The cast and crew said goodbye to the characters and fictional town of Springfield this week. After 72 years on radio and the CBS network, Guiding Light is scheduled to end its run next month.
The final scenes were filmed in Peapack-Gladstone, New Jersey at locations like Dominick’s Pizza and Peapack Reformed Church. About two dozen fans stood nearby to watch the end of an era.
Following the end of filming, members of the cast, crew, and parish attended a short service at the Peapack Church. The church has had a long history with the show and has been the site for several weddings and funerals.
The Reverend Kathryn Henry presided over the service. She noted that the show’s title came from the lamp that was placed in the study window by original radio show character Reverend Doctor Ruthledge (played by a pre-Soap Arthur Peterson Jr.) to guide those in need of assistance to him.
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Henry also noted that it had always been a pleasure to have the show film at the house of worship. “Now, unbelievably, the Guiding Light will be extinguished,” the Reverend concluded.
Though the soap won’t be filming in the neighborhoods any longer, the show’s presence won’t soon be forgotten. A donation of $10,000 from the soap paid for new chandeliers and renovated lighting in the church’s community room. A similar donation was accepted by the community and will be used for picnic tables and benches at a local part. At another regular shooting location, the long-running series also donated a new gazebo.
The last episode of Guiding Light will air on CBS on September 18th.
Image courtesy CBS.
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I still can’t believe that Guiding Light is gone……..it’s very sad. I enjoyed watching the program. I grew up watching this soap with my mom. Why did it receive poor ratings?? If a ever a soap was to receive bad ratings it should be Bold and the Beautiful, I find that one to be very boring and unrealistic…..The Guiding Light seemed to have stories that touch your everyday life. GL will be missed along with all of the cast……I have grown up with them and feel I know them all personally. Sad to see the show go………..
I WATCHED GUIDING LIGHT FOR 31 YRS.
I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS GOING OFF THE AIR.
I WANT TO THANK THE WONDERFUL CAST FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING WORK.
I MISS GUIDING LIGHT.
I ENJOYED A LOT OF THE TOPICS THEY COVERED OVER THE YRS.
THANK YOU
DEBI HUTCHENS, FROM OREGON STATE
I just watched the last episode of Guiding Light, (and I dont understand what happened to Jeffery O’neil, I know he was looking for Edmond. Did they just leave that hanging, or did I miss something, and did Johnathen never tell Reva? Well I am , as well as everybody else upset about this show going off the air, I have been watching it 32 years. I have cried since I heard. and the characters are like family , you know. I watched that show faithfully, or recorded it. Much better than the sitcoms and movies. I wish all the actors the best. they brought so much into my life, and others. I will miss them so much.
I think that is the worst thing , to take it off the air. Just stupid.! and not fair to them or us fans. I will NEVER watch anymore soaps. It is like a death in the family.
well good luck to again to all the characters. love, them all. nancy
I have been watching guiding ligh for many year,I tried other soaps but none compared to guiding light. Oot of all the soaps frm all the stations the guiding light was the most fulfillig TO the network who cancelled it shame on you,you all lose a lot of veiwer some that will not even what the other soaps on your channel’let lone watch astupid game show that bob barker does not host. Shame shame on you , you have destroyed apart of America soap time,so befor I say good-bye to you CBS I Ask you to return THE GUDING LIGHT!!!!!
carrie
PLEASE BRING GU IDING LIGHT SOAP BACK!!!
My friend and I stumbled across this show like the day before it’s cancellation and couldn’t stop laughing about how incredibly ridiculous it was, how terrible the actors were, and the huge number of irrelevant characters and plots that were going on at the same time. It was so corny and funny that we decided to look up clips on youtube and then coincidentally found out that this is the LONGEST RUNNING SERIES EVER!? Most shows get too ridiculous and die after, what, 5 seasons? I know soap operas are generally terrible but this was a completely unexpected level of bad, this show must have been ridiculous from the start, and has been roasting in its own awfulness for decades to become this silly.
Later on that day, a news program informed us that the series finale was the next day, so I decided to watch it. It’s so rare to get such a good laugh. This post may seem mean, but I would genuinely thank the producers and cast for making me laugh so hard. Whether that was their intention or not, I appreciate it.
My mother is 87 years old and she listened to Guiding Light on the radio. She has watched it faithfully for all these years. She is very sad that it is over. From a fan in Arizona
Well The Gl is gone and I am so very sad to miss my old friends. I have been a life long fan and the hour that I use to stop everything and watch my only show. I now just keep on working doing something, anything to stay busy and not think about what plot Reva was going to get into next. Or what if the show could have been saved. Wonder if they will one day have a GL Reunion and all the cast can come back for the show. That is an idea…..well maybe. I just want to say to the cast, Thank you all for the many years of laughter and tears. I will miss you all so very much. As I do already. Take care and be well one and all.
all i can say is boooooring!!!!!!
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