John Shrum designed the pilot's stage sets, salvaging set elements from the former "soap" designed by Spencer Davies. Shrum integrated stair, door, window, fireplace mantle units. Building the Horton House set, the living room was spread open like a book, the central arch in front of the main house door, a "y" hallway leading to the rest of the house. John selected a neutral color pallet of "putty" grays for all the scenery. This color scheme was a common pattern in color television set design. Early transmission electronic signals had problems with backgrounds with intense hues, as reds, yellows, oranges, because these background colors reflective color values affected actors' skin tones. Blue hues were the most compatible, and for this reason, the hospital's corridors, nurse stations and lounges, rooms, were established in the pale blue color. After the pilot sold as a series in 1965, John Shrum continued as Art Director, acting as supervising Art Director, allowing novice Assistants to helm the art direction duties. Hub Braden Art Directed the summer of 1968. Ed Flesh, from NBC-NY, replaced Hub and was Art Director from 1968 through 1974. During this period, Studio 9 was built to move the series to it's own stage, freeing up the main NBC Stages 2, 4, 1 & 3 for Specials and for host-variety series (Andy Williams, Phyllis Diller, Bob Hope, Johnny Carson). In mid 1969, Gloria Monte developed a new day-time series "Bright Promise" with Hub Braden as Production Designer. This program moved in and was set-up on the other half of Stage 9. This combination of shows utilized the stage facility full time. "Return to Peyton Place" replaced "B.P." in 1971-1973, until the show was canceled. Milt Altman, NBC-Art Department Director, moved Ed Flesh from the "Days" show responsibilities assigned to work on game show pilots. Hub Braden took over "Days" from 1973-1975. Milt Altman then assigned Braden to the new game show series, "Wheel of Fortune" (pilot set designed by Ed Flesh), NBC practice was to use one person as the art director, expected to decorate the sets. Replacing Hub, Milt Altman assigned Scott Rittenhour as Art Director to "Days" production staff. Scott demanded an assistant art director. Milt assigned (a newly hired) Mary Ann Biddle as Scott's assistant, who was expected to decorate the sets.
