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Markers of Distinction

The Marx Brothers
Comedians:
Julis Henry (Grocho) 1890–1977
Leonard (Chico) 1891–1961
Adolph (Harpo) 1893–1961
Herbert (Zeppo) 1901–1979
Milton (Gummo) 1904–1977


The Marx Brothers lived at 4512 Grand Boulevard
(now King Drive) when they moved to Chicago to tour the
vaudeville circuit in the 1910s. Their act, “The Six Musical
Mascots,” included all five brothers and their aunt, Hannah.

The song and dance routines of the early Marx Brothers
evolved into the rapid-fire comedy for which they are best
known. After several years in vaudeville, they took their
routines to the Broadway stage; and soon after began
working in motion pictures. The Cocoanuts, an adaptation
of their Broadway routine, was followed by Animal
Crackers, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers
and Duck Soup
in the 1930s. By 1935 Zeppo and Gummo had left the act for
other careers,but Groucho, Chico and Harpo continued their
madcap partnership.

Groucho’s uninhibited wisecracks, Chico’s unorthodox piano
technique,and Harpo’s not-so-angelic harpist made movies
like A Night at theOpera and A Day at the Races classics
of American comedy. When the team broke up in 1949, they
continued their idiosyncratic styles in solocareers in television,
motion pictures and writing.