This was the first in a series of Henry Aldrich films, which were essentially Paramount's equivalent of M-G-M's highly profitable Andy Hardy franchise. Though never as popular as the Hardy movies, the Aldrich films regularly returned a tidy profit to Paramount.
One of over 700 Paramount productions, filmed between 1929-49, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since. It's initial telecasts took place in Boston Wednesday 5 November 1958 on WBZ (Channel 4), in Seattle Friday 28 November 1958 on KIRO (Channel 7) and in Chicago Saturday 3 January 1959 when it served as one of the three titles launching the MCA/Paramount Film Library on WBBM (Channel 2); in Philadelphia it first aired Tuesday 7 July 1959 on WCAU (Channel 10) and in Milwaukee 23 December 1959 on WITI (Channel 6). It eventually became a popular favorite among afternoon viewers and was initially shown in Phoenix 11 March 1960 on KVAR (Channel 12), in Los Angeles 31 March 1960 on KNXT (Channel 2), in Detroit 9 April 1960 on WJBK (Channel 2), and in New York City 12 April 1960 on WCBS (Channel 2).
Exteriors of what is supposed to be Henry's small town high school were shot on location at UCLA.
When Henry's pal "Dizzy" pulls up to fill the tank of his jalopy, the posted price of a gallon of gas is...16 cents.
