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.
I promised myself when I retired I would not become a couch potato and just sit around and watch soaps, but became captivated by Guiding Light again. I will surely miss all of the cast as they seem to have become my family too. Reva & Josh have always seemed to be
meant for each other and no one else and have always been very realistic. Kind of like my husband and I who have been married for 56 years. I hope they are together on the last day of the show.
My mom, now 94, was one of your radio listeneners; then of course, when tv came along, she was an avid watcher of GL.. As a little girl, I would come home from school to catch the closing scenes. Then as I grew older & had homes of my own GL has always been a part of that home. When I was in work outside my home, a VCR was set to record the happeings in Springfield. And it still is set when I’m unavailable to watch!! I do wish another station would pidck the show up!! I will dearly… Read more »
I am very sad to see Guiding Light leave the air. I have been watching it since a little girl with my Mother the end of this year I’ll be seventy. I set my tape every day so I can come home from work and just sit and relax and watch my TV family now what do I have to look forward to. Guiding Light is the best and has the best actors and actresses I know my children and friends will miss them also this is terrible for us and also for all the cast. May God Bless you… Read more »
I will sadly miss the Guiding Light. I grew up watching it with my mom and It will seem like and era has ended. I watched so many of the of the people grow old with me it only seem natural when they got gray or put on weight. It was okay because I was doing the same thing. I hope that all of actors go on to other roles in whatever they want to TV or movies or just decide to retire with me and spend a comfortable time doing anything they want.
I was just wondering if there is anywhere that I can purchase The Guiding Light series? I think it would be fun to go back and watch this show from the very beginning.
I am very saddened that the Guiding Light will be going off the air this month. I am not a big soap watcher but have enjoyed Guiding Light for the past 20 years. I wish they would reconsider for all of us who watch and enjoy the characters and story lines. I will truly miss this show. : ((
I’ve watched the Guiding Light ever since I was a kid, I am 64 now. I will miss seeing it and was surprised that it was going off the air. I will miss seeing the actors and following the story. It seems to me it was a real life story from day to day and things that do happen in an everyday situation.
Iam very sad this show is going off. the best actors . Not like the other shows ,these actors really cared about their parts. I don,t understant how a good show gets taken off and the other trash stays on. I guess people don,t like to watch a heart to heart show. they would rather watch the soaps that get dumber and dumber with every show.NO MORE SOAPS FOR ME ,TURN TV OFF AND READ A GOOD BOOK!! thanks for all the tears and laughter. good luck to all !
ive started listing guiding light with my mother when it was on radio been watching ever since it was on tv i hate to see it leave the air you could shorten it 30 minutes aday and keep it on please think aboutn it please a faithful watcher of guiding light
I could not believe when I heard that the Guiding Light would be gone from our daily living. I have watched and recorded this show from the time it started on TV. It has been the only one that I have watched. Shame on CBS for canceling this. The actors are the best.
I think it is bad that as .This show has been on so long and well be missed very much.
Please, please do not let Guiding Light end. I am so sad that this might be the case. Please, please, do not let Guiding Light end. It is very upsetting. I can’t even imagine that this could be true. How, how – could it be that The Guiding Light would be the one to go! This is a nightmare for we, the viewers. The Guiding Light is more real than any of the others and it serves a very important role as teacher. I have learned a lot about how to handle life, life events, circumstances, choices, etc. and a… Read more »
The absloute best soap opera ever. Been a fan for 40 years and my mom was long before that. I know it’s soooooo silly, but I’ve actually cried – it’s like a death of a family member. I find I’m mourning already and it still has a week to go. Please bring it back somehow. It’s the only soap opera that I watch faithfully. I think the acting is superb – Reva, Josh ( I wish they’d get back together), Philip, Alan, Shane, Dina, etc. Reva is probably my favorite. She has made me cry so many times. I think… Read more »
I SURE WILL MISS THE SHOW ONE OF MY FAVORET SHOWS.I WILL MISS ALL THE ACTORS.I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE GUIDING LIGHT SENCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL.MANY YEARS .MY MOM SISTERS AND GRANDMA .WE ALL WILL BE SAD TO SEE IT GO OFF THE AIR.THERE WONT BE NO OTHER PROGRAM THAT WILL EVER I MEAN EVER PLACE THE SHOW OF GUIDING LIGHT.SAD TO SEE IT GO OFF THE AIR.
I will miss the show alot as will my elderly grandmother who has watched it forever , the only thing we have a hard time with is natalia turning gay , there is too much of that going on , years ago that wouldn’t be permitted , I just wished it would have stay dealing with everyday situations not getting involved with the same sex orientations on any of the day time shows ,