Directed by legendary Hollywood actor Harry Morgan, who starred with series creator Jack Webb on Dragnet 1967 (1967).
This episode was the 19th aired in Season One, but many indications are that it was one of the first episodes filmed.
1) The style of filming, especially notable in the on-location car shots, is not "polished" as it was in the remainder of Season One: The "two shot" of Malloy and Reed in the car, and especially the closeup shots of each of them, are framed very tightly. In every other episode of this season, the shots are framed more "loosely." This is indicative of the director of photography "finding the style" of the shots for the series, which he was in the process of doing in this episode.
2) In the scene where Malloy is being reprimanded by Sgt. MacDonald, Reed attempts to offer his opinion on Malloy's actions, and is told by MacDonald: "Reed, you've been on the job for three weeks - you don't *have* an opinion." This would indicate that it was shot earlier, and screened out of sequence.
3) The copyright listed on the print is 1968, and not 1969 (the latter which would be consistent with the 19th episode order).
4) Much of the supporting cast are regular supporting cast members from Dragnet 1967 (1967), which was shooting at the same time as Adam-12 (1968). While some "Dragnet 1969'' cast members did appear from time to time throughout the series, never was it moreso in this particular episode.
5) Harry Morgan directed this episode, his only time doing so for the series. Indicative of this being an early episode, which did not have the usual slate of directors lined up when it was filmed.
6) The entire sequence involving the hippies spray painting the symbol on the lawn was a leftover from the pilot episode, ''Log 1: The Impossible Mission (1968)''. Note that the hippies are standing in front of a park in the scene. In the final act of the pilot, there is a scene where hippies are shown shooting up a BBQ pergola in a park at night - the group of hippies shown here are the same hippies, and this scene was originally in the pilot episode. Also note that the patrol car Malloy and Reed are driving is a 1967 Plymouth Belvedere for this one sequence (they were in a 1968 Plymouth Belvedere for the rest of this episode).
1) The style of filming, especially notable in the on-location car shots, is not "polished" as it was in the remainder of Season One: The "two shot" of Malloy and Reed in the car, and especially the closeup shots of each of them, are framed very tightly. In every other episode of this season, the shots are framed more "loosely." This is indicative of the director of photography "finding the style" of the shots for the series, which he was in the process of doing in this episode.
2) In the scene where Malloy is being reprimanded by Sgt. MacDonald, Reed attempts to offer his opinion on Malloy's actions, and is told by MacDonald: "Reed, you've been on the job for three weeks - you don't *have* an opinion." This would indicate that it was shot earlier, and screened out of sequence.
3) The copyright listed on the print is 1968, and not 1969 (the latter which would be consistent with the 19th episode order).
4) Much of the supporting cast are regular supporting cast members from Dragnet 1967 (1967), which was shooting at the same time as Adam-12 (1968). While some "Dragnet 1969'' cast members did appear from time to time throughout the series, never was it moreso in this particular episode.
5) Harry Morgan directed this episode, his only time doing so for the series. Indicative of this being an early episode, which did not have the usual slate of directors lined up when it was filmed.
6) The entire sequence involving the hippies spray painting the symbol on the lawn was a leftover from the pilot episode, ''Log 1: The Impossible Mission (1968)''. Note that the hippies are standing in front of a park in the scene. In the final act of the pilot, there is a scene where hippies are shown shooting up a BBQ pergola in a park at night - the group of hippies shown here are the same hippies, and this scene was originally in the pilot episode. Also note that the patrol car Malloy and Reed are driving is a 1967 Plymouth Belvedere for this one sequence (they were in a 1968 Plymouth Belvedere for the rest of this episode).
The actor, Hal Smith, who plays the drunk driver, was a regular on The Andy Griffith Show (1960) as the town drunk, Otis.
Director Harry Morgan portrayed Officer Gannon on Dragnet 1967 (1967). It thus may not be coincidental that Reed speaks exactly as Gannon would as he gives Malloy lunch advice.
When Reed and Malloy set flares for tree down, there are already burn marks on the asphalt indicating more than one take was needed for this scene.