The upcoming picture was announced in the 17 Aug 1928 Exhibitors Daily Review as a starring vehicle for actress and nightclub hostess Texas Guinan. The item was followed with the comment, “and once again we are to have the screen elevated or something.” Production company Warner Bros. Pictures sponsored a “farewell luncheon” for Guinan at Sardi’s Restaurant in New York City on 23 Aug 1928, as stated in that day’s edition of Exhibitors Daily Review.
       The 26 Aug 1928 [La Crosse, WI] Tribune reported Guinan’s departure for Los Angeles, CA. An event celebrating her arrival was planned for 30 Aug 1928, to be hosted by San Francisco, CA, mayor James Rolph, Jr. Her New York City nightclub had recently been closed by local authorities for violations of the National Prohibition Act, and she was scheduled to stand trial upon her return. Later that week, the 1 Sep 1928 [Pomona, CA] Progress Bulletin revealed that the Los Angeles event had been cancelled, purportedly at the behest of Mayor George E. Cryer and the management of the Los Angeles Breakfast Club. Guinan presumed neither wanted to be “contaminated” by her, and summarized the situation by saying, “I gave the suckers an even break and look what happened…I had to buy my own dinner.” Guinan later told the Dec 1928 Picture-Play that the cancellation was apparently related to a longstanding rivalry between the mayors of Los Angeles and San Francisco. She went on to detail her general dislike of the movie colony, particularly its lack of camaraderie. During her stay in the city, Guinan rented the home of actress Marie Prevost.
       A news item in the 28 Aug 1928 Exhibitors Daily Review credited Roy Del Ruth as director, then reported in the 4 Sep 1928 edition that he had been replaced by Bryan Foy. Principal photography began on 10 Sep 1928 at Warner Bros. Studios in Hollywood, according to the 22 Sep 1928 Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World. The 26 Sep 1928 Var noted that a silent version was being filmed, which extended the shoot by twenty-five days.
       Queen of the Night Clubs was scheduled to make its Los Angeles premiere on 4 Mar 1929 at the Warner Bros. Theatre, and debuted in New York City at midnight, 12 Mar 1929, at the Mark Strand Theatre. A general release followed on 16 Mar 1929. Articles in the 10 Mar 1929 San Francisco Examiner and the 18 Mar 1929 [Charlotte, NC] Observer expressed disappointment in the picture, which presented the hoydenish Guinan in an uncharacteristically maternal role. New York City audiences, in particular, reportedly greeted the film with derision, and it was thought unlikely that Guinan would make a follow-up vehicle. This opinion was reinforced by the 23 Mar 1929 and the 13 Jul 1929 issues of Motion Picture News, which confirmed that the film had the lowest earnings on Broadway during its opening run.
       According to the 2013 book, The Films of George Raft by Everett Aaker, this picture is believed to be lost. However, all but one of the Vitaphone soundtrack discs are extant.