Customer Reviews

Guiding Light: The Complete Family Album

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I have the hardback version of this book. This magnificent book came along in 1997 when "Guiding Light" was celebrating it's then 60th Anniversary. This month marks the show's 67th Anniversary {it having began on radio in January 1937 as a 15 minute sermon from various reverends from the Little Church in Five Points}. The radio show expanded to traditional serial melodrama by 1948 with the introduction of the German immigrant Bauer clan, a family that's STILL a part of the show to this very day, plus a host of other families. The book talks in-depth about each and every storyline that had a major impact or is at least memorable to fans. Admittedly, the first generation of fans who recall when the show was on radio are either no longer with us or are in their 80s or 90s by now. And so, this book, as i see it, was also designed to highlight the radio years for the contemporary fans of today who might have started watching in the mid '80s or the early '90s and afterward.

The show moved to TV in June 1952 (continuing on radio until 1956). By now the Bauer's were the focal point and the storylines were written to revolve around the Bauer's and the conflicts they had with each other and the community. Bert was a social climber at first but she out-grew it by the early '60s after she had a pap smear, one of the first storylines in a soap opera to deal with such topics; Bill was a womanizer and an alchoholic; Papa Frederich was the German immigrant patriarch; and as the decade grew, Bill and Bert's son Ed became a doctor and an alcoholic while brother Mike became a womanizing lawyer. The book really gets "juicy" when the '70s section rolls around.

1971 was the debut of Michael Zazlow as Roger Thorpe, the scheming corporate ladder climber who was always being over-shadowed by his nemesis Ed Bauer. The '70s were dominated by the quadrangle of Roger Thorpe/Holly Norris/Ed Bauer/Peggy Fletcher. Storylines like that, plus the 1977 arrival of the wealthy yet sinister Alan Spaulding would prove to be even more of a success. Soon after Alan's arrival, his back-story was revealed and viewers learned that his and Elizabeth's "son", Phillip, was in reality a boy that Alan adopted and bribed a doctor to pass off as his wife's son. Why? Well, Elizabeth had a miscarriage and Alan couldn't bring himself to tell her what happened and so he paid a doctor to do some illegal activity. Then, later, it was revealed that Phillip's biological parent's just so happened to live in Springfield: Justin and Jackie Marler.

Another very popular triangle of Alan Spaulding/Elizabeth Spaulding/Mike Bauer was underway during 1978-1979. On top of this, Alan was having an affair with Rita Bauer, the new bride of Ed...but this affair between Alan and Rita was never really dealt with until several years later when Alan and Hope were married. The dynamics, I assume, of Alan having an on-going affair with Rita, the wife of Ed Bauer, and Ed being Hope Bauer's uncle...the storyline was too irresistible to pass up. Hope is the daughter of Mike Bauer...one of Alan's enemies. The saga of Roger and Holly dominated much of the action during 1979-1980. In the early '80s a lot of long-time characters were written off. In their place came a couple of families: The Reardon's and the Lewises.

The Reardon bunch included: Bea, Tony, Nola, and Maureen at first. Then as the '80s continued Jim Reardon returned. By the mid '80s Maureen was the matriarch figure of the Reardon family as Bea, Tony, Nola, and Jim had all been written off the show. Chelsea Reardon arrived in the mid '80s...Maureen's youngest sister. Later, Bridget Reardon came to town. She was the daughter of the obscure Reardon sibling, Sean. Bridget's brother, Matt, arrived in town shortly afterward.

The book gets vague in the mid '80s section because i recall things that the book leaves out: like 1986's return of Alan Spaulding. The book says Alan made his return with help from Baron von Halkein...which is true. But the book leaves out the back-story of Alan's missing years (1984-1986) and it never lets the reader know that Alan had been living life as 'Gregory Samuels' in San Rios after having been shot and presumed dead by the FBI, who were hot on his trail in early 1984. Alan had managed to seize control of several emerald mines and use an alias to avoid detection.

If fans see this review they'll now know about Alan's missing years. Apart from that bit of history left out of the book, i have no complaints. The back pages of the book give histories of the families that were currently on the show: Bauer, Spaulding, Lewis, Reardon, Chamberlain, and Cooper. There are two tributes to the two most popular characters: Roger Thorpe and Reva Shane. Charita Bauer, the actress who played Bertha "Bert" Bauer from 1949-1984, is also given high praise. All of the awards from the industry to fan-voted are also shown. There's even a section where favorite couples are highlighted: Phillip and Beth; Mike and Elizabeth; Rick and Abigail; etc.

Jerry ver Dorn gives the introduction and he holds the record for second longest running cast-member. He's played attorney Ross Marler since 1979. The record holder is Charita Bauer, of course, with 35 years as Bert, 1949-1984. The other person with the most consecutive years behind Charita's 35 and Jerry's 25, is Tina Sloan...she's played Nurse Lillian Raines since 1983, this is her 21st year on the show. This book is dated, of course. A lot has happened on the show since late 1996/early 1997.

Seek out back issues of Soap Opera Digest for re-caps of action post 1996. This book is a must for all fans of the show both young and old.

What an awesome way to celebrate the longest running show in broadcast history. Sixty years is really a long time, and this is the perfect way to enjoy all those special moments with the Bauers, Marlers, Chamberlains, Spauldings, Lewis, Reardons, Thorpes. Look through the romances of Reva and the schemes of Roger. Look through the most spectacular love Stories ever told on daytime TV. This is perfect for any die-hard Guiding Light fan.

I personally enjoyed this book, because I have only been a fan of the TV series for about 5 years now and since reading this book, I feel like I was actually there when the show started on the radio.

Hopefully, there will be future update editions of this wonderful missive on the history of daytime's oldest soap. Not just for fans, either!

Great book! Lots of information about GL. I enjoyed reading what happened in the episodes before I was an avid watcher.

I found it to be a fantastic history of GL. I learned so much from this book. I have watched GL since I was 4 years old and I truly enjoyed this book because it cronicles the whole show from the beginning. The phote graphs and the family histories of the cast are wonderful. I give you a wonderful perspective of the whole show, not justwhat the viewers see (backstage, casting ,writers, etc...). It is a must read book for anyone who is a TRUE GL fan !!!!

I have been a huge fan of GL for a few yrs now..the only thing that sux about this book is that all the great gl stars have left.. wendy moniz as dinah marler and cynthia watros as annie dutton will greatly be missed..

it is a great show...but the WRITING DESPERATELY NEEDS to improve...but the memories from 1990-1997 were truly spectacular...finally we see THE LIGHT!

Your search for a complete history of the greatest show in soap opera history is finally over. If this book can't answer your Guiding Light questions, you might as well quit watching.

I have only watched GL, for four years but I have become a devoted fan. From cheering for Matt and Vanessa to despising Roger to being fascinated about the continuing legacy of The Bauer Clan, GL has without a doubt become a mainstay in TV, Daytime or Primetime.

Everything about the show I had wanted to know is there from the show's early beginnings to the alumnae who have gone on to successful careers in TV & Movies as well as the oustanding contributions of actors such as Maeve Kinkead (Vanessa), Jerry ver Dorn (Ross) and of course the brilliant Michael Zaslow (Roger) and scene stealing Kim Zimmer (Reva).

A show that really has withstood the test of time as well as the various changes in TV, a must for any GL Fan.

I love Guiding Light and when I saw that they had a history of the soap in a book I thought to myself that is a must!I was so right!This book has so many wonderful pictures and it has so many things to read up on and remember.This is a must buy for ANY Guiding Light fan,I urge you to go and buy this book before it is gone from stores.

If you are a Guiding Light fan this book is for you. It will bring up days long gone by, and will help set the ground work for the future.

Remember the first episode you ever saw? I sure do, and now I can relive every episode since. The pictures help you relieve the moments from the radio days to the present. The complete cast list will help you remember the actor that played your favorite character.

This book is well worth the money, get it and enjoy. And as always Be Guided By Light.