On 29 May 1962, DV included Viva Las Vegas among twenty new motion pictures at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Although production was expected to begin later that year, development continued into the following spring. A 1 Apr 1963 DV item named Ray Singer and Dick Chevillat as the film’s writers, but they did not remain with the project. The 31 May 1963 edition suggested that producers considered changing the title, as Viva Las Vegas was previously used for the overseas release of Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956, see entry).
       According to a 19 Jul 1963 DV production chart, principal photography began four days earlier. In an LAT article published that day, a representative from MGM stated that Viva Las Vegas was one of many films currently shooting at the studio facilities in Culver City, CA, which the 2 Jul 1963 DV claimed housed a replica of Las Vegas, NV’s Silver Spoon casino. Items in the 31 Jul 1963 Var and 5 Jun 1964 DV indicated that Las Vegas locations included the Sahara and Flamingo hotels, while the 6 Sep 1963 issue stated that dancers were recruited from The Mint. Additional scenes were shot at the Hoover Dam Lake. One of the vehicles featured in the film included a race car, nicknamed the “Vinegaroon,” was owned by actor Dan Blocker. The 9 Aug 1963 DV reported that the twelve-week rental cost $5,000.
       Several summer 1963 DV briefs listed cast and crew members not credited in the final film, such as piano accompanist Joe Marino, and Billy May, who the 17 Sep 1963 LAT reported had been hired to write special song arrangements for actress Ann-Margret. Actors included Roy Engel and Bob Williams; Virginia Broderick, who made her motion picture debut as a nightclub hostess; Lance LeGault and the rock ‘n’ roll group The Dynamics; Jack Carter; Mickey Lansburgh, son of Flamingo owner Morris Lansburgh; and an unnamed striptease dancer from the club, Largo, in West Hollywood, CA.
       Viva Las Vegas opened 20 May 1964 in New York City, followed by a citywide release in Los Angeles, CA, on 1 Jul 1964.