Guiding Light: A 50th Anniversary Celebration (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Guiding Light began, of course, with Irna Phillips..." (more)
Key Phrases: associate writer, guiding light, daytime drama, New York, Mike Bauer, Alan Spaulding (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

To some this book might be considered a trivia footnotean entire volume devoted to a soap opera. But Guiding Light is the longest-running radio/TV drama in history, now celebrating its 50th year. In the course of this, it has given a career start to many well-known actors and actresses. The series, although optimistic in tone, has dealt in a reasonably realistic way with many social issues throughout its long run. And what makes this book appealing is the author's enthusiasm in tracing the history of the show without being patronizing or condescending. Schemering has done a good job of research, and there are fascinating excerpts from the scripts, a listing of all the characters, and numerous photographs. A good choice for public libraries. Samuel Simons, Memorial Hall Lib., Andover, Mass.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st edition (December 12, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345339312
• ISBN-13: 978-0345339317
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,398 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great look at a good show, February 5, 2004

By	Jerry McDaniel (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

on page 9 there is a great up close picture of Bill and Bert Bauer at a restaurant during a 1957 episode of the show. i'm glad i bought this book because it features a whole lot more different castmember pictures than, believe it or not, the 1997 60th Anniversary edition carried. No, the 1997 book is a MUST-HAVE too...it's just that this 1987 book has a more intimate feel about it than the large 1997 book, with ten added seasons. This 1987 book, strangely enough, covers ground that the 1997 book either left out because of space restraints or the author didn't feel necessary as a whole. for example, the 1987 book lists cast-members and their personal stats like birth and death and also on page 16 there's a picture of Arthur Peterson, who played "Reverend Ruthledge" on the radio version of the show until the mid '40s when the soap opera version took over with the Bauer clan. The 1997 lacks this kind of feature. Instead, they over-view the various families of the show in the back of the book. I think the 1987 book is a must-have because it's from a different author and a different lay-out and different emphasis...if you felt that the 1987 book was useless since the 1997 edition rolled around, you're sadly mistaken...the pictures alone are WORTH buying the 1987 "50th Anniversary"! My favorite characters on the show were Roger Thorpe, Alan Spaulding, Ed Bauer, Ross Marler, and Billy Lewis.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A masterwork by a master of the genre!, August 27, 2001

By	Nelson Aspen "Author/Journalist" (Los Angeles & NYC, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This author knows his soaps better than almost anyone and he writes with a genuine love, authority and respect that is refreshing in ANY genre! Fans of the longest televised daytime serial will cherish this volume, but non-GL devotees will enjoy the cultural importance of it, too! Grab it if you can.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Our Guiding Light!, August 9, 2008

By	Sylviastel - See all my reviews

Believe it or not, this book is over 20 years old. Irna Phillips first debuted Guiding Light on radio in 1937 as a religious serial. 50 years later, Guiding Light is one of the best soaps out there on television. 21 years later, Guiding Light is still struggling to rise above the waters of cancellation. With a first rate cast and writers, Guiding Light still has the golden touch. I loved this book because it remembered Charita Bauer who was the heart and soul of the show. Also, there is a lot of Beverlee McKinsey who had just passed away. If you think about it, Guiding Light has delivered some of today's best known actors and actresses like Melina Kanakareades (CSI New York), Sherry Stringfield (ER), Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal), Kevin Bacon, and so many others that soaps still get no respect in this country. Soaps like Guiding Light put in long days to get one episode done. I doubt that the characters on primetime are as half-as-interesting as on daytime. That is the truth. I still prefer Melina as the original Eleni and Sherry as adult Blake over their primetime roles.