Guiding Light: The Complete Family Album

i have the hardback version of this book. This magnificent book came along in 1997 when "Guiding Light" was celebrating it's then 60th Anniversary. This month marks the show's 67th Anniversary {it having began on radio in January 1937 as a 15 minute sermon from various reverends from the Little Church in Five Points}. The radio show expanded to traditional serial melodrama by 1948 with the introduction of the German immigrant Bauer clan, a family that's STILL a part of the show to this very day, plus a host of other families. The book talks in-depth about each and every storyline that had a major impact or is at least memorable to fans. Admittedly, the first generation of fans who recall when the show was on radio are either no longer with us or are in their 80s or 90s by now. And so, this book, as i see it, was also designed to highlight the radio years for the contemporary fans of today who might've started watching in the mid '80s or the early '90s and afterward. The show moved to TV in June 1952 (continuing on radio until 1956). By now the Bauers were the focal point and the storylines were written to revolve around the Bauers and the conflicts they had with each other and the community. Bert was a social climber at first but she out-grew it by the early '60s after she had a pap smear, one of the first storylines in a soap opera to deal with such topics; Bill was a womanizer and an alchoholic; Papa Frederich was the German immigrant patriarch; and as the decade grew, Bill and Bert's son Ed became a doctor and an alcoholic while brother Mike became a womanizing lawyer. The book really gets "juicy" when the '70s section rolls around. 1971 was the debut of Michael Zazlow as Roger Thorpe, the scheming corporate ladder climber who was always being over-shadowed by nemesis Ed Bauer. And so, the '70s were dominated by the quadrangle of Roger Thorpe/Holly Norris/Ed Bauer/Peggy Fletcher. Storylines like that, plus the 1977 arrival of the wealthy yet sinister Spaulding clan would prove to be the show's success, causing ANOTHER very popular triangle of Alan Spaulding/Elizabeth Spaulding/Mike Bauer. The book gets vague in the mid '80s section because i recall things that the book leaves out: like 1986's return of Alan Spaulding. The book says Alan made his return with help from Baron von Halkein...which is true. But the book leaves out Alan's missing years (1984-1986) and never lets the reader know that Alan had been living life as 'Gregory Samuels' in San Rios after having been shot and presumed dead by the FBI, who were hot on his trail in early 1984. Alan had managed to seize control of several emerald mines and use an alias to avoid detection. If fans see this review they'll now know about Alan's missing years. Apart from that bit of history left out of the book, i have no complaints. The back pages of the book give histories of the families that were currently on the show: Bauer, Spaulding, Lewis, Reardon, Chamberlain, and Cooper. There are two trib

Hopefully, there will be future update editions of this wonderful missive on the history of daytime's oldest soap. Not just for fans, either!

I have been a huge fan of GL for a few yrs now..the only thing that sux about this book is that all the great gl stars have left.. wendy moniz as dinah marler and cynthia watros as annie dutton will greatly be missed..it is a great show...but the WRITING DESPERATELY NEEDS to improve...but the memories from 1990-1997 were truly spectacular...finally we see THE LIGHT!

What an awesome way to celebrate the longest running show in broadcast history. Sixty years is really a long time, and this is the perfect way to enjoy all those special moments with the Bauers, Marlers, Chamberlains, Spauldings, Lewis, Reardons, Thorpes. Look through the romances of Reva and the schemes of Roger. Look through the most spectacular love Stories ever told on daytime TV. This is perfect for any die-hard Guiding Light fan.I personally enjoyed this book, because I have only been a fan of the TV series for about 5 years now and since reading this book, I feel like I was actually there when the show started on the radio.

I found it to be a fantastic history of GL. I learned so much from this book. I have watched GL since I was 4 years old and I truly enjoyed this book because it cronicles the whole show from the beginning. The phote graphs and the family histories of the cast are wonderful. I give you a wonderful perspective of the whole show, not justwhat the viewers see (backstage, casting ,writers, etc...). It is a must read book for anyone who is a TRUE GL fan !!!!