According to a July 31, 1949 New York Times article, this film was originally titled The Thief of Broadway, a reference to "Kip's" use of other comics' material. Star Milton Berle was himself accused of the same habit, the article notes, although Berle protested that the "gag stealing reputation is a little thing I started myself," as part of a public feud with comic Richy Craig, Jr. The "Fountain Pen" sketch enacted in the film was taken from the Broadway revue Make Mine Manhattan. According to a July 5, 1949 Hollywood Reporter news item, Audrey Meadows tested for one of the lead roles. An early staff roster includes Henny Youngman, Benny Baker, Red Buttons and Claudette Thornton in the cast. They did not appear in the viewed film. The Hollywood Reporter review notes that the film was cut from a preview length of 118 minutes to 108 minutes; copyright material dated November 9, 1949 gives the film's running time as 116 minutes. Actor Julius Tannen was known as "The Chatterbox" when he performed in vaudeville.