Marx Brothers Trivia

1. Like his brothers, the birth name of Chico Marx was not Chico. What was his birth name?

From Quiz Chico Marx

Answer: Leonard Joseph

The brothers' real last name was Marx. The eldest Marx Brother, Manfred (1885-1886), died in infancy. Chico (Leonard Joseph) was the next (1887-1961) followed by Harpo (Adolph) (1888-1964), who changed his legal name to Arthur in 1912. Perhaps the best known of the brothers was Groucho (Julius Henry) (1890-1977). The next was Gummo (Milton) (1893-1977) who was only part of the act in years before World War One. The youngest brother was Zeppo (Herbert Manfred) (1901-1979) who appeared in several of the earlier Marx Brothers films. Like his brothers, it is thought that Chico's name dated from his days in vaudeville. While many people pronounced his name as "Cheek-oh", it appears that the "correct pronunciation was "chick-oh". The earliest uses of the name were spelled "Chicko" before a printer's error dropped a letter. Interestingly, in the early days of their careers, Chico and his brothers used their nicknames only among themselves and were billed publicly by their given names. A fellow performer suggested that they use the nicknames professionally. Late in his life, Chico's brother, Groucho, said that Chico got his name from being a "chicken-chaser" or "womanizer". Comments by other actors suggest that Chico's reputation in this regard continued until near the end of his life. His divorce from his first wife, Betty Karp, was caused at least in part by his frequent affairs.

From Quiz O, Brother, Who Art Thou?

Answer: Chico

Leonard Marx(1887-1961), who became Chico, was the second child born to Sam and Minnie Marx. Their first child had died, so she thoroughly spoiled Leo. Minnie was a smart go-getter and had ambitious plans for her family. Chico was probably the most like his mother, always a charmer, and always on the make. Chico developed a gambling problem in his teens and never really got it under control. When he ran out of money he stole from his family or friends. His original goal in life was to be a professional gambler; he had the gambler's mentality: if he won he could win more, and if he lost he was bound to win.

From Quiz Whatever It Is- I'm Against It!

Answer: Horse Feathers

"Whatever It is, I'm Against It" was written by Harry Ruby and Bert Kalmar, who also wrote the screenplay for 'Horse Feathers'. 'Horse Feathers' is the epic story of Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff's attempt to ensure his college wins the annual gridiron game against Huxley. Throw in bribery, kidnapping and wooing the college widow and you have a classic 'Marx Brothers' film.

From Quiz Marx Brothers

Answer: 5

Chico, Harpo, Groucho, Gummo, and Zeppo. There was one more - Manfred, the first born, who died of tuberculosis before his first birthday.

From Quiz The Brothers Marx

Answer: Julius

He was nicknamed Groucho because of the small purse he would wear on a string around his neck, called a "grouch" bag in those days. It was not because of his basic demeanor and comedy style.

From Quiz Marx Brothers Biography

Answer: 5

Groucho, Harpo, Chico, Zeppo and Gummo (in order of their most common billing). Gummo left to fight in WWI, and Zeppo retired from the group after five movies. A sixth Brother, Manfred, died in infancy.

From Quiz Marx Brothers Movies III

Answer: If it was in the east

Just after a shooting in front of the saloon, Joseph tells his brother Rusty (Harpo), "All the people do out here is shoot each other. I'd like the west better if it was in the east." Of course, if the west was in the east it wouldn't be the west, but the Marx Brothers were famous for skewing identities.

From Quiz Marx Brothers Movies I

Answer: Sewer pipe

The Marx Brothers were masters of absurdity, and Groucho was the master of the masters. In this scene, he is telling Margaret Dumont about an upcoming vote on the kind of sewer pipe to be laid in the new housing development he's proposing. He pulls a piece of pipe from his coat to illustrate this, and tells her that he has "inside information" that "the chief justice is crazy about this kind of pipe".

From Quiz Only 'The Other Kind of Marxist' Need Apply Part 2

Answer: why a duck

This interminably funny scene in 'Cocoanuts' inspired the title of a wonderful picture book about the fab three-and-a-half.

From Quiz Only 'The Other Kind of Marxist' Need Apply Part 1

Answer: Rufus T. Firefly

Groucho plays Otis B. Driftwood in 'A Night at the Opera', Hugo Z. Hackenbush in 'A Day at the Races' and Jeffrey T. Spalding in 'Animal Crackers' (the T stands for Edgar).

From Quiz Name that Harpo

Answer: Duck Soup

In retaliation for Edgar Kennedy flipping Harpo's peanut stand over, he jumps up on Edgar's lemonade stand with his shoes off and pants rolled up, and washes his feet - scaring away the customers.

From Quiz Monkey Business - the life of The Marx Brothers

Answer: Beagle, Shyster and Beagle

The first couple of shows were titled 'Beagle, Shyster and Beagle', but a real attorney named Beagle threatened a libel suit. In show 4, the title became the one used throughout the rest of the run, 'Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel'. ("Yes, I know that used to be the name of the firm, but the boss got a divorce and changed his name back"). Presumably, no attorneys named Flywheel were offended.

From Quiz Marx Brothers

Answer: Chico, Harpo, Groucho, Gummo, Zeppo

Chico (Leonard) Marx was the oldest, born on March 22, 1887. Harpo (Adolph) Marx was next, born on November 23, 1888. Then came Groucho (Julius) Marx. He was born on October 2, 1890. Gummo (Milton) was the brother that appeared on stage but joined the army before the films were made. He was born in 1897 Zeppo (Herbert) joined the act around the time that Gummo left. His birthday is February 25, 1901.

From Quiz Harpo Marx

Answer: Adolph

He got his nickname in a poker game. During the same game the guy dealing gave nicknames to all the players, Harpo played the Harp, Groucho carried his money in a grouch bag, Chico (pronounced Chicko) liked girls. He started using Arthur which was his first name, but the second name he was born with was Adolph.

From Quiz Chico Marx

Answer: Italian

In "The Cocoanuts", Chico portrayed a character named Willie. (The full name of the characters makes reference to an ethnic slur used to describe people of Italian descent.) The play takes place in Florida during the land-boom of the 1920s. Willie is a thief who is partnered with Silent Sam, a mute thief (Chico). Strangely, they are not the only thieves in the play as the theft of a necklace by another character is a significant plot device. The music and lyrics of "The Cocoanuts" were written by Irving Berlin and the book was written by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind. The show ran for 276 performances in its initial run. Interestingly, though the play was a musical and Chico had a significant part, he did not have any featured vocals. He did, however, play an unnamed piano solo. In the 1929 motion picture "The Cocoanuts" a number of dialogue segents and many of the songs are cut. Chico plays a character named Chico (which was the term used to describe his character in the original script of the play). Chico's piano solo in the film is "Gypsy Love Song" by Victor Herbert. Chico's portrayal as an "Italian" dates back to his vaudeville days before World War One. It was relatively common for vaudeville performers to portray characters of various ethnicities, including stereotypical "characteristics". As can be seen in Chico's films, in some cases the "Italian" ethnicity is played as being dubious and others as being "real". Like his brothers, the real life Chico was French-Jewish on his father's side and German-Jewish on his mother's side.

From Quiz O, Brother, Who Art Thou?

Answer: Julius

Julius (1890-1977)was the middle child who came along when his two older brothers had bonded; later, when his two younger brothers did the same, he felt left out. He tended to feel resentful of anything given his brothers that was denied him. His mother called him 'Der Eifersuchtige', meaning the jealous one. It was on the stage that Groucho found his place, where even strangers admired him. Groucho was the most serious about the theater, and handled most of the details.

From Quiz Whatever It Is- I'm Against It!

Answer: Zeppo

Zeppo Marx was the youngest brother, he was born in 1901. Chico was born in 1887. Harpo was born in 1888. Groucho was born in 1890 and Gummo, who dropped out of the family act long before the filming of the movies, was born in 1892.

From Quiz The Brothers Marx

Answer: The Story of Mankind

"The Story of Mankind" (1957). This bizarre film showcased a trip through history and a weird assortment of cameos along the way, from famous faces like Ronald Coleman, Vincent Price, Dennis Hopper, and Peter Lorre. It was directed by Irwin Allen, of disaster movie fame, and was considered one of the worst movies ever made.

From Quiz Marx Brothers Biography

Answer: Minnie

The Broadway musical "Minnie's Boys" tells the story of the Brothers' early years in show business.

From Quiz Marx Brothers Movies II

Answer: The crummy moronic type

Adolph (Harpo) Marx may have been flaky, silent, and strange. He may also have appeared to be red-headed due to his ever-present wig. However, Dr. Hackenbush diagnosed Stuffy as the "crummy moronic type".

From Quiz Marx Brothers Movies I

Answer: Freedonia

Groucho plays Rufus T. Firefly, leader of Freedonia. He selects Chico, who is running a peanut vending cart on the sidewalk, as his Secretary of War. Chico, however, is also spying for Ambassador Trentino, who is hoping to annex Freedonia for his native Sylvania. The other two countries are not part of "Duck Soup" except with regard to Chico's ever present genuine imitation Italian accent.

From Quiz Only 'The Other Kind of Marxist' Need Apply Part 2

Answer: Margaret Dumont & Dumont

Margaret Dumont's characters fell in love with Groucho's on numerous occasions, were punched in the stomach by Harpo, sharped at cards by Chico and Harpo, and had house party after house party ruined by their combined antics. The poor dear never really understood their brand of humour - and it is to this fact that Groucho attributed the success of their professional relationship.

From Quiz Only 'The Other Kind of Marxist' Need Apply Part 1

Answer: A frog

Although he usually has an unnatural penchant for horses in several films ('Animal Crackers', 'Duck Soup' and 'A Day at the Races', to name but three), Harpo keeps a pet frog in his trademark top hat for most of this film. At one point, he turns a hoarse-voiced customer of the ship's barber upside down and shakes him, merely because the poor fellow has just mentioned that he has a frog in his throat.

From Quiz Name that Harpo

Answer: Animal Crackers

Harpo and Chico rob an art critic (former fishman) of his tie, his garters, and (through the magic of movies) his birthmark.

From Quiz Monkey Business - the life of The Marx Brothers

Answer: Playing cards

According to Marx legend, the brothers were playing cards with comic Art Fisher. Opinion is divided as to why the names were dreamt up - the most frequently cited theory is that the popular comic strip character Knocko the Monk had inspired all sorts of similar names in vaudeville. Fisher proceeded to name each of the brothers in turn, based on a familiar characteristic.

From Quiz Harpo Marx

Answer: 2nd

In the immigrant communities of New York around the turn of the century, loyalties were based on ethnic background and neighborhood. Harpo, a Jew, kept getting thrown of the window by the Irish kids every time his teacher left the room. He couldn't return until she returned or he'd get tossed out again. He couldn't tell her why or he would get it even worse, so he kept getting in trouble for leaving the room without permission. One day after getting tossed out the window he just left and never returned.

From Quiz O, Brother, Who Art Thou?

Answer: Gummo

Gummo (1892-1977) had been a sickly child and developed a stammer, except when he sang. Born Milton Marx, his original plan was to become an inventor. He tired of his parts in the brothers' acts because he was required to do nothing much but stand around and look handsome. He got his nickname because he almost always wore gumshoes, whether it was raining or not; this probably dated back to his being rheumatic as a child and afraid of catching cold. The other possibility could be that he had a habit of sneaking up on people while wearing gumshoes. Gummo later became 'the fixer' when problems arose.

From Quiz The Brothers Marx

Answer: The Mikado

Groucho played Ko Ko, the Lord High Executioner, in this "The Bell Telephone Hour" adaptation of the opera.

From Quiz Marx Brothers Biography

Answer: tailor

He was a tailor - "and a pretty bad one, too" according to Groucho. By the way, Frenchie makes a cameo appearance in the Brothers' classic film "Monkey Business" (1935) as a spectator watching their ship depart from the dock.

From Quiz Marx Brothers Movies III

Answer: Himself

By playing himself in "Love Happy", Harpo was able to build the Harpo Marx legend even further. The "character" of Harpo differs very little from the characters Harpo had played in the Marx Brothers' other films. He is still a loveable scoundrel with a heart of gold but very unstable ethics. In fact, it is his personality that gets him involved in the plot, when he steals a can of sardines (that also contains stolen diamonds) to feed a group of struggling actors.

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Last Updated Dec 21 2024 5:53 AM

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