Glen Denning was originally cast in the lead as "Commander-in-Chief Kit Corry" and comedian Lyn Osborn as the youthful sidekick "Cadet Happy". Denning had continual problems remembering lines and delivering them and was replaced after about 25 episodes. War hero Ed Kemmer, a graduate of the Pasadena Playhouse, was his replacement. Denning probably didn't mind leaving the show as each cast member was being paid only $ 8.00 for each episode they appeared in. (By 1954, however, Lyn Osborn's salary alone had increased to about $ 900.00 per week! The show's budget increased to $ 25,000.00 a week in 1952, according to an article in the September 1st issue of "Life" magazine.) Osborn, like Kemmer, studied at the Playhouse and had introduced Kemmer to Mike Moser. Kemmer's seriousness and military bearing brought a maturity to the role that helped to increase the popularity of the series.