This cartoon makes use of Max Fleischer's Tabletop process, which animates the cels vertically between multi-plane set pieces in order to create the feeling of depth. Used here for the exterior scene of Bluto and Popeye walking together. The whole effect is lost in the colorized version, as the background is a flat redraw.
Popeye and Bluto are shown as friendly rivals in the opening sequence, which they actually were.
Olive is addressed by her full name, Olive Oyl, in the opening scenes.
Winter sports were gaining in popularity at the time, especially since the advent of the Winter Olympics. The 1936 Olympic Winter Games were held at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.