Guiding Light--1989 Open

[schs1977]

WOW!  There was a lot the the 1980's BIG HAIR in that opening

[blkjock81]

This music is so GENERIC...in a good 80s way I guess.

[pastdweller]

I once misread this logo as "Lightning Guide."

[amyanda]

Who's the girl on the phone?

[MegaJohnBoy3]

Poor Maureen Garrett! Now there is a woman who deserved an emmy at least 3 times while on GL. But, the only award she received was the one she shares with Ellen Parker (Maureen Bauer) The "I Got The Shaft Award" from the writers of the mid-90's. I still miss this show and it's only a reminder as ATWT comes to a close in a week.

[dtw1958]

@MegaJohnBoy3 What happenned to the original Hollie - Lynn deerfield was it? I liked her too, did she leave on her own or.........??

[snoopy64116]

Roxie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DarthSnoopy96]

This particular cut of the 1986-1989 opening to me exemplifies the youthful energy that GL often had. This line-up of character clips conveys youth and optimism; moreso being combined with the '86-89 "uptempo" version of "My Guiding Light".

Zimmer's spikey hair-do is an 80's hoot, the girl in the last scene is very cute and love her smirk and leaning against the wall, Maureen Garrett is beautiful always (not her best hair day), and Beth Ehlers, Carl T. Evans are adorable here.

[earlymid90schild]

@DarthSnoopy96 The girl at the end with the smirk is Kassie DePaiva (then Wesley), who played Chelsea Reardon. Now of course, she's Blair Cramer on One Life to Live.

[DarthSnoopy96]

@earlymid90schild

thanks! 

[DarthSnoopy96]

who is the character/actress holding the phone towards the end of the cast montage?

[njlee8785]

@DarthSnoopy96 That was Samantha Marler, played by Suzy Cote. She is the niece of Ross Marler, daughter of Justin Marler. Her character became involved with Dylan Lewis in 1990.

[Cyclops236]

I've never seen this opening before.

[yearwoodbrooks]

Who is that before Reva I cant remember

[DeanLives2]

Will Jeffries, who was mixed up in the whole Sonni / Solita / Josh / Reva drama... He later went on to get involved with Mindy, (I think) kidnapped and tried to kill her, but ended up falling to his own death (right after Kimberly Simms assumed the role of Mindy).... Will was played by Joseph Breen, who later appeared as Paul Slavinsky on Loving and Scott Eldridge (Lisa's long lost son) on ATWT. Breen is well known for coming out as HIV-positive in the mid-1990's.

[rockhopper10r]

How many "mousse" gave their lives for all that hair? (I know, bad pun)

[serious22]

GL is a real shit show now. Such a shame it couldn't have gone out on top. Or at least, less awful...

[parkman35]

0:14 Alan Michael Spaulding and Harley Cooper...fast forward to the present, and her Daughter (Daisy/Susan) is about to hook up with his Nephew (James)

[c0dyh]

I love GL and I am only 34. I have been watching since junior high when I would go to my aunt's house after school. I know there are older fans but there are also many younger ones that have grown up watching it with an older relative. It brings back good memories. I faithfully DVR it and watch it every night.

[klarinetta]

fortunately we have around 10 years left of Guiding Light here in Iceland since it has always been 10 years late here since it began in the beginning of the 90's. Always at 17:35 the Old folk's home's leaving room areas on each floor is packed with people watching it. When I was delivering groceries to the older people I always got complains when I came around Guiding Light time. Everybody watch it.

[schuyler10]

If you can find anyone who has taped the episodes between 1980-84, it would be wonderful...

the Diane Ballard murder storyline was pure theatre, and the Carrie Todd multiple personality storyline was pure art!!!!

[adelgado75]

I think they should just pull the plug on this once-great show. Let The Guiding Light fade away with some dignity. I was a big fan of The Edge of Night which ended in 1984. I miss the show but now I am glad it went off the air while it was still a class act.

[ajwrangler1977]

And they did!

[jmjfanss]

Well your dream just came true, guiding light has been cancelled, their last episode will air in september.

[WackyMacky66]

I thought American soaps were meant to be full of gorgeous hunks- a few in that are not worth mentioning. Ill stick to Emmerdale Farm.

[ajwrangler1977]

Ok...

Emmerdale is a pretty good show, but this opening is from 1989 and from one of the historically lower rated US soaps. You want good looking men on US soaps: All My Children and General Hospital.

[rosebankross]

Why is this one of the lower rating US soaps? I remember watching a BBC2 about soaps and they said that they did the clone storyline to compete with some of the madder storylines in other US soaps at the time.

[ajwrangler1977]

I am not sure why... perhaps because it is such an old program (its been on the radio then the TV since 1937). Also, soaps in general in the US are in trouble. Many US networks pre-empted soaps a lot in 1994 during the OJ Simpson trial and many viewers never went back. Also, Guiding Light has an older audience and the gimmicky stories alienated an older, loyal fan base. It also faces stiff competition from ABC's General Hospital in most timeslots as well.

[njlee8785]

Back then, it wasn't all about the hot hunks and such...it was about the good storytelling, character-driven material that were showcased on the screen. NOW, it is about the hot men and the gorgeous women.

[DarthSnoopy96]

@njlee8785

very true. It is pathetic actually. But I always thought Rick Hearst (A-M #2) and Elizabeth Keifer (Blake #3) were great actors who happend to be "gorgeous" too, ha-ha.

[arngrei]

How 80's is this lol!

[lockebell]

How did Holly leave the show?

[stiffkids2006]

MG was bumped down to recurring status in 2003 and appeared through 2005 and the awful Sebastian storyline, she disappeared soon after that. Holly came back for one (two at the most) episode in 2006 for Ross's funeral, I don't think she appeared when Blake was in her long coma later in 2006. She has been referred to at least once as living out of town, Blake's kids have been said to have been living with her since her coma, and I assume they are still with her.

[maxwellis4]

I believe the character shown just before Chelsea was none other than Johnnie Bauer can anyone tell me if this is correct ? Thay show him at about 20 seconds into the video.

[whitbyterry]

Who is the character/actress at :18 seconds?

[Yesimustbestupid]

I'm fairly certain this opening was from sometime between February to April 1989. I do believe I remember this opening was in use just shortly before Roger would make his reappearance from the dead (May 1989), at least in Springfield, & also before Dylan showed up in Springfield (during the summer of 1989).

[stiffkids2006]

This was a CBS Soap Classic, this episode originally aired in the Summer--perhaps August about a month before the fourth and final version of the 'My Guiding Light' theme would debut.

Roger already returned, he is referred to by Alan (in prison) as covering up evidence that Beth was still alive.

[antonzap]

Hated, hated, hated this open. A horrible synth-pop version of the great "My Guiding Light" theme.

[ghostchantxx]

Then CBS affiliate KTSP Channel 10 in Phoenix AZ

would show a Smitty's commercial after the bumper.

[Enotram]

Whatever happend to Carl Tye Evans? He was so cute?

[Yesimustbestupid]

He's still around. He's popped up in shows (mainly primetime) every now and again. He was on ATWT for a couple of months back in 2001 - 02. He's definitely older than he was back then, but still looks good -- I'm not saying cute because I'm a straight man.

[Enotram]

LOL! OK, Thanks for the info.

[OrlandoMitch]

I loved Samantha and Dylan. They were my favorite couple back then. I would rush home everyday from school to watch GL. I wish they could bring back Suzy Cote.

[stout30]

Why was Beverlee McKinsey not in this? Did they have several versions of the video opening?

[stiffkids2006]

I'm just going on memory here, but I think they did have a couple versions.

[robbaltimore]

You are right. They did have a few different versions, highlighting various characters, much the way Y&R still does in its intros.

[stiffkids2006]

This theme ran through the Summer of '89, and the fourth and final version of 'My Guiding Light' would air after or around Labor Day of that year.

[serious22]

wow, the actor playing Alan Michael was HOT.

[ajwrangler1977]

The actor who played Alan Michael then was Rick Hearst who is now on "General Hospital"

[mystiverse]

Actually, that's Carl T. Evans, he was the first Alan Michael. Rick Hearst came in later.

[ajwrangler1977]

Whoops! You are correct! My mistake.

[DarthSnoopy96]

@serious22

LOL

[datboioutda7th]

When the last time this theme was used??? When did they replace it???

[sheff06]

There were 4 different versions of this theme, "My Guiding Light", which was used from 1983-1990. This was the 3rd version used from 1986-1989

[ajwrangler1977]

This faster version went away in the fall of 1989 for a slower version that lasted until January 1991 when it was replaced with different music and the resurection of the lighthouse in the opening sequence.

[scottievand]

I love Suzy Coté. It's a shame she wasn't on the show longer.

[sheff06]

I remember seeing a 1987 opening of GL kinda like this one and it had Ross, Holly, and Lillian in it

[Yesimustbestupid]

Holly certainly wouldn't have been in a 1987 opening. Holly wasn't on the show in that year.

[sheff06]

It must have been Vanessa then

[finn3602]

I love this intro and I really miss the character of Phillip!!!

[bfluellen1]

Is that man in the 1st shot Kyle Simpson?

[stiffkids2006]

I think it's Will Jeffries.

[ajwrangler1977]

It is the evil Dr. Will Jeffries who died when he fell off of a cliff in Venezuela... ahhh... good times.

[Yesimustbestupid]

No, he actually died closer to Springfield. In October 1989, when he trapped Mindy into going on a honeymoon with him and then poisoned her. They were at cliff hotel, & Will nearly was able to push her off the cliff (this was after Rusty & her tried to make Will go insane hearing Rose McLaren Shayne's voice & likeness who he had killed). Luckily Rusty, Josh & Soni got there just in time to save Mindy, w/ Will going off the cliff to his death instead.

[Tigger97498]

Nope Will Jefferies

[ajwrangler1977]

Will Jeffreies... one of the most evil soap characters EVER!!!

[sheff06]

The "My Guiding Light" theme lasted from 1983-90 and there were 4 different openings, I believe. In my opinion this one was the best.

[sheff06]

Wow, never knew that. Thanks for the info!

[sheff06]

Who is that woman on the 00:15 mark? I think its Holly but im not sure

[parisscott]

Correct! She came back at the end of 88 when it was discovered that Blake was really Chrissy Thrope, Roger's daughter

[denverbeast]

I love you! i have been looking everywhere for the 80's versions of GL AND ATWT's openings and closings! do you have anymore?