Marx Brothers and Their Hundred-Year-Old Legacy Shaped Hollywood’s Comedy

Simply put, the Marx brothers were an American comedy act, and the cast were real brothers. They were quite successful on Broadway and in the motion picture for many years.

They have been famous from 1905 to 1949. There were five brothers, and they made a total of thirteen different feature films.

In this article, you will get to learn about the Marx brothers.

Marx Brothers: Who Were They?

The family comedy act was very famous in the United States. They were also selected in the top 100 comedy films by the American Film Institute. One of the best things about them is that the brothers were highly praised by fans, scholars, and critics.

They were on the AFI’s 100 Years and 100 Stars list. And when it comes to being in the 25 greatest make stars, all five of them were on the list.

The Marx brother’s names are as follows.

• Zeppo
• Gummo
• Groucho
• Harpo
• Chico

Many people don’t know that there was a sixth brother. And he was the firstborn child whose name was Manfred, but he died in infancy. There were mainly three brothers who used to be in the main act- Groucho, Chico, and Harpo. And they had different stage personalities.

The show disbanded in 1950, and after that, they chose other professions. Groucho started his career in television, and Chico and Harpo didn’t make it to successful roles. 

While on the other hand, Gummo and Zeppo couldn’t make another successful career in television. So, they pursued their career in business. 

Beginning of Their Career 

From the beginning, the family was into art. Most of the family members were either artists or musicians. This is the major reason that these brothers pursued their careers in acting and comedy. Harpo was one of the talented brothers among them. He could play six different instruments.

Then he dedicated himself to the harpist, and this is where the nickname came from. Chico was also talented, as he was an excellent pianist. Zeppo was an excellent singer and vocalist, while Groucho used to sing and play guitar.

The brothers started their act in vaudeville. This is the same stage where his uncle Albert Schonberg performed. He did the character of Al Shean of Gallagher and Shean. Groucho started his career in 1905, and the act was to sing. Within two years, Gummo joined him, and they started to sing together.

After one year, Harpo joined them, and their stage name became Four Nightingale. In 1910, the group expanded as Minnie, their mother, and Hannah, their aunt, joined. Then people started to call them “The Six Mascots.”

Marx Brothers and Comedy

In 1912, the Marx brothers started to do something different. There was a performance at the Opera House in Texas. In this performance, there was an incident that took place. There was an argument between Groucho and the audience. And Groucho shouted and said something, and instead of becoming angry, the audience laughed. And this is when the brothers realized that they had the potential to do something else.

This was the time when they found their comedy potential. Before that day, this was a singing performance with comedy. And from that day, their performance became comedy with music.

Groucho used to ask as a German teacher, and Chico, Gummo, and Harpo were the students. Most of the scripts were written by their uncle Al Shean. The Marx Brothers became famous in a short period of time. 

Stage Names

There were different stage names for the brothers. And every name had a backstory. First coming to Groucho. The name came from a supporting character from a comic strip. And the main reason was that he was good with cards in poker games. 

Chico’s name came from the slang chicken chaser. And Harpo’s name came from harp. There was no proper reason behind the name Zeppo. When asked the names, Gaucho said that the name came from Gummo wearing galoshes. 

Motion Pictures

• A Night At The Opera (1935)
• Duck Soup (1933)
• A Day At The Races (1937)
• Go West (1940)
• Room Service (1938)
• The Big Store (1941)
• A Night In Casablanca (1946)
• Love Happy (1949)
• Animal Crackers (1930)
• At The Circus (1939)
• The Cocoanuts (1929)
• Horse Feathers (1932)
• Monkey Business (1931)

Lesser-Known Facts About The Marx Brothers

There are multiple facts about the Marx Brothers which might surprise you. Below, I am going to discuss lesser-known facts about the Marx Brothers.

There were six Marx Brothers

One of the most interesting, lesser-known facts about the Marx Brothers is that they were six brothers. Moreover, their fifth brother had also performed with the team named Gummo. He was born Milton Marx, and then Zeppo replaced Gummo by the time he became a star on Broadway. He even managed his brothers for a time.

They Received Their Stage Names At the Time of Poker Game 

Do you know about Marx’s Brothers Poker Game fact? In 1914, the five Marx played cards with a standup comedian named Art Fisher. After that, it was inspired by the famous comic strip character known as “Sherlock the Monk.” Finally, Julius often wore a “Grouch Bag” and was “cynical.” 

Gorucho’s Mustache Was a Mistake

Based on the real story, Gaucho arrived at the Marx Brothers’ musical comedy performance. Besides, since this was quicker and less irritating, he had used glue night after night. Then he continued drawing in his mustache and about his eventual signature look. 

Apart from the mentioned lesser-known facts, there are some more mysterious things that you should know about the Marx brothers.

• Another lesser-known fact about the Marx brothers, which will make you, is that they had an older sister. She was born in 1885 in January.

• Do you know Joseph, known as Chico Marx” was the eldest brother born in 1887? 

• Marx Brothers were buried in Washington beside his grandma, who was buried in 1901. 

• A few times later, the Marx Brothers became a dedicated harpist, which gave him his nickname. 

• In 1933, the Marx Brothers founded a production company known as “International Amalgamated Consolidated Company Incorporated.” 

• Marx Brothers authored multiple books, including Memoirs of a Mangy Lover, Groucho, etc. 

• Do you know all of the Marx Brothers were incredible musicians? They would play the harp in almost every one of their films. Chico began to play piano in his childhood.

• In an interview, Chico once revealed that they would smoke weed as party kids.

Questions People Generally Ask About the Marx Brothers

The Marx Brothers are legendary because they revolutionized comedy in film and theater. Their unique blend of slapstick, wordplay, and satire made them stand out.

For instance, Groucho, with his quick wit and iconic mustache, Chico with his clever puns, and Harpo, with his silent, mischievous antics, created a comedic style that was both intelligent and hilarious.

For instance, people still celebrate their movies, like “Duck Soup” and “A Night at the Opera,” today for their timeless humor. These films didn’t just make people laugh.

Additionally, they also cleverly critiqued society and politics. This combination of humor and social commentary has kept their work relevant and beloved across generations.

Furthermore, the Marx Brothers also influenced many comedians and filmmakers. Their innovative approach to comedy inspired legends like Woody Allen and Judd Apatow. Even today, their comic techniques are studied and admired by those in the entertainment industry.

Final Words

So, I hope now you have at least the basics about the Marx brothers. See, the thing is, we can think of doing many things right now. However, in the early 20s, it was difficult to start a new genre as there was a possibility that people would not accept it.

These brothers did it, and this is what makes them famous. Besides, people from that early age were inspired a lot by the Marx Brothers.

Not only that, but in recent times, the Marx Brothers have been remembered as famous comedians who performed on multiple platforms and even encouraged people nationwide to play musical instruments.

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