaigh, May 1979 until end of decade), Justin and Ross' younger sister.

The Spauldings/Scotts

Alan Spaulding (Chris Bernau, November 7, 1977, until end of decade). He would buy the Spaulding's summer home located in Springfield that would later evolve, in story line, into the Spaulding Mansion. Jacqueline "Jackie" Scott Marler Spaulding (Cindy Pickett, December 1976 until end of decade), in this decade: Dr. Justin Marler's first wife, Alan's second wife (and her second marriage), the biological mother of Phillip and she had a romantic relationship with Mike Bauer. Dr. Emmet Scott (Kenneth Harvey, January to April 2, 1977; Frank Latimore, April 5, 1977, to December 28, 1979), Jackie's father and Phillip's maternal biological grandfather, also Dr. Justin Marler's mentor. Phillip Granville Spaulding (Jarrod Ross, November 7, 1977, until end of decade), Alan bought Phillip from Dr. Paul La Crosse to replace Elizabeth's child that was stillborn.