The credits and plot summary of this film were obtained from contemporary sources and the cutting continuity of Romance and Rhythm, a re-edited, re-issue of Hit Parade of 1941. Republic intended to make this picture as a follow-up to its 1937 film The Hit Parade (see above), but production was delayed several times. The picture was originally intended as a starring vehicle for Phil Regan, the star of The Hit Parade, with Alison Skipworth, Polly Moran and Max Terhune as his co-stars and Colbert Clark acting as the film's producer. Regan's contract disputes with Republic were one of the reasons for the film's delay. A 5 May 1939 HR news item reported that production was stalled because none of the desired big bands were available, while a Jun 1939 HR news item noted that the picture had been taken off the production schedule in order to delete from the script "the WPA theme over which difficulties arose." On 29 Sep 1939, HR reported that Republic president Herbert J. Yates had postponed production in the hope that "war conditions" would have settled by 1 Jan 1940, the proposed starting date of filming.
       Among the writers assigned to work on the film at various times were: Bradford Ropes, Vera Caspary, Gordon Rigby, Rian James and Manny Seff . Their contribution to the completed film has not been confirmed, however. Songwriters scheduled to work on the film included Peter Tinturin and Jack Lawrence. According to HR news item, in the fall of 1939, Ralph Murphy was slated to direct the picture, and Republic negotiated with Twentieth Century-Fox to borrow the Ritz Brothers, although the comedians refused to appear in the film. According to HR and NYT news items, Lionel Stander was originally set for the role of "Charles Moore," but was removed from the picture after he "was subpoenaed to testify before the Los Angeles County Grand Jury in what the District Attorney's office termed a 'fifth column expose.'" Stander was replaced by Phil Silvers, who was borrowed from M-G-M. The NYT article noted: "Republic explained the replacement by saying they feared Stander might be called to testify further during production. The studio paid him $3,000 to break their commitment." No additional information about Stander's removal from the picture has been found.
       HR production charts include Jan Garber and his band in the cast, but their participation in the completed picture has not been confirmed. The film's production file at the AMPAS Library contains a Republic billing sheet on which dance director Danny Dare's name is crossed out and Hermes Pan's name is written in. No information confirming Pan's involvement with the film has been found. Contemporary sources note that the film's budget was between $350,000 and $500,000. According to the MPAA/PCA Collection at the AMPAS Library, Joseph I. Breen, the Director of the PCA, read the film's shooting script and commented on one scene to producer Sol C. Siegel: "It would be well for you to take counsel...it is very likely that your picture will encounter trouble in the Southern states if the colored and white entertainers are shown together on the same stage in this concluding number." Cy Feuer received an Academy Award nomination in the Music (Scoring) category, and Jule Styne and Walter Bullock's song "Who Am I?" was nominated in the Music (Song) category.