SEPT 2024: Four of the Three Musketeers: The Marx Brothers on Stage by Robert S. Bader

[Samantha]

This fall, we are reading Four of the Three Musketeers: The Marx Brothers on Stage by Robert S. Bader who has a forthcoming book on Zeppo Marx. This acclaimed tome details the beginning days of the Marx Brothers and their work on the stage, where they honed their comedy skills they later brought to the silver screen.

Discussion Questions

Who is your favorite Marx brother? Why?

Which Marx Brothers film is your favorite? Do you have a favorite routine?

If you could go back to the days of vaudeville and catch any act, which would it be?

When vaudeville faded away, what, if anything, was lost?

[Samantha]

During the vaudeville era, it was common for acts to piggyback on successful ones to get bookings. For example, W.C. Fields was popular, so another man called himself W.C. Field and later had to change his name to O.C. Field for being too similar.

If you were going to piggyback on an act, what would your new name be?

[[deleted user]]

Who is your favorite Marx brother? Why?

Groucho, although not a big fan of the Marx Brothers. In 1954, he wrote a humorous letter to Harry Truman after the President’s surgery. One of his paragraphs:

I just want to join with the thousands who have written you wishing you a speedy recovery and many happy years as our only living ex-president. Oh, I forgot Hoover is still around.

Which Marx Brothers film is your favorite? Do you have a favorite routine?

Hate to admit it, but I haven’t seen many, and none in a few years. Just not a fan.

If you could go back to the days of vaudeville and catch any act, which would it be?

Abbott and Costello. They had some funny stuff.

When vaudeville faded away, what, if anything, was lost?

Almost any form of live entertainment brings some value (not sure about tractor pulls, though). To me, vaudeville was another form of live theater, and served as a proving ground for up-and-coming entertainers.

If you were going to piggyback on an act, what would your new name be?

Badaboom Crosby (sorry…)

[Samantha]

Robert Bader's new book on Zeppo is out now.

Something that I am astounded by in my reading is how poorly the performers were treated in the lower ranks of vaudeville and how much that changed as the movies began to prosper. We still have a lowly attitude toward artists who attempt to make it their profession in the tier below superstardom. Working actors, musicians, painters, etc. are treated with contempt and told to get a real job. But successful stars are treated like royalty.

My favorite Marx Brothers are Harpo and Groucho for different reasons. I love a smart person with a natural curiosity about the world. Harpo had that and maintained a sense of optimism and friendliness that made everyone like him. His upbringing could have sent him spiraling down to become violent and opportunistic, but he took the high ground. Groucho had fight in him, but instead of becoming mean, he became funny. He fought the bad things in life with humor and he was a master of it.

I adore Horse Feathers, and that is the movie I show to friends who want to see what the Marx Brothers are all about. It is zany and silly and it has musical numbers that don't impede the action. I love the swordfish bit. I also had the pleasure of introducing my sons to the brothers this way, and also the bits with Edgar Kennedy and the peanut stand in Duck Soup, and they requested encores for days.

It would be great fun to see Jack Benny in his earliest days to see how his act evolved. Part of me wants to see the oddities of vaudeville, the animal acts or something offbeat. When vaudeville faded away performers lost a place to hone their acts and personalities. They could be semi-anonymous on the stage, or later in summer stock, but get the repetition and practice they needed to become truly great. Now people get discovered making funny Youtube videos, which is great that the avenue exists for amateurs to break into the industry, but it is recorded so people can go back to see how bad you once were. In the days of vaudeville, people didn't remember specifics, only if you were good or bad and they couldn't go back and check.