Derived in part from the film version of Jules Verne's novel Around the World in 80 Days that Michael Todd produced. The first attempt at a stage version was performed at Madison Square Garden in 1957, as a 'Ballet Ballad' with full chorus telling the story while the dancing took place. This version toured and was finally made into a full-fledged musical with book by Sig Herzig and additional music by Sammy Fain.
On the major-credits page of the program for the production at Jones Beach in 1963, Herzig, Adamson and Fain were listed left to right, with their respective credits for book, lyrics and music. Beneath their credits, listed separately but in a noticeably smaller font, Victor Young was listed, credited with "Originaly motion picture music by."
Michael Todd was acknowledged. At the top of the page, it read:
GUY LOMBARDO
preseents
MICHAEL TODD'S
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
A Broadway production was announced for the spring of 1963, to follow the original production that played at the St. Louis Municipal Opera and the Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, but it never happened. It was to have been produced by Mike Todd, Jr.
