Skippy (believed to have been born in 1931 or 1932) was already famous, having appeared in over a dozen films before 1938's "Topper Takes a Trip". His leap to fame came in 1934 as Asta in "The Thin Man". The wire fox terrier spawned a demand for the breed in the thirties. He reprised the Asta role in at least 3 other Thin Man movies and he played George in "Bringing Up Baby", supporting Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant.
The remote control Topper sees at the bar is a Philco "Mystery Control", released in 1939. It was the world's first wireless remote control. It was used with eleven different radio consoles from 1939 to 1942 model years. In this film, in the background, is a Philco model 39-116RX "World's Fair" unit. The remote had eight radio station pre-sets, and the ability to turn the volume up or down, and turn off the radio - but not turn it on, as power to the radio's receiver was also turned off.
Producer Milton H. Bren had wanted Cary Grant to reprise his role from the original film, Topper (1937). When he was unable to obtain Grant's services, he used a clip from that film - hence the onscreen credit thanking Grant.
Final film of Marie Barde.