Frank Dicopoulos Looks Back on ‘Guiding Light’s Most Important Storylines, From Lillian’s Cancer Battle to Harley’s Pregnancy

On June 30, 1952, The Guiding Light debuted on CBS after 15 years on radio. For the next four years, the cast produced both versions daily — filming a 15-minute TV episode in the morning, then performing the same script for radio in a different studio. 

Created by Irna Phillips, the soap originally followed minister Dr. John Ruthledge and his congregation. But by its 1952 TV debut, the focus had shifted to the Bauer family, and the setting moved from California to the Midwestern town of Springfield. The show began airing in color in 1967, expanded to 30 minutes in 1968, dropped ‘The’ from its title in 1975, and became an hour-long program in 1977. Over time, families such as the Spauldings, Lewises, Chamberlains and Reardons were introduced, and in 1987, the Cooper clan made its way to town.