The 3 Feb 1969 LAT announced 80 Steps to Jonah as the first screen vehicle for singer Wayne Newton. The 25 Apr 1969 LAT included Newton-Amato-Newton Productions among the companies involved in the project.
       Two days of filming at Harrah’s Hotel in Reno, NV, were planned, as stated in the 18 Apr 1969 DV. Actor Ed Binns, who was to play a policeman, withdrew from the production. The 30 Apr 1969 issue noted that leading lady Diana Ewing was researching her role at the Foundation for the Junior Blind. Producer Gerd Oswald also made several visits to the Foundation, as well as to the Braille Institute and other similar facilities, where he observed blind children. Believing that these children would “act and react too sightedly” on camera, Oswald hired sighted children and trained them in “the behavior and reactions” of their blind counterparts. Principal photography began 1 May 1969 at MGM Studios in Culver City, CA, according to a production chart in the next day’s DV.
       Additional cast members included Felix Silla, Sue Silla, and Frank Delfino, as stated in the 6 Jun 1969 DV. The 17 Apr 1969 edition identified Eddie Kafafian as unit publicist. 80 Steps to Jonah marked the final picture for cinematographer Joseph La Shelle, who retired after its completion.
       A news item in the 7 May 1969 DV reported that Wayne Newton chartered three busses for the cast, crew, and their families to attend his 11 May 1969 performance at the Melodyland Theater in Anaheim, CA. Later that month, the 20 May 1969 DV reported the company’s return to Culver City following five days of location filming in Reno. Newton was scheduled to pre-record five songs for the soundtrack that night. The 4 Jun 1969 Var reported that production was nearly concluded. According to the 11 Jun 1969 DV, executive producer Steve Broidy was pleased with Newton’s performance and made a verbal agreement with the singer to do a second picture. The 2 Oct 1969 DV stated that post-production was recently completed by Nemours Editorial Service. The 10 Sep 1969 Var credited Bob Cullen with producing the soundtrack album. An article in the 12 Nov 1969 LAT listed “Rocking the Blues” as one of the songs contributed by jazz musician and composer George Shearing.
       80 Steps to Jonah premiered at the Savoy Theatre in Boston, MA, on 17 Nov 1969. That day’s DV noted that Newton performed the previous night at Harrah’s in Reno, and was flown to the event in proprietor Bill Harrah’s private jet. The 21 Nov 1969 DV claimed that the premiere attracted an enormous crowd, requiring Newton to enter the theater through an alley to avoid being mobbed.
       The picture opened to glowing reviews, exemplified by the 21 Oct 1969 DV, which described it as “heartwarming,” and commended child actors Erin Moran, Brandon Cruz, Teddy Quinn, Michele Tobin, Susan Mathews, Lily Martens, and Ira Angustain on their acting skills. However, just days after the Boston opening, the 26 Nov 1969 Var described the premiere as “a disaster,” adding that the picture closed within the first week.
       Although the title appeared on the 10 Dec 1969 Var list of top fifty highest-grossing current releases, Leo Greenfield, sales manager for distributor Warner Bros. Pictures, told the 13 Jan 1971 Var that the picture was a financial failure. He recalled one evening the previous year when the film failed to attract a single paying customer to a Cleveland, OH, theater.
       On 5 Jun 1970, LAT announced that canine actor Lord Nelson, who appeared in the film as “Ralph,” was nominated for a PATSY Award by the American Humane Association.