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This article is about the comedian siblings. For the 16th century German brotherhood, see Brotherhood of St. Mark. The Marx brothers ( German Marxbrüder) or Brotherhood of Saint Mark was the name of the most important organization of German fencers
Groucho, Gummo, Minnie (mother), Zeppo, Frenchy (father), Chico and Harpo, at about the time of their act "Fun in Hi Skule" of 1913.
Groucho, Gummo, Minnie (mother), Zeppo, Frenchy (father), Chico and Harpo, at about the time of their act "Fun in Hi Skule" of 1913. Horse Feathers ( 1932) was the fourth Marx Brothers Film. It stars the four Marx Brothers Groucho, Chico, Harpo Year 1913 ( MCMXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

The Marx Brothers were a popular team of sibling comedians who appeared in vaudeville, stage plays, film, and television. A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience primarily by making them laugh Vaudeville was a Genre of variety entertainment prevalent on the stage in the United States and Canada, from the early 1880s Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic

Contents

Early life

Born in New York City, the Marx Brothers were the sons of Jewish immigrants from Germany. The City of New York PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Immigration refers to the movement of people among countries While the movement of people has existed throughout human history at various levels modern immigration implies long-term Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Their mother, Minnie Schönberg, was from Dornum in East Frisia, and their father Simon Marrix (whose name was changed to Sam Marx, and who was nicknamed "Frenchy") was a native of Alsace, now part of France, and worked as a tailor. Minnie Schönberg Marx ( November 9, 1865 &ndash September 13, 1929) born in Dornum, East Frisia, was the mother Dornum is a village and a municipality in the district of Aurich, in Lower Saxony, Germany. East Frisia or Eastern Friesland ( Low Saxon: Oostfreesland, German Ostfriesland) is a coastal region in the northwest of the Alsace (Alsace alzas Alsatian and Elsass pre-1996 German: Elsaß; Alsatia is one of the 26 Regions of France, located on the eastern This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. [1] The family lived in the then-poor Yorkville section of New York City's Upper East Side, between the Irish, German and Italian Quarters. Yorkville is a neighborhood within the Upper East Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, between Central Park and the East River. The Irish people ( Irish: Muintir na hÉireann, na hÉireannaigh, na Gaeil) are a Western European Ethnic group who originate The German people (Deutsche are an Ethnic group, in the sense of sharing a common German culture, descent and speaking the German language as The' Italian people' are a Southern European Ethnic group located primarily in Italy, Switzerland, France and by virtue of a wide-ranging

The Marx brothers

The brothers were:

Stage name Actual name Born Died Age
Manfred January 1886 July 17, 1886 (died in infancy)
Chico Leonard March 22, 1887 October 11, 1961 [2] 74
Harpo Adolph (after 1911: Arthur) November 23, 1888 September 28, 1964 [3] 75
Groucho Julius Henry October 2, 1890 August 19, 1977 [4] 86
Gummo Milton October 23, 1892 April 21, 1977 [5] 84
Zeppo Herbert February 25, 1901 November 30, 1979 [6] 78
Top to bottom: Chico, Harpo, Groucho and Zeppo (1931)
Top to bottom: Chico, Harpo, Groucho and Zeppo (1931)

Stage beginnings

The brothers were from a family of artists, and their musical talent was encouraged from an early age. Events 180 - Twelve inhabitants of Scillium in North Africa are executed for being Christians Year 1886 ( MDCCCLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Leonard Marx, known as Chico, ( March 22, 1887 &ndash October 11, 1961) was one of the Marx Brothers. Events 238 - Gordian I and his son Gordian II are proclaimed Roman emperor. Year 1887 ( MDCCCLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1138 - A massive earthquake struck Aleppo, Syria. 1531 - Huldrych Zwingli is killed Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Arthur Marx (previously Adolph Marx) popularly known as Harpo Marx ( November 23, 1893 &ndash September 28, 1964 Events 800 - Charlemagne arrives at Rome to investigate the alleged crimes of Year 1888 ( MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 48 BC - Pompey the Great is assassinated on orders of King Ptolemy of Egypt after landing in Egypt. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. 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 Milton Marx ( October 23, 1892 - April 21, 1977) known as Gummo, was one of The Marx Brothers. Events 4004 BC - Creation of the world begins according to the calculations of Archbishop James Ussher 42 BC - Year 1892 ( MDCCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Events 753 BC - Romulus and Remus found Rome ( traditional date) Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Herbert Manfred Marx ( February 25, 1901 &ndash November 30, 1979) is best known as Zeppo Marx, the name he used when he performed Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor Year 1901 ( MCMI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Harpo was hopelessly untalented on the guitar and piano (he boasts in his autobiography that he only knew two songs, and that he could only play them with one finger); however, he became a dedicated harpist, which gave him his nickname. An autobiography, from the Greek αὐτός autos "self" βίος bios "life" and γράφειν graphein "to write" The harp is a Stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicular to the soundboard. [7] Chico was an excellent pianist, and Groucho played the guitar and sang. The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles

They got their start in vaudeville, where their uncle Albert Schönberg was performing as Al Shean of Gallagher and Shean. Vaudeville was a Genre of variety entertainment prevalent on the stage in the United States and Canada, from the early 1880s Al Shean ( May 12, 1868, Dornum, Germany - August 12, 1949, New York City) was the stage name for comedian Gallagher & Shean was a highly successful Double act on Vaudeville and Broadway in the 1910s and 1920s consisting of Edward Gallagher ( Groucho's debut was in 1905, mainly as a singer. By 1907, he and Gummo were singing together in The Three Nightingales with Mabel O'Donnell. The next year, Harpo became the fourth Nightingale. By 1910, the group was expanded to include their mother and their Aunt Hannah, and the troupe was renamed The Six Mascots.

Another famous entertainer became part of the family when Jack Benny married Sadye Marks (aka Mary Livingstone), their cousin. Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky February 14, 1894 - December 26, 1974) was an American Comedian, vaudevillian Mary is also the name of David Livingstone 's wife Mary Livingstone (born Sadye Marks, June 23, 1906, Seattle [8]

Comedy

One evening in 1912, a performance at the Opera House in Nacogdoches, Texas was interrupted by shouts from outside about a runaway mule. Nacogdoches (ˌnækəˈdoʊtʃɪs is a city in Nacogdoches County, Texas, in the United States. In its common modern meaning a mule is the offspring of a male Donkey and a female Horse, which is classified as a kind of F1 hybrid. The audience hurried outside to see what was happening. When they returned, Groucho, angered by the interruption, made snide comments about the audience, including "Nacogdoches is full of roaches" and "The jackass is the flower of Tex-ass". Instead of becoming angry, the audience laughed. The family then realized they had potential as a comic troupe. [9]

The act slowly evolved from singing with comedy to comedy with music. Their sketch ("Fun in Hi Skule"), featured Groucho as a German-accented teacher presiding over a classroom which included students Harpo, Gummo, and Chico. The last version of the school act, titled Home Again, was written by Al Shean. About this time, Gummo left to serve in World War I, reasoning that "anything is better than being an actor!"[10] Zeppo replaced him in their final vaudeville years, the jump to Broadway, and then to Paramount films. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Vaudeville was a Genre of variety entertainment prevalent on the stage in the United States and Canada, from the early 1880s Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American motion picture production and Distribution company, based in Hollywood California.

During World War I, anti-German sentiments were common, and the family tried to conceal their German origin. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All To avoid the draft the brothers started a farm near Countryside, Illinois, but soon found it not to their liking. Countryside is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. During this time Groucho discontinued his "German" stage personality.

By this time "The Four Marx Brothers" had begun to incorporate their unique style of comedy into their act and to develop their characters. Both Groucho and Harpo's memoirs say their now famous on-stage personas were created by Al Shean. Al Shean ( May 12, 1868, Dornum, Germany - August 12, 1949, New York City) was the stage name for comedian Groucho began to wear his trademark greasepaint moustache and to use a stooped walk. Harpo stopped speaking onstage and began to wear a red fright wig and carry a taxi-cab horn. Chico talked with a fake Italian accent, developed off-stage to deal with neighborhood toughs, while Zeppo adopted the role of the romantic (and "peerlessly cheesy," according to James Agee[11]) straight man. James Rufus Agee (November 27 1909 &ndash May 16 1955 was an American Novelist, Journalist, Poet

The on-stage personalities of Groucho, Chico, and Harpo were said to have been based on their actual traits. Zeppo, on the other hand, was considered the funniest brother offstage, despite his straight stage roles. As the youngest and having grown up watching his brothers, he could fill in for and imitate any of the others when illness kept them from performing. "He was so good as Captain Spaulding [in Animal Crackers] that I would have let him play the part indefinitely, if they had allowed me to smoke in the audience," Groucho recalled. 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 [11] (Zeppo did impersonate Groucho in the film version of Animal Crackers. 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 Groucho was unavailable to film the scene in which the Beaugard painting is stolen, so the script was contrived to include a power failure which allowed Zeppo to play the Spaulding part in near-darkness. )[12]

By the 1920s the Marx Brothers had become one of America's favorite theatrical acts. With their sharp and bizarre sense of humor, they satirized institutions such as high society and human hypocrisy. They also became famous for their improvisational comedy in free form scenarios. A famous early instance was when Harpo told a chorus girl to run across the stage in front of Groucho during his act with him chasing to see if Groucho would be thrown off. However, to the audience's delight, Groucho merely reacted by calmly checking his watch and commenting, "First time I ever saw a taxi hail a passenger". When Harpo chased the girl back the other direction, Groucho adlibbed, "You can always set your watch by the 9:20".

Under Chico's management, and with Groucho's creative direction, the brothers' vaudeville act had led them to become stars on Broadway, first with a musical revue, I'll Say She Is (1924–1925), followed by two musical comedies, The Cocoanuts (1925–1926) and Animal Crackers (1928–1929). 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 I'll Say She Is is a stage Revue written by brothers Will B Johnstone (book and Tom Johnstone (music and starring the Marx Brothers The Cocoanuts is a musical with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and a book by George S Animal Crackers is a musical with music and lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby and a book by George S Playwright George S. Kaufman worked on the latter two shows and helped to sharpen the Brothers' characterizations. George Simon Kaufman ( November 16 1889 - June 2 1961) was an American Playwright, Theatre director and

Without makeup, wigs, or glasses, all of the Brothers were similar-looking, including their receding hairlines. Zeppo could pass for a younger Groucho, and played the role of his son in Horse Feathers. Horse Feathers ( 1932) was the fourth Marx Brothers Film. It stars the four Marx Brothers Groucho, Chico, Harpo In Duck Soup, with Groucho, Harpo and Chico all made up in Groucho's greasepaint eyebrows and mustache, and his style of glasses, and with their heads covered by nightcaps, the three looked virtually identical, enabling them to carry off the "mirror scene" effectively. Duck Soup is a Marx Brothers Anarchic comedy film written by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, with additional dialogue by Arthur

Origin of the stage names

The stage names for four of the five brothers were coined by monologist Art Fisher[11] during a poker game in Galesburg, Illinois, based both on the brothers' personalities and Gus Mager's Sherlocko the Monk, a popular comic strip of the day which included a supporting character named "Groucho". Stand-up comedy is a style of comedy where the performer speaks directly to the audience with the absence of the theatrical " Fourth wall " Poker is a type of Card game in which players bet on the value of the card combination (" hand " in their possession by placing a bet into Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. Hawkshaw the Detective was a Comic strip character featured in an eponymous cartoon serial by Gus Mager between 1913 and 1922 and again from 1931 to 1952 A comic strip is a sequence of drawings that tells a story Currently in the Western world, most comic strips are written and drawn by a Comics artist The reasons behind Chico's and Harpo's are undisputed, and Gummo's is fairly well established. Groucho's and Zeppo's are far less clear. Arthur was named Harpo because he played the harp, and Leonard became Chico (pronounced, and originally spelled, "Chick-o") because of his affinity for the ladies ("chicks"). The harp is a Stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicular to the soundboard.

In his autobiography, Harpo explains that Milton became Gummo because he crept about the theater like a gumshoe detective. [13] Other sources report that Gummo was the family's hypochondriac, having been the sickliest of the brothers in childhood, and therefore wore rubber overshoes, also called gumshoes, in all kinds of weather. Groucho stated that the source of the name was Gummo wearing galoshes. Either way, the name relates to rubber-soled shoes.

The reason Julius was named Groucho is perhaps the most disputed. There are three explanations:

I kept my money in a 'grouch bag. ' This was a small chamois bag that actors used to wear around their neck to keep other hungry actors from pinching their dough. Great Britain The British Standard BS 6715 1991 is widely considered to offer the correct definition of chamois leather Naturally, you're going to think that's where I got my name from. But that's not so. Grouch bags were worn on many chests long before there was a Groucho. [14]

Herbert was not nicknamed by Art Fisher, since he did not join the act until Gummo had departed. As with Groucho, three explanations exist for Herbert's name, "Zeppo":

Maxine Marx reported in The Unknown Marx Brothers that the brothers listed their real names (Julius, Leonard, Adolph, Milton and Herbert) on playbills and in programs, and only used the nicknames behind the scenes, until Alexander Woollcott overheard them calling one another by the nicknames, he asked them why they used their own rather real names publicly when they had such wonderful nicknames. Alexander Humphreys Woollcott ( January 19, 1887 &ndash January 23, 1943) was an American critic and commentator for The New Yorker They replied, "That wouldn't be dignified. " Woollcott answered with a belly laugh. Since Woollcott did not meet the Marx Brothers until the premiere of I'll Say She Is, which was their first Broadway show, this would mean they used their real names throughout their vaudeville days, and that the name "Gummo" never appeared in print during his time in the act. I'll Say She Is is a stage Revue written by brothers Will B Johnstone (book and Tom Johnstone (music and starring 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 Other sources report that the Marx Brothers did go by their nicknames during their vaudeville era, but briefly listed themselves by their given names when I'll Say She Is opened because they were worried that a Broadway audience would reject a vaudeville act if they were perceived as low class. [15]

Hollywood

Paramount

The Marx Brothers' stage shows became popular just as Hollywood was changing to "talkies". The history of film spans over a hundred years from the latter part of the 19th century to the beginning of the 21st century. They signed a contract with Paramount and embarked on their film career. Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American motion picture production and Distribution company, based in Hollywood California. Their first two released films (they had previously made — but not released — one short silent film titled Humor Risk) were adaptations of Broadway shows: The Cocoanuts (1929) and Animal Crackers (1930). Humor Risk ( 1921) was the first Marx Brothers film although it was never released and is listed by the Internet Movie Database as a Lost The Cocoanuts ( 1929) was the first feature-length Marx Brothers film produced by Paramount Pictures. 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 Both were written by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind. George Simon Kaufman ( November 16 1889 - June 2 1961) was an American Playwright, Theatre director and Morrie Ryskind ( October 20, 1895 in New York City - August 24, 1985 in Washington DC Following these two feature-length films, they made a short film that was included in Paramount's twentieth anniversary documentary, The House That Shadows Built (1931), in which they adapted a scene from I'll Say She Is. Short subject is a format description originally coined in the North American Film industry in the early period of cinema. The House That Shadows Built ( 1931) is a short Feature film --roughly 55 minutes long -- from Paramount Pictures, celebrating the 20th Anniversary Their third feature-length film, Monkey Business (1931), was their first that was not based on a stage production. Monkey Business ( is the third of the Marx Brothers ' movies and the first not to be an adaptation of one of their Broadway shows Horse Feathers (1932), in which the brothers satirized the American college system and Prohibition, was their most popular film yet, and won them the cover of Time. Horse Feathers ( 1932) was the fourth Marx Brothers Film. It stars the four Marx Brothers Groucho, Chico, Harpo The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, also known as Noble Experiment, refers to a Sumptuary law which prohibits Alcohol Time (trademarked in capitals as TIME) is a weekly American Newsmagazine, similar to Newsweek and It included a running gag from their stage work, where Harpo revealed having nearly everything in his coat. At various points in Horse Feathers Harpo pulls out of his coat: a wooden mallet, a fish, a coiled rope, a tie, a poster of a woman in her underwear, a cup of hot coffee, a sword; and, just after Groucho warns him that he "can't burn the candle at both ends," a candle burning at both ends. In another famous sketch, shown in Animal Crackers, Harpo drops a full banquet's worth of silverware out of his sleeve, followed by a coffeepot.

Their last Paramount film, Duck Soup (1933) — directed by the most highly regarded director they ever worked with, Leo McCarey — is the higher rated of two Marx Brothers films to make the American Film Institute's "100 years . Duck Soup is a Marx Brothers Anarchic comedy film written by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, with additional dialogue by Arthur Thomas Leo McCarey ( October 3, 1898 - July 5, 1969) was an Academy Award -winning American Film director The American Film Institute ( AFI) is an independent Non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 . . 100 Movies" list (the other film being A Night at the Opera). A Night at the Opera is a 1935 Comedy film starring Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Kitty Carlisle, It did not do as well as Horse Feathers, but was the sixth-highest grosser of 1933. The film also led to a feud between the Marxes and the village of Fredonia, New York. Fredonia is a Village in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. Freedonia, of course, was the name of the fictional country in Duck Soup, and the city fathers wrote to Paramount and asked the studio to remove all references in the film to Freedonia because "it is hurting our town's image. " Groucho fired back a sarcastic reply asking them to change the name of their town because "it's hurting our picture. "

The Marx Brothers left Paramount because of disagreements over creative decisions and financial issues.

MGM, RKO, and United Artists

Zeppo left the act to become an agent and went on to build with his brother Gummo one of the biggest talent agencies in Hollywood, helping the likes of Jack Benny and Lana Turner get their starts. Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky February 14, 1894 - December 26, 1974) was an American Comedian, vaudevillian Lana Turner ( February 8, 1921 &ndash June 29, 1995) was an Academy Award -nominated American Film Groucho and Chico did radio, and there was talk of returning to Broadway. At a bridge game with Chico, Irving Thalberg began discussing the possibility of the Marxes coming to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and they signed, now known as "The Three Marx Brothers," or simply "The Marx Bros. Irving Grant Thalberg ( May 30, 1899 – September 14, 1936) was an Academy Award -winning American Film producer "

Unlike the free-for-all scripts at Paramount, Thalberg insisted on a strong story structure, making them into more sympathetic characters, interweaving their comedy with romantic plots and non-comic musical numbers, while the targets of their mischief were largely confined to clear villains. Thalberg was adamant that these scripts had to include a "low point" where all seems lost for both the Marxes and the romantic leads. In a June 13, 1969, interview with Dick Cavett, Groucho said that the two movies made with Thalberg (A Night at the Opera and A Day at the Races) were the best that they ever produced. Events 1525 - Martin Luther marries Katharina von Bora, against the Celibacy rule decreed by the Roman Catholic Church for Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Richard Alva "Dick" Cavett (born November 19, 1936) is an American former Television Talk show host known for his conversational A Night at the Opera is a 1935 Comedy film starring Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Kitty Carlisle, A Day at the Races ( 1937) is the seventh movie starring the three Marx Brothers, with Margaret Dumont, Allan Jones

Another idea of Thalberg's was that before filming would commence on an upcoming picture, the Marx Brothers would try out its material on the vaudeville stage, working on comic timing and learning what earned a laugh and what didn't.

The first film that the brothers shot with Thalberg was A Night at the Opera (1935), a satire on the world of opera, where the brothers help two young singers in love by throwing a production of Il Trovatore into chaos. A Night at the Opera is a 1935 Comedy film starring Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Kitty Carlisle, Satire is often strictly defined as a literary genre or form; although in practice it is also found in the graphic and Performing arts In satire human Opera is an art form in which Singers and Musicians perform a Dramatic work (called an opera which combines a text (called a Libretto Il trovatore ( The Troubadour) is an Opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian Libretto by Leone Emanuele Bardare The film (which includes a scene where they cram an amazing number of people into a tiny stateroom on a ship) was a great success, and was followed two years later by the even bigger hit A Day at the Races (1937), where the brothers cause mayhem in a sanitarium and at a horse race (this sequence includes Groucho and Chico's famous "Tootsie Frootsie Ice Cream" sketch). A Day at the Races ( 1937) is the seventh movie starring the three Marx Brothers, with Margaret Dumont, Allan Jones However, during shooting in 1936, Thalberg died suddenly, and without him, the brothers didn't have an advocate at MGM.

Marx Brothers by Yousuf Karsh, 1948
Marx Brothers by Yousuf Karsh, 1948

After a short experience at RKO (Room Service, 1938), the Marx Brothers made three more films before leaving MGM, At the Circus (1939), Go West (1940), and The Big Store (1941). Yousuf Karsh, CC ( December 23 1908 &ndash July 13 2002) was a Canadian photographer of Armenian Room Service ( 1938) is an RKO film comedy starring the three Marx Brothers and based on the 1937 play of the same name by Allen Boretz At the Circus is a 1939 Marx Brothers Comedy Film in which they save a circus from Bankruptcy. Go West ( 1940) was the 10th Marx Brothers Comedy Film, in which the three brothers Groucho, Chico, and The Big Store ( 1941) is a Marx Brothers Comedy film in which Groucho, Chico and Harpo work to save the Phelps Prior to the release of The Big Store, the team announced their retirement from the screen, but Chico was in dire financial straits; to help settle his gambling debts, the Marx Brothers made another two films together, A Night in Casablanca (1946) and Love Happy (1949), both of them released by United Artists. A Night in Casablanca ( 1946) was the twelfth Marx Brothers ' movie. Love Happy ( 1950) was the 14th (including Humor Risk) and virtually the last Marx Brothers Movie (they would return to the This article is about the film studio Previously it was affiliated with a cinema chain bearing its name now owned by Regal Entertainment Group.

Later years

Groucho and Chico appeared together briefly in a 1957 short film promoting the Saturday Evening Post entitled "Showdown at Ulcer Gulch," directed by animator Shamus Culhane, Chico's son-in-law. Short subject is a format description originally coined in the North American Film industry in the early period of cinema. The Saturday Evening Post was a weekly Magazine published in the United States from August 4, 1821 to February 8, James "Shamus" Culhane ( November 12, 1908 — February 2, 1996) was an American Animator, Film director, and Then they worked together, but in different scenes, in The Story of Mankind (1957). The Story of Mankind is a 1957 Fantasy film, based on the nonfiction book The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Willem van Loon In 1959, all three acted in a TV pilot, Deputy Seraph, to star Harpo and Chico as blundering angels; Groucho would appear in every third episode as their boss, the "Deputy Seraph" The pilot was never finished when it was discovered that Chico was seriously ill with arteriosclerosis; he could not remember his lines at all, and was uninsurable. A seraph ( Heb. שׂרף, pl שׂרפים Seraphim, lat. seraph'' pl Arteriosclerosis refers to a hardening of medium and large Arteries. Chico and Harpo did appear together in a half-hour film shot later that year for the General Electric Theater on CBS, The Incredible Jewel Robbery, a pantomime show with the pair as would-be jewel thieves. General Electric Theater is an American Anthology series that was broadcast on CBS radio and television. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. The Incredible Jewel Robbery was a 30 minute TV special broadcast by CBS on 8 March 1959. Groucho made a brief appearance in the last scene.

From the 1940s onward, Chico and Harpo made nightclub and casino appearances, sometimes together. A nightclub (or "night club" or "club" is a drinking, dancing, and entertainment venue which does its primary business after dark A casino is in the modern sense of the word a facility that houses and accommodates certain types of Gambling activities Chico also fronted a big band, the Chico Marx Orchestra. A big band is a type of Musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late Groucho began a career as a radio and television entertainer. From 1947 to 1961, he was the host of the quiz show You Bet Your Life (along with a money-bearing artificial duck) on NBC. You Bet Your Life is an American Radio and Television Quiz show. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's He was also an author -- his writings include the autobiographical Groucho and Me (1959), Memoirs of a Mangy Lover (1964), and The Groucho Letters (1967).

According to a September 1947 article in Newsweek, Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo all signed to appear as themselves in a biopic entitled The Life and Times of the Marx Brothers. Newsweek is an American weekly Newsmagazine published in New York City. A biographical motion picture &mdash often shortened to biopic &mdash is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people In addition to being a non-fiction biography of the Marxes, the film would have also featured the brothers reenacting much of their previously unfilmed material from both their vaudeville and Broadway eras. Had the film come into fruition, it would have been the first time the Brothers had appeared as a quartet since 1933.

The 1957 talk show Tonight! America After Dark, hosted by Jack Lescoulie, may supply the only public footage in which all five brothers appeared. A talk show ( American) or chat show ( Global) is a Television or Radio program where one person or group of people come together to Jack Lescoulie ( November 17, 1912, Sacramento, California - July 22, 1987, Memphis Tennessee) was a radio and On October 1, 1962, Groucho introduced Johnny Carson to the audience of The Tonight Show 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. John William “Johnny” Carson ( October 23, 1925 &ndash January 23, 2005) was an American Television host and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was a late-night talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the ''Tonight Show'' franchise from 1962

In 1970, the Four Marx Brothers had a brief reunion (of sorts) in the animated ABC television special The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians, produced by Rankin-Bass animation (of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer fame). The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC) is an American Television network. The Mad Mad Mad Comedians was an animated half-hour ABC television special produced by Rankin/Bass Animation (best known for their stop-motion Christmas special Rudolph Rankin/Bass Productions Inc (formerly Videocraft International Ltd Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a song and popular Christmas story about Santa Claus 's ninth and lead reindeer who possesses an unusually red-colored The special featured animated reworkings of various famous comedians' acts, including W.C. Fields, Jack Benny, George Burns, Henny Youngman, The Smothers Brothers, Flip Wilson, Phyllis Diller, Jack E. Leonard, George Jessel, and the Marx Brothers. W C Fields ( January 29, 1880 &ndash December 25, 1946) was an American Juggler, Comedian, and Actor Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky February 14, 1894 - December 26, 1974) was an American Comedian, vaudevillian George Burns ( January 20 1896 &ndash March 9 1996; born Nathan Birnbaum) was an American comedian, Actor Henry "Henny" Youngman ( March 16, 1906 – February 24, 1998) was a British -born American Comedian and violinist The Smothers Brothers are an American music-and- Comedy team consisting of the brothers Tom ("Tommy" and Dick Smothers. Clerow Wilson Jr, known professionally as Flip Wilson, ( December 8, 1933 &ndash November 25, 1998) was an American Bold text Phyllis Diller (born Phyllis Driver, July 17, 1917) is a Golden Globe -nominated American comedienne Jack E Leonard ( April 24, 1910 &ndash May 10, 1973) was an American Comedian who made frequent appearances on television George Jessel ( April 3, 1898 – May 23, 1981) was an American Actor, singer Songwriter, and Academy Award Most of the comedians provided their own voices for their animated counterparts, except for Fields and Chico Marx (both had died), and Zeppo Marx (who left show business in 1933). Voice actor Paul Frees filled in for all three (no voice was needed for Harpo, who was also deceased). Paul Frees ( June 22, 1920 - November 2, 1986) was an American Voice actor and Character actor. The Marx Brothers' segment was a reworking of a scene from their Broadway play I'll Say She Is, a parody of Napoleon which Groucho considered among the Brothers' funniest routines. I'll Say She Is is a stage Revue written by brothers Will B Johnstone (book and Tom Johnstone (music and starring the Marx Brothers Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. The sketch featured animated representations, if not the voices, of all four brothers. Romeo Muller is credited as having written special material for the show, but the script for the classic "Napoleon Scene" was probably supplied by Groucho. Romeo Muller Jr ( August 7, 1928 &ndash December 30, 1992) was an American Actor and Writer most remembered

On January 16, 1977, The Marx Brothers were inducted into the Motion Picture Hall of Fame. Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate. Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays

Many TV shows and movies have used Marx Brothers references. Animaniacs and Tiny Toons, for example, have featured Marx Brothers jokes and skits. Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs, usually referred to as Animaniacs, is an American animated series, distributed by Warner Bros Steven Spielberg Presents Tiny Toon Adventures (also known as Tiny Toon Adventures or Tiny Toons) is an American Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda) on M*A*S*H occasionally put on a fake nose and glasses, and, holding a cigar, did a Groucho impersonation to amuse patients recovering from surgery. Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce is a Fictional character and lead protagonist in the M*A*S*H novels, film, and Alan Alda (born January 28 1936 is an American Actor. He is well known for his role as " Hawkeye Pierce " in the Television series

Also noteworthy is the fact that Harpo Marx appeared as himself in a sketch on I Love Lucy in which he and Lucille Ball reprised the mirror routine from Duck Soup, with Lucy dressed up as Harpo. I Love Lucy is an American Situation comedy, starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley Lucille Ball (August 6 1911 – April 26 1989 was an American comedienne, film television stage and radio Actress, model, film Chico once appeared on "I've Got a Secret" dressed up as Harpo; his secret was shown in a caption reading "I'm actually Chico Marx. For IGAS qua graphology organization see International Graphoanalysis Society I've Got a Secret is a weekly panel Game show produced "

Filmography

Films with the Four Marx Brothers:

Films with the three Marx Brothers (post-Zeppo):

Solo endeavors:

Characters

Film Year Groucho Chico Harpo Zeppo
Humor Risk 1926 The Villain The Italian Watson, Detective The Love Interest
The Cocoanuts 1929 Mr. Stage Door Canteen ( 1943) is a Musical film produced by Sol Lesser Productions and distributed by United Artists. Hammer Chico Harpo Jamison
Animal Crackers 1930 Captain Geoffrey T. Spaulding Signor Immanuel Ravelli The Professor Horatio Jamison
The House That Shadows Built 1931 Caesar's Ghost Tomalio The Merchant of Weiners Sammy Brown
Monkey Business 1931 Groucho Chico Harpo Zeppo
Horse Feathers 1932 Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff Baravelli Pinky Frank Wagstaff
Duck Soup 1933 Rufus T. Firefly Chicolini Pinky Lt. Bob Roland
A Night at the Opera 1935 Otis B. Driftwood Fiorello Tomasso
A Day at the Races 1937 Dr. Hugo Z. Hackenbush* Tony Stuffy
Room Service 1938 Gordon Miller Harry Binelli Faker Englund
At the Circus 1939 J. Cheever Loophole Antonio Pirelli Punchy
Go West 1940 S. Quentin Quale Joe Panello Rusty Panello
The Big Store 1941 Wolf J. Flywheel Ravelli Wacky
A Night in Casablanca 1946 Ronald Kornblow Corbaccio Rusty
Love Happy 1949 Sam Grunion Faustino the Great Harpo
The Story of Mankind 1957 Peter Minuit Monk Sir Isaac Newton

* (To avoid a possible lawsuit, this name was chosen instead of the intended "Quackenbush" after it was discovered that there was a real doctor by this name. )

Ownership status of films

All the films that were released are still intact. However, due to certain studios selling many of their films from the Golden Age of Hollywood, the rights to many of the Marx Brothers' films have changed hands over the years. Classical Hollywood cinema or the classical Hollywood narrative, are terms used in film history which designates both a visual and sound style for making motion pictures

Paramount films

In 1957, Paramount sold many of its pre-1950 sound features to EMKA, Ltd. - a subsidiary of the Music Corporation of America. MCA Inc (or Music Corporation of America) was an American Corporation in the music and television businesses After MCA merged with Universal Pictures in 1962, the rights to these films went to Universal (now a part of NBC Universal). Universal Studios (sometimes called Universal Pictures or Universal City Studios) a subsidiary of NBC Universal, is a major Global American NBC Universal is a media and Entertainment company formed in May 2004 by the combination of General Electric 's NBC with Vivendi Universal

MGM films

MGM held on to their Marx Brothers films longer than Paramount did. In 1986, media mogul Ted Turner bought MGM outright. Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III (born November 19, 1938) is an American Media proprietor and philanthropist. But after amassing huge debts, Turner sold the studio, but kept the pre-1986 MGM library for his own company, Turner Entertainment. Turner Entertainment Company Inc is an American media company founded by Ted Turner. Today, Turner Entertainment is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with Warner Bros. handling sales and distribution. Time Warner Inc ( is the world's largest media and entertainment conglomerate, headquartered in New York City. Warner Bros Entertainment Inc (or Warner Bros, Warner Bros Pictures) is one of the world's largest producers of Film and

Room Service

Due to being an RKO film, the transfer of this film's rights has been more complicated than most other Marx Brothers films. In 1955, RKO sold television rights to many of their films to C&C Television for most markets, and General Tire for markets in which they owned TV stations. The General Tire and Rubber Company is an American manufacturer of Tires for Motor vehicles. General's rights ended up being auctioned as successor RKO General was in the midst of a licensing scandal. RKO General was the main Holding company through 1991 for the noncore businesses of the General Tire and Rubber Company and after General Tire's reorganization in Meanwhile, C&C sold its rights to United Artists in 1971. UA was in turn sold to MGM in 1981. Turner inherited UA's rights as part of his acquisition of MGM's library. Turner then acquired television rights in the markets where RKO had owned stations. All US/Canadian and Region 4 rights are now with WB/Turner.

On the other hand, distribution rights in the rest of the world have been sold on a country-by-country basis. For example, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment purchased the underlying UK rights in later years, and passed on to Universal following the sale of PolyGram to Universal. PolyGram Filmed Entertainment ( PFE) (aka PolyGram Films and PolyGram Pictures) was a London -based Anglo - Dutch

A Night in Casablanca

Warners now owns this film as part of the Castle Hill Productions library. Castle Hill Productions is an independent television and film distribution company handling classic and independent films whose library spans eight decades

Love Happy

This and many other UA films released before 1952 were sold to National Telefilm Associates in 1955. National Telefilm Associates (otherwise known by its initials NTA was an independent distribution company that handled reissues of American film libraries including In 1984, NTA changed its name to Republic Pictures, which itself became part of the Spelling Entertainment Group in the mid-1990s. Republic Pictures (also known as Republic Entertainment Inc) is an independent film television and video distribution company that was originally a movie production-distribution Founded by television producer Aaron Spelling in 1969, Spelling Television Inc Spelling was sold to Paramount's current parent Viacom in 1999. Viacom ( ( short for " Vi deo & A udio Com munications" is an American Media conglomerate with various worldwide interests

In the mid-1990s, Republic licensed US video rights to Artisan Entertainment. Artisan Entertainment was a privately held independent American Movie studio until it was purchased by Lionsgate & Universal Studios Artisan was sold to Lions Gate Entertainment in 2003. Lionsgate redirects here For other meanings see Lions' Gate (disambiguation‎. Then, in 2006, US video rights to certain Republic properties - including Love Happy - reverted to Paramount, who also owns video rights in Region 4 and in France.

Television distribution is now in the hands of CBS Television Distribution (formerly known as CBS Paramount Domestic Television), having inherited them from Republic, Worldvision Enterprises, and Paramount Domestic Television. CBS Television Distribution (CTD is a United States and Global Television Distribution company, a merger of CBS Corporation 's three CBS Paramount Domestic Television ( CPDT) was an American television distribution/production that was formed on January 17, 2006 and owned by Worldvision Enterprises Inc was a Television program and Home video distributor established in 1962 as ABC Films, the syndication arm of the Paramount Domestic Television ( PDT) was the Television distribution arm of American television production company Paramount Television Video rights in much of the world are also divided by country, with Universal owning the UK video rights.

Miscellanea

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Mrs. Margaret Dumont ( October 20, 1882 &ndash March 6, 1965) was an American comedic actress Thelma Todd ( July 29, 1905 – December 16, 1935) was an American actress of the late 1920s and early 1930s film Minnie Marx. Mother of Four Marx Brothers, Musical Comedy Stars, Dies. ", New York Times, September 16, 1929. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Retrieved on 2007-08-21. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan.  
  2. ^ "Chico Marx, Stage and Film Comedian, Dies at 70; Oldest of 5 Brothers Took Role of Italian Piano Player. Team Business manager. ", New York Times, October 12, 1961. Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon. Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Retrieved on 2007-08-21. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan.  
  3. ^ "Harpo Marx, the Silent Comedian, Is Dead at 70[sic] ; Blond-Wigged, Horn-Tooting Star Scored on Stage and in Films With Brothers Harpo Marx, Silent Comedian, Dies. Sic is a Latin word meaning "thus" "so" "as such" or "just as that" ", New York Times, September 29, 1964, Tuesday. Events 522 BC - Darius I of Persia kills the Magian usurper Gaumâta securing his hold as king of the Persian Empire. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Retrieved on 2007-08-21. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan.  "Harpo Marx, the blond-wigged, nonspeaking member of the Marx Brothers team, died tonight at 8:30 in Mount Sinai Hospital. This page is about a hospital in New York For other uses please see disambiguation pages for Mount Sinai or Mount Sinai Hospital. He was 70 years old[sic] . Sic is a Latin word meaning "thus" "so" "as such" or "just as that" " 
  4. ^ "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 old. " 
  5. ^ "Gummo Marx, Managed Comedians. ", New York Times. Retrieved on 2007-08-21. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan.  "Palm Springs, California, April 21, 1977 (Reuters) Gummo Marks, an original member of the Marx brothers' comedy team, died here today. Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, approximately 111 miles (177 km east of Los Angeles and 136 miles (225 km northeast of Events 753 BC - Romulus and Remus found Rome ( traditional date) Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays This article is primarily about Reuters prior to its 2008 merger with Thomson He was 84 years old. " 
  6. ^ "Zeppo Marx Dies on Coast at 78; Last Survivor of Comedy Team; 'Tired of Being a Stooge'. ", New York Times, December 1, 1979. Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Retrieved on 2007-08-21. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan.  "Zeppo Marx, the surviving member of the Marx Brothers comedy team who left the quartet in 1934 for other businesses, died yesterday at Eisenhower Medical Center in Palm Springs, Calif. The youngest of the brothers, he was 78 years old and had lived in Pal. . . " 
  7. ^ Marx and Barber
  8. ^ Mary Livingstone Biography. Internet Movie Database. IMDB. Retrieved on 2007-10-03. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's
  9. ^ Kanfer, pp. 35-36
  10. ^ Chandler, p.  ???
  11. ^ a b c Adamson
  12. ^ Kanfer, pp. 139-140
  13. ^ Marx and Barber, p.  ??
  14. ^ Marx, Groucho and Me.
  15. ^ Kanfer
  16. ^ Chandler, p. 182.
  17. ^ "House of 1000 Corpses" at imdb
  18. ^ "The Devil's Rejects" at imdb

References

External links


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