Happy 70th Anniversary to GUIDING LIGHT — Relive Some Classic Moments!

By Chris Eades Updated: June 30, 2022

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Happy anniversary to GUIDING LIGHT, which premiered on television 70 years ago!

Although the soap began as an NBC radio serial in 1937, it transferred to CBS Radio in 1947 and debuted on television on June 30, 1952. During its combined 72 years on radio and television, GL became one of the longest-running programs in broadcast history.

Over those years, viewers visited Springfield daily to follow the continuing drama of the Bauer, Reardon, Spaulding, and Lewis families and thrilled to the romances of supercouples like Josh and Reva, Danny and Michelle, and Beth and Phillip. Although the light was sadly extinguished when CBS aired the final episode of GL in 2009, the show will live on in the hearts of its fans forever.

Relive the glory days of the beloved soap with this gallery of some of its classic moments!

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Carita Bauer as Bert Bauer on the Cedars Hospital set, circa 1981.
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Kevin Bacon (Tim) and Kristen Vigard (Morgan) on location in 1980.
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Tom Neilsen (Floyd), Lisa Brown (Nola), and John Wesley Shipp (Kelly) in 1980.
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Michael Tylo (Quint), Maeve Kinkaid (Vanessa), William Roerick (Henry), Christopher Bernau (Alan) in 1983.
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The wedding of Jane Elliot's Carrie and Jerry ver Dorn's Ross in 1982.
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Lisa Brown (Nola) and Michael Tylo (Quint) in one of her famous fantasy sequences circa 1982.
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A Spaulding family photo with Grant Aleksander's Phillip, Elvera Roussel's Hope (with baby Alan-Michael), Christopher Bernau's Alan, and Kathleen Cullen's Amanda.
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Vincent Irizarry (Lujack) on location in 1985.
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"The Four Musketeers": Krista Tesreau's Mindy, Grant Aleksander's Phillip, Judi Evans' Beth, and Michael O'Leary's Rick dressed up for the prom in 1983.
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Kim Zimmer (Reva) and Robert Newman (Josh) in a passionate location scene in 1988.
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Melissa Hayden (Bridget), Jeff Phillips (Hart) and Jocelyn Seagrave (Julie).
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Bradley Cole (Richard) and Laura Wright (Cassie).
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Paul Anthony Stewart (Danny), Nancy St. Alban (Michelle), and Peter Simon (Ed) at the annual Bauer Barbecue in 2003.
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Marty West (Shayne), Robert Newman (Josh), and Kim Zimmer (Reva) in 2003.
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Ricky Paull Golden (Gus) and Beth Ehlers (Harley) in 2007.
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Jessica Leccia's Natalia and Crystal Chappel's Olivia realizing their feelings in 2008.
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Robert Newman (Josh) and Kim Zimmer (Reva) pose for a photo in front of an iconic lighthouse in the final episode.
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The final cast photo — Back Row: Murray Bartlett (Cyrus), Yvonna Kopacz (Mel), Jeff Branson (Shayne), Lawrence Saint-Victor (Remy), Karla Mosley (Christina), Gina Tognoni (Dinah), Bradley Cole (Jeffrey), Kim Zimmer (Reva), Robert Newman (Josh), Crystal Chappell (Olivia), Jessica Leccia (Natalia), E.J. Bonilla (Rafe), Marcy Rylan (Lizzie), John Driscoll (Coop), Tina Sloan (Lillian), Jordan Clarke (Billy), and Marj Dusay (Alexandra). Middle Row: Orlagh Cassidy (Doris), Robert Bogue (Mallet), Mandy Bruno (Marina), Frank Dicopoulos (Frank), Grant Aleksander (Phillip), Daniel Cosgrove (Bill), Maeve Kinkead (Vanessa), Kurt McKinney (Matt), and Ron Raines (Alan). Front Row: Caitlin Van Zandt (Ashlee), Bonnie Dennison (Daisy), Elizabeth Keifer (Blake), Beth Chamberlin (Beth), and Michael O'Leary (Rick).