The Guiding Light

History of The Guiding Light

The Guiding Light has the distinction of being the longest running soap opera on television. It began on the radio in 1937 and remained until 1956 when it made the transition to CBS Television. The show had an easy transition from radio to television and brought along their old radio listeners to the new show and gained new viewers at the same time.

The show started as a fifteen minute program originally, moved up to a half hour, and then eventually was broadcast for a full hour. It is currently in its final season and it will be ended in September 2009. The long time show has been bringing in less than ideal ratings in recent years, but that did not stop the show from winning awards for its writing.

The show took the characters and storylines to a different location in recent years and combined the storylines over the Springfield location and the Island of San Cristobel. However, eventually the show stopped the San Cristobel storylines and discontinued their mob plots.

The show began a change in the way it was filmed to get a more realistic look to the scenes. Free hand camera shots began being used in 2008 to get the new realistic feel. Shaky Cam is the style that has been used in recent years to deliver the change for the audience.

Many soaps in recent years have begun experimenting with their filming techniques to move away from the traditional look of a soap opera. This has led to some mixed feelings among fans and critics of the shows.

The show is planned to end in September 2009 with a satisfying resolution for the longtime viewers of the show. Those who have been with the show through the latest decades will have to say goodbye to their favorite characters and storylines as the show moves into the history books. As the World Turns will take the lead as the longest running soap opera when The Guiding Light ends.

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