The Marx Brothers
Chico - Leonard, 1887-1961
Harpo - Adolph, 1888-1964
Groucho - Julius Henry, 1890-1977
Gummo - Milton, 1892-1977
Zeppo - Herbert, 1901-1979 (There was also Manfred, but he did not survive childhood.)
The Marx Brother's Best Films - (Source of many a Grouch Marx quote)
Animal Crackers 1930
Monkey Business 1931
Horse Feathers 1932
Duck Soup 1933 (Guy's favourite Marx Brother's film)
A Night at the Opera 1935
A Day at the Races 1937
Groucho Marx T.V. and Radio Show - You Bet Your Life
'You Bet Your Life' started on American radio in 1947 and soon made the transition to the NBC television network. The show ran from 1950 to 1961.
The show started with the 'Secret Word'. The live audience new the word, and if the contestant uttered it a toy duck descended from the ceiling with a $100 in its beak.
Contestants were paired and then answered questions to boost their cash payout. Precise formats changed over the years as the show experimented with ways of increasing the tension while the contestants built towards jackpots of $1,000, later raised to $10,000.
Groucho's Cigar Joke Urban Myth - Or Fact?
Groucho was naturally the star, and full of his off-the-cuff repartee. One urban myth that won't die concerns what a Groucho said to a woman who had 22 children.
Groucho asked her, 'Why so many children?'
'Well, I just love my husband.' the woman replied.
Groucho's riposte allegedly was: 'I love my cigar, but I take it out of my mouth once in a while.'
Despite the story resurfacing at regular intervals, no sound track or recording exists of this Groucho Marx quote. Indeed, later Groucho denied ever saying it. As the myth grows, so the story is embellished, for example, the audience's reaction was taped and replayed whenever NBC needed canned laughter.
Addendum 1
Gary Kelly wrote in with this snippet.
Addendum 2
The cigar myth is no myth. At least that's not what my step father told me growing up. And the reason I believe him is the woman on the show was his grandmother and she actually had 22 children and was in the Guinness book of world records at the time. Which is why she and her husband were asked on the show. J.E.
