Miss Tamara Krassina, the first contestant, was the Soviet period Russian Circus' interpreter while on their U.S. and Canada appearances, under the title "The Moscow Circus". The show rose to world acclaim during this tour.
Steve Lawrence had just been cast in the production of 'What Makes Sammy Run?', which would open on February 27, 1964, at the 54th Street Theatre on Broadway. The musical was adapted from the novel originally published by panelist Bennett Cerf's Random House in 1941.