Many members of Congress tuned in since this was partially sponsored by an agency of the US government. Senate Republicans, apparently not fans of rock & roll, denounced the show as "decadent" and "depraved." Senator Gordon Allott (R-Colorado) called CBS president Frank Stanton after the show and said "Every American who saw that show must be sick. I am about to throw up." An investigation was promised by Senator Everett Dirksen (R-Illinois) to determine who was responsible.
This special was a co-production between CBS and the US government Office of Economic Opportunity. CBS donated the airtime and production costs. The artists were paid only union scale.
Segments were filmed in New York City, Detroit and Los Angeles. The Fox Theatre in Brooklyn was the setting for the onstage New York segments and taping was done June 16, 1965.