Guiding Light discussion thread

[GL Oldtimer]

I've been enjoying reading about some of your thoughts about the storylines and characters from the 1970s. I wasn't watching the show at that time due to my age, but I have tried to see what I can via YouTube.

As someone who didn't start watching Guiding Light until 1989, I have a question about Holly and Roger's relationship in the 1970s. Was it a love story?

When the characters returned in the late 1980s, my impression was that they had this once in a lifetime love affair, which then went terribly wrong.

I'm just curious as to how their relationship was portrayed in the 1970s.

Annette

Edited July 2, 2024 by GL Oldtimer

[DRW50]

Hope seems surer of herself to me in the Dobsons material. She seems too passive and almost literally fading into the wallpaper in what I've seen of her in the Marland material.

[P.J.]

but wasn't that partly the point? That Alan was breaking her down bit by bit during the marriage? Maybe not as viciously as he did Elizabeth, but just as surely. I'm not sure he would've made her an alcoholic, but it wouldn't surprise me either.

[DRW50]

I don't think that was how Marland intended it - I think under his pen the idea was that Alan would hit bottom and then reform and want to step back. He probably would have reverted to type again even if Marland had stayed, but I don't think he intended for Hope to seem quite so wan. It's just how a lot of the women at GL under his pen felt to me.

[Soaplovers]

I did notice that Hope and Amanda came more alive once Pam Long took over as headwriter before both were written out at weird times (due to Gail Kobe sadly).

[Sapounopera]

It is insane that such an important part of the Bauer-Spaulding history was lost between regimes. I don't think that the two families were supposed to be neighbors throughout the years.

Edited July 4, 2024 by Sapounopera

[Mitch64]

Post Marland the Spaulding Mansion grounds backed up to the Bauer House (at one BBQ Alex offers to show the dreaded Lucy Cooper the mansion, "Its right next door," ) But I remember it as a house Alan bought to appease Hope to be more upper middle class as opposed to super rich. Oddly enough they remembered that the there is a tunnel in the Spaulding Study behind the bookcase also. 

[rsclassicfanforever]

A very nice find here

Please register in order to view this content

It surely was a sample before they changed the music in June 1996.

Please register in order to view this content

 

[Khan]

Frankly, that's giving me "True Light" vibes, lol.

[NothinButAttitude]

I would've preferred this theme to what we got post-Hold On To Love. I never understood how soaps failed to realize that the show's theme is an integral part of the show's identity. I will give DOOL, B&B, and Y&R that. As much as they change a few chords or strings in their themes, they still resemble the original. 

[MichaelGL]

Right!

Please register in order to view this content

I want to say it's early 90s OLTL and mid 90s Loving's theme all rolled up into one.

[P.J.]

I never got why they ditched Hold on to Love. 

[DRW50]

I don't know either. By the end it had gotten a bit creaky, and they kept experimenting (remember the "rock" version - not too far off this), but Rauch just having a bare bones opening for most of his run helped exemplify the hollowness of much of his vision.

Edited July 6, 2024 by DRW50

[Khan]

I remember a version that aired maybe once or twice during the Laibson era that had an island flavor, replete with steel drums, lol.

[DRW50]

Yes that was another one. Or maybe I am just mixing them up in my head. 

I think this is the version I remember with the extra guitars:

Please register in order to view this content

Here's another one (it's not that bad):