The World Premiere for the film, The Long Wait, took place in Chicago on Tuesday, May 18, 1954, at the Woods Theatre. An ad appeared in the Chicago Daily News, for that date which states:
"Three Thrill-Hungry Dames Played Me For A sucker . . . Now It's My Turn!" Mickey Spillane's "The Long Wait" starring Anthony Quinn, Charles Coburn, Gene Evans, Peggie Castle . . . World Premiere . . . Essaness Woods, Randolph at Dearborn . . . Starts Today 7:45 am.