GUIDING LIGHT-- 1985 opening

[STFUGTFO1]

@roscolane At :11 the two female characters are Roxie Shayne, Reva's sister and Mindy Lewis. The next frame, I think, is Mindy punching Rick Bauer.

The "Island" scenes were Tony Reardon and Jim Reardon (Nola's brothers) and Tony's girlfriend Annabelle. I don't remember it all, but they had a story regarding Annabelle's father and a secret several townspeople had about him. They were tormented by Mrs. Piper - who would later (in 2004) play Carrie Carruthers in a ripoff of the same story.

[roscolane]

Can someone please tell me the backstory/the characters involved in the "Casino" scenes: 0:11 - 0:14? I like it when the woman in blue punches the guy out. Unfortunately, I know nothing about Guiding Light at this point in time (I was only 2 years old). Also, what's the backstory with the "Island" 0:42-0:49?

[WhtWngDv68]

Totally loved Guiding Light in the 1980's. So sad that all the good soaps are gone!

[DarthSnoopy96]

someone needs to REMOVE all those nasty comments from 2 years ago by "nextgenskyn" and "cabanaboi29" and whoever else. There was no need to use profanity and such. We can debate and disagree, but what ugly comments for one of the most beautiful show openings ever made....

[Aquaria]

@DarthSnoopy96 No, comments don't need to be removed just because they offend you. Your prissy whining offends me, but I'm not asking for your prudish and juvenile post to be removed. I choose instead to treat it like the childish and passive-aggressive sniveling that it is.

Grow up. Free speech is more important than your passive-aggressive need to control people.

[DarthSnoopy96]

@Aquaria

Sorry I offended you. It's humorous to me that you are more upset with what I said than those other comments I was referencing. I do not need to control people at all. I was merely encouraging/pleading for better conduct here - I am sorry I failed on that effort.

[DarthSnoopy96]

@Aquaria

part 2 - Free speech is one thing, and I agree with you to a point. But this is one person's private page/posting, and YouTube users delete profanity all the time here. My request/wish is no different than you asking me not to swear in your own living room or in front of your children or grandparents in a restaurant.

Thank you for your thoughts regardless, I'll keep this in mind for the future when I am considering how to respond to other people's rudenesses and unkindnesses.

[williambrown007]

Isnt that Margo Hughes (Maureen Bauer ) at 0:20.

[Aquaria]

@DarthSnoopy96 I think you meant Ellen DOLAN playing Maureen Bauer, and yes, she was also Margo Hughes on As the World Turns from 1989 until the show ended.

[DarthSnoopy96]

@Aquaria

Yes, thank you for the correction. It's always so easy to mix up Ellen Dolan//Ellen Parker when talking about "Maureen Bauer". In this opening credits clip, Mrs. Dolan does look remarkably like Mrs. Parker does. Had I second-checked the year '85 in the title, I would have caught my own error. Dolan departed GL in 1986.

[DarthSnoopy96]

@williambrown007

YES, Ellen Dolan portraying "Maureen". Margo being her character from ATWT. Sorry for my incorrect answer.

[76grandprix]

I so remember this theme song.

[orgnplyr]

@SoapsGoldenAge: You know Douglas Marland created the Lewis family introducing Trish and then Josh. Pamela Long expanded the family and Reva was Pam's creation.

[DarthSnoopy96]

I was very little during this time period, watching GL with my Grandma. I remember thinking back then that the images in the opening really made the show look like it had a lot of action and drama and the theme itself lent class, dignity and poise. It was an understated "grand".

And, I've always loved Beverlee McKinsey's "Alexandra"! Does anyone else agree that she has such presence and elegance in this opening (at .58 second mark) ?

And the announcer Alan Berns was great.

[pbleekm]

@DarthSnoopy96 I agree! Beverlee's performance was fantastic. I think it's because she was the character that I grew up on. Marj dusay was very good. They were both pretty evil.

[cowgirlamy1]

I was about 3 or 4 when this opening aired. I remember the explosion and the tarantula. I loved Beth Raines. I thought she was so beautiful. I watched the show on and off for about 20 years. The 00's were a terrible time for the show. When Guiding Light was good, nothing could touch it. To this day, I have seen some of the most riveting story on Guiding Light than any primetime show and even most movies.

[vbreak2009]

I loved this show; use to race home from highschool to watch it at 2:00 pm. I loved Beth, LuJack, Phillip & Mindy so much. I loved all the 80's soaps; wish I could get them ALL on dvd :)

[scoot1105]

What happened to this show was simple: Bad storylines, cable tv, and too many talk shows and courtroom shows on in the mid-afternoons. Add to that the fact that more and more housewives have to work, and there ya go!! Kinda sad it's gone, but it is what it is.

[WIZZINGSHIRE]

damn,i still miss it.  :(

[snoopy64116]

I remember being scared of that tarantula! LOL

[dustin35713]

I sooo remember that tarantula! It dated Vanessa for awhile before shacking up with Reva. I think it later was on Y&R as some boyfriend of Cricket. ;) :P

[scoot1105]

This was about the time when i started  getting into this show. Kinda weird it's not on anymore, but it did started getting stale and stupid.

[SoapsGoldenAge]

Guess I polarized people with my comment on this being a turning point in quality for the show. Stand by it. For all the great (Reva, The Lewises, Annabelle) Pam Long wrote some really crappy stories in this period that were pedestrian attempts at going into history yet not being faithful to any of it. The Lewises fishing with the Bauers & Reardons? Out of the blue! After the great quality of Marland's reign (and Dobsons to boot) Pam was very uneven. Some fanastic stuff, but too many silly ones

[schuyler10]

I always thought that the fishing storyline was a nice attempt at mining history, and yet, the history that it mined was totally artificial...but much better than the early

00s storyline that involved Josh, Billy, Ed, Buzz, etc. in almost the same setup. The later storyline was unbearable to watch...insulting to the memory of the audience

[SoapsGoldenAge]

I sat in enough meetings that I can picture the conversation: Pam: I've got this great idea to tie all the families together. CBS: great P&G: but they didn't know one another--it was a big story point that the Lewises arrived in 80's with Trish, then Josh, and they were newcomers. Pam: about 3 people will remember that. Trust me, the story will be so fantastic it'll blow them out of the water. Moral of the story: When you rewrite history, you lose longtime fans. We can't commit to the story.

[eric9590]

I don't think GL was #1 at all during 1985. I think it was during 1984 when GL briefly bumped GH from the #1 spot.

1985 was the year when the show really started going downhill IMO. The Bauers and the Reardons were all but gone. The show went from being about family to being about random inane storylines.

[kaos3124]

God that show sucked ass bad!

[tommeedee]

Kim Zimmer at 0:34 was so gorgeous!  Loved watching her during the 80s on GL.

[SoapsGoldenAge]

wow--this is when the show REALLY began to run out of steam. Some incredible bright spots (Philip & India, Alex, etc) but some really sucky stories (Lujack & Beth, Annabelle & Tony--NOT the actors, the inane stories.)

[nofun74]

i like how they incorporated the time Fonzie's garage exploded & when Arnolds burned down.

[kiroyale]

Sometimes I can't believe I was a child in the 1980s... it's was so hilariously bizarre a decade.

[sexycdn2006]

personally if you all are such loyal fans u would all agree that maybe times have changed and storylines seem boring........but we are in the 2000 century and the show had to bring out the younger actors......nothing wrong with that! I will alwayss love this show, it still has such great memories!!! God i will be sad to watch 09/18's show...........:(

[MrPerfect77]

Someone please tell me who that guy is at :40 . Its driving me nuts. I know his face. Can't remember his name .

[mowntandew]

H.B. Lewis, father of Josh and Billy. They had a sister too, I can't remember her name.

[Supremes59]

Josh and Billy's sister is Trish.

[tdhbutler1]

trish is her name hope this is helpful

[52Teleman]

That's Dick Cheney.

Kidding.

[CapricornDavo]

I never understood the appeal of GH!!!

[MrPerfect77]

Guiding Light is the only Soap I would ever watch. I am done with Soaps after GL is gone. No other soaps are any good.

[NEXTGENSKYN]

except the ones we live everyday. lol

[MrPerfect77]

Your life is a Soap ? Can I watch ?

[NEXTGENSKYN]

lol . yea my life is a soap : ) this weeks story line my sis gets kidnapped lol

[rekcufrats]

I wish they'd use this music for the last show...this is The Guiding Light I want to remember.

[karthelow]

Billy and Vanessa look so young!

[karthelow]

OMG! It's Vincent Irizzary as Lujack! A far cry from David Hayward on AMC

[djintheatl]

This version was during the Barbados/Beirut storyline when GL was actually #1 back in 1985. Oh how I miss Beverlee McKinsey.

[neworleansguy10]

GL wasn't #1 in the ratings, if that's what you mean. It was actually at #5 that season. Remember, it was about against GH, which was the real ratings powerhouse. Now #1 in quality, that I'd agree with!!

[djintheatl]

It wasn't #1 for long time. I think maybe a week or two during the fall of 1985. I remember reading in an interview once that Jay Hammer (Fletcher) was excited that GL had finally displaced GH as #1 at least for a week or two.

[honeycone71]

Oh you ain't kidding. I loved Miss Bev and I even shed a tear when I heard she passed last year. She WAS the best actress in daytime television...NO QUESTIONS!

[NEXTGENSKYN]

omg guiding light is ''going off the air'' im not lying the last episode will air on september 18, 2009

[CourtneysAuntSara]

The women in my family have watched or listened to this program for SIX generations. my daughter, me, my mother, grand mother, gr grad mother and gr gr grad mother. My grgrd ma and grgr grad ma listened to this show on radio.

This is atrue shame and a true end of a beloved story. To bad the writers and producers DID NOT listen to the fans.

[cabanaboi29]

that's too bad but you know if you think about it-guiding light has been on since the 1950s, time for it to rest in peace.

[NEXTGENSKYN]

if your a true fan of guiding light you dont have to think to know that its been on tv sence the 1950's.....

[cabanaboi29]

i dont have to think to know? uhh.. ok. Well i've been a fan since the 1950s so i have all the right to think whatever i want to know dumb bitch

[NEXTGENSKYN]

dont call me a dumb bitch you fuckin whore.. and if you have been a fan sence to 1950's you shouldnt have to think you should know right off the bat that its been on tv sence the 1950's .. and if you claim that your a fan then you should be upset that ist going off the air !!!!! .. so your the one that needs to stop and realize you stupid bitch !!!!!

[cabanaboi29]

why would i be upset? oh my god, there are worse things in life to be upset about then this--sounds like you need to see a psychiatrist to learn how to control your emotions

[NEXTGENSKYN]

oh and one more thing i looked at your profile. it says your 23. so how the hell could you have been a fan of guiding light in the 1950's .. when you werent even alive in the 1950's .. your nothing but stupid bitch!!

[cabanaboi29]

oh my god your funny whore lol

[NEXTGENSKYN]

yea i am funny and your a ''daddy fucker''...oops sorry it sliped out hahahhahahha !!!!!!

[cabanaboi29]

oh god, you can do better then that

[NEXTGENSKYN]

yea i can and im sorry that your a stupid cunt and that you fuck you mother everynight for your pleasure.. you are such a liar and i caught you in a lie

[klarinetta]

Well there is some kind of nostalgia drama lost in the recent years. Guiding Light was much better 10-15 years ago. But it's still sad

[NEXTGENSKYN]

yeah its has.. its really sad when the last episode airs i think they should have a great big reunion!!! and bring back old characters

[diamondrichesdotcom]

Also, the two women at 0:12? The one pushing the other?

[CarlD2]

I think that was Roxie pushing Mindy.

[diamondrichesdotcom]

Who is the doctor at 0:18 ? He kinda looks like Josh there. I was too young to remember these early years

[CarlD2]

That was Richard Van Fleet, the recast of Ed Bauer while Peter Simon was off the show.

[thursdaynight1]

Thanks a lot! Great show back then

[jenbirdscully]

Anyone happen to remember what Fletcher & Claire are doing from 0:21 - 0:24?

[CarlD2]

Vanessa in a tie. One of my favorite bad 80s fashion trends.

[Wiltenor1]

Does anyone remember why Maureen looks so angry at around 0:23? I had just started watching the show then and don't recall. Any information would be appreciated.

[Wiltenor1]

Ha ha ha ... No doubt !!!

[rosebankross]

What is happening at 0:43?

[KIRK976]

That was from a scene when Annabelle (character shown) was tied to a rack above some quicksand by Susan Piper (long great story)

[rosebankross]

Nice music.

[debro2009debro]

I can't believe Harley left guiding light. But she did get a good role on one of the other most highest rated shows all my childre.

[conner263]

It's rated 7th of 8 soaps.

[Manlyrog]

When did she die?? She will always be Alexandra (not to mention Iris!), to me! I had no idea she had died! Poor lady! What a GREAT VOICE she had!! Had she been ill/suffering long? I hate to know that she died!!

[honeybear101411]

anyone know what happened to kristi ferell(roxie)? and i disagree with the comment that gl is now unwatchable. times change and thts why these are such great memory stimulators. rip bev mckenzie and so long beth elhers.

[Wiltenor1]

Well, I don't know what happened to the actress, but the character wound up in a psychiatric hospital. And as far as I know, she's still there.

[CaliforniaGuy888]

Roxie watches GL from her hospital bed. Her psychiatric condition has gone from bad to worse.

Just kidding

[29september67]

Why was Roxie committed to a psychiatric hospital? I loved her, but when I return from Europe this year, I found out she (Kristi Ferrell) left the show. What led to the character's breakdown, if that is what it was?

[mathhomo69]

Her boyfriend Johnny Bauer suffered a serious battle with cancer - Johnny recovered, but Roxie lost her mind from mental exhaustion supporting him.

[CarlD2]

About 10 years ago I heard she ran a ranch in Texas, don't know if its true or not.

[Oakdalian]

It's great, but I don't like all the shots of people talking. We have no idea what they're saying.

[JJJ625]

I agree I was a devoted Guiding Light fan now I just watch it out of loyalty but the show is boring and is hard to watch I almost wish they just cancel it than let it continue the way it is going

[ValentinoRomaUno]

It's sad what happened to Guiding Light, at one time a great show, it took a horrible turn and is unwatchable in now...

[WJBSTV1]

I remember this one when I was 1 or 2.Diagnosed with autism, they could be fireflies or confetti of paper on fire with light shaped in the center to look like my grandmother.

[btm85bubs]

This is a great opening, but this is not the one that debuted in the fall of '85 (October, to be exact). That opening was shorter and used a remixed version of "My Guiding Light." It was replaced in the fall of '86 by the 35th anniversary blue-and-yellow opening and yet another remix. This opening alternated with another one (not available on YouTube) throughout '85.

[megamanj2007]

and also the October 1985 - October 1986 variation of the "My Guiding Light" theme tune used in that time frame was a slower, almost similar-sounding variation of the one that was used from October 1986 until late Summer-early Fall '89.

[banalust]

The opening flare of fire and light is beautiful as is the score of this show. By far, THE BEST them song for any show including the Young & the Restless. It's really a shame the show did not retain it and just embellished more on the orchestra and sound effects to make it feel fuller. Such a rich score. I LOOOOOVE IT.

[williambrown007]

who is that guy at 00:27 followoing India?

[classicGL]

Warren Andrews.

[2olivemartini]

wow i watch it now and i miss henry and hb lewis

[Najee1020]

Loved this theme!!!

[bisnagaboy]

WOOOO HOOOO!!! Roxie Shayne! Gawd, I loved her!

[williambrown007]

Who were all involved in that storyline at the beginning with the explosion and broken window?

[tonyatmidnight]

The explosions I think we're the ones that blinded Beth (set up by Phillip to destroy Lujack's new club) and the explosion that killed Hilary Bauer in Annabelle and Tony's new house (via bomb in a music box). There was probably an explosion in Beirut during the Fletcher and Claire story. Never realized just how violent the golden days were.

[ACcountryFan]

I wish the Fisherman storyline would surface from 1983 With Eli Sims as well as the Barbados storyline from 1984 with Mrs Piper. You see glimpses of that story in the opening credits.

[Najee1020]

Same here. I loved the Eli Simms story and the barbados one too with that evil Mrs. Piper!

[btm85bubs]

I've been looking for this for a long time. Thanks for putting it up.

[JohnAysgarth]

Still my favorite theme from GL. Great to see this again.

And I always loved that opening shot of India throwing her hair back!

[AaronInDel]

"Guiding Light: The Violent Years" LOL.

[ACcountryFan]

I was going to say the same thing...this was during the era of the crime/action stories. The Infinity Story...then the Beirut story with Ed/Maureen/Fletcher/Claire. At the end of the clip, was that part of the Barbados storyline with Jim Reardon/Tony/Annabell from 1984?

[2olivemartini]

Thanks this brings back so many memories, like watching old family videos :)