Lester the Jester does not appear in Lewis Carroll's original novel. He was intended by the writers of this TV version to be inspired by the Scarecrow in "The Wizard of Oz", which, at the time that this "Alice" was telecast, was rapidly becoming the most popular theatrical film on television (the most famous version of that story, The Wizard of Oz (1939), was, at that time, telecast annually by CBS.)
Jimmy Durante's Humpty Dumpty costume was constructed to hold two actors, as the Humpty Dumpty character sat upon the stone wall. Durante at age 73, (b:02/10/1893-01/29/1980; d:86), stood inside the costume, straddling another performer inside the lower costume's egg shape. The seated actor-dancer sat on the wall with his legs stretched forward, dangling off the wall perch with Durante standing behind him. When Humpty Dumpty falls backwards at the end of the musical number, both performers inside the egg shaped costume rolled backwards into the arms of stage-technicians standing on a mattress cushion catching them in their backward fall.
Judi Rolin, born November 6, 1946, was 20 years old performing the role of a very young Alice in the 1966 color television musical. Producer Bob Wynn (b:1932-12/12/2013; d:81) in the Sony DVD showcase extra material interview related finding Judi Rolin was their answer for the role of Alice. The actress was blond, petite, could dance, with a beautiful voice and fulfilled every aspect the difficult role required.
Vocal numbers were recorded with a symphonic orchestra comprised of members from the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hollywood film community of studio union musicians. The video taped production's musical vocals were performed in a lip-sync performance during the live musical stagings. A 33.1/3 rpm LP vinyl disk sound-track of the cast's musical studio recording was released in conjunction with the NBC television network event.
Roy Castle, unknown to the American public and totally unknown to television audiences in 1965, was introduced to New York's Broadway musical theatre audiences by the American Producer David Merrick; Produced in association with Bernard Delft; the 1964 British stage musical import production "Pickwick" starring actor Harry Secombe at the 46th Street Theatre, (10/04/1965 - 11/20/1965; 56 total performances); Music by Cyril Ornadel; Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse; Book by Wolf Mankowitz; Based on "The Pickwick Papers" by Charles Dickens; Music orchestrated by Eric Rogers; Musical Director: Ian Fraser; Vocal arrangements by Ian Fraser; Directed by Peter Coe; Choreographed by Gillian Lynne; Scenic Design by Sean Kenny; Costume Design by Roger Furse and Peter Rice; Lighting Design by Jules Fisher. Roy Castle's 1965 performance in the role of Sam Weller was nominated for Broadway's 1966 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical) for "Pickwick."