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.
will miss all of the characters, the plots, the pregnancies, the evil turning good,, and the ones who seem so real, like ashley,s character
Being a mom of twin 3 year olds, this was my time out. It was my FAVORITE soap because of the characters, actors, writing, and FAMILY feel. It was the most “realistic” with everyday lives. I will miss it like crazy and will keep it on my DVR for a long time to come. SHAME ON CBS!
guiding light should habe been syndicated by cbs distrivution-on cbs, abc, nbc , fox or lifelined. no show can survive at 3pm on cbs since the affiliates an cbs o&o’s did not carry ‘guiding light’ at 3 eastern, 2 cenreal, etc.now ‘general hospital ‘ will dominate without competition from cbs or nbc. try weaning bold and the beautiful from young and restless; it might survive but at present falls by a full ratings point even with its present lead. gl hould hve taken y7r’s timeslotm nexr t&re followed by b&b, atwt buy cbs has become the ‘cowardly, network. i wont… Read more »
I guess im in denial. I know this cant be the end of Guilding Light!! If another station pick it up I will definitely continue to be a fan.
Please,Please, Please do not take one of the best shows ever off the air. What will we do without springfield in our lives. I am so hopeful that another station will pick them up. We live in a world where we need a whole lot of love and guiding light expresses this with the utmost feelings. I am very upset about this. Save Guiding Light. There is no other program that can ever replace it.
There hasn’t been a television show that I’ve enjoyed more than Guiding Light. When they started shooting all the outdoor scenes over the past year or so, I knew something was up. I keep hoping that there will be a change of heart and executives and head honchos will see what a mistake they’re making. Please reconsider this decision. I’ve been watching the show for about 25 years and nursed my babies while watching. I missed Harley and Gus so much when they left the show, it was like losing very close friends. Wendy in Canada
I am truly going to miss the story lines. My favorite actor’s/actresses have been Beth Ehlers (Harley), Kim Z. (Reva), the 2009 (resent) casting’s of Bill & Lizzie; and Frank, the resent (2009) Shayne, and Billy Lewis (resent actor – 2009) and Jeffrey O’neil (the actor playing in 2009). Oh, by the way, I like the Reva/Jeffrey character’s together!! 🙂 I am in hopes that the show will end with the two of them back together! Again, like “Reva” said, she has moved on…. I think that means time for the new guy to stay. You are all going to… Read more »
I think to replace Guiding Light after all these years is just wrong. And to replace it with a game show is disgusting. I started watching this show with my grandmother when I was about 7 years old. I have so come to love all the characters and if the numbers are low it isn’t because people just stopped watching, it ‘s the people in charge that are ******** up. Let another network pick this up and bring back some of the older characters like they did with Philip. It can still be saved, don’t let a program tha’s been… Read more »
What a shame that we lose another show because the networks say it’s not getting the numbers as no one is watching it. Come on! The viewers and fans have spoken and so tried to keep this show alive, what will it take for the networks to stop taking off the shows that America watches. You can bet I will not be watching the game show that is replacing Guiding Light……To Reva, Josh and the entire cast we love you will miss you!
My great grandmother listened to GL on the radio so my grandmother did as well. GL has been around for my grandmothers’ whole life until next month. I stayed with my grandmother all the time so it’s been there for my life so far. My mamaw recorded it so we could watch it with my papaw in the evenings when he got home from work. I have some wonderful memories around this show. My papaw was so funny when he’d get mad at Alan for doing something mean and he’d fuss about Josh and Reva not being together when they… Read more »
I am so sad after all these years of growing up with the cast of Guiding Light I feel I know them all so personally. I was a very young child and my mom and I would sit down and watch this series everyday. I remember Mama and Papa Bauer, that’s a long time ago to still be watching. Now the networks are taking this away from me and many other viewers who have been faithful throughout the years. I wish all the actors well and hope they find employment. But I must say my heart is broke beyond compare.… Read more »
Please don’t take my favorite soap off the air that I grew up with!!!!!!! I started watching guiding light with my mom as a baby and now my children watch the show with me. I truly enjoyed the story lines and the characters. The story lines seemed so true to everyday life.
I enjoyed the program and will miss you all. See you on Sept. 18!!!!!
Very sad…..Kimberly
I WATCHED THE SHOW SINCE IT WENT TO TV ANDI LISTENEDTO IT IN THE 40’S WHEN i CAME HOME AT LUNCH FROM SCHOOL. I PROBABLY HAVE NOT MISSED MORE THAN 10 EPISODES SINCE 1975 WHEN WE GOT A VCR. NEEDLESS TO SAY I FEEL LIKE I KNOW THESE PEOPLE PERSONALLY. I WILL BE ABLE TO GET OVER NOT HAVING REVA AND JOSH ANYMORe AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHERS BUT I WILL CERTAINLY MISS ALL OF THE ACTORS AS INDIVIDUALS AS WHO KNOWS WHEN I WILL EVER SEE THEM AGAIN. WHEN MIKE BAUER LEFT THE SHOW I WAS THRILLED WHEN… Read more »
I am 75 yeaars old. I started listing to the show on radio with my mom each day when I came home from school to eat lunch.. i
I will miss this show. I will miss the story’s, the actors…After all these years…OMG
The people that let certain actors go killed this show.
Bringing Philip back was the 1st step to the show…But it was too late. Have you ever witnessed a scene with Reva and Philip. They were so heart felt. No sex just real adoration…..
Bringing Ed back, Maureen back, the originals back. Fletcher Back…all too late.
What a shame.