Citizendia

"Groucho" redirects here. For other uses, see Groucho (disambiguation).
Groucho Marx

Marx poses for an NBC promotional photograph
Born October 2, 1890(1890-10-02)
New York City, New York
Died August 19, 1977 (aged 86)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.A
Other name(s) Julius Henry Marx
Occupation Comedian, Actor, Quiz Show host
Spouse(s) Ruth Johnson (1920-1942)
Kay Marvis Gorcey (1945-1951)
Eden Hartford (1954-1969)

Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx (October 2, 1890 – August 19, 1977), was an American comedian and film star. Events 1187 - Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader rule Year 1890 ( MDCCCXC) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The City of New York Events 43 BC - Octavian, later known as Augustus compels the Roman Senate to elect him Consul. Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience primarily by making them laugh An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works Quiz Show is a 1994 film which tells the true story of the Twenty One Quiz show scandal of the 1950s Eden Hartford ( April 10, 1930 in Utah - December 15, 1983, Los Angeles, California) was a movie actress Events 1187 - Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader rule Year 1890 ( MDCCCXC) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 43 BC - Octavian, later known as Augustus compels the Roman Senate to elect him Consul. Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience primarily by making them laugh For other uses including various songs titled "Movie Star" see Movie star (disambiguation. He is famed as a master of wit. Wit is a form of intellectual Humour. A wit (person is someone skilled in making witty remarks He made fifteen feature films with his siblings, the Marx Brothers, and also had a successful solo career, most notably as the host of the radio and television game show You Bet Your Life. The Marx Brothers were a popular team of sibling Comedians who appeared in Vaudeville, stage plays film and television Radio is the transmission of signals by Modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible Light. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic You Bet Your Life is an American Radio and Television Quiz show. [1] He had a distinctive image, which included a heavy greasepaint moustache and eyebrows and glasses. An image (from Latin imago) or picture is an artifact usually two-dimensional that has a similar appearance to some subject &mdashusually For the Swedish heavy metal band see Mustasch. A moustache (or mustache) is Facial hair grown on the upper Lip.

Contents

Biography

Childhood and pre-Hollywood career

The Marx family grew up in the Yorkville neighbourhood of the Upper East Side (E 93rd Street) of New York City, in a small Jewish neighborhood sandwiched between Irish-German and Italian neighborhoods. Yorkville is a neighborhood within the Upper East Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. The City of New York PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Groucho's parents were Minnie Schoenberg Marx and Sam Marx (called "Frenchie" throughout his life). Minnie Schönberg Marx ( November 9, 1865 &ndash September 13, 1929) born in Dornum, East Frisia, was the mother Samuel Marx, born Simon Marrix ( 1861 - May 10, 1933) was a Vaudeville performer husband of Minnie Marx, and father

Minnie's brother was Al Schoenberg, who shortened his name to Al Shean when he went into show business. Minnie Schönberg Marx ( November 9, 1865 &ndash September 13, 1929) born in Dornum, East Frisia, was the mother Al Shean ( May 12, 1868, Dornum, Germany - August 12, 1949, New York City) was the stage name for comedian He was half of Gallagher and Shean, a noted vaudeville act of the early 20th century. Gallagher & Shean was a highly successful Double act on Vaudeville and Broadway in the 1910s and 1920s consisting of Edward Gallagher ( Vaudeville was a Genre of variety entertainment prevalent on the stage in the United States and Canada, from the early 1880s According to Groucho, when Shean visited he would throw the local waifs a few coins so that when he knocked at the door he would be surrounded by child-like adoring fans. Marx and his brothers respected his opinions and asked him on several occasions to write some material for them.

Minnie Marx did not have an entertainment industry career, but she had intense ambition for her sons to go on the stage like their uncle. While pushing her eldest son Leonard (Chico Marx) in piano lessons, she found that Julius had a pleasant soprano voice and the ability to remain on key. Leonard Marx, known as Chico, ( March 22, 1887 &ndash October 11, 1961) was one of the Marx Brothers. Even though Julius's early career goal was to become a doctor, the family's need for income forced Julius out of school at the age of twelve. By that time, Julius had become a voracious reader, particularly fond of Horatio Alger. Horatio Alger Jr ( January 13, 1832 &ndash July 18, 1899) was a 19th-century American Author who wrote approximately Throughout the rest of his life, Marx would overcome his lack of formal education by becoming very well-read.

After a few comically unsuccessful stabs at entry-level office work and other jobs suitable for adolescents, Julius took to the stage as a boy singer in 1905. Though he reputedly claimed that in the world of vaudeville, he enjoyed only "modest success" but was "hopelessly average," it was merely a wisecrack. Vaudeville was a Genre of variety entertainment prevalent on the stage in the United States and Canada, from the early 1880s By 1909, Minnie Marx successfully managed to assemble her sons into a low-quality vaudeville singing group. They were billing themselves as 'The Four Nightingales', Julius, Milton (Gummo Marx), Adolph (Harpo Marx) (later changed to Arthur), and another boy singer, Lou Levy, traveled the U. Milton Marx ( October 23, 1892 - April 21, 1977) known as Gummo, was one of The Marx Brothers. Arthur Marx (previously Adolph Marx) popularly known as Harpo Marx ( November 23, 1893 &ndash September 28, 1964 S. vaudeville circuits to little fanfare. After exhausting their prospects in the East, the family moved to La Grange, Illinois to play the Midwest. La Grange, a Suburb of Chicago, is a village in Cook County, in the U

After a particularly dispiriting performance in Nacogdoches, Texas, Julius, Milton, and Arthur began cracking jokes onstage for their own amusement. Nacogdoches (ˌnækəˈdoʊtʃɪs is a city in Nacogdoches County, Texas, in the United States. Much to their surprise, the audience liked them better as comedians than singers. They modified the then-popular Gus Edwards comedy skit "School Days" and renamed it "Fun In Hi Skule". The Marx Brothers would perform variations on this routine for the next seven years.

For a time in vaudeville all the brothers performed using ethnic accents. Leonard Marx, the oldest Marx brother, developed the Italian accent he used as Chico to convince some roving bullies that he was Italian, not Jewish. Leonard Marx, known as Chico, ( March 22, 1887 &ndash October 11, 1961) was one of the Marx Brothers. Julius Marx's character from "Fun In Hi Skule" was an ethnic German, so Julius played him with a German accent. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. However, after the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915, public anti-German sentiment was widespread, and Marx's German character was booed, so he quickly dropped the accent and developed the fast-talking wise-guy character he would make famous. Construction and trials Owned by the Cunard Steamship Company built by John Brown and Company Lusitania was named for the ancient Roman province of Anti-German sentiment (or Germanophobia) is defined as a fear or hatred of Germany, its people, and the German language.

The Marx Brothers became the biggest comedic stars of the Palace Theatre, which billed itself as the "Valhalla of Vaudeville". Brother Chico's deal-making skills resulted in three hit plays on Broadway. Leonard Marx, known as Chico, ( March 22, 1887 &ndash October 11, 1961) was one of the Marx Brothers. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located No comedy routine had ever infected the hallowed Broadway circuit, but reports are unanimous that the Broadway audiences were just as convulsed with laughter as the vaudeville ones had been. The Marx Brothers were now more than a vaudeville sensation; they were a Broadway sensation.

All of this predated their Hollywood career. By the time the Marxes made their first movie, they were major stars with sharply honed skills, and when Groucho was relaunched to stardom on You Bet Your Life, he had already been performing successfully for half a century.

Career highlights

An early photo of the brothers with their parents. Groucho is the first on the left.
An early photo of the brothers with their parents. Groucho is the first on the left.

Marx developed a routine as a wise-cracking hustler with a distinctive chicken-walking lope, an exaggerated greasepaint moustache and eyebrows, and an ever-present cigar, improvising insults to stuffy dowagers (often played by Margaret Dumont) and anyone else who stood in his way. For the Swedish heavy metal band see Mustasch. A moustache (or mustache) is Facial hair grown on the upper Lip. A dowager is a widow who holds a title or property or Dower, derived from her deceased husband Margaret Dumont ( October 20, 1882 &ndash March 6, 1965) was an American comedic actress As the Marx Brothers, his brothers and he starred in a series of extraordinarily popular stage shows and movies.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Marx also worked as a radio comedian and show host. The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression. The 1940s decade ran from 1940 to 1949 Events and trends The 1940s was a period between the radical 1930s and the conservative 1950s which also leads the period to be Radio is the transmission of signals by Modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible Light. One of his earliest stints was in a short-lived series in 1932 entitled Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel, co-starring Chico, who was the only one of his brothers also willing to appear on the show. Flywheel Shyster and Flywheel was a short lived Radio Situation comedy aired for 26 weeks beginning in November 1932 on the NBC Blue radio Most of the scripts and discs were subsequently destroyed, turning up only in 1988 in the Library of Congress. The Library of Congress is the De facto National library of the United States and the research arm of the United States Congress

In 1947, Marx was chosen to host a radio quiz program entitled You Bet Your Life broadcast by ABC and then CBS, before moving over to NBC television in 1950. Radio is the transmission of signals by Modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible Light. You Bet Your Life is an American Radio and Television Quiz show. The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC) is an American Television network. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic Filmed before a live audience, the television show consisted of Marx interviewing the contestants and ad libbing jokes, before playing a brief quiz. The show was responsible for the phrases "Say the secret woid [word] and divide $100" (that is, each contestant would get $50); and "Who's buried in Grant's Tomb?" or "What color is the White House?" (asked when Marx felt sorry for a contestant who had not won anything). See also Executive Office of the President of the United States The White House, formerly known as the Executive Mansion, is the Official residence It ran for eleven years on television.

One quip from Marx concerned his response to Sam Wood, the director of the classic film A Night at the Opera. Samuel Grosvenor (Sam Wood ( July 10 1883 – September 22 1949) was a prolific Hollywood director he also did some production writing A Night at the Opera is a 1935 Comedy film starring Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Kitty Carlisle, Wood was furious with the Marx Brothers' ad-libs and antics on the set and yelled to all in disgust that he "cannot make actors out of clay. " Without missing a beat, Groucho responded, "Nor can you make a director out of Wood. "

A widely reported, but likely apocryphal, ad-lib is reportedly a response to a contestant who had over a dozen children. In response to Marx asking why they had so many children, the contestant is said to have replied either "I love children. " or "I love my husband. ", to which Marx responded, "I love my cigar too, but I take it out of my mouth once in a while. " Hector Arce inserted the claim into Marx's memoir The Secret Word Is Groucho but Marx himself denied that it ever happened. [2]

Throughout his career he introduced a number of memorable songs in films, including "Hooray for Captain Spaulding", "Whatever It Is, I'm Against It", "Hello, I Must Be Going", "Everyone Says I Love You" and "Lydia the Tattooed Lady". Captain Spaulding is the signature character played by actor Groucho Marx for the stage play and film Animal Crackers. Horse Feathers ( 1932) was the fourth Marx Brothers Film. It stars the four Marx Brothers Groucho, Chico, Harpo "Hello I Must Be Going" is a song from the Marx Brothers ' 1930 film Animal Crackers, written by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby Horse Feathers ( 1932) was the fourth Marx Brothers Film. It stars the four Marx Brothers Groucho, Chico, Harpo "Lydia the Tattooed Lady", which became one of Groucho Marx 's signature tunes was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg, and first appeared Frank Sinatra, who once quipped that the only thing he could do better than Marx was sing, made a film with Marx and Jane Russell in 1951 entitled Double Dynamite. Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (December 12 1915 &ndash May 14 1998 was an American singer and actor Jane Russell (born June 21) is an American film actress and Sex symbol. Double Dynamite is a 1951 movie musical Comedy featuring Jane Russell, Groucho Marx, and

Moustache, eyebrows and walk

As much as Harpo and Chico were difficult to recognize without their wigs and costumes, it was almost impossible to recognize Groucho without his trademark glasses, or fake eyebrows and moustache.

The greasepaint moustache and eyebrows originated spontaneously prior to a vaudeville performance when he did not have time to apply the pasted-on moustache he had been using (or, according to his autobiography, simply did not enjoy the removal of the moustache every night because of the effects of tearing an adhesive bandage off the same patch of skin every night). After applying the greasepaint moustache, a quick glance in the mirror revealed his natural hair eyebrows were too undertoned and did not match the rest of his face, so Marx added the greasepaint to his eyebrows and headed for the stage. The absurdity of the greasepaint was never discussed on-screen, but in a famous scene in Duck Soup, where both Chico and Harpo are disguising themselves as Groucho, they are briefly seen applying the greasepaint, implicitly answering any question a viewer might have had about where he got his moustache and eyebrows. Duck Soup is a Marx Brothers Anarchic comedy film written by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, with additional dialogue by Arthur

Marx was asked to do the greasepaint moustache once more for "You Bet Your Life," but refused, opting instead to grow a real one, which he wore for the rest of his life.

The exaggerated walk, with one hand on the small of his back and his torso bent almost 90 degrees at the waist was a spoof of a fad from the 1880s and 1890s. Then, fashionable young men of the upper classes would affect a walk with their right hand held fast to the base of their spines, and with a slight lean forward at the waist and a very slight twist toward the right with the left shoulder, allowing the left hand to swing free with the gait. Edmund Morris, in his biography of President Roosevelt entitled "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" describes a young TR, newly elected to the State Assembly, walking into the House Chamber for the first time in this trendy, affected gait, somewhat to the amusement of the older and more rural Members who were present. Groucho exaggerated this fad to a marked degree, and the comedy effect was enhanced by how out of date the fashion was by the 1920s and 30s.

He did paint the old character moustache over his real one on a few rare performing occasions, including a TV sketch with Jackie Gleason on the latter's variety show in the 1960s (in which they performed a variation on the song "Positively Mr. Herbert Walton Gleason Jr, baptized John Herbert "Jackie" Gleason ( February 26, 1916 – June 24, 1987) was an Gallagher, Absolutely Mr. Shean," written by Marx's uncle Al Shean) and the 1968 Otto Preminger film Skidoo. Al Shean ( May 12, 1868, Dornum, Germany - August 12, 1949, New York City) was the stage name for comedian Otto Ludwig Preminger ( December 5[[ 906]]&ndash April 23[[ 986]] was an Austrian born Film director who moved from the theatre to Hollywood Skidoo is a 1968 Comedy film directed by Otto Preminger, written by Doran William Cannon and released by Paramount Pictures In his 70s at the time, Marx remarked on his appearance: "I looked like I was embalmed. " He played a mob boss called "God" and, according to Marx, "both my performance and the film were God-awful!".

Personal life

Marx was married three times, all of which ended in divorce. His first wife was chorus girl Ruth Johnson (married 4 February 1920, divorced 15 July 1942). Events 211 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar Events 1099 - First Crusade: Christian soldiers take the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after the final Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He was 30 and she 19 at the time of their wedding. The couple had two children, Arthur and Miriam. Arthur Marx (born July 21, 1921, New York New York) is an author a former ranked amateur Tennis player, and son of entertainer Groucho Miriam Marx May 19, 1927, New York City, New York) is an author and was the daughter of Groucho Marx and his first wife Ruth Johnson His second wife was Kay Marvis (married 24 February 1945, divorced 12 May 1951), former wife of Leo Gorcey. Events 303 - Galerius, Roman Emperor, publishes his edict that begins the persecution of Christians in his portion of the Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 1191 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January Leo Bernard Gorcey ( June 3, 1917 – June 2, 1969) was an American stage and movie actor who became famous for portraying on film Groucho was 55 and Kay 24 at the time of their marriage. They had a daughter, Melinda. Melinda Marie Marx (b August 14, 1946) is an actress who had a brief movie career His third wife was actress Eden Hartford (married 17 July 1954, divorced 4 December 1969)[3]. Eden Hartford ( April 10, 1930 in Utah - December 15, 1983, Los Angeles, California) was a movie actress Events 180 - Twelve inhabitants of Scillium in North Africa are executed for being Christians Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) "December 4th" redirects here For the song by Jay-Z, see December 4th (song. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. She was 20 when she married the 64 year old Groucho.

Often was the case, for instance, when the Marxes would arrive at a restaurant and be greeted by an interminable wait. "Just tell the maître d' who we are," his wife would nag. (In his pre-moustache days, he was rarely recognized in public. ) Groucho would say, "OK, OK. Good evening, sir. My name is Jones. This is Mrs. Jones, and here are all the little Joneses. " Now his wife would be furious and insist that he tell the maître d' the truth. "Oh, all right," said Groucho. "My name is Smith. This is Mrs. Smith, and here are all the little Smiths. "

Similar anecdotes are corroborated by Groucho's friends, not one of whom went without being publicly embarrassed by Groucho on at least one occasion. Once, at a restaurant (the most common location of Groucho's antics), a fan came up to him and said, "Excuse me, but aren't you Groucho Marx?" "Yes," Groucho answered annoyedly. "Oh, I'm your biggest fan! Could I ask you a favor?" the man asked. "Sure, what is it?" asked the even-more annoyed Groucho. "See my wife sitting over there? She's an even bigger fan of yours than I am! Would you be willing to insult her?" Groucho replied, "Sir, if my wife looked like that, I wouldn't need any help thinking of insults. " Also, Groucho's son, Arthur, published a brief account of an incident that occurred when Arthur was a child. The family was going through airport customs and, while filling out a form, Groucho listed his name as "Julius Henry Marx" and his occupation as "smuggler". Thereafter, chaos ensued.

Later in life, Groucho would sometimes note to talk-show hosts, not entirely jokingly, that he was unable to actually insult anyone, because the target of his comment assumed it was a Groucho-esque joke and would laugh.

Off-stage, Groucho was a voracious reader. He often pointed out that he had only a grammar school education, and he compensated for this by reading everything he got his hands on. His knowledge of literature from all eras was extraordinary. Typical of his achievements, this one was discussed only demurely by Groucho himself: "I think TV is very educational," he once said. "Every time someone turns on a TV, I go in the other room and read. " His friend Dick Cavett, speaking of Groucho and referencing a certain philosopher's writing, said "I, with my college education, had merely heard of the book, but Groucho had actually read it. Richard Alva "Dick" Cavett (born November 19, 1936) is an American former Television Talk show host known for his conversational " Cavett also remarked that Groucho could never end a letter; there was always at least one postscript. PostScript ( PS) is a dynamically typed concatenative Programming language created by John Warnock and Charles Geschke in 1982 In one letter he recalls, Groucho wrote "P. S. Did you ever notice that Peter O'Toole has a double-phallic name?"

Despite this lack of formal education, he wrote many books, including his autobiography, Groucho and Me (1959) (Da Capo Press, 1995, ISBN 0-306-80666-5), and Memoirs of a Mangy Lover (1963) (Da Capo Press, 2002, ISBN 0-306-81104-9). Peter O'Toole (born 2 August 1932) is an Irish and British actor who achieved instant stardom in 1962 playing T And he was personal friends with such literary figures as T. S. Eliot and Carl Sandburg. Thomas Stearns Eliot, OM (September 26 1888 – January 4 1965 was a poet Dramatist, and Literary critic. Carl August Sandburg ( January 6, 1878 &ndash July 22, 1967) was an American writer and editor best known for his Poetry Much of his personal correspondence with those and other figures is featured in the book The Groucho Letters (1967) with an introduction and commentary on the letters written by Groucho, who donated his letters to the Library of Congress. The Library of Congress is the De facto National library of the United States and the research arm of the United States Congress

You Bet Your Life

Groucho's radio life hadn't been as successful as his life on stage and in film, though historians such as Gerald Nachman and Michael Barson suggest that, in the case of the single-season Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel (1932), the failure may have been a combination of a poor time slot and the Marx Brothers' returning to Hollywood to make another film. Flywheel Shyster and Flywheel was a short lived Radio Situation comedy aired for 26 weeks beginning in November 1932 on the NBC Blue radio

In the mid 1940s, during a depressing lull in his career (his radio show Pabst Blue Ribbon Town had failed to hold on, and the Marx Brothers looked finished as film performers), Groucho was scheduled to appear on a radio show with Bob Hope. The 1940s decade ran from 1940 to 1949 Events and trends The 1940s was a period between the radical 1930s and the conservative 1950s which also leads the period to be Bob Hope, KBE KCSG ( May 29, 1903 &ndash July 27, 2003) was an American comedian and actor who appeared in Annoyed that he was made to wait in the waiting room for 40 minutes, Groucho went on the air in a foul mood. Hope started by saying, "Why, it's Groucho Marx, ladies and gentlemen. (applause) Groucho, what brings you here from the hot desert?" Groucho retorted, "Hot desert my foot, I've been standing in the cold waiting room for 40 minutes. " Groucho continued to ignore the script, and although Hope was a formidable ad-libber in his own right, he couldn't begin to keep up with Groucho, who lengthened the scene well beyond its allotted time slot with a veritable onslaught of improvised wisecracks.

Listening in on the show was producer John Guedel, who got a brainstorm. He approached Groucho about doing a quiz show. "A quiz show? Only actors who are completely washed up resort to a quiz show. " Undeterred, Guedel explained that the quiz would be only a backdrop for Groucho's interviews of people, and the storm of ad-libbing that they would elicit. Groucho said, "Well, I've had no success in radio, and I can't hold on to a sponsor. At this point I'll try anything. "

You Bet Your Life premiered in October 1947 on radio on ABC and then on CBS and finally NBC and ran until May 1961 -- on radio only 1947-1950, on both radio and television 1950-1956, and on television only 1956-1961. You Bet Your Life is an American Radio and Television Quiz show. The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC) is an American Television network. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's The show was an utter sensation, one of the most popular in the history of radio and television. With one of the best announcers and, as it turns out, straight men in the business, George Fenneman, as his faithful foil, Groucho slayed his audiences with extraordinary improvised conversation, usually with the most ordinary of guests. George Watt Fenneman ( November 10, 1919 – May 29, 1997) was a radio and television announcer who died aged 78

Ad-libbing controversy

Groucho's competitors became so livid by the comedian's unexpected and colossal success that they circulated rumors that You Bet Your Life was completely scripted and Groucho wasn't ad-libbing at all. They felt vindicated when a photo surfaced, taken from backstage, showing Groucho looking at a transparent screen.

The critical consensus is that while some of Groucho's jokes were either planned or semi-scripted, most were ad-libbed. Admittedly, the staff did contain two writers who would contribute a few jokes. Nonetheless, the truth is that the scripting was not only minimal, but also more for the contestants' benefit. Groucho never once had a contestant on the show that he'd met previously, except for the occasional celebrity guest. The staff thus fed Groucho the questions they thought he should ask these unfamiliar people, but Groucho himself never knew what the answers would be.

Later years

By the time You Bet Your Life debuted on TV on 5 October 1950, Groucho had grown a real mustache (which he had already sported earlier, in the 1950 film Love Happy), the lack of which had earlier been an effective means of hiding himself from fans. Events 869 - The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to decide about what to do about Patriarch Photius of Constantinople Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Love Happy ( 1950) was the 14th (including Humor Risk) and virtually the last Marx Brothers Movie (they would return to the

During a tour of Germany in 1958, Marx, accompanied by his then wife, Eden, his daughter, Judith and Robert Dwan, climbed a pile of rubble that marked the site of Adolf Hitler's bunker, the site of Hitler's death, and performed a two minute charleston. Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately The Charleston is a Dance named for the city of Charleston South Carolina. [4]

Another TV show hosted by Groucho, Tell It To Groucho, premiered 11 January 1962 on CBS, but only lasted five months. Events 1055 - Theodora is crowned Empress of the Byzantine Empire. Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. On 1 October 1962, Groucho, after acting as occasional guest host of The Tonight Show during the six-month interval between Jack Paar and Johnny Carson, introduced Carson as the new host. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as appropriate --> The Tonight Show is a long-running Jack Harold Paar ( May 1, 1918 &ndash January 27, 2004) was an American Radio and Television talk show host John William “Johnny” Carson ( October 23, 1925 &ndash January 23, 2005) was an American Television host and

In 1965, Groucho did a weekly show for British TV titled Groucho which was poorly received and only lasted 11 weeks. He appeared as God in the movie Skidoo (1968), co-starring Jackie Gleason and Carol Channing and directed by Otto Preminger. Skidoo is a 1968 Comedy film directed by Otto Preminger, written by Doran William Cannon and released by Paramount Pictures Herbert Walton Gleason Jr, baptized John Herbert "Jackie" Gleason ( February 26, 1916 – June 24, 1987) was an Carol Elaine Channing (b January 31 1921, Seattle Washington) is an American Singer and actress. Otto Ludwig Preminger ( December 5[[ 906]]&ndash April 23[[ 986]] was an Austrian born Film director who moved from the theatre to Hollywood The film got almost universally negative reviews. Four years later came Groucho's last theatrical film appearance; a brief, uncredited cameo in Michael Ritchie's The Candidate (1972). The Candidate is an American film released in 1972, starring Robert Redford. As a side note, writer Paul Krassner published a story in the February 1981 issue of High Times, relating how Groucho Marx prepared for his role in the LSD-related movie by taking a dose of the drug in Krassner's company, and had a moving, largely pleasant experience. Paul Krassner (born April 9, 1932) was the founder editor and a frequent contributor to the Freethought magazine The Realist, first High Times is a New York City-based Magazine. The publication strongly advocates the legalization of cannabis.

In the early 1970s, largely at the behest of his companion Erin Fleming, Groucho made a comeback of sorts doing a live one-man show, including one recorded at Carnegie Hall in 1972 and released as a double album, An Evening with Groucho, on A&M Records. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. Erin Fleming ( August 13, 1941 – April 15, 2003) was a Canadian actress who was best known as the companion and care-giver to Carnegie Hall (generally ˌkɑrnɨgi ˈhɔːl is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east A&M Records is an American Record label owned by Universal Music Group which operates through the Interscope-Geffen-A&M division He also made an appearance on a short-lived variety show hosted by Bill Cosby, who idolized Groucho, in 1973. William Henry Cosby Jr (born July 12 1937 is an American Comedian, Actor, Author, Television producer and Activist. He also developed friendships with rock star Alice Cooper (the two were photographed together for Rolling Stone Magazine), and television host Dick Cavett, becoming a frequent guest on Cavett's late-night talk show. Alice Cooper (born Vincent Damon Furnier; February 4, 1948) is an American rock singer songwriter and musician whose career spans five Rolling Stone is a United States -based Magazine devoted to Music, Politics, and Popular culture that is published Richard Alva "Dick" Cavett (born November 19, 1936) is an American former Television Talk show host known for his conversational He met and befriended Elton John when the British singer was staying in California in 1972, insisting on calling him "John Elton" because "Elton John" was the wrong way around. Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 is an English pop / rock Singer, Composer California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. According to writer Philip Norman, Groucho jokingly pointed his index fingers at Elton John as if holding a pair of six-shooters. Philip E Norman FSA ( 9 July 1842 - 17 May 1931) was a British artist author and antiquary Elton John put up his hands and said, "Don't shoot me, I'm only the piano player," so naming the album he had just completed. Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player is the sixth Studio album by British Singer/songwriter Elton John. Elton John accompanied Groucho and the family hosting him in California to a performance of Jesus Christ Superstar, where Groucho offered two witticisms. Jesus Christ Superstar is a Rock opera by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. As the lights went down in the theater, Groucho called out, "Does it have a happy ending?" During the Crucifixion scene, he declared, "This is sure to offend the Jews. "

Groucho's previous works once again became popular and were accompanied by new books of interviews and other transcribed conversations by Richard J. Anobile and Charlotte Chandler. Charlotte Chandler (née Lyn Erhard) is an American Biographer and Playwright who has written biographies of Groucho Marx, Federico Fellini He had become quite frail by this time and his last few years were accompanied by descent into senility[5][6] and a controversy over a companionship he had developed with Erin Fleming, which consequently raised disputes over his estate. Dementia (from Latin de- "apart away" + Mens ( genitive mentis) "mind" is the progressive decline Erin Fleming ( August 13, 1941 – April 15, 2003) was a Canadian actress who was best known as the companion and care-giver to

He also accepted an honorary Academy Award in 1974, his final major public appearance, at which he took a bow for all the Marx Brothers. "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. While lucid, his frailty was evident.

Death

Marx's children, particularly his son Arthur, felt strongly that Fleming was pushing his weak father beyond his physical and mental limits. Arthur Marx (born July 21, 1921, New York New York) is an author a former ranked amateur Tennis player, and son of entertainer Groucho Writer Mark Evanier concurs with this. Mark Stephen Evanier (born March 2 1952) is an American Comic book and Television Writer, particularly known for his [5][6] Marx was hospitalized for pneumonia on June 22, 1977 and died on August 19, 1977 at Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Pneumonia is an inflammatory illness of the Lung. Frequently it is described as lung Parenchyma / alveolar inflammation and abnormal Events 217 BC - Battle of Raphia: Ptolemy IV of Egypt defeats Antiochus III the Great of the Seleucid kingdom. Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Events 43 BC - Octavian, later known as Augustus compels the Roman Senate to elect him Consul. Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a Hospital located in Los Angeles California. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West [1]

He was cremated, and the ashes were interred in the Eden Memorial Park Cemetery in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California. Eden Memorial Park Cemetery is a Cemetery located at 11500 Sepulveda Boulevard Mission Hills California, in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles Mission Hills is a suburban community in the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles California. Aged 86 at death, Groucho lived the longest out of all the Marx Brothers and was survived only by younger brother Zeppo, who outlived him by two years. The Marx Brothers were a popular team of sibling Comedians who appeared in Vaudeville, stage plays film and television Herbert Manfred Marx ( February 25, 1901 &ndash November 30, 1979) is best known as Zeppo Marx, the name he used when he performed His death only received passing attention, due to the fact that it occurred three days after that of Elvis Presley. In an interview, he jokingly suggested his epitaph read "Excuse me, I can't stand up", but his mausoleum marker bears only his stage name, a Star of David, and the years of his birth and death. The Star of David or Shield of David ( Magen David in Hebrew with nikkud or מגן דוד without academically transcribed Māḡēn Dāwīḏ by [7]

Groucho's legacy

Many Groucho-like characters and Groucho references have appeared in popular culture, some long after his death and even aimed at audiences who would never have seen a Marx Brothers movie, providing a testament to the character's lasting appeal. Groucho's glasses, nose, and moustache have become icons of comedy—to this day, glasses with fake noses and moustaches (referred to as "Groucho glasses," "nose-glasses," and other names) resembling Groucho are still sold by novelty and costume shops. Groucho glasses, often called funny glasses or beaglepuss, are a novelty Disguise that caricature Groucho Marx.

Actor Frank Ferrante has performed as Groucho Marx for several years under rights granted by the Marx family in a one-man show entitled "An Evening With Groucho" done in live theater throughout the United States. Frank Ferrante (born Frank Vincent Ferrante April 26, 1963) is an American stage Actor, Comedian and director With piano accompaniment, Ferrante takes the audience from Marx' early years in Vaudeville to his final days, incorporating songs from several Marx Brothers movies. Gabe Kaplan has appeared in a filmed version. Gabriel "Gabe" Kaplan (born March 31, 1944) is an American Comedian, Actor and professional Poker player

Alan Alda often vamped as Groucho on M*A*S*H and a minor semi-recurring character in the series (played by Loudon Wainwright III) was named Captain Calvin Spalding in a nod towards Groucho's character in Animal Crackers, Captain Geoffrey T. Alan Alda (born January 28 1936 is an American Actor. He is well known for his role as " Hawkeye Pierce " in the Television series M*A*S*H was a Medical drama / Black comedy produced by 20th Television Fox for CBS. Loudon Snowden Wainwright III (born September 5, 1946) is an American Songwriter, Folk singer, Humorist, and Animal Crackers is a 1930 Comedy film, in which mayhem and zaniness ensue when a valuable painting goes missing during a party in honor of famed African explorer Captain Spaulding. Rob Zombie also uses several Groucho Marx character names for main characters in his movies, House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil's Rejects. Robert Bartleh Cummings (born January 12, 1965) better known by his Stage name, Rob Zombie, is an American Musician For the song of the same name see House of 1000 Corpses (song House of 1000 Corpses is a 2003 exploitation The Devil's Rejects is a 2005 exploitation Horror film written and directed by Rob Zombie.

Two of Queen's albums, A Night at the Opera (1975) and A Day at the Races (1976) are named after two of the Marx Brothers' films. Queen were an English rock band formed in 1970 in London by guitarist A Night at the Opera is a 1975 album by English rock band Queen. A Day at the Races is a rock album by English band Queen released in December 1976 The band had to ask permission for this. Groucho himself wrote to the band with his blessing, adding that his next movie would be called 'The Greatest Hits Of The Rolling Stones'.

Writer/artist Dave Sim revived Groucho as Lord Julius, the smooth-talking "Grandlord" of the fictional city-state of Palnu in Sim's epic 300-issue comic book Cerebus. David Victor Sim (born May 17 1956 in Hamilton, Ontario) is a Canadian Comic book Writer and Artist, best known as the Cerebus the Aardvark, or simply Cerebus ( IPA: ˈsɛrəbʌs is an award-winning independent comic book, written and illustrated by Cerebus the Aardvark, or simply Cerebus ( IPA: ˈsɛrəbʌs is an award-winning independent comic book, written and illustrated by

Groucho is referenced in the comic Dylan Dog by Tiziano Sclavi, via an impersonator who, suffering from memory loss, believes himself to be the real Groucho Marx. Dylan Dog is an Italian horror Comics series featuring an Eponymous character created by Tiziano Sclavi for the Publishing Tiziano Sclavi (born in Broni on April 3, 1953) is an Italian comic book author journalist and writer of several novels He is Dylan's sidekick on his supernatural-themed adventures.

On the famous Hollywood Sign in California, one of the "O"s is dedicated to Groucho Marx. The Hollywood Sign is a famous Landmark in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles California, spelling out the name of the area in high white letters California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Alice Cooper contributed over $27,000 to remodel the sign, in memory of his friend Groucho Marx. Alice Cooper (born Vincent Damon Furnier; February 4, 1948) is an American rock singer songwriter and musician whose career spans five

In a tribute to Groucho, the BBC remade the radio sitcom Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel, with contemporary actors playing the parts of the original cast. Flywheel Shyster and Flywheel was a short lived Radio Situation comedy aired for 26 weeks beginning in November 1932 on the NBC Blue radio The series was repeated on digital radio station BBC7.

Scottish playwright Louise Oliver wrote a play named "Waiting For Groucho" about Chico and Harpo Marx waiting for Groucho to turn up to the filming of their last project together. This was performed by Glasgow theatre company Rhymes with Purple Productions at the Edinburgh Fringe and in Glasgow and Hamilton in 2007/8[8]

Marx and Lennon

The liberal political views of Groucho Marx and singer John Lennon were not lost on satirists, who capitalized on the coincidence of their surnames' similarity to Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin:

Quotations about Groucho Marx

Solo filmography

Features

Short subjects

References

  1. ^ a b "Groucho Marx, Comedian, Dead. Movie Star and TV Host Was 86. Master of the Insult Groucho Marx, Film Comedian and Host of 'You Bet Your Life,' Dies. ", New York Times, August 20, 1977, Saturday. Events 636 - Battle of Yarmouk: Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid take control of Syria and Palestine Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Retrieved on 2007-07-21. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World  "Los Angeles, August 19, 1977 Groucho Marx, the comedian, died tonight at the Cedar Sinai Medical Center here after failing to recover from a respiratory ailment that hospitalized him June 22. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Events 43 BC - Octavian, later known as Augustus compels the Roman Senate to elect him Consul. Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a Hospital located in Los Angeles California. He was 86 years and 10 months old. " 
  2. ^ The Secret Words, Snopes. com, 2007-01-06, retrieved on 2007-08-09
  3. ^ Groucho Marx Biography, imdb. com
  4. ^ Hallett, Judith. What's So Funny & Why?. Sarah Lawrence College. Retrieved on 2007-07-29. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat
  5. ^ a b Point of View, Mark Evanier, 1999-06-04, retrieved, 2007-08-09
  6. ^ a b Point of View, Mark Evanier, 1999-06-11, retrieved, 2007-08-09
  7. ^ Groucho Marx at Find A Grave
  8. ^ Rhymes with Purple Productions - Theatre, Cabaret, Burlesque
  9. ^ Marx and Lennon postage stamp

Further reading

External links


Find A Grave is a Website allowing its users to access maintain and expand an online Database of Burial records Turner Classic Movies ( TCM) is a cable television channel featuring commercial -free classic movies mostly from the Turner Entertainment and Warner The Internet Broadway Database ( IBDB) is an online Database of Broadway theatre productions and their personnel
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