The character of Dallas Wayne is a fictionalized version of real-life Winchell confidante and speakeasy owner Texas Guinan.
Director Bob Fosse was meant to direct the film with Robert De Niro starring as a Winchell. Before the project could even begin, Fosse passed away and the project was held for several years.
One of two tele-movie features directed by filmmaker Paul Mazursky. The films are [in order]; 'Winchell' (1998) (TV) and 'Coast to Coast' (2003) (TV). Both tele-films were late career productions directed by Mazursky who did not perform writing or producing duties on either unlike with his earlier theatrical feature film work.
Palmer Davis's debut.