The Guiding Light (GL) (known since 1975 as Guiding Light) was a long-running American television soap opera. Show development Agnes Nixon wanted to see social issues worked into the plot, and set the tone for much of the material used during the 1960s. One story, which involved Bert's battle with uterine cancer gave many female viewers the incentive to see their gynecologists. In 1965, Nixon became the headwriter of NBC's Another World, at the behest of her mentor, Irna Phillips, who created both GL and AW, but remained at GL for another year .On March 13, 1967, the show was first broadcast in color. On September 9, 1968, the show expanded from 15 to 30 minutes as did CBS' then other 15 minute daytime drama, Search for Tomorrow. Following the industry trend, the show also switched from broadcasting live to pre-taping in 1968. Major characters The Bauers Papa Bauer (Theo Goetz until end of decade) Meta Bauer Banning (Ellen Demming until June 30, 1966) Bill Bauer (Ed Bryce until 1963, and then September 1965 until July 1969; Eugene H. Smith, 1964 only), character presumed deceased Bert Bauer (Charita Bauer until end of decade) Mike Bauer (Michael Allen until January 3, 1961; Paul Prokopf, January 2, 1962, to January 1963; Gary Francis Pillar (later Carpenter), February 1963 to Fall 1965, Pilar also appeared on Another World as Mike Bauer from February 7, 1966, to February 2, 1967; Robert Pickering, March 18, 1968, to December 13, 1968; Don Stewart, December 16, 1968 until end of decade), character SORASed Dr. William Edward "Ed" Bauer, Jr. (Pat Collins until 1961; Robert Gentry, April 4, 1966, to April 25, 1969; Mart Hulswit, September 24, 1969 until end of decade), character SORASed Dr. Bruce Banning (Lester "Les" Damon until November 1960; Barnard Hughes, June 1961 to June 1966) Julie Conrad Bauer (Sandra Smith}, January 1962 to July 1, 1965), Mike's first legal wife, character committed suicide, off-camera, in January 1966 Hope Bauer (Jennifer Kirschner, October 2, 1963, to August 1965; Elisa Leeds played Hope on Another World from March 25, 1966, to June 30, 1966, and then again from December 1968 until end of decade; Paula Schwartz, March 1968 to December 1968), Mike and Julie's daughter, character born on screen on October 2, 1963 Trudy Bauer Palmer, character talked about, but not seen Clyde Palmer, character talked about, but not seen Leslie Jackson Bauer (Lynne Adams,