Paul Reubens said that he, Phil Hartman, and Michael Varhol had never written a screenplay prior to this film. They purchased a book by Syd Field on how to write screenplays and did exactly what the book said. As a result, this movie is sometimes used in screenwriting classes because it fits the screenwriting paradigm perfectly - the film is 90 minutes long and the script is 90 pages long. The first act ends at Page 30 / 30-minute mark, the second act ends at Page 60 / 60-minute mark, etc.
During the entire time Large Marge tells her story, she never blinks.
Both Tim Burton and Paul Reubens Danny Elfman were fans of Oingo Boingo, of which Danny Elfman was lead singer and songwriter. Elfman was originally apprehensive, having no formal music training, and declined the offer, but his manager told him to tell Burton that himself. Elfman at first was expecting to compose 1 song instead of an entire score and expected the film to feature bands. Elfman gave Burton a ring, but at the last moment, he changed his mind and decided to accept the job. He was assisted by Boingo guitarist Steve Bartek as orchestrator. Elfman expected Warner Bros. To actually reject his compositions and was surprised when it was accepted as the score. He later said that hearing his music performed by an orchestra for the first time was one of the most thrilling experiences of his life. Burton and Elfman became frequent collaborators since then.
Paul Reubens: [song] The infamous dance number at the biker bar was "Tequila" by The Champs. Reubens was extremely fond of this song, and often included it in his stage acts, TV shows, and films.
John Paragon: man dressed in red armor with a high voice, was "Jambi" and "Pterri" in Pee-Wee's stage and TV shows.
Cassandra Peterson: as Biker Mama of Satan's Helpers. A portrait of Peterson as her most famous persona, Elvira Mistress of the Dark, is on the wall of Mario's magic shop.
Phil Hartman: "Captain Carl" from Pee-wee's TV shows appears a reporter interviewing Francis at the drive-in, and also provided the voice of the rodeo announcer in San Antonio.
Lynne Marie Stewart: impatient "mother superior" in Kevin Morton's movie is "Miss Yvonne" from Pee-wee's TV shows.
Tim Burton: [Alfred Hitchcock] When Pee-wee discovers that his bike is missing, the background music is the same violin riff as was played in the famous shower scene in Psicosis (1960).
Tim Burton: [James Bond] Early in the movie, Pee Wee talks to Dottie about "James Bond stuff." Later, he watches a James Bond spoof movie featuring James Brolin as "PW Herman." Also, the items from Mario's magic shop become useful at odd moments in the film, just like Bond's equipment from Q Department.
Tim Burton: [El mago de Oz (1939)] The scene with the fortune teller Madame Ruby is closely based on Professor Marvel's scene in the 1939 film.