IIRC, that veneer was the ad-version. as well.
There were few muckrakers (like I.F. Stone..) nor paparazzi to create Tee-Vee for 'News Clowns' fodder.
My guess: many viewers then would have read The Book [!!] Many certainly know of Edna Ferber's opera du jour, so were aware of the Meat
behind the Dog & Pony show/close-ups of Elizabeth Taylor's mesmerizing violet eyes. (They fucking-were that.)
Dean, of course was the male counterpart Eye-candy for the Gurrls (as evidenced by his effect upon my S.O. Russki grilf), noticed later that evening.
The focus upon the rampant jingoism-as-only-Texas can run into ludicrous levels: needed later contemplation, as Stevens was restrained if not subtle..
(And in those base-Euphemism daze, no review would more than hint-at iconoclasm within.)
Empire of Deception even then: pity I had not that incisive phrase to-hand just then; would have saved lots of W.T.F.!?s soon to arrive. Oh well, that's what 20/20 was invented for.
