@Reverend Ruthledge Thank you so much. This is amazing in details that I have never read before. Hopefully you can continue into 1941.

The thing is most of this could play today with some tweaking.

TGL should be relaunched using these stories and a multi ethnic cast.

Thanks @Reverend Ruthledge this is a treat. Thanks for helping GL to live on and on.

4 hours ago, DRW50 said:

Thanks @Reverend Ruthledge this is a treat. Thanks for helping GL to live on and on.

You're very welcome. I'm just happy that there are others who are interested in the golden years of the show.

The Perry Mason radio show seems to receive little attention even though it was a unique daytime show and ran successfully for years. Even among mystery fans and devotees of Gardner, it is given short shrift compared to the TV series.

Perhaps due to a lack of available episodes or the perception that it was too soapy. Not sure if that was the case.

Each case/storyline seemed to last many months from what I can gather.

OGDENSBURG JOURNAL, WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 1950

Erle Stanley Gardner Talks About Radio, Perry Mason And The Wheels Of Justice

The world's best selling mystery writer talks like a social philosopher — at least on the banks of the St. Lawrence.

YESTERDAY, sitting outside Harry Hoff's camp near Merry's Point, Erie Stanley Gardner didn't say two words about the 12,000,000 words of mystery fiction he has written in the past 17 years. Instead, he talked about radio justice, parole systems, and soap.

Gardner is here with 14 friends not to write books but to discuss the daily radio show involving his famous fictional lawyer-detective Perry Mason. . This explains Gardner's interest in radio and soap since the Perry Mason show has been running successfully for seven years under the sponsorship of the Proctor and Gamble Co.

GARDNER, is somewhat impatient with critics of radio's "daytime continuity programs" — i.e. "soap operas." He says the soap opera has raised the intellectual level of America in the past 10 to 15 years. And he insists the Perry Mason type of entertainment gives a pretty honest interpretation of human emotions.

To prove his point, Gardner cites the case of a witness who testified 25 years ago that a Michigan man was a murderer. Gardner began investigating the case this year and got the witness to admit he was not sure of the man's identity. He even admitted the police had roughed him up to make him testify. Yesterday Gardner played. a record of the man's statement. In it, be said a radio mystery show started him thinking about his testimony and how he had sent a man to prison for 25 years. " I got to thinking about it and it just didn't seem right/' he declared.

'THAT'S WHAT radio can do," Gardner remarked as he switched off the record. Gardner's interest in the Michigan case is only one of many instances in which he has helped free innocent men from prison. He and three other criminologists work as an investigating board for a national magazine. The magazine conducts a "court of last resort" which Gardner, insists is simply "the people." Through the "court of last resort" the magazine seeks to have state authorities review cases where there is doubt about a prisoner's guilt.

Gardner says the court has saved two men from execution and has aided many others to freedom'. Gardner, who was a California lawyer years before he started writing whodunits, is greatly concerned with the problem of justice. Last year he and Dr. Lemoyne Snyder, a world-famous, criminologist, sailed to Europe and studied crime detection methods in Scotland, England, 3Tran.ce and Italy. He has also taken part in crime seminars at Harvard University and has made an intensive study of several cases.

THROUGH HIS association with courts and police methods Gardner has come to appreciate the problems of parole boards. "The newspapers necessarily make a play of the cases in which a parolee has gone wrong," Gardner points out. "but it doesn't give the whole picture and it doesn't show the true problems of parole." "What are you going to do with a man who has served 10 years for forgery?" Gardner asks. "If you turn him loose with a prison suit of clothes and $10 in his pocket, what do you think, his chances are?"

THE MAN WHO have a tough time finding a job with only a 10-year prison record for a reference, Gardner points out. 'What's the solution? Why you let him out a couple of years early for good behavior and fry to help him along," Gardner declares. "Some of them go wrong, but in most cases it works." "We've got a long way to go in our system of justice," the ex lawyer concludes. The Perry Mason creator says he likes to keep the principles of justice foremost in Mason's radio show, and that is particularly the reason for the annual conference on the St. Lawrence.

GARDNER DOES NOT write the radio show. Instead, Irving Vendig, one of radio's top script writers, does the job with a little technical advice on legal wrinkles from Gardner. Vendig, who is also the author of radio's Judy and Jane show, is proud to point out with Gardner that the Perry Mason show is the only successful daytime mystery program. A few others have struggled along for a time, but none can equal the thriving 5-day-a-week, 7-year pace of Perry Mason. Gardner and his friends attribute some of this success to their informal conferences every year. Two years ago they met in California, but for the last two years they have met at Harry Hoff's camp on the St. Lawrence. The conferences include, beside Gardner, Vendig, and Hoff, the producer: William Ramsey, director of radio and television for Proctor and Gamble; Al Morrison, P&G program supervisor; Walter Craig, vice president in charge of radio and television for¥ the Bentpn and Bowles advertising agency of New York; and .Gardner's two secretaries, Lili MacLean arid Jean Bethel .

ALSO ALONG AS CRITICS .and vacationers are Mrs. Craig, Mrs. Hoff, Mrs. Ramsey and Bill Ramsey Jr., Mrs. Vendig and Laurie Ann Vendig. The clan has gathered from all corners of the U. S. California, Florida, Ohio, New Jersey, and New York — and they seem to be enjoying life on the river immensely. As Gardner himself puts it: "It is a salubrious climate devoid of gnats, flies, mosquitoes, and other disturbing influences." Gardner and his party plan to remain in the salubrious North Country until Sunday.

On 12/28/2025 at 11:32 AM, Reverend Ruthledge said:

You're very welcome. I'm just happy that there are others who are interested in the golden years of the show.

I merely skimmed the post so far and can't wait for a little time to give it the read it deserves. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of those bygone years in GL's history!

The ESG article was a great read, @Paul Raven !

Ratings for the soaps 1944/45 season. Title/number of seasons/network/timeslot/rating.

Not sure if this is of interest but I can post more if you request.

When a Girl Marries S6 NBC 5pm 9.2

Portia Faces Life S5 NBC 5.15 8.3

Ma Perkins S12 CBS 1.15 8.3 NBC 3.15 8.3 The only soap to get a twice daily airing on each network.

Our Gal Sunday S8 CBS 12.45 7.6

Backstage Wife NBC S10 4pm 7.4

Big Sister CBS S9 12.15 7.4

Pepper Young's Family S9 NBC 3.30 7.3

Lorenzo Jones S8 NBC 4.30 7.2

Young Widder Brown S8 NBC 4.45 7.2

Stella Dallas S8 NBC 4.15 7.0

Today's Children S6 NBC 2.15 6.9

Aunt Jenny's Stories S9 CBS 11.45 6.6

Life Can Be Beautiful S7 CBS 1pm 6.6

Right to Happiness S6 NBC 3.45 6.4

Romance of Helen Trent S11 CBS 12.30 6.1

Just Plain Bill S13 NBC 5.30 5.6

Front Page Farrell S4 NBC 5.45 5.5

, The Guiding Light S6 NBC 2pm 5.4

Woman in White S6 NBC 2.30 5.4

The Goldbergs S13 CBS 1.45 5.0

Road of Life S8 NBC 11.00 4.9

Bachelors Children S9 CBS 10.45 4.6

Woman of America S2 NBC 3.00 4.6

Bright Horizons S4 CBS 11.30 4.5

Joyce Jordan MD S7 CBS 2pm 4.4

Two on a Clue S1 CBS 2.15 4.3

Tena and Tim S1 CBS 2.45 4.0

Story of Mary Marlin S11 CBS 3pm 3.8

Perry Mason S@ CBS 2.30 3.6

Rosemary S1 NBC 11.15 3.5

Amanda of Honeymoon Hill S5 CBS 11.00 3.3

Strange Romance of Evelyn Winters S1 CBS 10.30 3.0

Second Husband S8 CBS 11.15 3.4

Valiant Lady S7 CBS 10.00 3.3

Light of the World S5 CBS 10.15 2.9

Lora Lawton S2 NBC 2pm 10.00 2.9

David Harum S9 NBC 11.45 2.3

This Life is Mine S2 CBS 9.45 no rating as the show had no sponsor.

The Guiding Light 1947

-6/2/47 thru 6/6/47. First week back after second cancellation. Ned Holden takes Reverend Ruthledge’s friendship lamp to the reverend’s old seminary friend, Rev. Thomas Andrews, in Selby Flats. They discuss Reverend Ruthledge’s death and his wish that Thomas have the lamp. Reverend Andrews gives a sermon at the state prison and an inmate, Roger Barton, takes bitter notice. Roger is released from prison and changes his name to Ray Brandon, setting out to get revenge on the man who set him up to go to prison. Ray stops by Rev. Andrews’ parsonage first. Ray angrily confronts the Reverend, calling him a fraud, and knocks the friendship lamp off the table. Reverend Andrews (who suddenly, inexplicably is now called Reverend Charles Matthews) tries to ease his live-in sister Winifred’s concerns after Ray’s visit. She feels Charles is in danger in the neighborhood they live in. A bitter Ray looks at the parsonage from the window of his new apartment, continuing to vow revenge on Martin McClain, the man who set him up.

-6/9/47 thru 8/28/47. Ray tries to rebuild his post-prison life and has trouble looking for work. Ray’s ex-wife, Julie, stops by to see him. Frank, Julie’s current husband, thinks Julie could still be in love with Ray. Roger goes to meet with Rev. Matthews since they will both be speaking at Roger’s graduation ceremony and Charles realizes that Roger is Ray’s son. Charlotte Wilson, a woman who lives at the same boarding house as Ray, comes to him to bum a cigarette and they get to know each other. Ray goes to Roger’s graduation ceremony to see his son graduate, unknown to Roger who thinks Ray is dead. Charlotte’s ex, Larry Lawrence, shows back up at the boarding house which throws Charlotte into a fury. Larry goes to see Dr. McNeill for the cut in his head that Charlotte gave him during their fight and Jonathan realizes that Larry is Tim Lawrence’s brother. Knowing of Larry’s existence and noting the physical similarities of the brothers brings out long-held doubts in Jonathan about whether Clare really loves him or is still in love with Tim. Charlotte starts to leave the boarding house and Selby Flats permanently but is stopped by Ray who reaches her emotionally and who shares with her that he hates somebody and has plans to do something about it. Lost and confused, Charlotte enters the Church of the Good Samaritan where Reverend Matthews finds her and counsels her. Ray learns that Martin will be out of the country for another month but vows to wait till then to get his revenge. After a parole officer comes to the boarding house and asks Charlotte for Roger Barton, Ray confesses to Charlotte that his real name is Roger Barton and that he’s an ex-convict. Charlotte tells him it doesn’t matter to her. Reverend Matthews’ niece, Pamela, comes back to town and goes to work with Jonathan at the Selby Flats Clinic where she meets Larry Lawrence for the first time. Larry calls the McNeill home and leaves a message for Jonathan with Clare. Hearing the caller’s identical voice to Tim’s and hearing him call himself Mr. Lawrence, stuns Clare. Larry turns out to be an opportunist who, upon learning about the McNeills, sees dollar signs. Larry pulls a snow job on Rev. Matthews in order to get in his good graces and score points with Jonathan and Clare. Larry cons Clare by giving her a sob story and acting like he wants to get close to his nephew and the McNeills. Charles and Frank try to persuade Julie to tell Roger the truth about Ray but she refuses. Ray and Roger have a chance encounter and talk, Roger unaware that he’s talking to his father. Julie is horrified to learn that Ray and Roger met but Charles is hopeful that the meeting might stop Ray’s thirst for revenge against Martin. Larry starts to date Pam, which concerns her Uncle Charles. Winifred is even more concerned. Jonathan is jealous of Larry but Clare thinks his true jealousy lies with Tim’s memory. After Charlotte threatens to go to the police if Ray doesn’t drop his plans to kill Martin, Ray lies to her and says he’s changed his mind thanks to her. Ray tries to pull the wool over Charlotte’s and Rev. Matthews’ eyes by saying he’s given up his plans on revenge. Charlotte buys it, Charles doesn’t. Ned goes to the airport to meet Martin and Susan as they land back home after their tour of South America. Martin is warned that Ray’s out of prison, still bitter and claiming that Martin framed him. Martin blows it off. Ray reads the article and learns Martin is back, leaving the interview at a law office Rev. Matthews had set up for him. Ray packs up and moves out of the boarding house. Charles is worried and goes to warn Martin while defending Ray and insinuating that he believes Ray. Frank is left to go pick up Michael and Betty from summer camp as Julie tells him she wants to stay another week in San Francisco with Roger. Upon reading that Martin McClain is back in town, Julie quickly changes her mind and she and Roger catch the first plane back home. Julie is determined to stop Ray from killing Martin. Julie tells Charlotte that she’s decided she wants Ray back and plans to divorce Frank. Charlotte blasts Julie by saying she abandoned Ray and Charlotte is the one that really loves Ray, not Julie. Martin hires a bodyguard because his guilt doesn’t allow him to go to the police.

-9/1/47 thru 9/30/47. Ray hangs outside Martin’s bedroom, waiting for the opportune time to kill him. Martin says goodnight to his bodyguard as he leaves and is shocked to find Ray in his bedroom upon his return. Martin pleads for his life while Rev. Matthews prays for Ray at his parsonage. Rev. Matthews tells Julie that if a missing Ray doesn’t appear in a few hours, he’s going to the police because Ray has a gun and has promised to kill Martin for revenge. Julie tells the reverend that she’s decided to leave her husband and children to be with Ray and will tell them as soon as they get back into town. Pam interrupts to tell Rev. Matthews that Ray has shown up at the church. Reverend Matthews counsels Ray Brandon as he has come back to God and stopped himself before he killed Martin McClain. Ray says he wants a new life and is going to give up pursuing a relationship with his ex-wife Julie so she can stay with her husband Frank Collins. Julie, ready to leave her husband and children for Ray, is devastated when Ray tells her he doesn’t want a relationship with her. Julie is even more devastated when Reverend Matthews interrupts with news that Frank and their children, Michael and Betty,  have been in a serious car accident. Charles takes Julie to the hospital where Jonathan breaks the news to her that Michael and Betty have died. Charles and Jonathan try to calm Julie. Frank is asking for Julie but Julie can’t face him. Ray is laying down his plans of vengeance on Martin. Ray and Charlotte argue about his involvement with his ex-wife Julie and her current problems. Reverend Matthews talks a reluctant Roger, who blames his mother for the accident, into going to visit Julie at the hospital. Dr. Jonathan McNeill and nurse Pamela Hale try to keep the news from Frank as he lies in his hospital bed that his children were killed in the car accident that put him there. As Pamela tries to dodge Frank’s questions about Michael and Betty, his hysterical wife Julie bursts into Frank’s room yelling that it’s her fault the children were killed. Ray and Charlotte fight when Ray tells her he’s going over to the hospital to see his ex-wife, Julie, who is in the hospital for a nervous breakdown after finding out her children were killed. Roger visits with Frank. Ray and Roger run into each other at the hospital and Roger tells Ray that Frank will be an invalid for life if he survives. Ray decides not to go see Julie. Claire is reminded of Tim as she talks with his brother Larry. Larry figures out that Ray is Roger’s father and that there’s a lot more to Julie’s nervous breakdown. Roger tries to give Frank the will to live. Dr. Jonathan McNeill and Rev. Matthews discuss the car crash that left Frank Collins paralyzed and killed Betty and Michael Collins. Rev. Matthews visits Julie in her hospital room and reminds her that she had planned to leave Frank and the kids to remarry Ray Brandon. He then tells Julie that Frank will be an invalid for life. After Frank Collins’ car accident, Reverend Matthews gives a talk at the high school warning against reckless driving. Roger Collins, the brother of Michael and Betty and adopted son of Frank, is in the audience and stays behind, alone and distraught,  after the talk is over. He is approached by Susan McClain and the two meet. A guilty Julie asks Frank for forgiveness and Franks says she should go back home so Roger can join her there. Roger tells Julie he doubts she really cares about Frank. Charlotte tells Ray she got a radio gig. Ray tells Julie that he’s no longer Roger Barton and doesn’t want anything to do with her anymore. Julie threatens to tell Roger that Ray is his father and isn’t dead. Charlotte thinks Ray is still hung up on Julie and Ray tries to prove to Charlotte his love for her.

-10/1/47 thru 10/31/47. Julie tells Ray that she had decided before the accident to leave Frank for him and still wants that. Ray is disgusted and tells her she needs to stop being selfish and be there for Frank. Julie threatens to tell Roger that Ray is his father. Ray tells Julie that he’s seen Julie for how she really is, in a new light, and is no longer in love with her. Charlotte doesn’t believe that he’s no longer in love with his ex-wife. Charlotte gets counsel from the reverend and tells him that, even though she’s in love with Ray, she believes he’s still in love with Julie and she won’t be second-best. Frank invites Pamela to be his private nurse at his and Julie’s seaside home called Trail’s End. Roger is starting to resent Julie for her possessiveness over him. Julie slaps Roger, projecting her frustration at not being able to control Ray onto his son. Martin McClain is upset that his daughter Susan has started seeing Roger Collins, the son of Ray Brandon who had tried to kill him. Ray gets jealous of Charlotte’s new agent, Sid Harper. Jonathan gives Frank the news that he’ll be in a wheelchair the rest of his life. Charles tells Frank that Ray doesn’t want to be with Julie but Frank is still willing to step aside. Rev. Matthews tells Ray not to marry Charlotte if he doesn’t love her and Ray tells him to keep out of it. Julie lies to Frank, who is back at Trail’s End now, that she loves him and not Ray. Frank asks Ray to come to him to talk about Julie. Ray lies and says he doesn’t have feelings for Julie anymore. Clare tells Julie that Larry’s appearance has made her confused about her feelings for Larry, Jonathan and her deceased husband Tim. Julie tells Clare that she can’t forget about the man in her past either, says Ray and Charlotte mustn’t marry and insinuates that it might be better if Frank died. Charlotte has a radio audition. Sid thinks she’ll be a star. Ray and Charlotte go to Las Vegas to get married.

-11/3/47 thru 11/28/47. The residents of the boarding house throw a reception for Ray and Charlotte when they return from Las Vegas. Charlotte is upset when Larry crashes the party which, in turn, makes Ray angry at Charlotte. Talking to Julie while he waits for Pam to get ready for their date, Larry drops the bomb to Julie that Ray and Charlotte got married. Charles warns Pam that Larry is a user but Pam is defiant and won’t hear it. Frank is depressed and spends all his time cliffside at Trail’s End, staring out over the ocean. Roger is suspicious of Larry’s intentions toward Julie. Roger and Frank both fight with Julie over her trying to make Roger stop seeing Susan. Frank tells Julie he knows she doesn’t want to be tied to a man in a wheelchair and wishes he was dead. Julie tries to use Roger as an excuse to get to Ray. Charlotte heads straight to Trail’s End and reads Julie for filth, letting her know she’s on to her and won’t allow her to try and steal Ray away from her. Charlotte reveals to Rev. Matthews that she has had a history of nervous breakdowns and ended up in a sanitarium twice. Ray gets mad at Charlotte when he learns she went out to the Collins home. Charlotte has a radio audition which allows viewers to write in and vote for her if they want her as a regular. Roger and Susan dream of getting away from her father and his mother and being together. Reverend Matthews gives a Thanksgiving Day sermon. Jonathan suggests Pam stop being Frank’s private nurse so that Frank can become more independent and hopefully snap out of his depression. Frank and Pam, who have become close, say goodbye to each other.

-12/1/47 thru 12/31/47. Ray has lunch with Julie and is confused about his past versus his future. Charlotte gets her own radio show and is angry when Ray seems nonchalant about it. Larry Lawrence comes to Land’s End and comforts a distraught Julie. Roger witnesses their interaction, assuming that they’re having an affair. A depressed Frank tells a visiting Jonathan that he wants to be alone in a sanitarium and away from Land’s End. Roger blasts Julie for the way she’s treating Frank and accuses her of having an affair with Larry. Julie goes out to get Frank who is alone in his wheelchair, looking at the view of the ocean. Julie returns, hysterical, saying that Frank had gone off the cliff in his wheelchair. Roger finds Frank’s smashed wheelchair and then his dead body. Roger claims he saw it happen from his upstairs window and claims Julie pushed Frank. Reverend Matthews and Jonathan believe there is no way Julie pushed Frank. Larry stops by Trail’s End and, while the coroner is present, Roger angrily accuses Larry and Julie of plotting to kill Frank and tries to throw Larry out of the house. Charlotte insinuates Julie might have killed Frank to Ray and he slaps her. Pam feels like Larry has been leading her on and is really in love with Julie. She then starts to question a lot more. People are starting to question whether Julie and Larry were having an affair but Rev. Matthews tells Ray that Larry is just an opportunist and he knows that Julie is really in love with Ray. Roger takes off to get away from Julie. Martin calls Julie to look for a missing Susan. Julie tells him Roger is gone too. The police are suspicious that Frank’s death wasn’t an accident. Reverend Matthews gives a Christmas Day sermon. The inquest into Frank’s death is held. Roger and Susan have run off to Mexico and gotten married. Susan talks Roger into going back to Los Angeles. The votes come in in Charlotte’s favor and she has her first radio show on New Year’s Eve. 

Edited 15 hours ago15 hr by Reverend Ruthledge

9 minutes ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

The Guiding Light 1947

-6/2/47 thru 6/6/47. First week back after second cancellation. Ned Holden takes Reverend Ruthledge’s friendship lamp to the reverend’s old seminary friend, Rev. Thomas Andrews, in Selby Flats. They discuss Reverend Ruthledge’s death and his wish that Thomas have the lamp. Reverend Andrews gives a sermon at the state prison and an inmate, Roger Barton, takes bitter notice. Roger is released from prison and changes his name to Ray Brandon, setting out to get revenge on the man who set him up to go to prison. Ray stops by Rev. Andrews’ parsonage first. Ray angrily confronts the Reverend, calling him a fraud, and knocks the friendship lamp off the table. Reverend Andrews (who suddenly, inexplicably is now called Reverend Charles Matthews) tries to ease his live-in sister Winifred’s concerns after Ray’s visit. She feels Charles is in danger in the neighborhood they live in. A bitter Ray looks at the parsonage from the window of his new apartment, continuing to vow revenge on Martin McClain, the man who set him up.

-6/9/47 thru 8/28/47. Ray tries to rebuild his post-prison life and has trouble looking for work. Ray’s ex-wife, Julie, stops by to see him. Frank, Julie’s current husband, thinks Julie could still be in love with Ray. Roger goes to meet with Rev. Matthews since they will both be speaking at Roger’s graduation ceremony and Charles realizes that Roger is Ray’s son. Charlotte Wilson, a woman who lives at the same boarding house as Ray, comes to him to bum a cigarette and they get to know each other. Ray goes to Roger’s graduation ceremony to see his son graduate, unknown to Roger who thinks Ray is dead. Charlotte’s ex, Larry Lawrence, shows back up at the boarding house which throws Charlotte into a fury. Larry goes to see Dr. McNeill for the cut in his head that Charlotte gave him during their fight and Jonathan realizes that Larry is Tim Lawrence’s brother. Knowing of Larry’s existence and noting the physical similarities of the brothers brings out long-held doubts in Jonathan about whether Clare really loves him or is still in love with Tim. Charlotte starts to leave the boarding house and Selby Flats permanently but is stopped by Ray who reaches her emotionally and who shares with her that he hates somebody and has plans to do something about it. Lost and confused, Charlotte enters the Church of the Good Samaritan where Reverend Matthews finds her and counsels her. Ray learns that Martin will be out of the country for another month but vows to wait till then to get his revenge. After a parole officer comes to the boarding house and asks Charlotte for Roger Barton, Ray confesses to Charlotte that his real name is Roger Barton and that he’s an ex-convict. Charlotte tells him it doesn’t matter to her. Reverend Matthews’ niece, Pamela, comes back to town and goes to work with Jonathan at the Selby Flats Clinic where she meets Larry Lawrence for the first time. Larry calls the McNeill home and leaves a message for Jonathan with Clare. Hearing the caller’s identical voice to Tim’s and hearing him call himself Mr. Lawrence, stuns Clare. Larry turns out to be an opportunist who, upon learning about the McNeills, sees dollar signs. Larry pulls a snow job on Rev. Matthews in order to get in his good graces and score points with Jonathan and Clare. Larry cons Clare by giving her a sob story and acting like he wants to get close to his nephew and the McNeills. Charles and Frank try to persuade Julie to tell Roger the truth about Ray but she refuses. Ray and Roger have a chance encounter and talk, Roger unaware that he’s talking to his father. Julie is horrified to learn that Ray and Roger met but Charles is hopeful that the meeting might stop Ray’s thirst for revenge against Martin. Larry starts to date Pam, which concerns her Uncle Charles. Winifred is even more concerned. Jonathan is jealous of Larry but Clare thinks his true jealousy lies with Tim’s memory. After Charlotte threatens to go to the police if Ray doesn’t drop his plans to kill Martin, Ray lies to her and says he’s changed his mind thanks to her. Ray tries to pull the wool over Charlotte’s and Rev. Matthews’ eyes by saying he’s given up his plans on revenge. Charlotte buys it, Charles doesn’t. Ned goes to the airport to meet Martin and Susan as they land back home after their tour of South America. Martin is warned that Ray’s out of prison, still bitter and claiming that Martin framed him. Martin blows it off. Ray reads the article and learns Martin is back, leaving the interview at a law office Rev. Matthews had set up for him. Ray packs up and moves out of the boarding house. Charles is worried and goes to warn Martin while defending Ray and insinuating that he believes Ray. Frank is left to go pick up Michael and Betty from summer camp as Julie tells him she wants to stay another week in San Francisco with Roger. Upon reading that Martin McClain is back in town, Julie quickly changes her mind and she and Roger catch the first plane back home. Julie is determined to stop Ray from killing Martin. Julie tells Charlotte that she’s decided she wants Ray back and plans to divorce Frank. Charlotte blasts Julie by saying she abandoned Ray and Charlotte is the one that really loves Ray, not Julie. Martin hires a bodyguard because his guilt doesn’t allow him to go to the police.

-9/1/47 thru 9/30/47. Ray hangs outside Martin’s bedroom, waiting for the opportune time to kill him. Martin says goodnight to his bodyguard as he leaves and is shocked to find Ray in his bedroom upon his return. Martin pleads for his life while Rev. Matthews prays for Ray at his parsonage. Rev. Matthews tells Julie that if a missing Ray doesn’t appear in a few hours, he’s going to the police because Ray has a gun and has promised to kill Martin for revenge. Julie tells the reverend that she’s decided to leave her husband and children to be with Ray and will tell them as soon as they get back into town. Pam interrupts to tell Rev. Matthews that Ray has shown up at the church. Reverend Matthews counsels Ray Brandon as he has come back to God and stopped himself before he killed Martin McClain. Ray says he wants a new life and is going to give up pursuing a relationship with his ex-wife Julie so she can stay with her husband Frank Collins. Julie, ready to leave her husband and children for Ray, is devastated when Ray tells her he doesn’t want a relationship with her. Julie is even more devastated when Reverend Matthews interrupts with news that Frank and their children, Michael and Betty,  have been in a serious car accident. Charles takes Julie to the hospital where Jonathan breaks the news to her that Michael and Betty have died. Charles and Jonathan try to calm Julie. Frank is asking for Julie but Julie can’t face him. Ray is laying down his plans of vengeance on Martin. Ray and Charlotte argue about his involvement with his ex-wife Julie and her current problems. Reverend Matthews talks a reluctant Roger, who blames his mother for the accident, into going to visit Julie at the hospital. Dr. Jonathan McNeill and nurse Pamela Hale try to keep the news from Frank as he lies in his hospital bed that his children were killed in the car accident that put him there. As Pamela tries to dodge Frank’s questions about Michael and Betty, his hysterical wife Julie bursts into Frank’s room yelling that it’s her fault the children were killed. Ray and Charlotte fight when Ray tells her he’s going over to the hospital to see his ex-wife, Julie, who is in the hospital for a nervous breakdown after finding out her children were killed. Roger visits with Frank. Ray and Roger run into each other at the hospital and Roger tells Ray that Frank will be an invalid for life if he survives. Ray decides not to go see Julie. Claire is reminded of Tim as she talks with his brother Larry. Larry figures out that Ray is Roger’s father and that there’s a lot more to Julie’s nervous breakdown. Roger tries to give Frank the will to live. Dr. Jonathan McNeill and Rev. Matthews discuss the car crash that left Frank Collins paralyzed and killed Betty and Michael Collins. Rev. Matthews visits Julie in her hospital room and reminds her that she had planned to leave Frank and the kids to remarry Ray Brandon. He then tells Julie that Frank will be an invalid for life. After Frank Collins’ car accident, Reverend Matthews gives a talk at the high school warning against reckless driving. Roger Collins, the brother of Michael and Betty and adopted son of Frank, is in the audience and stays behind, alone and distraught,  after the talk is over. He is approached by Susan McClain and the two meet. A guilty Julie asks Frank for forgiveness and Franks says she should go back home so Roger can join her there. Roger tells Julie he doubts she really cares about Frank. Charlotte tells Ray she got a radio gig. Ray tells Julie that he’s no longer Roger Barton and doesn’t want anything to do with her anymore. Julie threatens to tell Roger that Ray is his father and isn’t dead. Charlotte thinks Ray is still hung up on Julie and Ray tries to prove to Charlotte his love for her.

-10/1/47 thru 10/31/47. Julie tells Ray that she had decided before the accident to leave Frank for him and still wants that. Ray is disgusted and tells her she needs to stop being selfish and be there for Frank. Julie threatens to tell Roger that Ray is his father. Ray tells Julie that he’s seen Julie for how she really is, in a new light, and is no longer in love with her. Charlotte doesn’t believe that he’s no longer in love with his ex-wife. Charlotte gets counsel from the reverend and tells him that, even though she’s in love with Ray, she believes he’s still in love with Julie and she won’t be second-best. Frank invites Pamela to be his private nurse at his and Julie’s seaside home called Trail’s End. Roger is starting to resent Julie for her possessiveness over him. Julie slaps Roger, projecting her frustration at not being able to control Ray onto his son. Martin McClain is upset that his daughter Susan has started seeing Roger Collins, the son of Ray Brandon who had tried to kill him. Ray gets jealous of Charlotte’s new agent, Sid Harper. Jonathan gives Frank the news that he’ll be in a wheelchair the rest of his life. Charles tells Frank that Ray doesn’t want to be with Julie but Frank is still willing to step aside. Rev. Matthews tells Ray not to marry Charlotte if he doesn’t love her and Ray tells him to keep out of it. Julie lies to Frank, who is back at Trail’s End now, that she loves him and not Ray. Frank asks Ray to come to him to talk about Julie. Ray lies and says he doesn’t have feelings for Julie anymore. Clare tells Julie that Larry’s appearance has made her confused about her feelings for Larry, Jonathan and her deceased husband Tim. Julie tells Clare that she can’t forget about the man in her past either, says Ray and Charlotte mustn’t marry and insinuates that it might be better if Frank died. Charlotte has a radio audition. Sid thinks she’ll be a star. Ray and Charlotte go to Las Vegas to get married.

-11/3/47 thru 11/28/47. The residents of the boarding house throw a reception for Ray and Charlotte when they return from Las Vegas. Charlotte is upset when Larry crashes the party which, in turn, makes Ray angry at Charlotte. Talking to Julie while he waits for Pam to get ready for their date, Larry drops the bomb to Julie that Ray and Charlotte got married. Charles warns Pam that Larry is a user but Pam is defiant and won’t hear it. Frank is depressed and spends all his time cliffside at Trail’s End, staring out over the ocean. Roger is suspicious of Larry’s intentions toward Julie. Roger and Frank both fight with Julie over her trying to make Roger stop seeing Susan. Frank tells Julie he knows she doesn’t want to be tied to a man in a wheelchair and wishes he was dead. Julie tries to use Roger as an excuse to get to Ray. Charlotte heads straight to Trail’s End and reads Julie for filth, letting her know she’s on to her and won’t allow her to try and steal Ray away from her. Charlotte reveals to Rev. Matthews that she has had a history of nervous breakdowns and ended up in a sanitarium twice. Ray gets mad at Charlotte when he learns she went out to the Collins home. Charlotte has a radio audition which allows viewers to write in and vote for her if they want her as a regular. Roger and Susan dream of getting away from her father and his mother and being together. Reverend Matthews gives a Thanksgiving Day sermon. Jonathan suggests Pam stop being Frank’s private nurse so that Frank can become more independent and hopefully snap out of his depression. Frank and Pam, who have become close, say goodbye to each other.

-12/1/47 thru 12/31/47. Ray has lunch with Julie and is confused about his past versus his future. Charlotte gets her own radio show and is angry when Ray seems nonchalant about it. Larry Lawrence comes to Land’s End and comforts a distraught Julie. Roger witnesses their interaction, assuming that they’re having an affair. A depressed Frank tells a visiting Jonathan that he wants to be alone in a sanitarium and away from Land’s End. Roger blasts Julie for the way she’s treating Frank and accuses her of having an affair with Larry. Julie goes out to get Frank who is alone in his wheelchair, looking at the view of the ocean. Julie returns, hysterical, saying that Frank had gone off the cliff in his wheelchair. Roger finds Frank’s smashed wheelchair and then his dead body. Roger claims he saw it happen from his upstairs window and claims Julie pushed Frank. Reverend Matthews and Jonathan believe there is no way Julie pushed Frank. Larry stops by Trail’s End and, while the coroner is present, Roger angrily accuses Larry and Julie of plotting to kill Frank and tries to throw Larry out of the house. Charlotte insinuates Julie might have killed Frank to Ray and he slaps her. Pam feels like Larry has been leading her on and is really in love with Julie. She then starts to question a lot more. People are starting to question whether Julie and Larry were having an affair but Rev. Matthews tells Ray that Larry is just an opportunist and he knows that Julie is really in love with Ray. Roger takes off to get away from Julie. Martin calls Julie to look for a missing Susan. Julie tells him Roger is gone too. The police are suspicious that Frank’s death wasn’t an accident. Reverend Matthews gives a Christmas Day sermon. The inquest into Frank’s death is held. Roger and Susan have run off to Mexico and gotten married. Susan talks Roger into going back to Los Angeles. The votes come in in 

Charlotte’s favor and she has her first radio show on New Year’s Eve. 

Thank you for sharing; a wonderful synopsis, as always. You are invaluable when it comes to clarifying and preserving vintage soap history.

If I were ever blessed with getting my hands on any artifacts/memorabilia from film and television history, I'd want to possess (okay, I'd kill to possess) Reverend Ruthledge's Friendship Lamp, Dorothy Gale's Ruby Slippers, and Mary Richards' "M" that hung on the wall in her apartment.

As far as we know, where was the last place the Friendship Lamp ended up? Since its ultimate fate was never concretely established (as far as I remember/know), I've always daydreamed about it somehow winding up with Papa Bauer. That thought is curiously comforting.

2 hours ago, vetsoapfan said:

Thank you for sharing; a wonderful synopsis, as always. You are invaluable when it comes to clarifying and preserving vintage soap history.

If I were ever blessed with getting my hands on any artifacts/memorabilia from film and television history, I'd want to possess (okay, I'd kill to possess) Reverend Ruthledge's Friendship Lamp, Dorothy Gale's Ruby Slippers, and Mary Richards' "M" that hung on the wall in her apartment.

As far as we know, where was the last place the Friendship Lamp ended up? Since its ultimate fate was never concretely established (as far as I remember/know), I've always daydreamed about it somehow winding up with Papa Bauer. That thought is curiously comforting.

Thanks! The lamp was last seen with Reverend Paul Keeler who faded away and I assume he took the lamp with him.

3 hours ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

Thanks! The lamp was last seen with Reverend Paul Keeler who faded away and I assume he took the lamp with him.

Okay, that is the last time I knew of the lamp's whereabouts too. I'm going to continue daydreaming about ways it could have ended up with Papa Bauer!

@Reverend Ruthledge Many thanks. Really interesting read. I could imagine listeners were hooked from Day 1. By Jan 48 TGL was in the Top 10 daytime serials.

4 hours ago, Paul Raven said:

@Reverend Ruthledge Many thanks. Really interesting read. I could imagine listeners were hooked from Day 1. By Jan 48 TGL was in the Top 10 daytime serials.

You're very welcome, Paul. More to come if there's interest.

The Guiding Light 1948

-1/1/48 thru 8/24/48. Charles tries to convince Roger and Susan to move into Trail’s End to be with Julie and Ray to tell the truth about him being Roger’s father. Ray legally changes his name. Martin threatens to get Roger and Susan’s marriage annulled. Susan meets Julie and tells her that she’s pregnant. Julie is indicted in Frank’s death, denied bail and placed in jail. Susan convinces Roger to move into Trail’s End for the baby’s sake. The truth that Roger’s father is still alive and was a convict comes out. Charlotte meets Ted White, an advertising executive who is interested in molding her into a star. Charlotte has her first sponsored radio show. Julie’s trial begins. Charlotte tells Ray that Julie is still in love with him and accuses him of still being in love with her. Rev. Matthews warns Larry not to say what he knows about Ray being Roger. Charles angers Roger by telling him that he needs to grow up and get over his resentments toward his mother because the prosecutor is playing him to get Julie convicted. Susan tells a shocked Roger that she agrees with Rev. Matthews that Roger is being weak. Roger figures out Ray is his father and gives an incriminating testimony against Julie on the witness stand. Roger confronts Ray with the truth and Ray admits that he is his father. Roger renounces Ray, not knowing he was innocent of the crime he went to prison for. The people of Selby Flats turn on Rev. Matthews for his support of Julie. Roger reverses his testimony. Larry and Pamela get engaged. Julie’s court case reaches a mistrial and the charges against her are dropped. Julie tells Roger that Martin framed Ray but Martin denies it when confronted by Roger. Martin is stricken with a heart attack and he calls Rev. Matthews to his hospital room for a deathbed repentance. He writes down a confession of what he did to Ray. Rev. Matthews asks Ray to go see Martin before he dies and Ray does, giving him forgiveness. Rev. Matthews gives Susan the news that her father has died. Julie wants to tell Susan the truth about her father but Charles pleads with her not to so that Martin’s dying wish that Susan not know the truth will be fulfilled. Julie declares she has lost her eyesight, Jonathan thinks it’s hysterical blindness. The people of Selby Flats apologize to Rev. Matthews just as he was packing to leave. Charlotte tries to break free of Ted’s controlling grasp so he tries to manipulate her using fear of what might happen in the future. Charles lets Roger read Martin’s confession. Ray and Roger reconcile. Julie’s emotional manipulations drive a wedge between Ray and Charlotte and Roger and Susan. Charlotte becomes increasingly insecure about Ray’s attachment to his ex-wife and family. Susan and Julie’s bickering causes Susan to hastily leave the house, tripping down the stairs in the process. Susan is rushed to the hospital and gives birth to a baby girl through Caesarian. Rev. Matthews warns Ray that allowing himself to be manipulated by Julie is putting his marriage to Charlotte in danger. Charlotte, losing hope for her marriage, tells Ted she wants to go all-in with her career, much to Ted’s delight. Susan names the baby Betty Ann. Julie and Susan try to hide their arguing and mutual hatred for each other from an oblivious Roger. Julie regains her eyesight but keeps it a secret so she can keep blindness as a tool of manipulation. Susan begins to suspect Julie is faking her blindness. Roger panics when he sees Julie close to the cliff, thinking she’s suicidal and not knowing she can see where she’s walking and he calls Ray for help. Ray lies and says business is the reason why he can’t leave with Charlotte on their planned trip to San Francisco. Charlotte is suspicious, makes some phone calls and learns that Ray lied to her and is out at Trail’s End which is the last straw for her. Charlotte leaves Ray and, with the help of Ted, finds new residence at the Towers apartment building. Julie relishes the news. Susan finds proof that Julie can really see and when she confronts Julie, Julie gives Susan her father’s written confession. Julie tells Susan the whole truth about her father and Ray in order to deflect from having been found out. Julie flees and checks herself into a sanitarium and only lets Ray know her whereabouts. Reverend Matthews tries to get Ray to see that Julie is lying about her blindness and manipulating him but Ray refuses to believe it. Ted lets his romantic interest in Charlotte be known and Sid warns Charlotte against Ted, who he doesn’t like. Dr. Mary Leland, working at Julie’s sanitarium, is on to Julie and suspects she’s lying about her blindness. Meta Bauer is introduced on July 19th as Charlotte’s neighbor at the Towers. She is going by the name Jan Carter and is a model sharing an apartment with Mary Leland. Jan tells Charlotte her family all died in the war and she turns out to be an opportunist with ulterior motives for meeting Charlotte, mostly her interest in Ted White and his ability to further her career.  Roger tries to convince Charlotte to make her separation with his father permanent, and succeeds, until Charlotte meets Jan’s roommate, Dr. Mary Leland, and gets confirmation that Julie is playing a game. Threatened with eye surgery and having succeeded in breaking up Ray and Charlotte, Julie claims she can now see. Ray busts Julie as a liar. A desperate and wrathful Julie threatens Mary’s medical license for reasons of breach of confidentiality since she told Jan and Charlotte about her suspicions that a patient was lying about her blindness and Charlotte figured out it was Julie. Ted and Meta meet. Ray meets both Ted and Meta when he goes over to the Towers to try and make amends with Charlotte.

-8/25/48 thru 12/31/48. Sid, wanting Charlotte to get away from Ted’s influence, tries to talk Charlotte into taking a vacation. Ted talks her out of it. Jan Carter (aka Meta Bauer) tells Charlotte about her date with Ted. Ray thinks Ted is trying to change Charlotte’s image. Papa Bauer’s first episode. Papa discusses with Reverend Matthews that his wife hasn’t been feeling well. They hint at an emotional upset that happened with the family a few years ago. Susan and Julie fight and Susan tells Rev. Matthews that she wants to leave Trail’s End because she hates Julie and Julie is driving her crazy. Mama Bauer, Trudy Bauer and Bill Bauer are introduced. Mama is excited because Bill has started dating Bert and she’s hoping a baby will come soon. Mama experiences a severe pain in her side and Reverend Matthews sends Dr. Mary Leland over to check on Mama. Bill and Trudy don’t want Mary to be Mama’s doctor because she’s a woman but Mama likes Mary a lot. Dr. Mary Leland visits with Reverend Charles Matthews. She talks to him about her concern about Julie Collins filing a complaint against her and the bad publicity that would bring. She also discusses her patient, “Mrs. Baum” (Mama Bauer) and how she will need surgery for her cancer but her husband Frederick, son Bill and daughter Gertrude (Trudy) aren’t sure about Mary performing the surgery because she is a woman. Rev. Matthews encourages Mary to prove herself as a competent female surgeon. Ted continues to try to control Charlotte. He tells her to get rid of Sid and Ray and presses her to divorce Ray, insinuating that Ray is still in love with Julie. Jan (Meta) tries to cheer up Charlotte who is missing Ray. Jan (Meta) is interested in Ted, Ted’s interested in Charlotte and a depressed Charlotte isn’t interested in much of anything.  Charlotte gives her final broadcast of the season. Reverend Matthews gives a Labor Day sermon on the importance of education as the kids go back to school. At Charlotte’s apartment, Sid and Ted get into a big fight over Charlotte and her career. Charlotte ends the argument by telling them that she’s quitting the entertainment business. Jan (Meta) has told Charlotte that her parents died in Europe during the war. Rev. Matthews stops by to see Charlotte to talk her into coming back to Selby Flats and he meets Jan. He can’t shake the feeling that he’s seen her before. Jan plays ignorant as Rev. Matthews talks about the Bauers and the events going on in Selby Flats. Charlotte figures out that Ted was the one who told Robert Rollins, the prosecuting attorney in Julie’s murder case, who Ray used to be and that he spent time in prison. An angry Charlotte says she’s finally seen Ted for who he is and tells him to hit the road. Jan, fearful that Charlotte is going to have a nervous breakdown, calls Dr. Mary Leland over to see her. Charlotte gets everything off her chest with Mary. Mary puts a call in to Ray. Ray goes to Trail’s End and talks Julie out of filing her complaint against Dr. Leland.  Trudy complains to Mama about Papa’s strictness and Mama laments her missing daughter Meta. Papa tells Mary that Bill and Trudy want Mama to see Dr. McNeill. Mary says to let Mama decide. Rev. Matthews encourages Ray to stop going to Trail’s End and seeing Julie and to get back with Charlotte because he fears she’s about to have a nervous breakdown. Ray thinks Charlotte is the one who told Rollins about his past. Charlotte finds out from Rev. Matthews where Ray is living now and rushes to him for a reconciliation. Roger is not happy with the reconciliation and argues with Ray because of it. Susan tells Roger that she knows her father should have gone to prison instead of Ray because she read his deathbed confession. She tells Roger that Ray can use the confession in his defense if Rollins makes further accusations against him. Charlotte tells Ray that she was upset that Ray hadn’t gone to San Francisco with her and instead lied to go be with Julie because he was afraid she was suicidal and, because of that, told Ted about Ray’s past. She also tells him that Ted was the one who told Rollins about Ray’s past, using the information she gave him to make trouble for Ray in hopes of getting Ray out of the picture and getting Charlotte for himself. In her attempts to get Ted for herself, Jan tries to stir up trouble by telling Ted that Ray and Charlotte spent the night together. Ted and Charlotte play cat and mouse with each other. Charlotte confronts Jan. After a consultation with Dr. McNeill, Mary tells Papa Bauer that Jonathan wants to wait on surgery for Mama but she thinks they should operate right away. Papa agrees with Mary. Jan (Meta) calls the Bauers looking for Mary. Jan tells Mary that she’s pregnant and her plans anger Mary. Julie and Charlotte have a fight. Mama tells Mary that her daughter named Meta ran away, breaking her heart. She tells Mary she doesn’t want to have an operation until she can see Meta again and Mary says she will try to find Meta for her. Mary enlists Rev. Matthews help in finding Meta. Jan tells Mary she’s leaving Los Angeles to move to San Francisco. Jan tells Ted he’ll one day be sorry he ever met her. Reverend Matthews and Mary figure out through an old photo that Jan Carter is really Meta Bauer. Meta leaves on a train for somewhere other than San Francisco before Mary can catch up to her. Ray heads out to Trail’s End and lashes out at Julie for trying to break up him and Charlotte. Roger hears the shouting and comes in to try and break it up, taking Julie’s side. Roger defends Julie to Susan. Susan tells Ray to use her father’s confession to help his defense. Jonathan has moved. Mary enlists Ray’s help as she fears her breach of confidentiality with Julie and her faked blindness will be used against her by Julie as she seeks to fill Jonathan’s position. Meta agonizes over what decision to make in her situation with Ted as she heads east on a train. Rev. Matthews pleads with Papa to forgive Meta for Mama’s sake. Charlotte and Ray both tell off Ted. Meta winds up in New York City. Rev. Matthews and Mary enlist the help of Ray to find Jan (Meta). Papa gathers the family together and says he has forgiven Meta for running away and that they should try to find her. Ray’s man in NYC locates the hotel where Meta is staying. Mary schedules Mama Bauer for an operation. Bill and Trudy confront Mary at the parsonage about their displeasure in her being Mama’s doctor and Mary tells them if Papa and Mama don’t want her to be Mama’s doctor they can tell her themselves. Mama checks into the hospital and Mary flies to New York to bring Meta home but, unbeknownst to Mary, Meta has gone to the hospital sick with pneumonia. Mary performs surgery on Mama but tells Papa that Mama is living on borrowed time and advises not to let Mama know how little time she has left. Still under anesthesia, Mama says she’ll wait for Meta. Meta, having recuperated from pneumonia, is staying in a convent being taken care of by some nuns. She desperately wants to see Mama, knowing she is sick and could die, but doesn’t want the family to know she’s pregnant. Because Dr. Leland has told her she can’t have children, Charlotte wants to adopt but Ray is hesitant. Dr. Ross Boling moves to Selby Flats to be the new head of the Selby Flats Clinic and he and Mary immediately get off on the wrong foot. Meta learns that Ted is engaged to someone else. Mary arranges for Meta to come back to California because she has the idea of Ray and Charlotte adopting her baby. Pamela moves east to get over Larry and Winifred moves with her. Mama receives a letter from Meta saying that she’s coming home in a couple of months and Mama resolves to live long enough to see her. Trudy apologizes to Mary for discriminating against her and being too harsh on her. Ross Boling moves into the Bauer’s upstairs apartment, much to the delight of Trudy. Bill tells Mama that Bert broke their engagement because he wants to wait to get married. Bill says he doesn’t know if he can meet Bert’s material desires and Mama regrets they didn’t have the money to send Bill to college. The first Bauer Thanksgiving. Ross comes over for Thanksgiving and Mama tries to do some matchmaking with him and Trudy. Meta says goodbye to Sister Maria and leaves New York on a train back home and to Ted not knowing that he is overhead on a plane going to New York and then Europe. Ted tells his business associate, Dave, who he is traveling with, that he has broken off his engagement with Iris. Upon arriving home and learning Ted is gone, Meta’s hopes are dashed and she tells Mary she wants an abortion which Mary tries to talk her out of. Roger makes amends with Ray and Charlotte. Roger and Susan leave for a three-month trip to Colombia, leaving Betty Ann in Julie’s care. While Julie is asleep, Betty Ann, playing with matches, starts a fire at Trail’s End. Julie and Betty Ann both survive but Trail’s End is burned to the ground. Papa, Mama, Bill and Trudy celebrate the first Bauer Christmas while Meta is alone in an apartment nearby missing the family.  Meta had arranged for a letter from her to be sent from New York by Sister Maria saying she’ll be home soon. Mama, who is missing Meta on this day, is thrilled. Mary tells Charles about her plans to have Ray and Charlotte adopt Meta’s baby. Charles warns her that there’s a risk in that. Ross moves into the Bauer’s upstairs apartment. Meta wires the Bauers to say she’ll be back in time for Papa and Mama’s silver anniversary. Mama is holding on to see Meta again but Trudy is not happy about Meta’s return. Reverend Charles Matthews delivers a New Year’s Eve sermon.