In February 1965, it was announced that Ben Franklin in Paris would transfer to another theatre on April 10 to make way for the highly anticipated Frank Loesser-Sam Spewack-Bob Fosse musical Pleasures and Palaces, which was to open at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on April 19. Then Pleasures and Palaces, which was in trouble during its pre-Broadway run at the Fisher in Detroit, postponed its Broadway opening to May 10, and an additional tryout run in Boston was scheduled. That postponement allowed Ben Franklin in Paris to remain in the Lunt-Fontanne till May 1. Soon, however, it was announced that Pleasures and Palaces would close down completely after the Detroit run ended on April 10, but Ben Franklin in Paris still ended up closing on May 1. Bajour was the next tenant the Lunt-Fontanne, re-opening there on May 10, having moved from the Shubert, where it was replaced by The Roar of the Greasepaint—The Smell of the Crowd.
Noel Willman was originally announced to be the director and Herbert Ross was to have been the choreographer. On May 26, 1964, it was announced in the New York Times that both had resigned and would be replaced by Michael Kidd, who would handle both direction and choreography.
Jerry Herman wrote two of the show's songs: "Too Charming" and "To Be Alone With You."
The production had set an opening date of October 13, 1964, but by the end of September, it was announced that the opening would be postponed to October 27, 1964. Previews began on schedule, on October 7, and continued through October 26.
