Initial "Bright Promise" concept scenic discussions between producer Gloria Monte and production designer Hub Braden concentrated on the set's wall color related to the series star Dana Andrews (at age 60 in 1969). The final over-all set color, hue, solution had to have a rose tint for stage-set wall bounce-lighting reflections. The bounce light from the rose-beige set wall color would enhance any actor's facial make-up for camera appearances. The color solution was to make the 60 year old Dana Andrews look younger for "camera." In 1988, when production designer Hub Braden was asked to take over Angela Lansbury's (age 63) CBS TV series "Murder, She Wrote," the same rose-beige wall color scheme was used in determining the painted color for any stage set, and location set, built that Angela Lansbury's role as "Jessica Fletcher" appeared in.
In developing the story line, Susan Brown's role as 'Martha Ferguson' was placed in a jail cell for six weeks. Gloria Monte and her Art Director Hub Braden discussed the set's requirements; a bed, a wash sink, a toilet (acting as a form of a chair for motivation), and a bench. "Martha" had visitors in her jail cell where her lawyer and friends would meet to discuss the case. After taping scenes in the jail set, for four weeks, Gloria received word from NBC (NY) Standards and Practices that the toilet had to be struck off the set. How do you strike a toilet that has had a dominate presence. Gloria had the crew move the toilet off the original position, two feet, each show, for one week; walking the prop each day, off to the left side of the set; the toilet eventually disappeared. NBC Television (NY) Executives finally were satisfied. "Martha's" master bedroom set had twin beds, instead of a king size bed frame, again, because Standards and Practices did not want a single bed for a married couple on a day time drama. Nor did Martha ever get a single bed frame in the two year series run. But, she did get out of jail.
After Dana Andrews left the series, the network brought in Anne Jeffries, for star power, introducing her as "Sylvia Bancroft". As a wealthy town leader, "Sylvia Bancroft" lived in a sumptuous American Gothic (Victorian) residence; front entry hall with grand staircase, which adjoined the sitting-living room, centered with a fireplace seating area, and an expansive cove stained glass seating area featuring Victorian tables, arm chairs, sofas and an ornate French red Chinoiserie enclosed cabinet-bar. During the character's story development, a murder occurs and the pistol has to be hidden, but none of the Victorian tables had a drawer. In discussion, Gloria and her art director decided to use the Red Chinoiserie Cabinet. In the NBC Special Effects shop, the piece of furniture was fitted with a secret compartment at the back of the interior cabinet's bar area. When the series ended, the cabinet's complicated secret compartment was removed before the furniture piece was returned to the Cinema Mercantile Prop House.
"Bright Promise" featured Dana Andrews as the lead cast performer, anticipated by NBC Programming to draw a greater viewing audience. A year after the show had been on the air, NBC fired Andrews, cutting his high negotiated salary out of the budget. The normal day-time series trial usually sustains for two years, either extended or canceled, or replaced with another serial series. 20th Century Fox Television agreed, and permitted NBC Daytime Programming director Llynn Bowlen to develop the night-time (NBC) Peyton Place series for a daytime serial series. The Cast and crew of Bright Promise discovered their show had been canceled reading the morning edition, Los Angeles Times, Calendar newspaper, show biz column. Dana Andrews learned of his termination in the same manner. He really was surprised.
Gloria Monte produced, cast, and directed "Bright Promise" from inception with Dick Dunn as her co-Producer. Gloria Monte's CBS day time drama series history, producing day-drama shows for CBS-TV, established her New York credentials. NBC - New York replaced another West Coast series with Gloria Monte in charge of developing the new "Bright Promise" series. Meeting with her Art Director, Hub Braden, they conferred on the "look" for the scenarios location (Mid-West a.k.a. Ohio), architectural style for the Georgian College Campus setting (Miami of Ohio), and each of the various character's home environment. Dana Andrews had signed a two year contract with NBC. Dana Andrews' College President role was the key pivot for each story line's development. Gloria made an issue with the College corridors and offices paint hue and value, testing on camera the variety of rose-beige, rose-tan, rose-cream paint samples with regards to lighting reflection-enhancement for the senior starring Dana Andrews. Preparing set plan and designs, Gloria approved a plan that the sets could be set up as entire interiors, or reduced to minimum segments of rooms for the daily scene actions. Studio 9 at the Burbank NBC TV Facility was shared with a current production "Days Of Our Lives". "Bright Promise" was scheduled for the afternoon shift while "Days" would occupy the morning shift. The shows schedules balanced and worked well in the studio. An attempt to exchange sets between the two shows proved unworkable. At the end of the taping schedule, the stage-hands struck and reset load in scenery, and then lite the acting area. When this crew departed, the "Days" crew transitioned their strikes and load in, and lighting prior to the director and cast arrival. The studio schedule was an around the clock adventure. After the first year, NBC fired Dana Andrews (contract settled with payoff) and Dick Dunn was fired. Jerry Layton was brought from New York as Producer working with Gloria Monte. After two years, in 1971, the show was cancelled. The time slot was used for "Return To Peyton Place". Hub Braden transitioned with the new production company as Art Director.