The producers wondered if Jim Backus could handle the singing required for this TV special. Briefly, they considered using Robert Goulet for Scrooge's singing voice.
This version of "A Christmas Carol" is unique in that the first spirit to visit Scrooge is the Spirit of Christmas Present, followed by the Spirits of Christmas Past and Yet to Come, whereas in all other versions, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past first, then Present, and then Yet to Come. No records exist to explain this change, but some have guessed that it had to do with running times and commercial breaks.
There is a popular rumor that the song "People" was written for - and rejected by - this TV special. This is not true. The special's composer Jule Styne and lyricist Bob Merrill were working on the song for the Broadway musical "Funny Girl" at the same time that they were writing this score. The producers of this project heard them playing it and were thrilled, until they learned that it was not for them. Obviously, it went on to become a hit for the star of "Funny Girl", Barbra Streisand.
Although originally produced for television, the TV special later received a theatrical release.
"Scrooge" is an archaic English verb meaning "to squeeze".