Leonard “Chico” Marx
Born: March 22 1887, New York, New York, USA
Died: October 11 1961, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
Adolph (later Arthur) “Harpo” Marx
Born: November 23 1888, New York, New York, USA
Died: September 28 1964, Los Angeles, California, USA
Julius Henry “Groucho” Marx
Born: October 2 1890, New York, New York, USA
Died: August 19 1977, Los Angeles, California, USA
Milton “Gummo” Marx
Born: October 23 1893, New York, New York, USA
Died: April 21 1977, Palm Springs, California, USA
Herbert “Zeppo” Marx
Born: February 25 1901, New York, New York, USA
Died: November 30 1979, Eisenhower Health, Rancho Mirage, California, USA
compiled by PETER TATCHELL (2010)
In the 1920s and 1930s, the brothers Marx were regarded as the wackiest team on Broadway and in Hollywood. Three generations later, thanks to the miracle of the motion picture, we can still appreciate their genius and enjoy their incredible (and, happily, timeless) antics.
To be sure, the best place to encounter them is in a crowded movie theatre where the laughter is contagious, but their appearance on disc or video is also a treasured experience.
During their careers the brothers made many notable forays into radio and television and, on occasion, the recording studio. In his final years Groucho also performed one-man concerts, telling anecdotes and singing his favourite songs. Along the way, commercial recordings on 78s, LPs and CDs have showcased many of these memorable moments.
Films
Humorisk (1920? short) NO KNOWN COPY
Too Many Kisses (Harpo only, 1925)
The Cocoanuts (1929)
Animal Crackers (1930)
Monkey Business (1931)
The House That Shadows Built (1931)
Horse Feathers (1932)
Hollywood On Parade (1932 short)
Hollywood On Parade (Chico only, 1933 short)
Duck Soup (1933)
A Night At The Opera (1935)
La Fiesta De Santa Barbara (Harpo only, 1935 short)
Yours For The Asking (Groucho only, 1936)
Hollywood – The Second Step (Chico only, 1936 short)
A Day At The Races (1937)
Sunday Night At The Trocadero (Groucho only, 1937 short)
Room Service (1938)
At The Circus (1939)
Go West (1940)
The Big Store (1941)
Screen Snapshots #2 (Groucho only, 1943 short)
Stage Door Canteen (Harpo only, 1943)
Screen Snapshots #8 (1943 short)
The All-Star Bond Rally (Harpo only, 1945 short)
A Night In Casablanca (1946)
Copacabana (Groucho only, 1947)
Love Happy (1950)
Mr. Music (Groucho only, 1950)
Double Dynamite (Groucho only, 1951)
A Girl In Every Port (Groucho only, 1952)
Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (Groucho only, 1957)
The Story Of Mankind (1957)
Skidoo (Groucho only, 1968)
Newsfront (Chico only, in newsreel footage, 1978)
Radio
Groucho and Chico:
FIVE STAR THEATRE: FLYWHEEL, SHYSTER AND FLYWHEEL
NBC Blue Mondays 7-30pm November 28 1932 to May 22 1933 (26 editions)
Sponsor: Standard Oil
May 22 is with collectors
(* in the early 1990s the BBC recreated 18 editions starring Michael Roberts and Frank Lazarus)
GROUCHO AND CHICO MARX (aka THE MARX OF TIME)
CBS Sundays 7-00pm March 4 to April 22 1934 (8 editions)
with Elmer Feldkamp, Terry Shand and Freddie Martin’s Orchestra
Sponsor: American Oil
No known recordings
THE CIRCLE
NBC Red Sundays 10-00pm January 15 to July 9 1939 (26 x 60 min editions)
with Ronald Colman, Carole Lombard, Cary Grant, Basil Rathbone, Madeleine Carroll, Lawrence Tibbett and Robert Dolan’s Orchestra
January 22 is with collectors
Groucho:
Groucho appeared on a number of editions of
RUDY VALLEE’S SEALTEST HOUR
NBC Thursdays March 27 and September 18 1941, January 8 and June 25 to July 16 1942
none of the above known to exist
BLUE RIBBON TOWN
CBS Saturdays 10-15pm (8-00pm from Oct 9) March 27 1943 to June 17 1944 (65 editions)
with Virginia O’Brien, Fay McKenzie, Donald Dickson, Kenny Baker, Leo Gorcey, and Robert Armbruster’s Orchestra
(Chico guested on July 17, August 28 and September 25 1943)
(Harpo guested on June 17 1944)
January 8 and 29, February 5, 12 and 26 with collectors
Groucho appeared on a semi-regular basis on
DINAH SHORE’S BIRDS EYE OPEN HOUSE
NBC Thursdays October 12 1944, January 4, March 1, March 15, March 29, April 19, May 17, September 6, October 11, November 8, November 22, December 6 and December 27 1945, January 10, January 31, February 21, March 14, April 4, April 25 and May 16 1946
October 12 1944, January 4, March 15, April 19, May 17, September 6, November 8, November 22, December 6 and 27 1945, January 10 and 31, February 21, March 14, April 25 and May 16 1946 are with collectors
YOU BET YOUR LIFE
Series 1: ABC Mondays 8-00/8-30pm October 27 to December 22 1947
& Wednesdays 8-30/9-00pm December 31, 1947 to April 21 1948 (26 editions)
(* an audition show was recorded on September 15 1947)
with Jack Slattery (announcer), George Fennemen (announcer), Billy May’s Orchestra
sponsor: Elgin American
October 27 1947, January 1 and 28, February 4, February 18 to March 10 and March 24 to April 14 1948 are with collectors
Series 2: ABC Wednesdays 9-30pm September 29, 1948 to May 25 1949 (35 editions)
with George Fennemen (announcer), Stanley Meyer’s Orchestra
sponsor: Elgin American
September 29 1948, February 16, March 23 and 30, April 13 and May 18 1949 are with collectors
Series 3: CBS Wednesdays 9-00pm October 5, 1949 to June 28 1950 (39 editions)
with George Fennemen (announcer), Jerry Fielding’s Orchestra
sponsors: Elgin American (to Dec 28), DeSoto Plymouth (from Jan 4)
whole season is with collectors
with George Fennemen (announcer), Jerry Fielding’s Orchestra
sponsor: DeSoto Plymouth
whole season is with collectors
Series 5: NBC Wednesdays 9-00pm October 3, 1951 to July 2 1952 (40 editions)
with George Fennemen (announcer), Jerry Fielding’s Orchestra
sponsor: DeSoto Plymouth
October 3 1951 to April 30 1952 and June 11 1952 are with collectors
Series 6: NBC Wednesdays 9-00pm September 17, 1952 to June 10 1953 (39 editions)
with George Fennemen (announcer), Jerry Fielding’s Orchestra
sponsor: DeSoto Plymouth
September 17 to November 19 and December 3 to 17 1952 are with collectors
Series 7: NBC Wednesdays 9-00pm September 16, 1953 to June 9 1954 (39 editions)
with George Fennemen (announcer), Jerry Fielding’s Orchestra (rep. mid-season by Jack Meakin’s Orchestra)
sponsor: DeSoto Plymouth
whole season is with collectors
Series 8: NBC Wednesdays 9-00pm September 15, 1954 to June 22 1955 (41 editions)
with George Fennemen (announcer), Jack Meakin’s Orchestra
sponsor: DeSoto Plymouth
January 14 1955 with collectors
Series 9: NBC Wednesdays 9-00pm September 28, 1955 to June 20 1956 (39 editions)
with George Fennemen (announcer), Jack Meakin’s Orchestra
sponsor: DeSoto Plymouth
October 26, November 23 to December 28 1955 with collectors
Series 10: NBC Wednesdays 9-00pm September 26, 1956 to June 19 1957 (not on June 12) (38 editions)
with George Fennemen (announcer), Jack Meakin’s Orchestra
sponsor: DeSoto Plymouth
Series 11: NBC Mondays September 23, 1957 to June 16 1958 (39 editions)
with George Fennemen (announcer), Jack Meakin’s Orchestra
sponsor: DeSoto Plymouth
Series 12: NBC Mondays September 22, 1958 to June 22 1959 (39 editions)
with George Fennemen (announcer), Jack Meakin’s Orchestra
Series 13: NBC Mondays September 28 to December 28 1959, Fridays January 8 to June 10 1960 (37 editions)
with George Fennemen (announcer), Jack Meakin’s Orchestra
Groucho also appeared on a number of AFRS programmes during (and just after) WW2:
COMMAND PERFORMANCE
#20 June 30 1942
#137 September 9 1944
#142 October 14 1944 (compilation show)
#191 September 13 1945 (repeat of #137)
#246 late 1946
#289 autumn 1947
#335 summer 1948
#404 late 1949
shows 20, 137 and 142 are with collectors
MAIL CALL
#14 December 4 1942
#19 January 9 1943
#53 August 26 1943
#67 December 1 1943
#86 April 12 1944
#127 January 17 1945
#188 March 27 1946
#251 June 18 1947
#267 October 8 1947
shows 19, 53, 67, 127, 188 and 267 are with collectors
GI JOURNAL
#64 October 6 1944
#85 March 9 1945
show 85 is with collectors
Harpo also appeared on a number of AFRS programmes during (and just after) WW2:
COMMAND PERFORMANCE
#125 June 17 1944
#142 October 14 1944 (compilation show)
#307 late 1947
all three shows are with collectors
MAIL CALL
#137 March 21 1945
#293 April 7 1948
show 137 is with collectors
Chico also appeared on two AFRS programmes during (and just after) WW2:
COMMAND PERFORMANCE
#141 October 7 1944
#209 January 31 1946
both shows are with collectors
Television
The three Marx Brothers appeared together on television only once:
GENERAL ELECTRIC THEATER: The Incredible Jewel Robbery
CBS March 8 1959
Chico appeared in:
THE COLLEGE BOWL
ABC Mondays October 2 1950 to March 26 1952 (25 editions)
SILVER THEATER: Papa Romani
CBS January 9 1950
Harpo appeared in:
DUPONT SHOW OF THE MONTH: The Red Mill
CBS April 19 1958
Groucho appeared in:
YOU BET YOUR LIFE
(radio editions of series 1 to 10 were broadcast on Wednesdays, from series 8 on Mondays, from January 1960 on Fridays)
series 1: NBC Thursdays October 5 1950 to June 28 1951 (39 editions)
series 2: NBC Thursdays October 4 1951 to June 12 1952 (37 editions)
series 3: NBC Thursdays September 18 1952 to June 11 1953 (39 editions)
series 4: NBC Thursdays September 5 1953 to June 10 1954 (39 editions)
series 5: NBC Thursdays September 16 1954 to June 23 1955 (41 editions)
series 6: NBC Thursdays September 29 1955 to June 21 1956 (39 editions)
series 7: NBC Thursdays September 27 1956 to June 20 1957 (not on June 13) (38 editions)
series 8: NBC Thursdays September 26 1957 to June 19 1958 (not on May 8) (38 editions)
series 9: NBC Thursdays September 25 1958 to June 18 1959 (not on November 20, February 5 and May 14) (37 editions)
series 10: NBC Thursdays September 24 1959 to June 30 1960 (not on June 2) (39 editions)
series 11: NBC Thursdays September 22 1960 to June 29 1961 (41 editions)
with George Fenneman and Jerry Fielding’s Orchestra (series 1 to 3) replaced by Jack Meakin’s Orchestra (series 4 to 11)
(* Harpo appeared on May 11 1961)
BELL TELEPHONE HOUR: The Mikado
NBC April 29 1960
GENERAL ELECTRIC THEATER: The Holdout
CBS January 14 1962
TELL IT TO GROUCHO
CBS Thursdays January 11 to May 24 1962 (20 editions)
THE HOLLYWOOD PALACE
ABC March 14 1964
ABC April 17 1965
GROUCHO
(British) ITV June 17 to September 9 1965 (13 editions)
THE BOB HOPE CHRYSLER THEATER: Time for Elizabeth
NBC April 24 1966
Video
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
Worldwide Entertainment Marketing video (1991)
contains the 30-minute game show pilot Groucho recorded in the early 1960s
DVDs
The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection
Universal 6DVD set (2004)
includes The Cocoanuts, Animal Crackers, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers and Duck Soup
plus interviews with Harpo, Groucho and William Marx (Harpo’s son)
The Marx Brothers Collection
Warner Bros./Turner Entertainment Home Video 5DVD set (2004)
includes A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, Room Service, At the Circus, Go West, The Big Store and A Night in Casablanca
plus documentaries Remarks on Marx and On Your Marx, Get Set, Go!
Love Happy
Republic/Lions Gate DVD (2004)
The Unknown Marx Brothers
WinStar DVD
85 minute 1993 documentary, hosted by Leslie Nielsen
plus out-takes from You Bet Your Life
The Marx Brothers Collection
Passport 4-DVD + CD (2003)
DVDs include:
60 minute documentary Inside the Marx Brothers
The House That Shadows Built
You Bet Your Life pilot episode
Silver Theater: Papa Romani
Person to Person (Ed Murrow with Groucho)
plus a CD featuring extracts from radio:
Hollywood Agents (1936)
G.I. Journal #85 (1945)
Mail Call #19 (1943)
Mail Call #127 (1945)
Philco Radio Time (1947)
G.I. Journal #85 (1945)
Kraft Music Hall (1949)
Command Performance #132 (1944)*
(* does not feature any of the Marx Brothers)
TV Classics: You Bet Your Life
Echo Bridge DVD (2003)
contains 12 editions:
December 16 1954
April 7 1955
January 31 1957
May 12 1955
February 22 1951
February 18 1954
May 13 1954
November 4 1954
November 11 1954
January 6 1955
June 21 1956
January 27 1955
March 9 1961
TV Favorites Megapack
TreeLine Films 9-DVD set (2003)
disc 7 contains 6 editions of You Bet Your Life:
January 26 1956
February 2 1956
October 16 1958
November 6 1958
February 26 1959
June 11 1959
Groucho Marx Collector’s Edition
2DVD
contains 13 editions of You Bet Your Life
You Bet Your Life – volume 1
Alpha DVD (2004)
contains 4 editions
March 9 1961
February 22 1951
February 18 1954
May 13 1954
You Bet Your Life – volume 2
Alpha DVD (2004)
contains 4 editions
May 12 1955
January 6 1955
June 21 1956
January 31 1957
You Bet Your Life – The Best Episodes
Shout Factory/Sony 3-DVD set (2004)
May 15 1958 (recorded April 1958)
January 19 1956 (December 5 1955)
June 14 1956 (April 25 1956)
October 9 1958 (August 1958)
January 19 1961 (Mar/Aug 1960)
May 11 1961 (March 1961)
March 3 1955 (January 19 1955)
April 7 1955 (February 8 1955)
November 10 1955 (Sep 26 1955)
April 25 1957 (March 1957)
November 6 1958 (September 1958)
January 8 1960 (November 1959)
December 19 1957 (October 1957)
January 30 1958 (December 1957)
September 25 1958 (August 1958)
October 13 1960 (September 1960)
January 29 1959 (December 1958)
December 14 1950 (Nov 2 1950)
bonus items:
pilots for The Plot Thickens, What Do You Want? and Tell It To Groucho
plus out-takes and commercials
You Bet Your Life – The Lost Episodes
Shout Factory/Sony 3-DVD set
(also released as 6 individual DVDs by RBC Entertainment)
October 5 1950 (rec. Aug 24 1950)
February 29 1951 (Jan 18 1951)
February 14 1952 (Jan 2 1952)
February 12 1953 (Jan 7 1953)
October 11 1956 (Apr 1956)
April 3 1958 (Feb 1958)
November 9 1950 (Sep 1950)
April 24 1952 (Mar 1952)
May 8 1952 (Mar 1952)
May 29 1952 (Apr 2 1952)
January 1 1953 (Nov 19 1952)
March 12 1953 (Jan 26 1953)
January 28 1954 (Dec 1953)
April 29 1954 (Mar 1954)
October 21 1954 (Sep 1954)
November 17 1955 (Sep 1955)
January 5 1956 (Nov 1955)
December 21 1959 (Oct 1959)
Recordings
from FILM
The Cocoanuts
Sountrak LP STK 108, reissued as Sandy Hook LP SH 2059
contains highlights from the 1929 Paramount film
The Original Voice Tracks from their Greatest Movies
Decca LP DL 79168
contains highlights from the Paramount films
The Cocoanuts, Animal Crackers, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers and Duck Soup
linked with narration by Gary Owens
A Night At The Opera
Re-Sound LP RST 7051
contains comedy highlights from the 1935 M.G.M. film
Hollywood Sings
Living Era LP AJA 5011
includes
Hello, I Must Be Going (Groucho, Zeppo and Margaret Dumont)
from the 1930 Paramount film Animal Crackers.
Hollywood Party
Pelican LP 130
Includes Everyone Says I Love You (Groucho)
from the 1932 Paramount film Horse Feathers
Marx Movie Madness
Radiola LP MR 1097, CD CDMR 1097
contains radio promotions “Paramount Movie Parade” and “Leo Is On The Air” (which feature soundtrack excerpts)
from Duck Soup, A Day At The Races, At The Circus and Go West
Stage Door Canteen/Hollywood Canteen
Curtain Calls 2LP 100/11-12
includes Harpo’s harp solo from Stage Door Canteen
Les Marx Brothers
Cine-stars CD 302 623 (1993)
soundtrack extracts from eight Marx Brothers features
(A Night at the Opera to Love Happy)
The Marx Brothers Sing and Play
Chansons Cinema 3CD set CIN 001/002/003 (1994, reissued 2000)
music and comedy from the first eleven Marx Brothers features
(Cocoanuts to The Big Store)
Duck Soup
The Sound Track Factory CD SFCD 33501 (1999)
soundtrack extracts from six Marx Brothers features
(Duck Soup, The Cocoanuts, Horse Feathers, Monkey Business, Love Happy and A Night in Casablanca)
A Night at the Opera
The Sound Track Factory CD SFCD 33502 (1999)
soundtrack extracts from four Marx Brothers features
(A Night at the Opera, Animal Crackers, At the Circus and Room Service)
A Day at the Races
The Sound Track Factory CD SFCD 33503 (1999)
soundtrack extracts from three Marx Brothers features
(A Day at the Races, Go West and The Big Store)
The 4 Marx Brothers in Horse Feathers
The Sound Track Factory CD SFCD 33549 (2000)
soundtrack extracts from Horse Feathers and Animal Crackers
The Best of the Marx Brothers
Pegasus CD PGN CD 906 (2005)
reissued as Ridin’ the Range
Pickwick/Hallmark CD 706852 (2008)
Chico’s Masurka
Who’s That Man?
Chico’s Piano
Two Blind Loves
Cosi Cosa
Swing Swingali
Harpo and Chico Pianos
Sing While You Sell
Lydia the Tattooed Lady*
Ridin’ the Range
Mama Wants to Know Who Stole the Jam?
My Friend’s Going Back Home
(* not included on Hallmark reissue)
from RADIO
Three Hours, Fifty-nine Minutes, Fifty-one Seconds With The Marx Bros.
Murray Hill 4LP set 931680,
reissued as: The Very Best Of The Marx Brothers
AAT two 2LPs 2012 and 2022
Radio guest appearances by Groucho, Chico and Harpo
Groucho:
Greetings From Groucho (KFl 50th Anniversary Show – April 16 1972)
G. Marx, Attorney At Law (February 12 1947 Philco Radio Time)
includes vocal Go West Young Man (duet with Bing Crosby)
Plebo – You Bet Your Life (November 12 1950 The Big Show)
includes vocal Some Enchanted Evening
Groucho’s Mother (wartime AFRS Mail Call)
Dr. G. Marx Hackenbush (March 12 1944 Philco Radio Hall Of Fame)
Groucho The Patient (1945 Birds Eye Open House)
includes vocal Dr. Hackenbush
Groucho In The Marines (June l0 1945 Chase & Sanborn Program)
Livingstone Marx African Explorer (wartime AFRS G.l. Journal)
Groucho The Hypochondriac (1945 Birds Eye Open House)
Groucho In Chicago (April 30 1947 Philco Radio Time)
includes vocal Feudin’, Fightin’ And Fussin’ (with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Shay)
The All Star Cowboy Hour (1940s AFRS Mail Call)
The Spiwit Of Spwing (1945 Birds Eye Open House)
Doctor People Are Double And Take It Truth Or Ignorance It Pays To Be Information (wartime AFRS Command Performance)
includes vocal Lydia, The Tattooed Lady
A Mink for Jolson (January 13 1949 Kraft Music Hall)
A Quiz for Jolson (November l8 1948 Kraft Music Hall)
A Baseball Team For Jolson (April 7 1949 Kraft Music Hall)
includes vocal That Little German Band (duet with Al Jolson)
A Laundry for Jolson (May 261949 Kraft Music Hall)
Chico:
Abraham! (December 1943 Fitch Bandwagon)
2nd Movement, From The Beer Barrel Polka (December 1943 Fitch Bandwagon)
Pagliacci (December 1943 Fitch Bandwagon)
Noodlin’ Around (wartime AFRS Command Performance)
The Start of the Marx Brothers (December 1943 Fitch Bandwagon)
Harpo:
A Conversation With Harpo (1944 AFRS Command Performance)
includes vocal My Blue Heaven (sung by Bing Crosby, harp played by Harpo)
plus
Hollywood Agents (Groucho and Chico in a 1937 test broadcast)
Time Marxes On! (1937 “Leo Is On The Air” promo for A Day At The Races)
Groucho Marx On Radio
Radiola LP and CD MR 1072
Greetings from Groucho (1972)
Hollywood Agents (1937)
Doctor People Are … (wartime)
Plebo – You Bet Your Life (1950)
Groucho Marx
Memorabilia LP MLP 733
Hollywood Agents (1937)
You Bet Your Life (October 25 1950)
Three Giants: Bing Crosby, Maurice Chevalier & Groucho Marx
de Baron LP GROUCH 47
contains Groucho’s guestshot on Bing Crosby’s Philco Radio Time (April 30 1947)
which includes the vocals Lydia The Tattooed Lady (duet with Bing)
and Feudin’, Fightin’ and Fussin’ (with Bing and Dorothy Shay)
Groucho
Nostalgia Lane LP NLR 1021
contains two episodes of You Bet Your Life
March 31 1958 and May 12 1958
Three Funniest Hours In The History Of Radio
Nostagia Lane 3LP set 3NLR 130
includes one episode of You Bet Your Life
March 31 1958
Groucho
Mark 56 LP 758
contains two episodes of You Bet Your Life
February 23 1949 and March 31 1958
You Bet Your Life
Golden Age LP GA 5021
contains two episodes of You Bet Your Life
December 16 1957 and February 10 1958
Gratuitously Groucho
Raven CD RVCD 30 (1992)
Greetings from Groucho
Groucho U.S.M.C.
Hooray for Captain Spaulding
Livingstone Marx, African Explorer
Dr. Hackenbush
Hackenbush at Blue Ribbon General
Go West Young Man
We’re Here for Beaubrick
Game Show Groucho
Lydia the Tattooed Lady
Germs and Groucho
G. Marx, Attorney at Law
Life is So Peculiar
Gregariously Groucho
Raven CD RVCD 73 (1998)
Marine Dietrich
Double Indemnity
Hollywood Agents
Groucho in Chicago
Wooden Shoes
Love Crazed
Groucho’s Mother
A Grouchy Patient
You Bet Your Life’s Cutting Room Floor
The Musicologist’s Raw Deal
I’ll Say She Is
Wild Red Berry Bets His Life
Quiz for Jolson
I Can Tell a Phony
Gleefully Groucho
Raven CD RVCD 128 (2001)
Introduction
The Marx’s Curse
Return to Blue Ribbon General
We’re Here for Plebo!
Almanac Awry
Another Big Store
Who’s Olive?
A Checker Recital
Necking in New York
Bel Air Bloomers
Legends of Laughter
Laugh Radio CD 001 (2000)
Groucho and Chico in an aircheck from Hollywood Hotel (1937)
reviving their Tutsi Fruitsi Ice Cream routine
(plus the earliest surviving recording of Groucho singing Doctor Hackenbush)
The Golden Age of Comedy – Groucho Marx
Castle/Pulse CD PLS CD 444 (2000)
News from Russia
Forbes-Schneider Inc.
Groucho Translates French
Groucho Sells Al Jolson a Mink Coat
Groucho Wants to Wrestle Betty Grable
Donald D. Tycoon
Go West
Romancing Tallulah
Suing Bing
Groucho Getting Married
The Postman Always Drinks Twice
Groucho Marx 2044AD
The Golden Age of Comedy – The Marx Brothers
Castle/Pulse CD PLS CD 601 (2002)
Hollywood Agents (1937)
Beginning of the Marx Brothers (Chico interview)
Doctor Hackenbush
Harpo Speaks (Command Performance #125)
Groucho Gets Married
The All-Star Cowboy Hour
Groucho Marx
E.M.I. Gold CD 35911 2 (2002)
Jerry’s System for Dating Girls
Doctor Hackenbush
Celebrating New Year’s Eve
The All-Star Cowboy Hour
A Date with Dinah
You Bet Your Life
Selling Jolson a Baseball Team
The Thorndykes
Groucho Has a Cold
Tour of Chicago
A Date After the Show
Groucho Marx – volume 2
E.M.I. Gold CD 30098 2 (2005)
You Bet Your Life (unedited studio session)
The Marx Brothers
E.M.I. Gold CD 702042 (2006)
Jack and Groucho Play Checkers
Chico Plays on Bob’s Show
Guest Star Groucho
Harpo Marx, Ace Reporter
Double Indemnity
Ravelli in Court
Happy Anniversary Eddie
Harpo’s Girl Problem
Some Enchanted Evening
Selling Jolson Anything
Groucho Marx – Groucho Marx Madness
E.M.I. Gold CD 27183 2 7 (2008)
Going to London
Dr. Hackenbush Hacks Again
Dr. Spaulding Arrives
Jolson Competes in Quiz Show
Hotel Manager Marx
Groucho’s Mother – Love Advice to Betty
Attorney at Law Groucho Marx in Jail
Wooing Miss Josie
Groucho in the Marines
Bachelor and Spinster on You Bet Your Life
Rare Post Show Chat with the Audience
Radio Days – You Bet Your Life!
Castle/Pulse 2CD PDSCD 667 (2006)
contains 23 segments from You Bet Your Life
*** the Hollywood Agents sketch (featuring Groucho and Chico) is invariably dated 1938 but jokes about Jean Harlow (who died the previous year) and the show’s musical content indicate it was performed in 1937, as a tryout for a series that did not eventuate.
from TELEVISION
The Mikado
Columbia LP OL 5480/OS 2022
soundtrack of the April 29 1960 NBC Bell Telephone Hour presentation starring Groucho, wherein he performed the following vocals:
As Some Day It May Happen
With Aspect Stern (duet with Stanley Holloway)
Here’s A How-De-Do! (with Barbara Meister and Robert Rounseville)
The Criminal Cried (with Sharon Randall and Stanley Holloway)
Willow, Tit-Willow
There Is Beauty (duet with Helen Traubel)
Here’s Johnny: Magic Moments from The Tonight Show
Casablanca 2LP SPNB 1296
includes Groucho chatting to Johnny Carson and singing
Father’s Day
from LIVE APPEARANCES
An Evening with Groucho Marx
A & M 2LP SP 3515, CD 6010
Highlights from Groucho’s 1972 concert at Carnegie Hall (introduced by Dick Cavett) including the vocals
Hello I Must Be Going
Timbuctoo
Oh How That Woman Could Cook
Toronto Song
Always
Stay Down Where You Belong
Everybody Works But Father + Father’s Day
Show Me A Rose
Lydia, The Tattooed Lady
from STUDIO RECORDINGS
Chico’s orchestra
Here You Are/Sweet Eloise
Hit Records 78rpm 704 (some time in the 1940s)
Harpo
Stardust/Tea For Two
RCA Victor 78rpm 47-4186 (April 23 and 24 1951)
Guardian Angels/Swanee River
RCA Victor 78rpm 47-4187 (April 23 and 24 1951)
Bourree/Chanson Dans La Nuit
RCA Victor 78rpm 47-4188 (April 23 and 24 1951)
Harp By Harpo
R.C.A. Victor 10”LP LPM 27
reissues the above six tracks
Harpo in Hi-Fi
Mercury LP MG 20232 (1957)
Thinking of You
Guardian Angel
Yesterdays
My Funny Valentine
The Ash Grove
Tenderly
Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man
Lullaby Doll
They Say That Falling In Love Is Wonderful
Autumn Leaves
Honeysuckle Rose
That’s All
Harpo at Work
Mercury LP MG 20363/SR 60016 (1958)
Laura
My Blue Heaven
The Man I Love
Taking A Chance On Love
Imagination
Aye, Aye, Aye
Harpo Woogie
All The Things You Are
Sweet Sue
Solitude
In A Sentimental Mood
I Got Rhythm
Two Classic Albums from Harpo Marx
Collector’s Choice CD 314 544 2822-2 (2000)
reissues the two Mercury LPs
Groucho
How D’Ye Do and Shake Hands/Black Strap Molasses
(Groucho with Danny Kaye, Jimmy Durante and Jane Wyman)
Decca 78rpm 27748 (August 12 1951)
Hooray for Captain Spaulding/Omaha, Nebraska
Decca 78rpm 28158 (November 26 and 27 1951)
Dr. Hackenbush/Father’s Day
Decca 78rpm 28159 (November 26 and 27 1951)
Go West, Young Man/Show Me A Rose
Decca 78rpm 28160 (November 26 and 27 1951)
Hooray for Captain Spaulding
Decca 10”LP DL 5405
reissue the above six tracks
Groucho Marx/Jerry Colonna
Decca/Ace Of Hearts LP AH 103
includes the above six tracks, plus Jerry Colonna recordings
Here’s Groucho
MCA Special Products CD MCAD 20847 (1995)
Omaha, Nebraska
Father’s Day
Go West, Young Man
How D’ye Do and Shake Hands*
Dr. Hackenbush
Hooray for Captain Spaulding
Show Me a Rose
Black Strap Molasses*
Groucho Marx Does His Thing
The Inimitable Groucho
(* with Danny Kaye, Jimmy Durante and Jane Wyman)
Hooray for Captain Spaulding
Prism Leisure CD PLATCD 1330 (2005)
Decca studio recordings:
Hooray for Captain Spaulding
Show Me a Rose
Go West, Young Man!
Dr. Hackenbush
Father’s Day
Omaha, Nebraska
plus radio extracts:
Lydia the Tattooed Lady
Second Movement from The Beer Barrel Polka
Hollywood Agents
Stardust *
The Spiwit of Swing
Tea for Two *
Livingston Marx, Explorer
(* Harpo RCA studio recordings)
Groucho can also be heard on several other LPs released in the 1950s and 1960s:
Face to Face
Decca 2LP DXD 166
contains an interview with Groucho
My Favorite Story
20th Century Fox LP tfm 3 106
contains Groucho relating an anecdote
The Funniest Song in the World
Young People’s Records LP 10010
T.S. Eliot: Memorial Record of Homage
British HMV LP, (US) Odeon LP CLP 1924
Books
BEDS
by Groucho Marx (Farrar and Rhinehart, 1930, new edition Bobbs-Merrill, 1976)
MANY HAPPY RETURNS! – AN UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO YOUR INCOME TAX PROBLEMS
by Groucho Marx (Simon and Schuster, 1942)
THE MARX BROTHERS
by Kyle Crichton (Doubleday, 1950)
LIFE WITH GROUCHO
by Arthur Marx (Simon and Schuster, 1954)
GROUCHO AND ME
by Groucho Marx (Bernard Geis, 1959)
HARPO SPEAKS!
by Harpo Marx, with Rowland Barber (Bernard Geis, 1961)
MEMOIRS OF A MANGY LOVER
by Groucho Marx (Bernard Geis, 1963)
THE GROUCHO LETTERS
by Groucho Marx (Simon and Schuster, 1967)
THE MARX BROTHERS – THEIR WORLD OF COMEDY
by Allen Eyles (Zwemmer, 1966)
THE MARX BROTHERS AT THE MOVIES
by Paul D. Zimmerman and Burt Goldblatt (Putnam, 1968)
SON OF GROUCHO
by Arthur Marx (David McKay, 1972)
GROUCHO, HARPO, CHICO AND SOMETIMES ZEPPO – A HISTORY OF THE MARX BROTHERS
By Joe Adamson (Simon and Schuster, 1973)
THE MARX BROTHERS SCRAPBOOK
by Groucho Marx and Richard J. Anobile (Darien House, 1973)
THE GROUCHO PHILE
by Groucho Marx, with Hector Arce (Bobbs-Merrill, 1976)
THE SECRET WORD IS GROUCHO
by Groucho Marx, with Hector Arce (Putnam, 1976)
HELLO, I MUST BE GOING – GROUCHO AND HIS FRIENDS
by Charlotte Chandler (Doubleday, 1978)
GROUCHO
by Hector Arce (Putnam, 1979)
GROWING UP WITH CHICO
by Maxine Marx (Prentice-Hall, 1980)
LOVE, GROUCHO – LETTERS FROM GROUCHO MARX TO HIS DAUGHTER MIRIAM
edited by Miriam Marx Allen (Faber and Faber, 1992)
GROUCHO MARX AND OTHER SHORT STORIES AND TALL TALES
edited by Robert S. Bader (Faber and Faber, 1993)
THE MARX BROTHERS ENCYCLOPEDIA
by Glenn Mitchell (Batsford, 1997)
MONKEY BUSINESS – THE LIVES AND LEGENDS OF THE MARX BROTHERS
by Simon Louvish (Faber and Faber, 1999)
GROUCHO – THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JULIUS HENRY MARX
by Stefan Kanfer (Knopf, 2000)
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