Harpo Marx Trivia Quiz

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.

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.

Answer: Wood stacker and pie sorter

One day another group of boys that didn't like Jews knocked him into a pile of wood at Goodkind's Bakery. Mr. Goodkind hired him to restack the wood and then sort pies as they came out of the oven. After Harpo worked a whole day, he was paid one cruller. He promptly quit.

Answer: Bugged out and crossed eyes, tongue lolling

It was his first foray into comedy. When he was a kid there was a man whose job was rolling cigars. When he got really going his face would go into the expression that Harpo learned to imitate. This was his first comedic success. Everyone laughed except the cigar man, who always chased him, which got him more laughs.

Answer: Four Nightingales

It consisted on Harpo, Groucho, Gummo and Lou Levy. His mother Minnie (who was determined to get her boys into vaudeville) showed up at the theatre where he played the piano and dragged him off, she changed him into a white suit on the subway and pushed him onstage. He got onstage (remember she pushed him) and he wet his pants.

Answer: Zeppo and Gummo

Gummo got drafted into WWI and was replaced by Zeppo before they started making movies. Zeppo was actually in several of their earlier movies

Answer: I'll Say She Is

It had been a success all over the country, but the producer balked at bringing it to Broadway. He didn't think that it had a chance. But since he promised them at the start that New York was its ultimate destination, he gave in, but expected it to last a week. It was a hit.

Answer: Alexander Woollcott

Alexander Woollcott was the drama critic with the New York Sun. He wrote a glowing review of Harpo's role in 'I'll Say She Is.' They remained friends until Woollcott's death. Another character in the play 'The Man Who Came to Dinner' was based on Harpo Marx.

Answer: Algonquin

Introduced by Woollcott, Harpo became a member of the 'Thanatopsis Inside Straight and Literary Club' a poker game whose members included Harold Ross, George Kaufman, Robert Benchley, Frank Adams. Downstairs in the dining room was the 'round Table' where the literary greats of New York met informally for lunch and conversation. Harpo said that the reason he was accepted was because he had a talent that most of the others lacked, he could sit and listen.

Answer: Minnie

It was Minnie's drive that made successful performers of her sons.