Indiana University Libraries Moving Image Archive

Guiding Light

Created by Irna Phillips, Guiding Lights was originally a radio soap opera before being brought to television. The show aired on television from 1952 to 2009. When the show first premiered on radio it followed the family of Reverend Ruthledge. The title, Guiding Light, is derived from Ruthledge’s occupation and in the beginning of the series the show had a spiritual component. When the show came to television the Ruthledges and spiritual component had been written out of the story and were replaced by the German American Bauer family. The show was sponsored by Procter & Gamble.