Guiding Light has had numerous openings over the years; some good, some bad, some memorable, some not so much. Today, I highlight what I consider to be the serial's best and most memorable opening sequences.
Number 3. Guided Lightning. In 1981-1982, Guiding Light retired its staid sequence of light shining through the leaves for disco music! What an abrupt change it was for the show's loyal viewers to tune in the day the new opening sequence and theme music debuted. The new sequence featured fast, short clips of the show's characters; a new logo set against a glittering, shining gold background; and a dynamic, pulsing disco-inspired theme song. The new sequence lasted less than two years but was reflective of the sensation that Guiding Light had become at that time with stories of young love, suspense and mystery, and tattered familial relationships.
Number 2. My Guiding Light. The year 1983 was a transitionary one for Guiding Light. Gail Kobe replaced Allen Potter as Executive Producer and in the spring, Pamela Long and Richard Culliton had taken over as head writers, re-energizing the show by introducing new characters and plots and wrapping up long-dangling story threads. To reflect the changes on screen, Guiding Light retired the disco opening and replaced it with a brand-new sequence featuring clips from show and establishing shots of Springfield locations set against a slower, lush, romantic theme song. The logo remained the same. Clips in the opening sequence changed as storylines evolved and as cast members arrived and departed. The theme song was later remixed a few times such as in these 1986 and 1990 sequences. The My Guiding Light theme song was finally dropped in 1991, to be replaced by...
Number 1. Hold on to Love. Of all of Guiding Light's theme songs and opening sequences, none matched the caliber, the beauty, and the poignance of this sequence, which debuted in early 1991. Visually stunning shots of the serial's cast were accompanied by a lush, powerful musical score. Also re-established after a long absence was the image of a lighthouse, which had been featured in previous Guiding Light openings back in the 1950s and 1970s. Hold on to Love, the theme song, was remixed in 1996 with a jazz beat, much to fans' objections. The song was quickly remixed once again with a score more in tune with the original version of Hold on to Love, but with a faster beat. This opening sequence was truncated in 1997 to a short 15-second sequence featuring the lighthouse and series logo. This theme song and opening were finally retired in 2002. Nonetheless, when the Guiding Light cast took their final bow at the Daytime Emmy Awards this past week, they were accompanied by the familiar strains of Hold on to Love.
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