The three main characters of the film - Elmer Butts, and Elvira and Ma Plunkett - come to Hollywood from Gopher City, Kansas. Trixie Friganza, who plays Ma Plunkett, was in fact from Kansas. Buster Keaton, who plays Elmer Butts, was also born in Kansas.
MGM stars who make cameo appearances in the film include William Haines, Lionel Barrymore, Karl Dane, Dorothy Sebastian, Gwen Lee, John Miljan, and Jackie Coogan.
Directors who appear as themselves include Fred Niblo, David Burton, and Cecil B. DeMille.
When Buster and Robert Montgomery square off in a corn-shucking contest, Buster says he was the the shucking champion of Piqua (pronounced "pick-kway") County, Kansas. Keaton was born in the town of Piqua, Kansas (which is actually in Woodson County).