The 13 May 1964 Var announced two upcoming musicals from American International Pictures (AIP): The Maid and the Martian and Pajama Party. A news item in the 10 Jun 1964 DV reported that Deborah Walley would appear in a lead role. Weeks later, the 3 Jul 1964 DV stated that the projects would be combined under the latter title, starring Annette Funicello and Tommy Kirk. The 29 Jul 1964 Var claimed that it was the first motion picture to combine science fiction with “beach-party types.” The 16 Jul 1964 issue included Morey Amsterdam in the cast, while the 20 Jul 1964 LAT mistakenly mentioned Frankie Avalon as the male lead. Comedian Don Rickles made a cameo appearance, as noted in the 1 Sep 1964 LAT. The 23 Jul 1964 DV announced that AIP was collaborating with WBZ Radio in Boston, MA, on a contest to promote the studio’s current release, Bikini Beach (1964, see entry) The winner would be given a role in Pajama Party.
       Principal photography began 10 Aug 1964 at Producers Studio in Los Angeles, CA, according to that day’s DV. Other castings included Kerry Kollmar, son of columnist Dorothy Kilgallen (26 Aug 1964 Var), and AIP discovery Cheryl Sweeten in her screen debut (23 Sep 1964 Var). The 8 Sep 1964 DV stated that actress Inga Nielsen declined a role because it conflicted with an engagement in Las Vegas, NV. The 2 Sep 1964 DV noted the recent completion of filming. On 22 Oct 1964, DV announced that 500 prints would be in circulation by Thanksgiving of that year. According to the 18 Nov 1964 Var, Tommy Kirk was scheduled to appear at twenty-one openings in as many cities, including Boston, MA, and Detroit, MI. Cast members Donna Loren, Bobbi Shaw, Patti Chandler, and Cheryl Sweeten were each assigned specific regions for their personal appearances. Box-office reports indicated that the picture had already debuted in Portland, OR.
       On 2 Dec 1964, Pajama Party opened in and around Los Angeles, CA, at fifty locations. The New York City opening occurred six months later, on 5 May 1965. Reviews were typical of other installments of the “Beach Party” series.
       Articles in the 25 Nov 1964 and 16 Dec 1964 issues of DV stated that theater managers in Albuquerque, NM, and Gastonia, NC, offered discounted or free admission to patrons wearing pajamas to specific screenings. When the Gastonia promotion resulted in an outcry from parents and clergymen, theater manager Henry Hughes apologized for the misunderstanding, insisting that he did not intend for patrons to wear only pajamas to the screening.
       The soundtrack album was released on Buena Vista Records.