What do you think?
Rate this book
Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho's House
Presents an intimate portrait of the legendary comedian by a young fan who became Groucho's personal secretary during the last three years of the comedian's life
288 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1996
37 people are currently reading
562 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
September 1, 2010
I bought Raised Eyebrows because I'm a Groucho Marx fanatic and I've read just about every book on him and the Marx Brothers. I expected this story, written by a young man who worked as Groucho's secretary for a few years, to be mainly a listing of funny things Groucho... said and superficial recollections of a name-dropping variety. What I did not expect was a detailed and jaw-droppingly revelatory look at the the sad final years of an American icon. Steve Stoliar was a young fan who ended up living in his idol's house and being a help in the last years of someone he deeply admired. I had a similar experience as a young man and despite some similarities (including a woman who used her youth and sexuality as a crowbar for her own advantage), my situation living in the home of a hero of mine ended much more prettily than Groucho's did. Stoliar was there in Groucho's house for the final three years of Groucho's life and was witness to great joys and horrendous difficulties in the comedy legend's life. This is a wonderful book, with invaluable insights into comedy, but more importantly, a shattering tale of old age and the loss of autonomy and dignity that too often accompanies it. This is a wonderful book, and not just for the legion of Groucho Marx fans.
March 20, 2015
One the best reads of the year for me, Raised Eyebrows might be the last thing I read on the Marx Brothers for a long while. I’ve read almost every major biography, Groucho’s writings, the letters between Groucho and his daughter, Harpo Speaks!, and many of the sources of Groucho’s wit as well, including: Perelman, Benchley, Thurber, Georges S. Kaufman, E.B. White, T.S. Elliot and Ring Lardner Sr., who has been one of my favorite writers ever since I chased his work down based on Salinger’s inclusion of him in the Glass tales.
So why did it take so long to get to Raised Eyebrows? On the surface, a book about Groucho from his former secretary might seem like just an off-putting exercise in superfluous gossip from a person cashing in. I was very glad to have my very under-informed expectations shattered.
Raised Eyebrows appeals on many levels: It is humorous and well written, concise yet revealing, honest and passionate, accurate and detailed, but most of all – it allows the reader to share in the sheer joy Steve experienced being present in the life of his hero. It’s all handled with enough sapience to reward those focused on the larger themes in general. End-of-life legal wrangling, the troubled love of a famous man and his less-famous children, mental illness, fanaticism, early cinema, the Algonquin Round Table gang…you will be much better informed about all these things upon completion, and if you’re a fan of the Marx Brothers and their brand of humor, you will also be wildly entertained.
I was delighted at the opportunity to peer over Steve’s shoulder to see what Julius Marx was really like, and there are enough unique antidotes here to justify the purchase for comedy value alone. But where the work really shines, compared to some of the other bios I’ve read, is the way Stoliar weaves you in, never telling you how he thinks you should see things, but letting you see for yourself. It’s his compassion enabled through sharing the life of Groucho that so effectively allows him to share it with us as well. Most warts-and-all books about Groucho/Julius sort of leave you with a bitter taste when you hear about the all-too-human flaws Julius displayed when bereft of the humor that ameliorates the acerbic sting of Groucho’s barbed wit. Somehow Stoliar’s work never does that. It’s not that a kid-gloves obsequious infatuation precludes such an honest telling – because this is quite revealing – but Stoliar’s respect and equivocal handling of it all enables it to transcend the muck and mire of bitter tell-all journalism. This is not an easy task to balance, but Stoliar does it with an easy grace that makes the pages fly by at just the right pace.
What an honor it must have been to chew the fat with men such men as Perelman – I would give anything to have been born in that era. The wit and wisdom of Thurber and George S. Kaufman are just what our modern times lack and sorely so. To stand for a few minutes in Groucho’s library itself would be rewarding enough. To have the chance to talk about it with Groucho is almost more than I can wrap my brain around.
From my reading over the years, it’s my opinion that Love, Groucho, Harpo Speaks! and Raised Eyebrows are the three essentials you need outside the main biographies if you would really like to understand the origins, the operations and the outcomes of the time the Marx Brothers spent on earth. I’m sure there’s more out there – and I hope nobody was foolish enough to believe me when I said this is the last Marx book for a while. Son of Harpo Speaks! next, I figure. Thanks for sharing, Steve.
So why did it take so long to get to Raised Eyebrows? On the surface, a book about Groucho from his former secretary might seem like just an off-putting exercise in superfluous gossip from a person cashing in. I was very glad to have my very under-informed expectations shattered.
Raised Eyebrows appeals on many levels: It is humorous and well written, concise yet revealing, honest and passionate, accurate and detailed, but most of all – it allows the reader to share in the sheer joy Steve experienced being present in the life of his hero. It’s all handled with enough sapience to reward those focused on the larger themes in general. End-of-life legal wrangling, the troubled love of a famous man and his less-famous children, mental illness, fanaticism, early cinema, the Algonquin Round Table gang…you will be much better informed about all these things upon completion, and if you’re a fan of the Marx Brothers and their brand of humor, you will also be wildly entertained.
I was delighted at the opportunity to peer over Steve’s shoulder to see what Julius Marx was really like, and there are enough unique antidotes here to justify the purchase for comedy value alone. But where the work really shines, compared to some of the other bios I’ve read, is the way Stoliar weaves you in, never telling you how he thinks you should see things, but letting you see for yourself. It’s his compassion enabled through sharing the life of Groucho that so effectively allows him to share it with us as well. Most warts-and-all books about Groucho/Julius sort of leave you with a bitter taste when you hear about the all-too-human flaws Julius displayed when bereft of the humor that ameliorates the acerbic sting of Groucho’s barbed wit. Somehow Stoliar’s work never does that. It’s not that a kid-gloves obsequious infatuation precludes such an honest telling – because this is quite revealing – but Stoliar’s respect and equivocal handling of it all enables it to transcend the muck and mire of bitter tell-all journalism. This is not an easy task to balance, but Stoliar does it with an easy grace that makes the pages fly by at just the right pace.
What an honor it must have been to chew the fat with men such men as Perelman – I would give anything to have been born in that era. The wit and wisdom of Thurber and George S. Kaufman are just what our modern times lack and sorely so. To stand for a few minutes in Groucho’s library itself would be rewarding enough. To have the chance to talk about it with Groucho is almost more than I can wrap my brain around.
From my reading over the years, it’s my opinion that Love, Groucho, Harpo Speaks! and Raised Eyebrows are the three essentials you need outside the main biographies if you would really like to understand the origins, the operations and the outcomes of the time the Marx Brothers spent on earth. I’m sure there’s more out there – and I hope nobody was foolish enough to believe me when I said this is the last Marx book for a while. Son of Harpo Speaks! next, I figure. Thanks for sharing, Steve.
October 15, 2014
Tempted to give this book higher marks. It's just about as good as anything on so minor a subject can be. A very personal and affectionate (read: fanboy) exposition and eyewitness account of the great Groucho Marx's final years. Fortunately, Mr. Stoller is an intelligent, witty fanboy, so the ball rolls along lightly. It's also a snapshot of Hollywood in the late '70s, when the old paradigms, long dead, began truly to decay. I suspect I am the last generation (b.1961) that would enjoy such a snack. Raise a toast to Groucho, Zeppo, Dick Cavett, Georgie Jessell, and Bud Cort.
September 20, 2017
I rarely listen to audio books unless they are (1) non-fiction and (2) biographically driven, so Steve Stoliar's "Raised Eyebrows" was firmly in my wheelhouse - especially with his choice of topic, the final years of legendary comedian Groucho Marx. Right off the bat, I knew I was in for a listening treat since Steve does a great version of the elderly Marx brother when reading remarks or quotes by the comedian. Steve's verbal telling of his story (which is coupled with Groucho's) is well paced and fun to hear. This version of his book is superb, and when the last two discs refused to play properly due to damage (this was a loner copy), I obtained a copy of the print book and found it equally informative and inviting. Let's face it - for a Marx Brothers fan, college student Steve grabbed the grail by serving as a member of Groucho's household (initially hired to deal with years of stacked up fan mail), and his account of Mr. Marx, his family (mostly estranged during this period) and friends, as well as the notorious and mercurial Erin Fleming (Groucho's first secretary, who went on to manage the household with an iron fist) during those final years is balanced, honest and touching. Highly recommended in either audio or print version.
December 16, 2015
Steve Stolier is a great writer and voice talent. Here he recounts his time living with and working for the great comedian in Groucho's final years.
I had the pleasure of listening to him read his own audiobook, this latest and revised edition. I highly recommend you choose the audiobook. Stolier is a wonderful reader and a dead-on mimic. His uncanny impressions of Groucho, Dick Cavett, George Burns, and others are entertaining and lend even more credibility to this wonderful memoir. Plus it's always better to hear a memoir in the author's own voice; only they know the gravity of the situations they are recounting.
I dearly love Groucho and enjoy stories of old Hollywood and this book is a real treasure. It is admittedly kind of sad at times, hearing about Groucho's declination as you remember his vibrant and wonderful on screen characters, but it's still encouraging to hear how witty and sharp he remained even in his last few years.
I had the pleasure of listening to him read his own audiobook, this latest and revised edition. I highly recommend you choose the audiobook. Stolier is a wonderful reader and a dead-on mimic. His uncanny impressions of Groucho, Dick Cavett, George Burns, and others are entertaining and lend even more credibility to this wonderful memoir. Plus it's always better to hear a memoir in the author's own voice; only they know the gravity of the situations they are recounting.
I dearly love Groucho and enjoy stories of old Hollywood and this book is a real treasure. It is admittedly kind of sad at times, hearing about Groucho's declination as you remember his vibrant and wonderful on screen characters, but it's still encouraging to hear how witty and sharp he remained even in his last few years.
December 21, 2022
"I felt like a middle-aged housewife in curlers: 'Gosh, Cary Grant smiled at me!'" Steve Stoliar was a young movie-enthusiast who lucked into working for Groucho Marx at the end of his life due to his passion for the Marx Brothers and his efforts to get Animal Crackers re-released. While working in Groucho's house, he met many contemporaries of the comedian and had lots of interactions with the volatile Erin Fleming who managed Groucho in his final years.
The moment captured in this book is the part of a celebrity's existence that isn't commonly depicted because it is often messy, unglamorous and sad. Loved ones fight for control and money while the dying one struggles through illness or infirmity, sometimes neglect. Groucho experienced these things too, but he had people who loved him and cared about his wellbeing. Stoliar's observations and efforts are depicted in a loving way. The narrative isn't always pleasant but it is interesting and insightful.
The moment captured in this book is the part of a celebrity's existence that isn't commonly depicted because it is often messy, unglamorous and sad. Loved ones fight for control and money while the dying one struggles through illness or infirmity, sometimes neglect. Groucho experienced these things too, but he had people who loved him and cared about his wellbeing. Stoliar's observations and efforts are depicted in a loving way. The narrative isn't always pleasant but it is interesting and insightful.
March 22, 2012
I borrowed this little gem for free on Amazon Prime and am so glad I stumbled across it. This book is filled with fantastic little witticisms and anecdotes, as well as some heartbreaking realities of aging. I appreciated the author's obvious love and affection for Groucho and the respect and dignity with which he recorded Groucho's final years.
November 25, 2014
Many years ago, I remembered seeing Groucho Marx and Erin Fleming together on one of the talk shows (Merv Griffin?). What stood out about the appearance was that Erin appeared to be the only person on the set who didn't get the jokes that were firing fast and furious. At the time, I recall wondering what Groucho saw in her. When I asked a friend about it, I was told not to be so naïve. I soon forgot about it and got on with my life.
When I found this book, my expectation was that it would be a breezy romp filled with examples of Groucho's one-liners and never-ending wit. I was not prepared for the unsettling, intriguing, and addictive story that followed.
More than anything else, this is ultimately a book about abuse...sometimes physical, but usually emotional. However, the usual sexes of the abused and the abuser are reversed, and it becomes a story I never expected to read. It is also a tale of untreated mental illness...for what else could have formed Erin's paranoia?
For those who want to know all about Groucho's life, this concluding chapter is required reading. For those who want to remember him as the unrestrained wit who delighted in bedeviling authority, it may be advisable to skip this incredibly sad conclusion.
It has been a couple of years since I've read it, but I've recalled moments over and over again. Why did all of this happen? The answers aren't here, but there are more than enough questions posed. It provides a truly fascinating coda to a remarkable life.
When I found this book, my expectation was that it would be a breezy romp filled with examples of Groucho's one-liners and never-ending wit. I was not prepared for the unsettling, intriguing, and addictive story that followed.
More than anything else, this is ultimately a book about abuse...sometimes physical, but usually emotional. However, the usual sexes of the abused and the abuser are reversed, and it becomes a story I never expected to read. It is also a tale of untreated mental illness...for what else could have formed Erin's paranoia?
For those who want to know all about Groucho's life, this concluding chapter is required reading. For those who want to remember him as the unrestrained wit who delighted in bedeviling authority, it may be advisable to skip this incredibly sad conclusion.
It has been a couple of years since I've read it, but I've recalled moments over and over again. Why did all of this happen? The answers aren't here, but there are more than enough questions posed. It provides a truly fascinating coda to a remarkable life.
April 10, 2012
The book flows--
Moreover, you come away with the sense (if you're as much a Grouchophile as I) of knowing where the author came from in terms of adoration, appreciation, and genuine respect for his employer in the last few years of his life.
In summation, the book not only satiated my curiosity about the inner workings of the life Groucho led after the fame boom, but also made me incredibly envious of Stoliar and the time he spent getting to know one of his and our heroes. A good read.
Moreover, you come away with the sense (if you're as much a Grouchophile as I) of knowing where the author came from in terms of adoration, appreciation, and genuine respect for his employer in the last few years of his life.
In summation, the book not only satiated my curiosity about the inner workings of the life Groucho led after the fame boom, but also made me incredibly envious of Stoliar and the time he spent getting to know one of his and our heroes. A good read.
February 4, 2022
4 1/2 out of 5
Nurse: "How long have you had cats?"
Groucho: "I've always had cats. And before that I had the measles."
'The Nurse's car had recently been in for repairs. For an incapacitated man, Groucho was in a gallant mood.'
Groucho: "Tell me where you live and I'll take you home."
Nurse: "But my car has already been fixed."
Groucho: "Well, then, you can take *me* home! You know you're cute, but it's too late."
Nurse: "Too late for what?"
Groucho: "Too late for you."
This is an example of the Groucho Marx many fans of his and the Marx brothers' films knew and loved (myself included, I've seen the brothers' films in all except The Big Store and Go West)... or, one should say, thought they knew (and probably still loved, I dunno, I don't go peeping into your contacts list).
I think I had slightly different expectations than one or two of the people on here. I wasn't exactly expecting a lot of light reading and a ton of jokes; this is supposed to be Groucho Marx in his final three years, for the most part, through the eyes of Steve Stolair, a guy who got obsessed with the Marx brothers and even helped to spear-head the campaign to get the movie ANIMAL CRACKERS (not seen in a long time in 1974) back in theaters. I thought it was going to be even crazier and wilder due to a little not-yet-made movie trivia that, of all people, *Rob Zombie bought the rights to the book to adapt.
I still really, really, really want to see that movie from him. If he sticks to the spirit of what Stolair got down, it'll be unlike anything he's ever or will ever do again.
This isn't entirely a book filled with gossip and an old man in sharp decline, but certainly there's some of that. And while it's natural to assume the book will be all about Groucho, he's merely one main character in this story. The most compelling person here isn't even the author Stolair (who, as a big movie geek I could empathize with in a lot of ways, with the exception of being an outsider from the midwest), but Erin Fleming, the "Secretary" who got onto Groucho's coattails and, as legend would purport to have it (her's mainly, back when she was alive, she passed away in 2003), she reinvigorated Groucho's career at a time when many other stars would be retired or put out to pasture. She is... quite a character, to put it mildly, and makes this true life story into one hell of a ride, mostly through her own bi-polar state of things.
This book goes into a lot of depth into what life was like in the Groucho house in Hollywood, with Groucho as a frail old man right after a bad stroke (and another not too soon after Steve starts working there, with Erin flipping out at Groucho for having a stroke (like, you know, it's *her* fault). People from my age range, like people born after the 70's and not alive then, won't know what ultimately happened and what came out about how bad it really was with this woman Fleming and how she made Groucho's life both a misery and a gift, a new love in his old age and a fresh terror every other if not every day. And yet she is painted by this author as someone with a lot of grey areas in looking at her characteristics, extremely generous and nice and enjoyable one day, and then an absolute nightmare and, at best, passive-aggressive creature the next. If there's a movie about this book, whoever plays Fleming has the role of a lifetime to sink into.
But it's not just Fleming, as if it was a simple "tell-all" it might lose steam. Stolair's gift as a writer is getting a balance in the Erin drama with what was good and fun about being a one time Marx acolyte into becoming a close friend, almost (not quite exactly but close) a part of this extended family taking care of Groucho. There's a TON of celebrity anecdotes that should be interesting for readers (and maybe not so celebrity, unless you're Gilbert Gottfried on his podcast or whatnot, more like creatives behind the scenes), not to mention the surviving Marx brothers Zeppo (who tries to move in on Steve's girlfriend at one point!) and Gummo, the forgotten Marx brother.
I think if I hesitate giving this 5 stars it's because there were times the book not so much dragged but, you know, if you have name dropping every page and the insight of a fan being still someone who is an obsessed 'fan' at times it can be a little... tedious isn't the right word, repetitive perhaps? But the book gains so greatly in momentum after Groucho's 85th birthday, when the decline in health increases, that it's hard to put the book down by that point. Stolair's prose is clear and often funny without feeling the need to try and one-up his subject (there's enough great bits from Groucho throughout the book, even one bit from the very last days of his life), and the fact that it's from this young man's point of view, albeit written 20 years after all of this happened, adds a level of nuance to it all.
In a nutshell, it's like the Marx brothers meets... oh, I don't know, The Great Gatsby, with a little touch of Gods and Monsters but fucked up in different ways. It's not a straight biography, it's all from this outsider's point of view looking in to a world with fresh eyes that become a little wiser and grown up by book's end. It's a story of innocence lost, while still getting to be around one of sharpest minds in the 20th century.
"hello, I must be going"
(*it's 2022 and Zombie isn't making it now. Instead, Oren Moverman - of The Messenger and Rampart, produced the great Love and Mercy - will direct, and holy shit Geoffrey Rush as Old Groucho and Sienna Miller as Erin? Sign me up!)
Nurse: "How long have you had cats?"
Groucho: "I've always had cats. And before that I had the measles."
'The Nurse's car had recently been in for repairs. For an incapacitated man, Groucho was in a gallant mood.'
Groucho: "Tell me where you live and I'll take you home."
Nurse: "But my car has already been fixed."
Groucho: "Well, then, you can take *me* home! You know you're cute, but it's too late."
Nurse: "Too late for what?"
Groucho: "Too late for you."
This is an example of the Groucho Marx many fans of his and the Marx brothers' films knew and loved (myself included, I've seen the brothers' films in all except The Big Store and Go West)... or, one should say, thought they knew (and probably still loved, I dunno, I don't go peeping into your contacts list).
I think I had slightly different expectations than one or two of the people on here. I wasn't exactly expecting a lot of light reading and a ton of jokes; this is supposed to be Groucho Marx in his final three years, for the most part, through the eyes of Steve Stolair, a guy who got obsessed with the Marx brothers and even helped to spear-head the campaign to get the movie ANIMAL CRACKERS (not seen in a long time in 1974) back in theaters. I thought it was going to be even crazier and wilder due to a little not-yet-made movie trivia that, of all people, *Rob Zombie bought the rights to the book to adapt.
I still really, really, really want to see that movie from him. If he sticks to the spirit of what Stolair got down, it'll be unlike anything he's ever or will ever do again.
This isn't entirely a book filled with gossip and an old man in sharp decline, but certainly there's some of that. And while it's natural to assume the book will be all about Groucho, he's merely one main character in this story. The most compelling person here isn't even the author Stolair (who, as a big movie geek I could empathize with in a lot of ways, with the exception of being an outsider from the midwest), but Erin Fleming, the "Secretary" who got onto Groucho's coattails and, as legend would purport to have it (her's mainly, back when she was alive, she passed away in 2003), she reinvigorated Groucho's career at a time when many other stars would be retired or put out to pasture. She is... quite a character, to put it mildly, and makes this true life story into one hell of a ride, mostly through her own bi-polar state of things.
This book goes into a lot of depth into what life was like in the Groucho house in Hollywood, with Groucho as a frail old man right after a bad stroke (and another not too soon after Steve starts working there, with Erin flipping out at Groucho for having a stroke (like, you know, it's *her* fault). People from my age range, like people born after the 70's and not alive then, won't know what ultimately happened and what came out about how bad it really was with this woman Fleming and how she made Groucho's life both a misery and a gift, a new love in his old age and a fresh terror every other if not every day. And yet she is painted by this author as someone with a lot of grey areas in looking at her characteristics, extremely generous and nice and enjoyable one day, and then an absolute nightmare and, at best, passive-aggressive creature the next. If there's a movie about this book, whoever plays Fleming has the role of a lifetime to sink into.
But it's not just Fleming, as if it was a simple "tell-all" it might lose steam. Stolair's gift as a writer is getting a balance in the Erin drama with what was good and fun about being a one time Marx acolyte into becoming a close friend, almost (not quite exactly but close) a part of this extended family taking care of Groucho. There's a TON of celebrity anecdotes that should be interesting for readers (and maybe not so celebrity, unless you're Gilbert Gottfried on his podcast or whatnot, more like creatives behind the scenes), not to mention the surviving Marx brothers Zeppo (who tries to move in on Steve's girlfriend at one point!) and Gummo, the forgotten Marx brother.
I think if I hesitate giving this 5 stars it's because there were times the book not so much dragged but, you know, if you have name dropping every page and the insight of a fan being still someone who is an obsessed 'fan' at times it can be a little... tedious isn't the right word, repetitive perhaps? But the book gains so greatly in momentum after Groucho's 85th birthday, when the decline in health increases, that it's hard to put the book down by that point. Stolair's prose is clear and often funny without feeling the need to try and one-up his subject (there's enough great bits from Groucho throughout the book, even one bit from the very last days of his life), and the fact that it's from this young man's point of view, albeit written 20 years after all of this happened, adds a level of nuance to it all.
In a nutshell, it's like the Marx brothers meets... oh, I don't know, The Great Gatsby, with a little touch of Gods and Monsters but fucked up in different ways. It's not a straight biography, it's all from this outsider's point of view looking in to a world with fresh eyes that become a little wiser and grown up by book's end. It's a story of innocence lost, while still getting to be around one of sharpest minds in the 20th century.
"hello, I must be going"
(*it's 2022 and Zombie isn't making it now. Instead, Oren Moverman - of The Messenger and Rampart, produced the great Love and Mercy - will direct, and holy shit Geoffrey Rush as Old Groucho and Sienna Miller as Erin? Sign me up!)
July 20, 2023
I loved The Marx Brothers when I was a kid (a sentence, I realise, which makes me sound much older than I actually am). But even if I hadn’t, I think I’d have enjoyed this. The author worked for - and seems to have practically lived with - Groucho Marx in his final years. Years which were both witty and sad, and ultimately controversial. This is a really heartfelt and affecting book about the great man’s declining days.
January 12, 2021
Steve Stoliar was a college-aged Marx Brothers fan that through fortunate events found himself working inside Groucho's house answering his fan mail during the last three years of the actor's life (1974-1977). This experience led him to meet many showbiz luminaries including famous performers and brilliant writers. But the essence of the book is Stoliar's affection for Groucho himself and how he coped with the madness created by Erin Fleming, the much younger wannabe actress and platonic paramour to the aging Groucho.
I originally read this back in 1996 and purchased it again from Audible when I saw that Steve Stoliar had updated the material and provided his own narration. Either format is worthwhile, but if you can hear Steve's voice tell the story you will appreciate his efforts. He does an uncanny Groucho voice that sounds like it came from You Bet Your Life. The listener can also hear the sincerity with which Steve tells what is really a coming of age story in the most unique of circumstances.
I was also a teenage fan of the Marx Brothers once struggling to see the more obscure movies. It might be easy for someone like me to feel envious of Steve and the opportunity he had inside Groucho's house, but his humility and humanity made me root for him instead. You can tell that he had Groucho's best interests at heart and it wasn't easy staying employed in that environment.
Such a book could be quite pedestrian since so many of the things that happen are beyond the author's control, but Steve provides action in his little moments of getting Groucho's signature or talking with S.J Perelman about Duck Soup. He has a great memory for things that happened decades ago. It was a much fuller experience reading it 19 years later. I hadn't read biographers Charlotte Chandler or Hector Arce back in 1996, but have since read them both and have greater context when they enter the story as people in proximity to Groucho.
The memoir works as a coming of age story by a young man that meets his idol and it works as a cautionary tale of older rich men that take much younger women on as companions. I can't recommend it enough for anyone interested in show business. For Marx Brothers fans the book is essential.
I originally read this back in 1996 and purchased it again from Audible when I saw that Steve Stoliar had updated the material and provided his own narration. Either format is worthwhile, but if you can hear Steve's voice tell the story you will appreciate his efforts. He does an uncanny Groucho voice that sounds like it came from You Bet Your Life. The listener can also hear the sincerity with which Steve tells what is really a coming of age story in the most unique of circumstances.
I was also a teenage fan of the Marx Brothers once struggling to see the more obscure movies. It might be easy for someone like me to feel envious of Steve and the opportunity he had inside Groucho's house, but his humility and humanity made me root for him instead. You can tell that he had Groucho's best interests at heart and it wasn't easy staying employed in that environment.
Such a book could be quite pedestrian since so many of the things that happen are beyond the author's control, but Steve provides action in his little moments of getting Groucho's signature or talking with S.J Perelman about Duck Soup. He has a great memory for things that happened decades ago. It was a much fuller experience reading it 19 years later. I hadn't read biographers Charlotte Chandler or Hector Arce back in 1996, but have since read them both and have greater context when they enter the story as people in proximity to Groucho.
The memoir works as a coming of age story by a young man that meets his idol and it works as a cautionary tale of older rich men that take much younger women on as companions. I can't recommend it enough for anyone interested in show business. For Marx Brothers fans the book is essential.
October 14, 2013
A fascinating look behind the doors of Groucho Marx's home in Beverly Hills in his final years in the mid-70s, as chronicled by his secretary, Steve Stoliar. Stoliar was a college freshman and a huge fan of the Marx Brothers, and his campaign with a classmate to get the Brothers' film 'Animal Crackers' re-released led to his appointment by Erin Fleming, Groucho's companion, as a secretary, working in a spare room in Groucho's own house, overseeing the never-ending stream of fan mail, sorting through Groucho's personal archives of screenplays, photographs and memorabilia, and welcoming a constant stream of visitors (Dick Cavett! Bob Hope! Barbra Streisand! Bud Cort?!) to the house.
Stoliar's writing is direct, his description of the events clear and lucid and, as he details the very elderly Groucho's fading health (Groucho's wit, though not as fast as it once was, remained just as cutting, right until the end) the distress he must have felt, literally watching his hero dying before his eyes, comes across openly on the page. He also sheds light on the true nature of Erin Fleming and her unwarranted abuse of Groucho, the relationships of the entire Marx family, and the close friends and colleagues who paid a visit to the house.
At times it's not an easy read, particularly the harrowing descriptions of Fleming's activities, but it is the only book written directly about the final few years of Groucho's life, by someone who clearly adored the man - for all his faults - and had a unique perspective, not so much that of a fly on the wall, but of a fan on the wall. Of particular note are Stoliar's reports of the many 'Groucho-isms' he witnessed, especially a bedridden Groucho's response to a nurse telling him 'We have to see if you have a temperature': 'Don't be silly. Everybody has a temperature.'
Stoliar's writing is direct, his description of the events clear and lucid and, as he details the very elderly Groucho's fading health (Groucho's wit, though not as fast as it once was, remained just as cutting, right until the end) the distress he must have felt, literally watching his hero dying before his eyes, comes across openly on the page. He also sheds light on the true nature of Erin Fleming and her unwarranted abuse of Groucho, the relationships of the entire Marx family, and the close friends and colleagues who paid a visit to the house.
At times it's not an easy read, particularly the harrowing descriptions of Fleming's activities, but it is the only book written directly about the final few years of Groucho's life, by someone who clearly adored the man - for all his faults - and had a unique perspective, not so much that of a fly on the wall, but of a fan on the wall. Of particular note are Stoliar's reports of the many 'Groucho-isms' he witnessed, especially a bedridden Groucho's response to a nurse telling him 'We have to see if you have a temperature': 'Don't be silly. Everybody has a temperature.'
June 28, 2015
Groucho Marx is a bit of personal hero of mine. I have been in love with the Marx Brothers movies since childhood when I stumbled upon the marathons they used to show on New Years Eve. The machine-gun like banter and wit kill me every time.
Groucho, in particular, was a pure subversive. Whether in the movies, radio or his later television shows, Groucho not only moved to his own beat but would use that beat to throw off any syncopated rhythm he came across.
He was brilliant.
So I was very hesitant to read this. It's not a biography of Groucho or a chronicle of the heyday of the Marx Brothers wonderful films, but a look at the last few years of the star's life through the eyes of a fan-turned-employee. It is funny, fascinating and sad. Strip away the craziness of a Hollywood existence and this story is no different than many of us have gone through watching a loved one begin to fade away as they get older. Particularly hard if that person was someone you admired. It definitely brought up memories of watching the same happen to my grandfather.
Add on top the reminiscences of Groucho's career from the man himself as well as old friends and colleagues, the insanity of his inner-circle during the last years and Groucho's rise to icon status through a re-discovery by college students in the 1970s - and this book is hard to stop reading.
Groucho, in particular, was a pure subversive. Whether in the movies, radio or his later television shows, Groucho not only moved to his own beat but would use that beat to throw off any syncopated rhythm he came across.
He was brilliant.
So I was very hesitant to read this. It's not a biography of Groucho or a chronicle of the heyday of the Marx Brothers wonderful films, but a look at the last few years of the star's life through the eyes of a fan-turned-employee. It is funny, fascinating and sad. Strip away the craziness of a Hollywood existence and this story is no different than many of us have gone through watching a loved one begin to fade away as they get older. Particularly hard if that person was someone you admired. It definitely brought up memories of watching the same happen to my grandfather.
Add on top the reminiscences of Groucho's career from the man himself as well as old friends and colleagues, the insanity of his inner-circle during the last years and Groucho's rise to icon status through a re-discovery by college students in the 1970s - and this book is hard to stop reading.
July 13, 2013
One of my all-time favorite books! Yes, I'm a huge Groucho phile and have been since a child. But, as much as I love Groucho, this book is important in another area - Aging.
Stoliar really does an outstanding job of presenting the last of Groucho's days. From his first encounter to the end, the reader will feel they are right there in the room with Stoliar and Groucho.
AS a Groucho fan or for the celebrity watcehr, Stoliar lays out the day to day activities that occur. He writes in such an interesting way, that you look forward and wonder what happens the next day. I would've been fine with a Stoliar book of 'A Day in the Life of Groucho'.
More importantly, Stoliar does an excellent job of following Groucho, then in his 80s, and maps out the decline. I feel that folks today need to read this if they have aging family members and friends to get a sense of what it feels like to be in this position. I feel this books can also help people realize that they are not alone in the frustration of watching an elderly person to, basically, come apart.
There's a lot to be gotten from this book, including lots of other celebrity interaction in the '70s.
I highly recommend this book!
Stoliar really does an outstanding job of presenting the last of Groucho's days. From his first encounter to the end, the reader will feel they are right there in the room with Stoliar and Groucho.
AS a Groucho fan or for the celebrity watcehr, Stoliar lays out the day to day activities that occur. He writes in such an interesting way, that you look forward and wonder what happens the next day. I would've been fine with a Stoliar book of 'A Day in the Life of Groucho'.
More importantly, Stoliar does an excellent job of following Groucho, then in his 80s, and maps out the decline. I feel that folks today need to read this if they have aging family members and friends to get a sense of what it feels like to be in this position. I feel this books can also help people realize that they are not alone in the frustration of watching an elderly person to, basically, come apart.
There's a lot to be gotten from this book, including lots of other celebrity interaction in the '70s.
I highly recommend this book!
February 25, 2019
"Raised Eyebrows" has always been one of my favorite books, so when I heard there was a new, expanded edition and that it was available as an audiobook, I jumped at the chance to listen to it. The audiobook was a great format and provides a somewhat difference experience than reading the book. When I first read the book, I paid more attention to the Groucho stories. When I listened to the book, I had a greater appreciation for the chaos that was going on in Groucho's life: the aging of one of America's greatest wits. The battles with Erin Fleming. The family infighting. Steve Stoliar's reading is measured and calm but underneath the narrative you get a sense of the constant chaos that plagued Groucho in his final years. As a fan, I am grateful that such a calming steady presence as Steve Stoliar was around, and I am also grateful that such a talented storyteller as Stoliar was able to chronicle his experiences so expertly. This audiobook is a must hear, even if you've already read the printed version!
April 28, 2012
A sad ending for a wonderful man, beautifully and lovingly written by one of the only unbiased people around for Groucho's last years. Every Groucho fan, and everyone dealing with an aging difficult family member, should read this book.
April 10, 2020
Rarely does an author do even a semi-decent job of reading his own work, but this guy is brilliant.
The book is brilliant, his Groucho voice is brilliant, and I can only sum the book up in one word.
Amazing :)
The book is brilliant, his Groucho voice is brilliant, and I can only sum the book up in one word.
Amazing :)
July 2, 2022
I turn sixty this year. Some of my fondest memories of my youth and adolescence include gathering around our small portable black and white TV with my siblings (with whom I did not always get along as the youngest at that age) and watching Marx Brothers movies on late night television. Pickings were slim in those days; on those rare occasions when a Marx Brothers film ran, it was usually one of four: Horse Feathers, Monkey Business, Duck Soup, or Room Service. While all three of us kids found laughs, I developed a life long discipleship to the three main brothers: Groucho, Harpo and Chico. I continue that reverence to this day. When I stumble across a Marx Brothers artifact that I have never seen or heard before, I hunt it down. That is how I stumbled across Raised Eyebrows. Most accounts of Groucho Marx's declining years were addressed as hasty summaries in most biographies. Raised Eyebrows is markedly different in that regard. It was written by Steve Stoliar, who worked nearly every day at Groucho's home for three years as an archivist/personal secretary.
Having read Stoliar's story, it is easy to see why most biographers skip over Groucho's final years. First, it is never pleasant to read of an energetic, charismatic figure withering away to lonely silence, broken only by those who see money making potential in exploiting nostalgia. Second, on a very much related note, all of those who could have kept a close eye on Groucho in his declining years had declined right along with him. Harpo, the second oldest brother and arguably the most reliable, preceded Groucho in death by over a decade. Even if Chico had survived into the 1970s like Groucho did, he could not take care of himself, and could never have been entrusted with his brother's care. Thus, Groucho was left to his own devices, with only a few loyal household staff for company, and the occasional hanger-on.
One persistent hanger-on was a much younger woman named Erin Fleming. Stoliar avers that nearly every Marxophile knows of the excesses of Erin Fleming, but few know of the extent. He therefore swears that he only includes episodes that he personally witnessed. And a guy can witness a lot in three years. I won't go into detail about Ms. Fleming's doings, because that's what the book is for. But her doings are the reason this book gets a four star rating from me instead of a five. It just hurts to learn of someone whom I revere being treated in such a self-centered and exploitative manner.
I guess I am just a plain old mortal. I prefer to picture my idols at the height of their powers, vigorous and independent. Thankfully, Stoliar offers plenty of evidence that the younger, cagier Groucho still lived inside the wizened body. For instance, Stoliar and his assistant found Groucho's birth certificate amongst his piles of personal papers, and with it a puzzle: the certificate listed three preceding siblings. Like mostly everyone else, Stoliar and his assistant knew of Chico and Harpo. They wondered if the certificate were mistaken. They approached Groucho and learned, to their great surprise, that there had been a sixth Marx brother, a boy named Manfred, the first born to Groucho's parents. Manfred died at three years old, before Groucho was even born. Stoliar asked Groucho the cause of Manfred's death, to which Groucho replied, "Old age."
There are other redemptive moments in the book. Stoliar writes of a tender visit between Groucho and his youngest daughter Melinda. Erin Fleming had seen to an estrangement between the two, but no trace of bitterness accompanied Melinda on her final visit, accompanied by Groucho's granddaughters. There was even a tentative reconciliation with his son Arthur, which allowed readers to believe that Groucho died with his family restored to him. Stoliar's storytelling seems genuine and not in the least exploitative. I was glad to know that Groucho had a few people whom he could depend on before he exited the stage for good.
Having read Stoliar's story, it is easy to see why most biographers skip over Groucho's final years. First, it is never pleasant to read of an energetic, charismatic figure withering away to lonely silence, broken only by those who see money making potential in exploiting nostalgia. Second, on a very much related note, all of those who could have kept a close eye on Groucho in his declining years had declined right along with him. Harpo, the second oldest brother and arguably the most reliable, preceded Groucho in death by over a decade. Even if Chico had survived into the 1970s like Groucho did, he could not take care of himself, and could never have been entrusted with his brother's care. Thus, Groucho was left to his own devices, with only a few loyal household staff for company, and the occasional hanger-on.
One persistent hanger-on was a much younger woman named Erin Fleming. Stoliar avers that nearly every Marxophile knows of the excesses of Erin Fleming, but few know of the extent. He therefore swears that he only includes episodes that he personally witnessed. And a guy can witness a lot in three years. I won't go into detail about Ms. Fleming's doings, because that's what the book is for. But her doings are the reason this book gets a four star rating from me instead of a five. It just hurts to learn of someone whom I revere being treated in such a self-centered and exploitative manner.
I guess I am just a plain old mortal. I prefer to picture my idols at the height of their powers, vigorous and independent. Thankfully, Stoliar offers plenty of evidence that the younger, cagier Groucho still lived inside the wizened body. For instance, Stoliar and his assistant found Groucho's birth certificate amongst his piles of personal papers, and with it a puzzle: the certificate listed three preceding siblings. Like mostly everyone else, Stoliar and his assistant knew of Chico and Harpo. They wondered if the certificate were mistaken. They approached Groucho and learned, to their great surprise, that there had been a sixth Marx brother, a boy named Manfred, the first born to Groucho's parents. Manfred died at three years old, before Groucho was even born. Stoliar asked Groucho the cause of Manfred's death, to which Groucho replied, "Old age."
There are other redemptive moments in the book. Stoliar writes of a tender visit between Groucho and his youngest daughter Melinda. Erin Fleming had seen to an estrangement between the two, but no trace of bitterness accompanied Melinda on her final visit, accompanied by Groucho's granddaughters. There was even a tentative reconciliation with his son Arthur, which allowed readers to believe that Groucho died with his family restored to him. Stoliar's storytelling seems genuine and not in the least exploitative. I was glad to know that Groucho had a few people whom he could depend on before he exited the stage for good.
June 25, 2015
I listened to the author read this book through Audible, and I recommend others doing so as well as his impersonation of Groucho added to the text.
Whether reading the book or listening, I recommend skipping Dick Cavett's intro. It says nothing of substance, simply encouraging you to read the book. Stoliar considers Cavett a friend, and there is also a long section in the book where Stoliar extols the virtues of Cavett's memoirs, talking about how he shared it with friends and encouraged others to read it. This section typifies the minor problems I have with the book; to the extent Stoliar focuses on Groucho and company, this book is very interesting and worthwhile, but to the extent that Stoliar discusses other, seemingly tangential issues, the book flounders a bit.
Additionally, the book reads (or listens, I guess) very conversationally. In general this is fine, but the conversational tone sometimes takes away from getting to the point of what Stoliar is talking about in any given circumstance. He is very fond of transitional phrases ("on the other hand", etc), and I was frequently impatient waiting for the payoff to any given story. He does also occasionally repeat stories with little new information given to the repeats, making them, in my mind, unnecessary. I would estimate the book would be tighter if Stoliar cut five percent of it.
I also thought he hedged his bets with the ways in which he talked about Erin Fleming. He would frequently allude to how she was verbally and physically abusive to Groucho, but he only detailed a handful of such incidents (and in those cases, he focuses on the verbal rather than the physical). I wonder if Stoliar felt he needed to be careful when writing about her as she proved herself to be quite litigious. His final afterward in this updated edition describes how worried he was about what she might think or do when she read it, so I suspect his fear contributed to the way he wrote about her.
These minor qualms aside, Stoliar writes with the compassion and intensity of a true fan of Groucho, and I appreciated hearing and learning about aspects of Groucho's late life that I did not, and would not, otherwise know. His description of the stress Groucho was under in his last days trying to rehearse for the show Erin was trying to promote are heartbreaking, to say nothing of the ways Erin tried to distance Groucho from his family late in his life.
If you are a fan of Groucho and the Marx Brothers, I recommend this book.
Whether reading the book or listening, I recommend skipping Dick Cavett's intro. It says nothing of substance, simply encouraging you to read the book. Stoliar considers Cavett a friend, and there is also a long section in the book where Stoliar extols the virtues of Cavett's memoirs, talking about how he shared it with friends and encouraged others to read it. This section typifies the minor problems I have with the book; to the extent Stoliar focuses on Groucho and company, this book is very interesting and worthwhile, but to the extent that Stoliar discusses other, seemingly tangential issues, the book flounders a bit.
Additionally, the book reads (or listens, I guess) very conversationally. In general this is fine, but the conversational tone sometimes takes away from getting to the point of what Stoliar is talking about in any given circumstance. He is very fond of transitional phrases ("on the other hand", etc), and I was frequently impatient waiting for the payoff to any given story. He does also occasionally repeat stories with little new information given to the repeats, making them, in my mind, unnecessary. I would estimate the book would be tighter if Stoliar cut five percent of it.
I also thought he hedged his bets with the ways in which he talked about Erin Fleming. He would frequently allude to how she was verbally and physically abusive to Groucho, but he only detailed a handful of such incidents (and in those cases, he focuses on the verbal rather than the physical). I wonder if Stoliar felt he needed to be careful when writing about her as she proved herself to be quite litigious. His final afterward in this updated edition describes how worried he was about what she might think or do when she read it, so I suspect his fear contributed to the way he wrote about her.
These minor qualms aside, Stoliar writes with the compassion and intensity of a true fan of Groucho, and I appreciated hearing and learning about aspects of Groucho's late life that I did not, and would not, otherwise know. His description of the stress Groucho was under in his last days trying to rehearse for the show Erin was trying to promote are heartbreaking, to say nothing of the ways Erin tried to distance Groucho from his family late in his life.
If you are a fan of Groucho and the Marx Brothers, I recommend this book.
July 30, 2019
This is not a book to read if you're unfamiliar with the Marx Brothers, but if you're already a Groucho fan, then the story of his last few years is told with affection and evenhandedness. The evenhandedness is necessary because Groucho's life at the time was under the control of Erin Fleming, who had problems of her own, though there was obviously a connection between her and Groucho.
The author's POV is central to the story, because of the bittersweet nature of being able to work with a personal hero, but one who is obviously declining. In some ways, there probably isn't a lot of really "new" information about Groucho here, but it's a touching portrait of him in the years before his death, and his relationships with friends and family.
The author's POV is central to the story, because of the bittersweet nature of being able to work with a personal hero, but one who is obviously declining. In some ways, there probably isn't a lot of really "new" information about Groucho here, but it's a touching portrait of him in the years before his death, and his relationships with friends and family.
Read
April 15, 2020Conveys information about worthily celebrated funnyman Groucho Marx’s twilight years lucidly and I guess rather comprehensively. Bit of a letdown from Yale man Dick Cavett’s literary intro on account of Stoliar is a fine writer but not all that much of a prose stylist, not that he even tries to be. Hate to beat up on Stoliar, cause there’s a reason his book got reprinted and is like universally respected by Marx bros enthusiasts, but another drawback is he’s kinda quick to self-suck about, say, how he impressed one of Groucho’s old collaborators. This is my fault-finding run amok though, we’re here for, crudely put, cool shit about Groucho and that’s what we get
November 30, 2012
Life is strange sometimes. Why did I read about a long dead comic who was nowhere near my generation?
Simple really when that comic was Groucho Marx. If you can look past the creakiness of his films (some are 80 years old!) you will see a humour that still works today.
This book was a fascinating read and you really almost believed you were there.
Yes, it's sad to see Groucho's decline in print, however this book is far more than just detailing that.
"Raised Eyebrows" is a tale of getting old and even none Marx Brothers fans will find something here.
Simple really when that comic was Groucho Marx. If you can look past the creakiness of his films (some are 80 years old!) you will see a humour that still works today.
This book was a fascinating read and you really almost believed you were there.
Yes, it's sad to see Groucho's decline in print, however this book is far more than just detailing that.
"Raised Eyebrows" is a tale of getting old and even none Marx Brothers fans will find something here.
February 18, 2013
Extremely sad tale of Groucho's final years under the domination of a mentally ill care-taker. Fortunately she was rescued from being a bag lady and got the help she so desperately needed all her life. But not before running and controlling Groucho's household and and alienating his children. After Groucho died; she died a few years later in a group home. So sad Groucho couldn't enjoy retirement and peace and quiet and seeing old friends.
February 18, 2020
A must read (or listen) for any Groucho fan. Sad at times of course since it covers the final years of a legend being taken advantage of, but countless funny stories and insights into Groucho’s life, and by extension, the Marx Brothers. Despite the tragic parts, it was an incredible ride in the author’s shoes going from fan to employee to friend of Groucho’s at like 20 years old. And, still, lots of laughs.
October 18, 2020
Exceptionally engaging and full of excellent details, this book provides an inside look into the final years of the legendary comedian. I had been wanting to read more about Groucho, and I am certain I made the right choice with RAISED EYEBROWS. I listened to the Audible version, which is read by the author, and it was wonderfully produced. This is one of the best nonfiction books about show business I have ever read—and I have read quite a few!
November 27, 2020
A glimpse into ‘70’s Hollywood and Groucho Marx’s last days. A wonderful read for any Marx fan.
February 20, 2011
a wonderful behind the scenes story. stoliar is a fan who became a secretary to his favourite film comedian, groucho marx. written with great wit and insight, stoliar tells us of the hell he endured during the turbulent years when erin fleming took over groucho's life. with a warm introduction by dick cavett.
March 18, 2013
I loved this book. As a fan of the Marx brothers I found the subject fascinating. The book was very well written and held my interest so much that I read it in 36 hours. I highly recommend this book to any of Groucho's fans or fans of the Marx brothers!
May 1, 2013
I have always loved the Marx Bros and found Groucho a truly fascinating character. This book reveals a very painful ending to a complicated life. Steve Stoliar is a fabulous narrator, and I felt like I was right there, watching and listening. If you are a Groucho fan, this book is not to be missed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews