Happy New Year from the Marx Brothers -- December 16, 2024

Variety, 31-December-1924

The Four Marx Brothers (Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo) who were performing on Broadway in a popular revue, I'll Say She Is, wished people in the industry a happy new year.

Are the Comedians Billed as the Marx Brothers Really Brothers? -- November 13, 2024

Omaha World-Herald, 03-November-1924

I understand why someone would ask if the Marx Brothers were really brothers. When I was very young I didn't understand how they could be brothers, when they looked and acted so differently. Eventually, I realized that they looked a lot like each other.

New York Daily News, 01-November-1924

At this time, the brothers' movie career was in the future. They were starring in I'll Say She Is, a long-running Broadway revue.

Good Program in New York -- July 15, 2024

Washington Times, 08-July-1924

The Four Marx Brothers (Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo) were performing on Broadway in a popular revue, I'll Say She Is. "The entire company and stars of 'I'll Say She Is,' including the Four Marx Brothers, will present a midnight program from WHN, New York."

Washington Evening Star, 08-July-1924

Note that a Washington, DC newspaper lists radio stations from the New York, Boston, Midwest and the West Coast. 

"I'll Say She Is" Is Energetic, Expensive Hodge-Podge -- May 19, 2024

New York Daily News, 19-May-1924

100 years ago tonight, on 19-May-1924, at the Casino Theater on Broadway at West 39th Street, the Marx Brothers opened their "Laughing Revue," I'll Say She Is. This marked the brothers' transition from vaudeville to the legitimate theater.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 16-November-1924

Brooklyn Eagle theater critic Arthur Pollock had some interesting comments. I'm not sure he liked it. 

The New Plays by Arthur Pollock

"I'll Say She Is." The Marx Brothers, the customary four, brash funny fellows, are the featured players in a elaborately dressed-up burlesque show that came to the Casino Theater in Manhattan last night. Perhaps it isn't fair to brand "I'll Say She Is" burlesque show, since it has long been difficult to tell the difference between a burlesque show and a revue anyhow. But the moment the curtain rises and a group of chorus ladies dash on and let loose their voices and their legs "I'll Say She Is" defines itself. these girls have the burlesque air and the burlesque manner and, they have had, evidently, burlesque tutoring. They are noisy and lively. Thereafter the Marx Brothers let it be known that there is a girl in the cast who wants a thrill. The scenes that follow are designed to give it to her. Regular burlesque stuff! The difference is that the scenery and costumes cost a great deal of money and the girls are beautiful. "I'll Say She Is" offers some of the best legs of the season. It is a boisterous show, full of heavily emphasized humor and lots of it. It ought to provide fun for Manhattan audiences all summer. Of the four Marx Brothers three made hits last night. Julius offered, among other things a loud burlesque of Napolean and his reactions to the philanderings of Josephine, which kept the audience happy for a good half hour. In the same burlesque, Leonard Marx exhibited skill and certain comic gifts at the piano and Arthur Marx did stunts with a harp. Arthur is the funniest of the brothers, a clever pantomimist, deft and economical with his effects, a fine recruit for the variety stage. There is a variety of color and song in the show, most of it aimless, all of it loud in one way or another but all of it, also vigorous and healthy. There was a Chinatown scene, of course, in which Cecile D'Andrea and Harry Walters dance a "Chinese Apache Dance." This proved striking and it is just possible that it will strike the police as indecent. Miss D'Andrea is a pretty girl, hardly indecent, even when her clothes begin to fall. It might be mentioned that the book and lyrics are by Will B. Johnstone, though he appears to have written only what the Marx brothers could not think of for themselves, and his writing is dull. Tom Johnstone wrote the music, much of it, that is, as is not borrowed from the works of more famous and meritorious composers. No one of the songs sounded last night as if it was destined to be a hit. "I'll Say She Is" is energetic, expensive hodge-podge.

Brooklyn Standard-Union, 20-May-1924

A Night at the Opera -- June 22, 2023

New York Daily News, 24-June-1948

In 1948, M-G-M rereleased the first movie that the Marx Brothers had made for that studio. "Is my Aunt Minnie in here?"

Arthur Marx in Vaudeville -- October 14, 2022

Buffalo Enquirer, 28-October-1922

The Four Marx Brothers, at that point Chico, Harpo, Groucho and Gummo, made a movie in 1921, but it was never released. Their film career really began in 1929. By 1922, baby brother Zeppo had replaced Gummo. They were on their way to Buffalo, New York's Criterion Theater to present a unit show called The Twentieth Century Revue. A unit show was a complete vaudeville bill in one. This item is decorated with a photo of Harpo as an infant. I see he had already begun to call himself Arthur rather than Adolph long before that other guy came along and ruined things.

Criterion

The Four Marx Brothers, who come to the Criterion Theater, next week, starting Monday, at the head of another of those inimitable Shubert vaudeville shows entitled "Twentieth Century Revue" have long been known as vaudeville headliners. All lovers of vaudeville remember Arthur, red-headed clown. Leo the Italian funster, Julius the eccentric, and Herbert the juvenile -- a quartette of fun-makers whose like has never been duplicated.

The "Twentieth Century Revue" is presented by a company that is startling from a theatrical viewpoint, having recruited its cast from the vaudeville and musical comedy stages and the motion picture studios. The Four Marx Brothers themselves are vaudeville's chief contribution. Olga and Mishka, remembered from "Tumble Inn," "Tickle me" and "The Last Waltz" and Al B. White and Harry Kranz, remembered from "Stop, Look and Listen" and "Hitchy Koo," "The Passing Show" and "Just a Minute" come from musical comedy, and Ethel Tearle from the motion pictures. She was formerly a Mack Sennett Bathing girl.

The Marx Brothers act must be seen to be appreciated. Olga and Mishka, with their own ballet present an act that has some startling dance ensembles in it. White and Krantz appear in a skit called "Just Nonsense." It is lively and entertaining.

Others in the vaudeville olio include The Garrett saxaphone (Sic -- JT) six, Misha Violin, premier European violinist, Malinoff and Aileen, Russian dancers, the Three Blair Sisters, clever girls who sing and dance, Ethel Teare herself and Marie Rossi, an exceedingly sweet songstress. The chorus of 40 is said to be unusually clever.

For next week the feature at the Criterion will be "The Whirl of New York."

Buffalo Times, 29-October-1922

Marx Brothers -- Such Alert Yet Delicate Humour -- July 19, 2022

London Guardian, 18-July-1922

The Four Marx Brothers, at that point Chico, Harpo, Groucho and Gummo, made a movie in 1921, but it was never released. Their film career really began in 1929. They seem to have made a good impression during their tour in the UK. Note that the reviewer calls Chico "Chico Baroni."

The Four Marx Brothers Keep Their Act...Cleverly Freshened -- May 16, 2022

New York Tribune, 28-May-1922

The Four Marx Brothers, at that point Chico, Harpo, Groucho and Gummo, made a movie in 1921, but it was never released. Their film career really began in 1929. New York's Palace Theater was the pinnacle of vaudeville in the United States. Julian Eltinge was the best-known female impersonator in the country.

New York Tribune, 30-May-1922

A Rapid Fire Succession of Ridiculous Situations -- February 17, 2022

Sacramento Star, 23-February-1922

The Four Marx Brothers, at that point Chico, Harpo, Groucho and Gummo, made a movie in 1921, but it was never released. Their film career really began in 1929. The Orpheum Circuit was the biggest vaudeville circuit west of the Rockies.

San Francisco Examiner, 07-February-1922

One of the Cleverest Families in Show Business -- January 19, 2022

Seattle Star, 21-January-1922

The Four Marx Brothers, at that point Chico, Harpo, Groucho and Gummo, made a movie in 1921, but it was never released. Their film career really began in 1929. 

 

Seattle Star, 21-January-1922

Here is another unusual use of the word "pretentious."

Port Gibson Reveille, 05-January-1922

A Night at the Mortuary?

The Fifth of the Four Marx Brothers -- October 23, 2018

www.listal.com

Everyone remembers Groucho, Harpo and Chico.  Some people remember Zeppo.  The firth Marx Brother, Gummo, whose given name was Milton, was born 125 years ago today, on 23-October-1893.  Gummo was the first brother to appear on stage, and the first to quit, when he joined the Army during World War One.  Zeppo replaced him in the act.  Gummo went into the clothing business and then became a theatrical agent. The article is from the 13-August-1933 Washington Star. 

Fifth Marx Brother.

SUDDENLY out of the nowhere into Hollywood has come "Gummo" Marx, the fifth of the famous four Marx brothers. Gummo, it seems, was one of the original quartet, but for some strange reason decided he liked the clothing business better. He pulled up stakes from the team and became a merchant. Zeppo filled in for him. Now Gummo has returned to the fold to act as business adviser for his brothers, who are busily engaged in making their latest film, "Duck Soup."

Incidentally, it is reported that Harpo Marx has shaved his head, adopted a cane and monocle and decided to call himself Harpo von Marx, on account he insists he resembles Erich von Stroheim.

Grauman's Chinese -- The Four Marx Brothers -- November 14, 2015

The Four Marx Brothers were working for Paramount when they left their hand and footprints in the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese on 17-February-1933. The photo is a little hard to make out, but starting in the upper left corner and going clockwise, we see Groucho's footprints, then Harpo's (he appears to have been barefoot), then Chico's, then Zeppo's. Youngest brother Zeppo left the act after their next movie, Duck Soup.

I took this on 18-July-2009.  DSCN4143.

Photoplay, August, 1929

Motion Picture Daily, 12-October-1933

Groucho Marx 125 -- October 2, 2015

New Movie, November, 1930

Happy birthday to Groucho Marx, who was born 125 years ago today, on 02-October-1890.  One of my earliest memories is of sitting in the living room of my parents' apartment, which we left when I was 3, and seeing an animated version of Groucho's face.  I don't know if it was part of a commercial break during a movie, or part of a rerun of You Bet Your Life.  Later I watched his movies whenever I could.  I read a couple of his books from the Anza Branch Library. 

Please excuse the racism in the carton above, which was inspired by the first scene of Animal Crackers. 

Tacoma Times, 19-August-1911

Groucho and his brothers spent many years learning their trade in vaudeville.  This show in Tacoma must have included Groucho, Harpo and Chico.  I don't if Gummo had joined the act yet.  Gummo left the act to serve in World War One and was replaced by Zeppo. 

Motion Picture Classic, October, 1924

After vaudeville, the brothers played on Broadway in a revue called I'll Say She Is.  The three on the left are supposed to be Chico, Groucho and Harpo.  The other guy is "Beppo," meant to be Zeppo.  The list of stage and real names is out of order.

My parents bought me a two-record album that Groucho recorded live.  I memorized most of the stories he told. 

International Day of Laughter, 2014 -- May 15, 2014

100 years ago, on 15-May-1914, vaudeville monologist Art Fisher allegedly gave the Marx Brothers, Leonard, Arthur, Julius and Milton and became Chico, Harpo, Groucho and Gummo. The baby of the family, Herbert, later got the nickname Zeppo. Fisher may have been inspired by Gus Mager's comic strips like Knocko the Monk, Sherlocko the Monk and Groucho the Monk.


  There is some debate about whether the brothers used their nicknames in vaudeville, but they did by the time they went to Broadway and when they made their first released movie, The Cocoanuts. The review, from the August, 1929 Photoplay, mentions that "Groucho Marx is funny in his rapid fire wise-cracking" and that "His brothers lend assistance." I like the comment that "The thing (the Broadway show) has been screened in toto, painted back drops and all."

Duck Soup -- Ride Like Fury -- January 22, 2014

"Ride like Fury," says President Rufus T Firefly to Pinky, "If you run out of gas, get ethyl. If Ethel runs out, get Mabel! Now step on it!"  There is a running gag involving the motorcycle and the sidecar. 

Duck Soup was the Marx Brothers' last film for Paramount and the last one that starred the Four Marx Brothers; it is a favorite of mine. Director Leo McCarey brought along his experience with Hal Roach shorts and some Hal Roach regulars, including Edgar Kennedy and Charles Middleton.

The ad is from Motion Picture Daily, 12-October-1933.  Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version. 

Stanford Theater #2 -- January 8, 2014

The Stanford Theater on University Avenue in Palo Alto is one of the few surviving repertory movie theaters left in Northern California.  In November and December 2013, they held a Preston Sturges and Marx Brothers festival with several interesting combinations, like The Lady Eve and Monkey Business. 

I moved this movie theater series over from my other blog, The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion.  Here are the entries from this series on that blog.