Tragedy in a Temporary Town (The Alcoa Hour)

Tragedy in a Temporary Town was an American television play broadcast on the anthology series The Alcoa Hour on November 18, 1956. It starred Lloyd Bridges and was directed by Delbert Mann.

The drama focuses on the social and psychological pressures within a rapidly constructed "instant town" built to house workers and their families involved in a large industrial project (implied, but not explicitly stated, to be an Alcoa aluminum plant). The story revolves around the tensions and frustrations arising from the town's transient nature, the challenging working conditions, and the isolation experienced by its residents.

Lloyd Bridges plays the role of a construction worker struggling with the moral compromises he faces in his work and the emotional impact of the temporary community on his family. The narrative explores themes of alienation, the struggle for identity in a rapidly changing environment, and the potential for tragedy when individual needs are overlooked in the pursuit of progress.

The play received positive reviews for its realistic portrayal of working-class life and its exploration of the social consequences of industrial development. It is considered a notable example of the socially conscious dramas that were characteristic of anthology television in the 1950s.