The series's premiere episode, The Black Wings, marked the American TV debut of Ann Todd.[1]
The show garnered press in February 1956 for actor Lloyd Bridges's emotional performance in an episode titled "Tragedy in a Temporary Town", directed by Sidney Lumet.[4] During the performance, Bridges inadvertently slipped in some profanity while ad-libbing.[5] Although the slip of the lip generated hundreds of complaints, the episode won a Robert E. Sherwood Television Award, with Bridges's slip defended by many, including some members of the clergy.[5][6][7] The episode, during which an innocent Puerto Rican man is targeted by a mob for a sexual crime, was cited by the Anti-Defamation League as "the best dramatic program of the year dealing with interethnic group relations".[6]
Herbert Brodkin was the producer. During his 12-week vacation in 1956, associate producer Philip Barry Jr. produced the series.[12] Its first color episode was broadcast on April 19, 1956, from NBC's Brooklyn studio.[2]
The trade publication Billboard reported in September 1956 that the budget for the Alcoa-Goodyear program had been increased to an estimated $65,000 per production for the upcoming season. It had been $45,000 during the previous season. The extra funding was said to allow the shows to "go in more for established properties which have greater exploitation possibilities to awaken audience interest".[13]
Critical response
Jack Gould, writing in The New York Times, commended the presentation of "The Big Wave" as one that "added further luster to the Alcoa Hour".[14] He commended the director's and producer's conveying the story "to the home screen with deeply understanding fidelity", and noted that the episode "was one of the most rewarding programs yet seen" for viewers who had color receivers.[14]
In contrast, The Times called the series's final episode, "Night", "a pointless and offensive exercise in violence and inanity". The brief review ended with, "There was no excuse at all for this one."[15]
