Because Ed Wynn kept flubbing his lines during rehearsal, there was serious concern that he wouldn't be prepared to do a live drama. Consequently, Ned Glass, who played the minor role of a bartender, secretly learned the part of Army and rehearsed privately with Ed's son Keenan Wynn. Jack Palance has no memory of those rehearsals, and was determined to see Ed Wynn succeed. In the end, Ed Wynn went on and delivered a solid performance. The making of this drama was later depicted in The Man in the Funny Suit (1960), which was likewise directed by Ralph Nelson.
This was the first original 90-minute live drama ever shown on television.
Years later, Keenan Wynn spoke of Jack Palance with great reverence. He said that Jack had been exceptionally kind to his father while coaching him through rehearsals of this TV play.