Watson made the wooden police helicopter that appears in the frame with the dedication. The prison scenes were filmed in the Baltimore City Jail. The warden was a fan and even allowed Waters to show the finished film to the prison population. The film mentions Richard Speck several times. As is his wont, Waters exposes his morbid curiousity with crime by mentioning a serial killer.
Speck is, in fact, considered America's first mass murderer.
He killed 8 nurses in Chicago in the late 60's. Divine's real name was Harris Glenn Milstead. The late Massey worked in a bar in Baltimore when Waters discovered her. After appearing in many of his films, she opened a thrift store and toured the country singing in a punk band. Lochary died of complications after overdosing on angel dust after making this film.