Filmmaker Wendell B. Harris, Jr., told the 14 Jan 2009 LA Weekly that the film was inspired by a 1985 article in the Detroit Free Press, recounting the “adventures” of notorious imposter Doug Street. According to author Michael Boyce Gillespie, in his dissertation, Significations of Blackness: American Cinema and the Idea of a Black Film, Harris conducted interviews with the imprisoned Street, and obtained written permission to base a film on Street’s “exploits.” The screenplay was completed over a three-year period. Harris raised $1.5 million dollars, aided by the Flint, MI, business community, and executive producers Helen Boulware Harris and Hobart Whitaker Harris, his mother and brother, respectively. Photography took place in and around Flint during autumn 1987.
       The 21 Feb 1990 Var reported that, after winning the Grand Jury Prize at the 1990 Sundance Film Festival, Harris was in negotiations with four distributors. The most lucrative deal was offered by Warner Bros. Pictures, which intended to purchase distribution rights, then remake the film two years later with comedian Arsenio Hall in the title role. Harris preferred to promote the original picture, citing his efforts to raise the nearly $2 million budget, and his thirty-six rewrites of the screenplay as justification. The LA Weekly included Will Smith and Sinbad as prospective stars for the remake.
       As stated in the 30 Apr 1990 HR, Harris and his company, Prismatic Images, sued New York City film laboratory L&D Film/Video for $1.05 million, in a dispute over payment for services. The filmmaker charged L&D president David Schwartz of withholding prints of Chameleon Street and demanding fees in excess of his original estimate. Schwartz countered the charges, claiming to have notified Harris and received approval for all cost overruns. The 13 Jun 1990 Var reported that the parties were close to reaching a settlement, although the details were not made public. Helen Boulware Harris was reportedly in negotiations with at least one “second-level” distributor, and was hoping that prints would soon be available. The picture won the Grand Prize at the 1990 U.S. Film Festival, and was scheduled to screen later that summer at the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta, GA, and the San Sebastian Festival in Spain.
       The 20 Dec 1990 DV announced the acquisition of domestic rights by Aurora Entertainment, a home video company located in Northampton, MA. Aurora’s first theatrical release, Chameleon Street was scheduled to open 24 Apr 1991 in New York City, followed by openings in ten additional cities. A home video version would be available in autumn 1991.
       Chameleon Street opened to enthusiastic reviews, exemplified by the 29 Nov 1989 HR, which described it as a “weird and wonderfully satisfying comedy.” According to the LA Weekly, the film was released by Northern Arts Entertainment, based in Maine, and grossed little more than $200,000. The article attributes the modest release to an inept sales agent, who “botched a prospective meeting with Harvey Weinstein” of Miramax Films. The picture was released on DVD in 2007.
       On 5 Jun 2015, The Detroit News reported that Doug Street had been arrested the previous month for appropriating the identity of a federal defense contractor, for purposes of obtaining employment and seducing women. If convicted, Street would face a twenty-year sentence. The outcome has not been determined, as of Oct 2015.

       Opening credits include the following statement: "The film you are about to see and hear is based on the life experiences of William Douglas Street, Jr. and Erick Dupin. Many of the characters appear as themselves, while others assume fictional personae."
       End credits acknowledge: "Dedication bloc: Hattie Boulware, James Charity, Maurice Givens, Helen B. Harris, Wendel B. Harris, Sr., Samuel Rahiem Lett." Additionally, “Acknowledgements: Films Around the World, Inc., Bob DeMilia, Production, Elizabeth Frankel, Vice President of Productions; Filmworld International, Inc., Alex Gostein, President of Productions; Classics Film Division, Inc., The Shanghai Gesture, Josef von Sternberg, director (1941), Lucky Texan (1934); Films Around the World, Inc., Jack Johnson: Black Power in the Ring (1970), Grave Desires (1980); Janus Films, Beauty and the Beast, Jean Cocteau, director (1946); Prismatic Images, Inc., Define Bizarre, W. B. Harris, director (1986); British Broadcasting Corp., Brendan Kelly, Archivist/Program Acquisitions; Capital Records: Eddie Lambert, “Comme Moi,” (Delecluse/Senlis/Monnot), “Mon Dieu,” (C. Dumont/M. Vaucaire); Classics Film Division, Howard A. Mann, Archivist; Citizens Bank; Chris Condon, Stereovision, Inc.; Joseph Conroy, Michigan Senator; Dolores Ennis; James Finn; Flint Community Development Corporation; Flint Fire Department; Flint Police Department; Flowers by Bruce; Golden Steer Restaurant; Highland Police Department; Zebedee and Margaretsteen Hurd; Hyatt Regency Hotel - Flint; Kinross Correctional Facility; Mayor of Detroit; Mayor of Flint; Michigan Department of Corrections; Rachel E. Moreno; NBO/Genesee Bank; Kathryn Panzlau; Service Cleaners; William Douglas Street, Jr.; Marie H. Wright, D.D.S.; Doreen Zetterland; Julian Bond”; “Locations: Kathryn Allen; Berston Field House; Capitol Theatre; Figlio Restaurant; Flint Downtown Development Authority; Mark Folts Residence; Harris Building; Highland Police Department; Hurley Medical Center; Mack’s Barbershop; Mott Community College; Northbank Center; Trio Lounge; U. of Michigan - Ann Arbor; U. of Michigan – Flint; Darren Valdez residence.”