Mary remarks that Don's Duesenberg cost $18,000, which is equivalent to $378,000 in 2021 dollars.
Mary diagnoses the girl on the ship with "infantile paralysis" which is the original term for poliomyelitis (polio). It is mainly transmitted person-to-person by the fecal-oral route, but some cases may spread by the oral-oral route. The polio vaccine was not available until 1955.
Don tells Glenda that today is an "anniversary" and she asks if it's "alligator pear week". Alligator pear is an old term for an avocado.
Mary tells Mrs. Nussbaum that her son will get over his "worry" if he keeps taking his "phosphates". "Weak nerves" was a common diagnosis of the time that covered a variety of mental and physical complaints such as anxiety, depression, the blues, listlessness, and irritability. Many tonics to treat weak nerves included phosphorous because it was believed to be essential for repairing brain and nerve tissue.
Joseph Breen refused to issue a code certificate when Warner Brothers wanted to reissue the film in 1936, probably due to the topics of marital infidelity and unwed motherhood.