Fairly suspenseful sign of the times, 1953. The Soviets have the big bomb and now folks are worried about a nuclear holocaust. Yup, it's "Duck and Cover" time. Pam and Jerry plan to attend his college reunion and especially revisit his old roomie Stuffie Barton. Trouble is Barton's now a research professor on a nuclear bomb staff. He's gone a little whacko over the global peril the big bomb presents. So he's devised a suitcase size device and is threatening to set it off as a warning to warmongers. It's on a timing device, so Jerry and Pam are in a race against the clock.
As I recall, there was worry at the time that such a down-sized device could be sneaked into the country for political blackmail purposes. (The Soviets had no long-range delivery system until 1954. Thus small size versions were topical.) As a result, I expect audiences really responded to this episode. Of course, 30-minutes is not enough time to really develop the dramatic potential. Still, it makes for a compelling half-hour, even now, North-wise.
As I recall, there was worry at the time that such a down-sized device could be sneaked into the country for political blackmail purposes. (The Soviets had no long-range delivery system until 1954. Thus small size versions were topical.) As a result, I expect audiences really responded to this episode. Of course, 30-minutes is not enough time to really develop the dramatic potential. Still, it makes for a compelling half-hour, even now, North-wise.
