The scene where young Buster Keaton's father was mistakenly arrested for child abuse has some parallel in the comedian's life considering the Keaton family's comedy act was so notoriously rough in its performance in Buster's youth that the allegation of child abuse was suggested more than once. For his part, Buster would always deny it throughout his life.
In 1908, Charles Chaplin (1889-1977) joined a troupe of actors known as "Fred Karno's Army." In 1910, Stan Laurel (1890-1965) joined as Chaplin's understudy. They traveled the Vaudeville circuit in North America from about September 1910 until June 1912.
While investigating the murder with the possible motive of professional jealousy, the senior comedian interviewed claims that doesn't pertain to him since he claims that the younger comedians, such as Charles Chaplin, Stan Laurel and Buster Keaton aren't funny. Of course all those comedians would become among the most successful and influential of early film history.
The Whoopee Cushion, demonstrated by the character Ed Ward, was invented during the 1930's by the JEM Rubber Company of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
In 1914, Charles Chaplin created the Tramp by accident for Mabel's Strange Predicament (1914). However, he first appeared in Kid Auto Races at Venice (1914), which was released two days earlier than Mabel's Strange Predicament.