WA2K Radio is now on the air

I think my first was "Yesterday." Can still play that one on piano, edgar.



Yesterday
all my trouble seemed so far away
Now it looks as though they`re here to stay
Oh I believe in yesterday

Suddenly
I`m not half the man I used to be
there`s a shaddow hanging over me
Oh yesterday came suddenly

Why she had to go I don`t know
she wouldn`t say
I said something wrong
Now I long for yesterday

Yesterday
Love was such an easy game to play
Now I need a place to hide away
Oh I believe in yesterday

There was also "Tomorrow Never Knows"".


The Beatles

Turn off your mind, relax
and float down stream
It is not dying
It is not dying

Lay down all thought
Surrender to the void
It is shining
It is shining

That you may see
The meaning of within
It is being
It is being

That love is all
And love is everyone
It is knowing
It is knowing

That ignorance and hate
May mourn the dead
It is believing
It is believing

But listen to the
color of your dreams
It is not living
It is not living

Or play the game
existence to the end
Of the beginning
Of the beginning
Of the beginning
Of the beginning
Of the beginning
Of the beginning

You Turn Me On, I'm A Radio

If you're driving into town
With a dark cloud above you
Dial in the number
Who's bound to love you
Oh honey you turn me on
I'm a radio
I'm a country station
I'm a little bit corny
I'm a wildwood flower
Waving for you
Broadcasting tower
Waving for you
And I'm sending you out
This signal here
I hope you can pick it up
Loud and clear
I know you don't like weak women
You get bored so quick
And you don't like strong women
'Cause they're hip to your tricks
It's been dirty for dirty
Down the line
But you know
I come when you whistle
When you're loving and kind
But if you've got too many doubts
If there's no good reception for me
Then tune me out, 'cause honey
Who needs the static
It hurts the head
And you wind up cracking
And the day goes dismal
From "Breakfast Barney"
To the sign-off prayer
What a sorry face you get to wear
I'm going to tell you again now
If you're still listening there
If you're driving into town
With a dark cloud above you
Dial in the number
Who's bound to love you
If you're lying on the beach
With the transistor going
Kick off the sandflies honey
The love's still flowing
If your head says forget it
But your heart's still smoking
Call me at the station
The lines are open

JONI MITCHELL

Wonderful, folks. Love the radio song, Rex, and Dutchy. Great one.

This is for my friend Roger who says this radio station is just not him.

The shadow of your smile when you are gone
Will color all my dreams and light the dawn
Look into my eyes, my love, and see
All the lovely things you are to me

Our wistful little star was far too high
A teardrop kissed your lips andd so did I
Now when I remember spring
All the joy that love can bring
I will be remembering
The Shadow of your smile

That jazz ballad has been done by EVERYONE. That particular version was by Stevie Wonder.

Love At The Five And Dime

Rita was sixteen years... hazel eyes and chestnut hair
she made the Woolworth counter shine
Eddie was a sweet romancer, and a darn good dancer
they'd waltz the aisles of the five and dime

They'd sing, "Dance a little closer to me... dance a little closer now
Dance a little closer tonight
Dance a little closer to me... it's closing time
And love's on sale tonight at this five and dime

Eddie played the steel guitar and his mama cried 'cuz he played in the bars
And kept young Rita out late at night
So, they married up in Abilene... lost a child in Tennessee
still, that love survived

They'd sing, "Dance a little closer to me... dance a little closer now
Dance a little closer tonight
Dance a little closer to me... it's closing time
And love's on sale tonight at this five and dime

One of the boys in Eddie's band... took a shine to Rita's hands
so, Eddie ran off with the bass man's wife
Oh' but he was back by June... singin' a different tune
And sportin' Miss Rita back by his side

He sang, "Dance a little closer to me... dance a little closer now
Dance a little closer tonight
Dance a little closer to me... it's closing time
And love's on sale tonight at this five and dime

Eddie traveled with the barroom bands... till arthritis took his hands
now he sells insurance on the side
Rita's got a house to keep... dimestore novels and a love so sweet
they dance to the radio late at night

They'd sing, "Dance a little closer to me... dance a little closer now
Dance a little closer tonight
Dance a little closer to me... it's closing time
And love's on sale tonight at this five and dime

Rita was sixteen years... hazel eyes and chestnut hair
she made the Woolworth counter shine
Eddie was a sweet romancer, and a darn good dancer
they'd waltz the aisles of the five and dime

They'd waltz the aisles of the five and dime
They'd waltz the aisles of the five and dime

Nanci Griffith

This song is dedicated to you Letty,

This is warmly for all of the time you take to acknowledge every single contribution that is posted here.

I will be hitting the 5000 mark today

I just want to thank you Letty for all of the great times spent enjoying your station here and thanks also to the lovely friends you attract. I certainly number myself among the people that hold you in high esteem...

Listen to the Radio

I am leaving Mississippi in the evening rain
These Delta towns wear satin gowns
In a high beamed frame
Loretta Lynn guides my hands through the radio
Where would I be in times like these
Without the songs Loretta wrote?

When you can't find a friend
You've still got the radio
When you can't find a friend
You've still got the radio
Radio... listen to the radio
Radio... listen to the radio

I left a handsome two stepped good ole boy in Tennessee
Now, he's sittin' on the sofa, lookin' for his supper,
Wonderin' what's become of me
I've got a double-o-eighteen Martin guitar in the
Back seat of the car
Hey, I'm leaving Mississippi...
With the radio on

When you can't find a friend
You've still got the radio
When you can't find a friend
You've still got the radio
Radio... listen to the radio
Radio... listen to the radio

There's a moon across the border in the Louisiana sky
I smell the Pontchartrain, I hear Silver Wings
Then, away Merle Haggard flies
That good ole boy will find a Band of Gold
On the stereo
Hey, then my Mama's gonna call and say,
"Where's she gone?"
He'll say, "Down the road with the radio on."

Nancy Griffith

Thank you, Rex. I hold all in high esteem, Maine. That song was a wonderful celebration of life.

For my Mamma who was also born in October, whose opal ring I wear;



Elvis Presley


Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I'm tired, I'm weak, I'm worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

When my way grows drear precious Lord linger near
When my light is almost gone
Hear my cry, hear my call
Hold my hand lest I fall
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

When the darkness appears and the night draws near
And the day is past and gone
At the river I stand
Guide my feet, hold my hand
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I'm tired, I'm weak, I'm worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

Another emergency in my family.

Best wishes for a good ending, Letty.

You'll Never Walk Alone

When you walk through a storm
Keep your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark.
At the end of the storm
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark.

Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the rain,
Tho' your dreams be tossed and blown.
Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone,
You'll never walk alone.

Rodgers & Hammerstein

Hope all is well...

Dream a Little Dream of Me

Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper "i love you"
Birds singin' in the sycamore trees
Dream a little dream of me

Say nighty-night and kiss me
Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me
While I'm alone and blue as can be
Dream a little dream of me

Stars fading but I linger on dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longin' to linger till dawn dear
Just saying this

Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me

(instrumental break)

Stars shining up above you
Night breezes seem to whisper "i love you"
Birds singin' in the sycamore trees
Dream a little dream of me

Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me

Yes, dream a little dream of me

Good morning, WA2K listeners and contributors.

First, allow me to thank Rex for the encouraging song. I know it well, Maine.

edgar, all is well for the moment. My daughter has life-threatening allergies, one of which is crab. Unfortunately, the crab cakes that I occasionally serve, although artificial, still have enough of the real thing to cause a problem.

dj, it is great to see you back again, and I have always liked that song by Cass Elliot. Thanks, Canada.

Well, folks, since it is Monday, let's hear a "hippie" song from the Mamas and the Papas.


Artist: The Mamas And The Papas Lyrics
Song: Monday, Monday Lyrics

Monday Monday, so good to me,
Monday Monday, it was all I hoped it would be
Oh Monday morning, Monday morning couldn't guarantee
That Monday evening you would still be here with me.

Monday Monday, can't trust that day,
Monday Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way
Oh Monday morning, you gave me no warning of what was to be
Oh Monday Monday, how yould cou leave and not take me.

Every other day, every other day,
Every other day of the week is fine, yeah
But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes
You can find me cryin' all of the time

Monday Monday, so good to me,
Monday Monday, it was all I hoped it would be
Oh Monday morning, Monday morning couldn't guarantee
That Monday evening you would still be here with me.

Every other day, every other day,
Every other day of the week is fine, yeah
But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes
You can find me cryin' all of the time

Monday Monday, ...

Groucho Marx
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Born October 2, 1890
New York, New York, U.S.A
Died August 19, 1977
Los Angeles, California, U.S.A

Julius Henry Marx, known as Groucho Marx (October 2, 1890 - August 19, 1977), was an American comedian, working both with his siblings, the Marx Brothers, and on his own.

Childhood & Pre-Hollywood Successes

The Marx family grew up on the Upper East Side of New York City, in a small Jewish neighborhood sandwiched between Irish-German and Italian neighborhoods.

Groucho had a showbusiness uncle: Al Shean of Gallagher and Shean, a noted vaudeville act of the early 20th century. According to Groucho, when Shean visited he would throw the local waifs a few coins so that when he knocked at the door he would be surrounded by children like adoring fans. Groucho and his brothers respected his opinions and asked him on several occasions to write some material for them.

Shean's sister, Minnie Schoenberg Marx, was Groucho's mother. She didn't have an entertainment industry career, but she had intense ambition for her sons to go on the stage like their uncle. While pushing her eldest son Leonard (Chico Marx) in piano lessons, she found that Julius had a pleasant soprano voice and the ability to remain on key. Even though Julius' early career goal was to become a doctor, the family's need for income forced Julius out of school at the age of twelve. By that time, Julius had become a voracious reader, particularly fond of Horatio Alger. Throughout the rest of his life, Groucho would augment his lack of formal education by becoming very well-read.

After a few comically unsuccessful stabs at entry-level office work and other jobs suitable for adolescents, Julius took to the stage as a boy singer in 1905. Though he reputedly claimed that in the world of vaudeville he enjoyed only "modest success" but was "hopelessly average," it was merely a wisecrack. By 1909, Minnie Marx successfully managed to assemble her sons into a low-quality vaudeville singing group. Billing themselves as 'The Four Nightingales', Julius, Milton (Gummo Marx), Adolph (Harpo Marx), and another boy singer, Lou Levy, traveled the U.S. vaudeville circuits to little fanfare. After exhausting their prospects in the East, the family moved to La Grange, Illinois to play the Midwest.

After a particulary dispiriting performance in Nacogdoches, Texas, Julius, Milton, and Arthur began cracking jokes onstage for their own amusement. Much to their surprise, the audience liked them better as comedians than singers. They modified the then-popular Gus Edwards comedy skit, "School Days", and renamed it "Fun In Hi Skule". The Marx Brothers would perform variations on this routine for the next seven years.

For a time in vaudeville, all the brothers performed in ethnic accents; Leonard Marx, the oldest Marx brother, developed the "Italian" accent he used as "Chico" to convince some roving bullies that he was Italian, not Jewish. Groucho's character from "Fun In Hi Skule" was an ethnic German, so Groucho played him with a German accent. However, after the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915, public anti-German sentiment was widespread, and Groucho's "German" character was booed, so he quickly dropped the accent and developed the fast-talking wise guy character he would make famous.

The Marx Brothers became the biggest comedic stars of the Palace Theatre, which was to Vaudeville what Carnegie Hall is to classical music or St. Peter's is to Roman Catholicism. Then, when he thought they couldn't reach any higher, brother Chico's deal-making skills resulted in three hit plays on Broadway. No comedy routine had ever infected the hallowed Broadway circuit. But reports are unanimous that the Broadway audiences were just as convulsed with laughter as had been the vaudeville ones. The Marx Brothers were now more than a vaudeville sensation; they were a Broadway sensation.

It's important to note, therefore, that all this predated their being a Hollywood sensation. By the time the Marxes made their first movie, they had already been stars with sharply honed skills; and when Groucho was relaunched to stardom on "You Bet Your Life," he had already been performing successfully for a half century.

Career highlights

Groucho developed a routine as a wise-cracking hustler with a distinctive chicken-walking lope and an exaggerated greasepaint mustache and eyebrows, improvising insults to stuffy dowagers (often played by Margaret Dumont) and anyone else who stood in his way. He and his brothers starred in a series of extraordinarily popular movies and stage shows, often ad libbing. (See: Marx Brothers)

The use of greasepaint originated spontaneously before a vaudeville performance when he did not have time to apply the pasted-on mustache he had been using. The absurdity of the greasepaint mustache was never discussed on-screen, but in a famous scene in Duck Soup, where both Chico and Harpo are disguising themselves as Groucho, they are briefly seen applying the greasepaint, implicitly answering any question a viewer might have had about where Groucho got his mustache and eyebrows.

In the 1930s and 1940s Groucho also worked as a radio comedian and show host. One of his earliest stints was a short lived series in 1932 entitled Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel, co-starring Chico, who was the only one of his brothers willing to appear on the show. Most of the scripts and discs were subsequently destroyed (except the last shows) only turning up in 1988 in the Library of Congress. In 1947, Groucho was chosen to host a radio quiz program entitled You Bet Your Life, which moved over to television in 1950. The show consisted of Groucho interviewing the contestants and "ad libbing" jokes. Then they would play a brief quiz. The show was responsible for the phrases "Say the secret woid [word] and divide $100" (that is, each contestant would get $50); and "Who's buried in Grant's Tomb?" or "What color is the White House?" (asked when Groucho felt sorry for a contestant who had not won anything). It would run 11 years on television.

One quip from Groucho concerned his response to Sam Wood, the director of the classic film A Night at the Opera. Wood was furious with the Marx brothers ad-libs and antics on the set and yelled to all in disgust that he "cannot make actors out of clay." Without missing a beat, Groucho responded, "Nor can you make a director out of Wood." A widely reported, but likely apocryphal, ad-lib is reportedly a response to a female contestant who had almost a dozen children. Groucho asked why the contestant had so many children, to which the contestant replied "I love my husband." Groucho responded, "Lady, I love my cigar, too, but I take it out once in a while."[1]

Throughout his career he introduced a number of memorable songs in films, including "Hooray for Captain Spaulding", "Whatever It Is, I'm Against It", "Hello, I Must Be Going", "Everyone Says I Love You" and "Lydia the Tattooed Lady". Frank Sinatra, who once quipped that the only thing he could do better than Marx was sing, made a film with Marx and Jane Russell in 1951 entitled Double Dynamite.

Personal life

Groucho was married three times, and all of his marriages ended in divorce. His first wife was chorus girl Ruth Johnson, by whom he had two children, Arthur Marx and Miriam Marx. He had a daughter, Melinda Marx, by his second wife, Kay Gorcey, former wife of Leo Gorcey. His third wife was actress Eden Hartford (married 17 July 1954, divorced 4 December 1969)[2]. All three wives were alcoholics. Many of his detractors wondered if he was just attracted to future alcoholics or if he drove them to it. Unfortunately there is a shred of truth there; for if anyone was "always on," it was Groucho Marx. Other than the rarest of occasions, such as parts of his interview with Edward R. Murrow, Groucho played Groucho everywhere he went and in everything he did.

Often was the case, for instance, when the Marxes would arrive at a restaurant and be greeted by an interminable wait. "Just tell the Maitre d' who we are," his wife would nag. (In his pre-moustache days, he was rarely recognized in public.) Groucho would say, "OK, OK. Good evening, sir. My name is Jones. This is Mrs. Jones, and here are all the little Joneses." Now his wife would be furious and insist that he tell the Maitre d' the truth. "Oh, all right," said Groucho. "My name is Smith. This is Mrs. Smith, and here are all the little Smiths."

Similar anecdotes are corroborated by Groucho's friends, not one of which went without being publicly embarrassed by Groucho on at least one occasion. Once, at a restaurant (the most common location of Groucho's antics), a fan came up to him and said, "Excuse me, but aren't you Groucho Marx?" "Yes," Groucho answered annoyedly. "Oh, I'm your biggest fan! Could I ask you a favor?" the man asked. "Sure, what is it?" asked the even-more annoyed Groucho. "See my wife sitting over there? She's an even bigger fan of yours than I am! Would you be willing to insult her?" Groucho replied, "Sir, if my wife looked like that, I wouldn't need any help thinking of insults."

Off-stage Groucho was a voracious reader. He unceasingly lamented the fact that he had only a grammar school education, and to overcompensate he read everything he got his hands on. His knowledge of literature from all eras was by any standards extraordinary. Typical of his achievements, this one was discussed only demurely by Groucho himself. "I think TV is very educational," he once said. "Every time someone turns on a TV, I go in the other room and read."

Despite this lack of formal education, he wrote many extraordinarily funny books, including the autobiographical Groucho and Me (1959) (Da Capo Press, 1995, ISBN 0-306-80666-5) and Memoirs of a Mangy Lover (1964) (Da Capo Press, 2002, ISBN 0-306-81104-9). And he was personal friends with such literary giants as T. S. Eliot and Carl Sandburg.

"You Bet Your Life"

In the mid 1940s, during a depressing lull in his career, Groucho was scheduled to appear on a radio show with Bob Hope. Annoyed that he was made to wait in the waiting room for 40 minutes, Groucho went on the air in a foul mood. Hope started by saying, "Why, it's Groucho Marx, ladies and gentlemen. (applause) Groucho, what brings you here from the hot desert?" Groucho retorted, "Hot desert my foot, I've been standing in the cold waiting room for 40 minutes." Groucho continued to ignore the script, and although Hope was a formidable ad-libber in his own right, he couldn't begin to keep up with Groucho, who lengthened the scene well beyond its allotted time slot with a veritable onslaught of improvized wisecracks.

Listening in on the show was producer John Guedel, who got a brainstorm. He approached Groucho about doing a quiz show. "A quiz show? Only actors who are completely washed up resort to a quiz show." Undeterred, Guedel explained that the quiz would be only a backdrop for Groucho's interviews of people, and the storm of ad-libbing that they would elicit. Groucho said, "Well, I've had no success in radio, and I can't hold on to a sponsor. At this point I'll try anything."

"You Bet Your Life" aired for four years on radio (1947-1951) and an additional eleven on television (1951-1962). The show was an utter sensation, one of the most popular in the history of radio and television. With one of the best announcers and, as it turns out, straight men in the business, George Fenneman, as his faithful foil, Groucho slayed his audiences with extraordinary improvised conversation, usually with the most ordinary of guests.

Ad-Libbing Controversy: Was it Scripted or Not?

Groucho's competitors became so livid by the comedian's unexpected and colossal success that they circulated rumors that "You Bet Your Life" was completely scripted and Groucho wasn't ad-libbing at all. They felt vindicated when a photo surfaced, taken from backstage, showing Groucho looking at a transparent screen.

The truth was the scripting was not only minimal, but it was more for the contestants' benefit. Groucho never once had a contestant (except for the famous ones) that he'd met previously. The staff fed Groucho the questions they thought he should ask, but Groucho himself never knew what the answer would be. Admittedly the staff did contain two writers, who would contribute a few jokes. None of this detracts one iota from the incontestable truth that the vast majority of Groucho's lines were ad-libbed and were far funnier than any tired quips dreamt up by the writers. Such as the time a woman said, "Groucho, I have eight children." "Well, that's some habit your husband has." "Well you have habits, too, Groucho. You have your cigar." "Yes, but I take it out once in a while!" Or another time when a pretty female contestant said, "My goal, Groucho, is to be able to stand on my own two feet, so that I can raise a family." Groucho replied, "You'll never be able to make a family if you're standing on your two feet." Both of these then-risqué wisecracks ended up on the cutting room floor, as Groucho knew they would. How, then, could Groucho have been scripted if some of his best lines were censored?

His best lines that did make it into the show are innumerable -- so countless that no attempt has ever been made to compile them all. Such as when a man said, "Groucho, I speak eight languages," and Groucho replied, "Eight languages, really? Which one are you speaking now?" Or when a single, unattached woman defended her solo status by explaining, "I'm waiting for Mr. Right." Groucho responded, "Wilbur or Orville?" In one segment, which is known to have been unscripted, Melinda Marx and Candice Bergen, both eleven-and-a-half at the time, were the two scheduled guests. Groucho of course knew they'd be there and that he would trade places with George Fenneman, to answer questions with the two girls and with Edgar Bergen. What he absolutely did not know was that the staff prepared questions in a category completely different from the one Groucho studied. From there, Groucho's one-liners, which could only have been ad-libbed, came in a drove. When Melinda answered a question correctly, her father said, "Why is it you take home such terrible report cards?" When Groucho answered a question wrong, he said, "I had no idea this show was so crooked." And so it went in one of the most famous television episodes of the era.

Groucho himself told Edward R. Murrow, "I've been ad-libbing my whole life. Why would I start needing a script now?" And what of the numberless anecdotes of Groucho, at a restaurant or in the grocery store, in ordinary, unscripted situations? Such as the day that Groucho was lunching with Alistair Cooke at Hillcrest Country Club. There were many others sitting at the same table (the famous "Round Table" of comedians), and when the waiter came to take the dessert orders, he couldn't keep track of who was having what. "Two éclairs and four coffees -- no, four éclairs and two coffees --- no, wait a minute --"

Groucho interrupted, "Four eclairs and seven coffees ago, our forefathers brought forth on this continent a new na- ... oh, skip the rhetoric and bring the dessert!"

After lunch, Groucho lined up to pay his bill behind a fat, fussy lady fiddling around in her bag for change. The impatient comedian instructed the young cashier "Shoot her when you see the whites of her eyes!" The woman turned around and was thrilled that her abuser was none other than Groucho. "Oh!" she said. "Would you be Groucho Marx?" The quick-as-a-flash response: "What do you mean 'would I be Groucho Marx'? I am Groucho Marx! Who would you be if you weren't yourself? Marilyn Monroe no doubt. Well pay your bill, lady, you'll never make it."

Later years

Groucho Marx appears on America Salutes Richard RodgersAround the time that "You Bet Your Life" transitioned to TV (1951), Groucho grew a real moustache, the lack of which had earlier been an effective means of hiding himself from fans.

In the early 1970s, Groucho made a comeback of sorts doing a live one-man show, including one recorded at Carnegie Hall in 1972 and released as a double album, An Evening with Groucho, on A&M Records. He also developed friendships with rock star Alice Cooper (the two were photographed together for Rolling Stone Magazine), and television host Dick Cavett, becoming a frequent guest on Cavett's late-night talk show. His previous works once again became popular and were accompanied by new books of interviews and other transcribed conversations by Richard J. Anobile and Charlotte Chandler. He had become quite frail by this time and his last few years were accompanied by descent into senility and a controversy over a companionship he had developed with Erin Fleming, which consequently raised disputes over his estate.

Groucho Marx died of pneumonia on August 19, 1977. However, during his last days he proved not only that he was a genuine ad-libber but that he was not, as rumor had it, senile. During his last visit with his dear colleague and friend, George Fenneman at one point had to lift Groucho from his wheelchair, his arms wrapped around the comedian's frail torso. Groucho said, "George, you always were a lousy dancer." Reportedly Groucho's last words were uttered in his hospital bed to one of his nurses. Shaking a thermometer, the orderly said, "I want to see if you have a temperature." Groucho replied, "Don't be silly. Everyone has a temperature."

He was cremated, and the ashes were interred in the Eden Memorial Park Cemetery in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California. (He had jokingly expressed desire to be buried above Marilyn Monroe.) Aged 86 at death, Groucho was the longest-lived of all the Marx brothers, though younger brother Zeppo survived him by two years. His death undoubtedly would have received more attention at the time had it not occurred three days after that of Elvis Presley. In an interview, he jokingly suggested his epitaph read "Excuse me, I can't stand up.", but his mausoleum marker bears only his stage name and years of birth and death.

Groucho's legacy

Various Groucho-like characters and Groucho references have appeared in popular culture, some long after Marx's death, a testament to the character's lasting appeal.

Dave Sim, in his controversial comic book Cerebus the Aardvark, cast Groucho as the slippery, wisecracking but indomitable Lord Julius, Grandlord of the bureaucrat-ridden City-state of Palnu.
Bugs Bunny dresses as Groucho for the cartoon Slick Hare (1947), where he's trying to hide in plain sight in the Mocrumbo restaurant. (Meanwhile, Elmer Fudd dresses as Harpo Marx.)
Bugs BunnyBugs again befuddles Elmer Fudd memorably in "Wideo Wabbit" (1956) by imitating the mustachioed comedian in a You Bet Your Life parody called You Beat Your Wife. Later he imitates Art Carney and slaps comical glasses on Elmer, admonishing "Gee, what a Groucho!"
In The Way We Were (1973), Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford attend a party where everyone dresses as one of the Marx Brothers.
Alan Alda often vamped as Groucho on M*A*S*H and a minor semi-recurring character in the series (played by Loudon Wainwright III) was named Captain Calvin Spalding in a nod towards Groucho's character in Animal Crackers, Captain Geoffrey T. Spaulding.
On Pokémon, Dr. Quackenpoker (a parody of Dr. Hackenbush from A Day at the Races) meets up with Ash & Company. He sounds and acts like Groucho (sans the cigar). A joke includes, "One day, I shot a Magikarp in my pajamas. How it got into my pajamas, I'll never know."
In Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), Grandpa Potts (Lionel Jeffries) tells a variation of the "elephant in my pajamas" joke.
Sir Isaiah Berlin also had a quatrain stating, "The world wouldn't be /In such a snarl /If Marx had been Groucho /Instead of Karl".
In the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers musical Swing Time (1936), Astaire sings "Never Gonna Dance" by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields, which includes the lines: "To Groucho Marx I give my cravat/To Harpo goes my shiny silk hat."
Gabe Kaplan portrayed Marx in the biographical Groucho (1982) which was originally produced on Broadway. Kaplan also impersonated Groucho, his hero, in his television series Welcome Back Kotter, and in WhatzUp Magazine recalled that he had even approached Groucho to make a cameo on the show but Groucho's care-giver, Erin Fleming, would not allow it. (According to Mark Evanier, Marx did visit the set with Fleming, but was not well enough to perform.)
In the Tiny Toon Adventures episode "A Night in Kokomo", Groucho and his brothers have been re-assembled. This is noteworthy because most of the target audience of this show most likely never watched their movies.
Babs Bunny impersonating Groucho in "A night in Kokomo" with Buster Bunny as Chico.In Tiziano Sclavi's comic book series Dylan Dog, the hero's sidekick and assistant is called and looks like Groucho Marx. His moustache was removed in the US version of the series.
Rob Zombie uses five Groucho Marx character names (Captain Spaulding from Animal Crackers, Otis Driftwood from A Night at the Opera, Rufus Firefly from Duck Soup, S. Quentin Quale from Go West, and Wolf J. Flywheel from 'The Big Store) for his movies, House of 1000 Corpses & The Devil's Rejects.
At the end of the basketball episode of Clone High where Joan reveals that she dressed up as a man to play on the team, Principal Scudworth calls out for everyone else wearing a fake moustache to please leave. A man with a fake moustache walks by, followed by a goose wearing a similar moustache, followed by Groucho Marx (or the clone thereof).
In an episode of the Spanish sitcom Aquí no hay quien viva, Paco (Guillermo Ortega) does an impression of Marx in costume, sporting the fake moustache and eyebrows, glasses and a cigar, imitating Marx's high-pitched fast-talking voice while speaking in Spanish.
Two of Queen's albums, A Night at the Opera (1975) and A Day at the Races (1976) are named after two of the Marx Brothers' films. Queen were Marx Brothers fans and decided to use these titles for their fourth and fifth albums after watching the films. (From "The Making Of A Night At The Opera")
In character as Mike Stivic, Rob Reiner imitated Groucho Marx on a few occasions on the 1970s sitcom All in the Family, including a few scenes in a 1974 episode in which Mike Stivic and his wife Gloria (Sally Struthers) get ready to go to a Marx Brothers film festival; Mike, dressed as Groucho, does a number of imitations. Gloria is dressed as Harpo Marx.
Robin Williams's Genie in Aladdin briefly impersonates Groucho while enumerating the conditions of wishes at the beginning. He appears for a few seconds in black and white and is even followed by a duck dropping from the ceiling (a reference to You Bet Your Life). Doubtless, this in-joke was intended for the adult audience of the film. Also, in the second sequel of the film, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, the genie briefly morphes into three of the Marx brothers at once when trying to cheer up Princess Jasmine.
The Vlasic Pickles stork mascot is clearly a homage to Groucho, holding the pickle like a cigar and having a very similar voice.
The Vlasics Pickles StorkIn the animated series Animaniacs, the character Yakko acts similarly to Groucho quite often.
MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch included an episode in which a deathmatch pitted Groucho against John Wayne, in which Harpo and Chico also make appearances during the fight. Roger Jackson provided the voice of Groucho, and Jimmy St. Cleve voiced Chico.
In a tribute to Groucho, the BBC remade the radio sitcom Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel, with contemporary actors playing the parts of the original cast. The series is currently being repeated on digital radio station BBC7.
In the Cartoon Network series Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, a character named Rubber Chicken wears Groucho glasses and talks like him and makes jokes like him. Also, in the episode "Imposter's Home for Make-em-ups", when Frankie dresses in a costume and calls herself "Goof-Goof", she talks to herself about her plan in a Groucho voice and does his eyebrow raising face.
In a Sesame Street movie promo for Lowe's Theaters, Elmo is seen dressed as Groucho, with Telly as Harpo and Herry Monster as Chico.
In the SpongeBob SquarePants episode "Scaredy Pants", Patrick Star disguises himself as Groucho when he goes trick-or-treating with SpongeBob.
Groucho is mentioned in the song "Fly on a Windshield" by progressive rock band Genesis featured in their album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.
In Woody Allen's film Everyone Says I Love You there's a Groucho based musical number in French.
In the final Tintin album Tintin and the Picaros a giant mask representing Groucho is seen in the crowd celebrating carnival.
A puppet representing his image features on the cover art of Have You Fed the Fish? by singer song writer Badly Drawn Boy.
Cult TV series Mystery Science Theater 3000 often featured Crow T. Robot doing an impersonation of Groucho when mocking a movie. One particularly memorable quip featured Crow saying "Say the secret woid and Bill Cosby rips off your series" (or words to that effect); this was a direct reference to the Cosby-hosted, short-lived revival of You Bet Your Life.
In a 2005 poll, The Comedian's Comedian, Groucho was voted the 5th greatest comedy act ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders. His glasses, nose, and moustache have become icons of comedy ?- to this day, glasses with fake noses and moustaches (referred to as both "nose-glasses" and "Groucho-glasses") resembling Groucho are still sold by novelty and costume shops, and worn by young people, some of whom may not understand their origin.

"Marx and Lennon"

Marx/Lennon postage stamp sheetlet issued by the Republic of Abkhazia, 1994The liberal political views of Groucho Marx and singer John Lennon were not lost on satirists, who capitalized on the coincidence of their surnames' similarity to Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin:

A book called 'Marx & Lennon: The Parallel Sayings' was published in 2005. As the title implies, it recorded the parallel sayings between Groucho Marx and John Lennon.
In 1994 the Republic of Abkhazia (an unrecognized state that is officially part of the Republic of Georgia) issued two postage stamps featuring John Lennon and Groucho Marx, spoofing Abkhazia's communist past.
The cover art for Firesign Theater's 1969 album How Can You Be in Two Places at Once When You're Not Anywhere at All featured a Communist icon banner with pictures of the two enjoining "All Hail Marx Lennon" printed in pseudo-Russian lettering.
In his book It All Started With Columbus, first printed in the mid-1950s, humorist Richard Armour discussed Karl Marx and referred to him as "the funniest of the Marx Brothers".
In the comedy role-playing game Paranoia, the Communist faction carries pictures of Groucho Marx and sing John Lennon songs due to a lack of knowledge of communism itself.
Fans of the Marx Brothers sometimes describe themselves as "Marxists of the Groucho kind".

Quotations about Groucho Marx

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
Groucho Marx"Groucho Marx was the best comedian this country ever produced. [...] He is simply unique in the same way that Picasso or Stravinsky are." ?-Woody Allen
A famous French witticism (often attributed to Jean-Luc Godard) was, "Je suis Marxiste, tendance Groucho," i.e. "I'm a Marxist of the Groucho variety". This line was notably heard in the 1972 comedy by Claude Lelouch "L'aventure c'est l'aventure", (starring Lino Ventura, Aldo Maccione, Jacques Brel, Johnny Hallyday and Charles Denner) where the would-be heroes get involved with a central-American guerilla; it spread to other nations as well in the 1960s and 1970s. The Youth International Party, a 1960's-1970's ad-hoc political group of Anarcho-Marxists known for street theatre and pranks, were denounced in a Communist newspaper editorial as "Groucho Marxists".

Groucho Marx
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Born October 2, 1890
New York, New York, U.S.A
Died August 19, 1977
Los Angeles, California, U.S.A

Julius Henry Marx, known as Groucho Marx (October 2, 1890 - August 19, 1977), was an American comedian, working both with his siblings, the Marx Brothers, and on his own.

Childhood & Pre-Hollywood Successes

The Marx family grew up on the Upper East Side of New York City, in a small Jewish neighborhood sandwiched between Irish-German and Italian neighborhoods.

Groucho had a showbusiness uncle: Al Shean of Gallagher and Shean, a noted vaudeville act of the early 20th century. According to Groucho, when Shean visited he would throw the local waifs a few coins so that when he knocked at the door he would be surrounded by children like adoring fans. Groucho and his brothers respected his opinions and asked him on several occasions to write some material for them.

Shean's sister, Minnie Schoenberg Marx, was Groucho's mother. She didn't have an entertainment industry career, but she had intense ambition for her sons to go on the stage like their uncle. While pushing her eldest son Leonard (Chico Marx) in piano lessons, she found that Julius had a pleasant soprano voice and the ability to remain on key. Even though Julius' early career goal was to become a doctor, the family's need for income forced Julius out of school at the age of twelve. By that time, Julius had become a voracious reader, particularly fond of Horatio Alger. Throughout the rest of his life, Groucho would augment his lack of formal education by becoming very well-read.

After a few comically unsuccessful stabs at entry-level office work and other jobs suitable for adolescents, Julius took to the stage as a boy singer in 1905. Though he reputedly claimed that in the world of vaudeville he enjoyed only "modest success" but was "hopelessly average," it was merely a wisecrack. By 1909, Minnie Marx successfully managed to assemble her sons into a low-quality vaudeville singing group. Billing themselves as 'The Four Nightingales', Julius, Milton (Gummo Marx), Adolph (Harpo Marx), and another boy singer, Lou Levy, traveled the U.S. vaudeville circuits to little fanfare. After exhausting their prospects in the East, the family moved to La Grange, Illinois to play the Midwest.

After a particulary dispiriting performance in Nacogdoches, Texas, Julius, Milton, and Arthur began cracking jokes onstage for their own amusement. Much to their surprise, the audience liked them better as comedians than singers. They modified the then-popular Gus Edwards comedy skit, "School Days", and renamed it "Fun In Hi Skule". The Marx Brothers would perform variations on this routine for the next seven years.

For a time in vaudeville, all the brothers performed in ethnic accents; Leonard Marx, the oldest Marx brother, developed the "Italian" accent he used as "Chico" to convince some roving bullies that he was Italian, not Jewish. Groucho's character from "Fun In Hi Skule" was an ethnic German, so Groucho played him with a German accent. However, after the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915, public anti-German sentiment was widespread, and Groucho's "German" character was booed, so he quickly dropped the accent and developed the fast-talking wise guy character he would make famous.

The Marx Brothers became the biggest comedic stars of the Palace Theatre, which was to Vaudeville what Carnegie Hall is to classical music or St. Peter's is to Roman Catholicism. Then, when he thought they couldn't reach any higher, brother Chico's deal-making skills resulted in three hit plays on Broadway. No comedy routine had ever infected the hallowed Broadway circuit. But reports are unanimous that the Broadway audiences were just as convulsed with laughter as had been the vaudeville ones. The Marx Brothers were now more than a vaudeville sensation; they were a Broadway sensation.

It's important to note, therefore, that all this predated their being a Hollywood sensation. By the time the Marxes made their first movie, they had already been stars with sharply honed skills; and when Groucho was relaunched to stardom on "You Bet Your Life," he had already been performing successfully for a half century.

Career highlights

An early photo of the brothers with their parents. Groucho is the first on the left.Groucho developed a routine as a wise-cracking hustler with a distinctive chicken-walking lope and an exaggerated greasepaint mustache and eyebrows, improvising insults to stuffy dowagers (often played by Margaret Dumont) and anyone else who stood in his way. He and his brothers starred in a series of extraordinarily popular movies and stage shows, often ad libbing. (See: Marx Brothers)

The use of greasepaint originated spontaneously before a vaudeville performance when he did not have time to apply the pasted-on mustache he had been using. The absurdity of the greasepaint mustache was never discussed on-screen, but in a famous scene in Duck Soup, where both Chico and Harpo are disguising themselves as Groucho, they are briefly seen applying the greasepaint, implicitly answering any question a viewer might have had about where Groucho got his mustache and eyebrows.

In the 1930s and 1940s Groucho also worked as a radio comedian and show host. One of his earliest stints was a short lived series in 1932 entitled Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel, co-starring Chico, who was the only one of his brothers willing to appear on the show. Most of the scripts and discs were subsequently destroyed (except the last shows) only turning up in 1988 in the Library of Congress. In 1947, Groucho was chosen to host a radio quiz program entitled You Bet Your Life, which moved over to television in 1950. The show consisted of Groucho interviewing the contestants and "ad libbing" jokes. Then they would play a brief quiz. The show was responsible for the phrases "Say the secret woid [word] and divide $100" (that is, each contestant would get $50); and "Who's buried in Grant's Tomb?" or "What color is the White House?" (asked when Groucho felt sorry for a contestant who had not won anything). It would run 11 years on television.

One quip from Groucho concerned his response to Sam Wood, the director of the classic film A Night at the Opera. Wood was furious with the Marx brothers ad-libs and antics on the set and yelled to all in disgust that he "cannot make actors out of clay." Without missing a beat, Groucho responded, "Nor can you make a director out of Wood." A widely reported, but likely apocryphal, ad-lib is reportedly a response to a female contestant who had almost a dozen children. Groucho asked why the contestant had so many children, to which the contestant replied "I love my husband." Groucho responded, "Lady, I love my cigar, too, but I take it out once in a while."[1]

Throughout his career he introduced a number of memorable songs in films, including "Hooray for Captain Spaulding", "Whatever It Is, I'm Against It", "Hello, I Must Be Going", "Everyone Says I Love You" and "Lydia the Tattooed Lady". Frank Sinatra, who once quipped that the only thing he could do better than Marx was sing, made a film with Marx and Jane Russell in 1951 entitled Double Dynamite.

Personal life

Groucho was married three times, and all of his marriages ended in divorce. His first wife was chorus girl Ruth Johnson, by whom he had two children, Arthur Marx and Miriam Marx. He had a daughter, Melinda Marx, by his second wife, Kay Gorcey, former wife of Leo Gorcey. His third wife was actress Eden Hartford (married 17 July 1954, divorced 4 December 1969)[2]. All three wives were alcoholics. Many of his detractors wondered if he was just attracted to future alcoholics or if he drove them to it. Unfortunately there is a shred of truth there; for if anyone was "always on," it was Groucho Marx. Other than the rarest of occasions, such as parts of his interview with Edward R. Murrow, Groucho played Groucho everywhere he went and in everything he did.

Often was the case, for instance, when the Marxes would arrive at a restaurant and be greeted by an interminable wait. "Just tell the Maitre d' who we are," his wife would nag. (In his pre-moustache days, he was rarely recognized in public.) Groucho would say, "OK, OK. Good evening, sir. My name is Jones. This is Mrs. Jones, and here are all the little Joneses." Now his wife would be furious and insist that he tell the Maitre d' the truth. "Oh, all right," said Groucho. "My name is Smith. This is Mrs. Smith, and here are all the little Smiths."

Similar anecdotes are corroborated by Groucho's friends, not one of which went without being publicly embarrassed by Groucho on at least one occasion. Once, at a restaurant (the most common location of Groucho's antics), a fan came up to him and said, "Excuse me, but aren't you Groucho Marx?" "Yes," Groucho answered annoyedly. "Oh, I'm your biggest fan! Could I ask you a favor?" the man asked. "Sure, what is it?" asked the even-more annoyed Groucho. "See my wife sitting over there? She's an even bigger fan of yours than I am! Would you be willing to insult her?" Groucho replied, "Sir, if my wife looked like that, I wouldn't need any help thinking of insults."

Off-stage Groucho was a voracious reader. He unceasingly lamented the fact that he had only a grammar school education, and to overcompensate he read everything he got his hands on. His knowledge of literature from all eras was by any standards extraordinary. Typical of his achievements, this one was discussed only demurely by Groucho himself. "I think TV is very educational," he once said. "Every time someone turns on a TV, I go in the other room and read."

Despite this lack of formal education, he wrote many extraordinarily funny books, including the autobiographical Groucho and Me (1959) (Da Capo Press, 1995, ISBN 0-306-80666-5) and Memoirs of a Mangy Lover (1964) (Da Capo Press, 2002, ISBN 0-306-81104-9). And he was personal friends with such literary giants as T. S. Eliot and Carl Sandburg.

"You Bet Your Life"

In the mid 1940s, during a depressing lull in his career, Groucho was scheduled to appear on a radio show with Bob Hope. Annoyed that he was made to wait in the waiting room for 40 minutes, Groucho went on the air in a foul mood. Hope started by saying, "Why, it's Groucho Marx, ladies and gentlemen. (applause) Groucho, what brings you here from the hot desert?" Groucho retorted, "Hot desert my foot, I've been standing in the cold waiting room for 40 minutes." Groucho continued to ignore the script, and although Hope was a formidable ad-libber in his own right, he couldn't begin to keep up with Groucho, who lengthened the scene well beyond its allotted time slot with a veritable onslaught of improvized wisecracks.

Listening in on the show was producer John Guedel, who got a brainstorm. He approached Groucho about doing a quiz show. "A quiz show? Only actors who are completely washed up resort to a quiz show." Undeterred, Guedel explained that the quiz would be only a backdrop for Groucho's interviews of people, and the storm of ad-libbing that they would elicit. Groucho said, "Well, I've had no success in radio, and I can't hold on to a sponsor. At this point I'll try anything."

"You Bet Your Life" aired for four years on radio (1947-1951) and an additional eleven on television (1951-1962). The show was an utter sensation, one of the most popular in the history of radio and television. With one of the best announcers and, as it turns out, straight men in the business, George Fenneman, as his faithful foil, Groucho slayed his audiences with extraordinary improvised conversation, usually with the most ordinary of guests.

Ad-Libbing Controversy: Was it Scripted or Not?

Groucho's competitors became so livid by the comedian's unexpected and colossal success that they circulated rumors that "You Bet Your Life" was completely scripted and Groucho wasn't ad-libbing at all. They felt vindicated when a photo surfaced, taken from backstage, showing Groucho looking at a transparent screen.

The truth was the scripting was not only minimal, but it was more for the contestants' benefit. Groucho never once had a contestant (except for the famous ones) that he'd met previously. The staff fed Groucho the questions they thought he should ask, but Groucho himself never knew what the answer would be. Admittedly the staff did contain two writers, who would contribute a few jokes. None of this detracts one iota from the incontestable truth that the vast majority of Groucho's lines were ad-libbed and were far funnier than any tired quips dreamt up by the writers. Such as the time a woman said, "Groucho, I have eight children." "Well, that's some habit your husband has." "Well you have habits, too, Groucho. You have your cigar." "Yes, but I take it out once in a while!" Or another time when a pretty female contestant said, "My goal, Groucho, is to be able to stand on my own two feet, so that I can raise a family." Groucho replied, "You'll never be able to make a family if you're standing on your two feet." Both of these then-risqué wisecracks ended up on the cutting room floor, as Groucho knew they would. How, then, could Groucho have been scripted if some of his best lines were censored?

His best lines that did make it into the show are innumerable -- so countless that no attempt has ever been made to compile them all. Such as when a man said, "Groucho, I speak eight languages," and Groucho replied, "Eight languages, really? Which one are you speaking now?" Or when a single, unattached woman defended her solo status by explaining, "I'm waiting for Mr. Right." Groucho responded, "Wilbur or Orville?" In one segment, which is known to have been unscripted, Melinda Marx and Candice Bergen, both eleven-and-a-half at the time, were the two scheduled guests. Groucho of course knew they'd be there and that he would trade places with George Fenneman, to answer questions with the two girls and with Edgar Bergen. What he absolutely did not know was that the staff prepared questions in a category completely different from the one Groucho studied. From there, Groucho's one-liners, which could only have been ad-libbed, came in a drove. When Melinda answered a question correctly, her father said, "Why is it you take home such terrible report cards?" When Groucho answered a question wrong, he said, "I had no idea this show was so crooked." And so it went in one of the most famous television episodes of the era.

Groucho himself told Edward R. Murrow, "I've been ad-libbing my whole life. Why would I start needing a script now?" And what of the numberless anecdotes of Groucho, at a restaurant or in the grocery store, in ordinary, unscripted situations? Such as the day that Groucho was lunching with Alistair Cooke at Hillcrest Country Club. There were many others sitting at the same table (the famous "Round Table" of comedians), and when the waiter came to take the dessert orders, he couldn't keep track of who was having what. "Two éclairs and four coffees -- no, four éclairs and two coffees --- no, wait a minute --"

Groucho interrupted, "Four eclairs and seven coffees ago, our forefathers brought forth on this continent a new na- ... oh, skip the rhetoric and bring the dessert!"

After lunch, Groucho lined up to pay his bill behind a fat, fussy lady fiddling around in her bag for change. The impatient comedian instructed the young cashier "Shoot her when you see the whites of her eyes!" The woman turned around and was thrilled that her abuser was none other than Groucho. "Oh!" she said. "Would you be Groucho Marx?" The quick-as-a-flash response: "What do you mean 'would I be Groucho Marx'? I am Groucho Marx! Who would you be if you weren't yourself? Marilyn Monroe no doubt. Well pay your bill, lady, you'll never make it."

Later years

Around the time that "You Bet Your Life" transitioned to TV (1951), Groucho grew a real moustache, the lack of which had earlier been an effective means of hiding himself from fans.

In the early 1970s, Groucho made a comeback of sorts doing a live one-man show, including one recorded at Carnegie Hall in 1972 and released as a double album, An Evening with Groucho, on A&M Records. He also developed friendships with rock star Alice Cooper (the two were photographed together for Rolling Stone Magazine), and television host Dick Cavett, becoming a frequent guest on Cavett's late-night talk show. His previous works once again became popular and were accompanied by new books of interviews and other transcribed conversations by Richard J. Anobile and Charlotte Chandler. He had become quite frail by this time and his last few years were accompanied by descent into senility and a controversy over a companionship he had developed with Erin Fleming, which consequently raised disputes over his estate.

Groucho Marx died of pneumonia on August 19, 1977. However, during his last days he proved not only that he was a genuine ad-libber but that he was not, as rumor had it, senile. During his last visit with his dear colleague and friend, George Fenneman at one point had to lift Groucho from his wheelchair, his arms wrapped around the comedian's frail torso. Groucho said, "George, you always were a lousy dancer." Reportedly Groucho's last words were uttered in his hospital bed to one of his nurses. Shaking a thermometer, the orderly said, "I want to see if you have a temperature." Groucho replied, "Don't be silly. Everyone has a temperature."

He was cremated, and the ashes were interred in the Eden Memorial Park Cemetery in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California. (He had jokingly expressed desire to be buried above Marilyn Monroe.) Aged 86 at death, Groucho was the longest-lived of all the Marx brothers, though younger brother Zeppo survived him by two years. His death undoubtedly would have received more attention at the time had it not occurred three days after that of Elvis Presley. In an interview, he jokingly suggested his epitaph read "Excuse me, I can't stand up.", but his mausoleum marker bears only his stage name and years of birth and death.

Groucho's legacy

Various Groucho-like characters and Groucho references have appeared in popular culture, some long after Marx's death, a testament to the character's lasting appeal.

Dave Sim, in his controversial comic book Cerebus the Aardvark, cast Groucho as the slippery, wisecracking but indomitable Lord Julius, Grandlord of the bureaucrat-ridden City-state of Palnu.
Bugs Bunny dresses as Groucho for the cartoon Slick Hare (1947), where he's trying to hide in plain sight in the Mocrumbo restaurant. (Meanwhile, Elmer Fudd dresses as Harpo Marx.)
Bugs BunnyBugs again befuddles Elmer Fudd memorably in "Wideo Wabbit" (1956) by imitating the mustachioed comedian in a You Bet Your Life parody called You Beat Your Wife. Later he imitates Art Carney and slaps comical glasses on Elmer, admonishing "Gee, what a Groucho!"
In The Way We Were (1973), Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford attend a party where everyone dresses as one of the Marx Brothers.
Alan Alda often vamped as Groucho on M*A*S*H and a minor semi-recurring character in the series (played by Loudon Wainwright III) was named Captain Calvin Spalding in a nod towards Groucho's character in Animal Crackers, Captain Geoffrey T. Spaulding.
On Pokémon, Dr. Quackenpoker (a parody of Dr. Hackenbush from A Day at the Races) meets up with Ash & Company. He sounds and acts like Groucho (sans the cigar). A joke includes, "One day, I shot a Magikarp in my pajamas. How it got into my pajamas, I'll never know."
In Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), Grandpa Potts (Lionel Jeffries) tells a variation of the "elephant in my pajamas" joke.
Sir Isaiah Berlin also had a quatrain stating, "The world wouldn't be /In such a snarl /If Marx had been Groucho /Instead of Karl".
In the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers musical Swing Time (1936), Astaire sings "Never Gonna Dance" by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields, which includes the lines: "To Groucho Marx I give my cravat/To Harpo goes my shiny silk hat."
Gabe Kaplan portrayed Marx in the biographical Groucho (1982) which was originally produced on Broadway. Kaplan also impersonated Groucho, his hero, in his television series Welcome Back Kotter, and in WhatzUp Magazine recalled that he had even approached Groucho to make a cameo on the show but Groucho's care-giver, Erin Fleming, would not allow it. (According to Mark Evanier, Marx did visit the set with Fleming, but was not well enough to perform.)
In the Tiny Toon Adventures episode "A Night in Kokomo", Groucho and his brothers have been re-assembled. This is noteworthy because most of the target audience of this show most likely never watched their movies.
Babs Bunny impersonating Groucho in "A night in Kokomo" with Buster Bunny as Chico.In Tiziano Sclavi's comic book series Dylan Dog, the hero's sidekick and assistant is called and looks like Groucho Marx. His moustache was removed in the US version of the series.
Rob Zombie uses five Groucho Marx character names (Captain Spaulding from Animal Crackers, Otis Driftwood from A Night at the Opera, Rufus Firefly from Duck Soup, S. Quentin Quale from Go West, and Wolf J. Flywheel from 'The Big Store) for his movies, House of 1000 Corpses & The Devil's Rejects.
At the end of the basketball episode of Clone High where Joan reveals that she dressed up as a man to play on the team, Principal Scudworth calls out for everyone else wearing a fake moustache to please leave. A man with a fake moustache walks by, followed by a goose wearing a similar moustache, followed by Groucho Marx (or the clone thereof).
In an episode of the Spanish sitcom Aquí no hay quien viva, Paco (Guillermo Ortega) does an impression of Marx in costume, sporting the fake moustache and eyebrows, glasses and a cigar, imitating Marx's high-pitched fast-talking voice while speaking in Spanish.
Two of Queen's albums, A Night at the Opera (1975) and A Day at the Races (1976) are named after two of the Marx Brothers' films. Queen were Marx Brothers fans and decided to use these titles for their fourth and fifth albums after watching the films. (From "The Making Of A Night At The Opera")
In character as Mike Stivic, Rob Reiner imitated Groucho Marx on a few occasions on the 1970s sitcom All in the Family, including a few scenes in a 1974 episode in which Mike Stivic and his wife Gloria (Sally Struthers) get ready to go to a Marx Brothers film festival; Mike, dressed as Groucho, does a number of imitations. Gloria is dressed as Harpo Marx.
Robin Williams's Genie in Aladdin briefly impersonates Groucho while enumerating the conditions of wishes at the beginning. He appears for a few seconds in black and white and is even followed by a duck dropping from the ceiling (a reference to You Bet Your Life). Doubtless, this in-joke was intended for the adult audience of the film. Also, in the second sequel of the film, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, the genie briefly morphes into three of the Marx brothers at once when trying to cheer up Princess Jasmine.
The Vlasic Pickles stork mascot is clearly a homage to Groucho, holding the pickle like a cigar and having a very similar voice.
The Vlasics Pickles StorkIn the animated series Animaniacs, the character Yakko acts similarly to Groucho quite often.
MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch included an episode in which a deathmatch pitted Groucho against John Wayne, in which Harpo and Chico also make appearances during the fight. Roger Jackson provided the voice of Groucho, and Jimmy St. Cleve voiced Chico.
In a tribute to Groucho, the BBC remade the radio sitcom Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel, with contemporary actors playing the parts of the original cast. The series is currently being repeated on digital radio station BBC7.
In the Cartoon Network series Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, a character named Rubber Chicken wears Groucho glasses and talks like him and makes jokes like him. Also, in the episode "Imposter's Home for Make-em-ups", when Frankie dresses in a costume and calls herself "Goof-Goof", she talks to herself about her plan in a Groucho voice and does his eyebrow raising face.
In a Sesame Street movie promo for Lowe's Theaters, Elmo is seen dressed as Groucho, with Telly as Harpo and Herry Monster as Chico.
In the SpongeBob SquarePants episode "Scaredy Pants", Patrick Star disguises himself as Groucho when he goes trick-or-treating with SpongeBob.
Groucho is mentioned in the song "Fly on a Windshield" by progressive rock band Genesis featured in their album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.
In Woody Allen's film Everyone Says I Love You there's a Groucho based musical number in French.
In the final Tintin album Tintin and the Picaros a giant mask representing Groucho is seen in the crowd celebrating carnival.
A puppet representing his image features on the cover art of Have You Fed the Fish? by singer song writer Badly Drawn Boy.
Cult TV series Mystery Science Theater 3000 often featured Crow T. Robot doing an impersonation of Groucho when mocking a movie. One particularly memorable quip featured Crow saying "Say the secret woid and Bill Cosby rips off your series" (or words to that effect); this was a direct reference to the Cosby-hosted, short-lived revival of You Bet Your Life.
In a 2005 poll, The Comedian's Comedian, Groucho was voted the 5th greatest comedy act ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders. His glasses, nose, and moustache have become icons of comedy ?- to this day, glasses with fake noses and moustaches (referred to as both "nose-glasses" and "Groucho-glasses") resembling Groucho are still sold by novelty and costume shops, and worn by young people, some of whom may not understand their origin.

"Marx and Lennon"

Marx/Lennon postage stamp sheetlet issued by the Republic of Abkhazia, 1994The liberal political views of Groucho Marx and singer John Lennon were not lost on satirists, who capitalized on the coincidence of their surnames' similarity to Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin:

A book called 'Marx & Lennon: The Parallel Sayings' was published in 2005. As the title implies, it recorded the parallel sayings between Groucho Marx and John Lennon.
In 1994 the Republic of Abkhazia (an unrecognized state that is officially part of the Republic of Georgia) issued two postage stamps featuring John Lennon and Groucho Marx, spoofing Abkhazia's communist past.
The cover art for Firesign Theater's 1969 album How Can You Be in Two Places at Once When You're Not Anywhere at All featured a Communist icon banner with pictures of the two enjoining "All Hail Marx Lennon" printed in pseudo-Russian lettering.
In his book It All Started With Columbus, first printed in the mid-1950s, humorist Richard Armour discussed Karl Marx and referred to him as "the funniest of the Marx Brothers".
In the comedy role-playing game Paranoia, the Communist faction carries pictures of Groucho Marx and sing John Lennon songs due to a lack of knowledge of communism itself.
Fans of the Marx Brothers sometimes describe themselves as "Marxists of the Groucho kind".

Quotations about Groucho Marx

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
Groucho Marx"Groucho Marx was the best comedian this country ever produced. [...] He is simply unique in the same way that Picasso or Stravinsky are." ?-Woody Allen
A famous French witticism (often attributed to Jean-Luc Godard) was, "Je suis Marxiste, tendance Groucho," i.e. "I'm a Marxist of the Groucho variety". This line was notably heard in the 1972 comedy by Claude Lelouch "L'aventure c'est l'aventure", (starring Lino Ventura, Aldo Maccione, Jacques Brel, Johnny Hallyday and Charles Denner) where the would-be heroes get involved with a central-American guerilla; it spread to other nations as well in the 1960s and 1970s. The Youth International Party, a 1960's-1970's ad-hoc political group of Anarcho-Marxists known for street theatre and pranks, were denounced in a Communist newspaper editorial as "Groucho Marxists".

Bud Abbott
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Born: October 2, 1897
Asbury Park, New Jersey
Died: April 24, 1974


William Alexander "Bud" Abbott (October 2, 1897 - April 24, 1974) was an American actor, producer and comedian born in Asbury Park, New Jersey. He is best remembered as the straight man of the comedy team of Abbott and Costello, with Lou Costello.

Abbott was born into a show business family. His parents worked for the Barnum and Bailey Circus: his mother, Rae Fisher, was a bareback rider and his father, Harry, was an advance man. Bud dropped out of school as a child and began working at Coney Island. When Bud was 16, his father, now an employee of the Columbia Burlesque Wheel, installed him in the box office of the Casino Theater in Brooklyn. Eventually Bud began putting together touring burlesque shows. In 1918 he married Betty Smith, a burlesque dancer and comedienne. Around 1924 Bud started performing as a straight man in an act with Betty. As his stature grew, Abbott began working with veteran comedians like Harry Steppe and Harry Evanson.

Abbott crossed paths with Lou Costello in burlesque in the early 1930s. Abbott was producing and performing in Minsky's Burlesque shows, while Costello was a rising comic. They formally teamed up in 1936 and performed together in burlesque, vaudeville, minstrel shows, and cinemas.

In burlesque tradition, their salaries were split 60/40, favoring Abbott, because the straight man was always viewed as the more valuable member of the team. (Later, after they became movie stars, Costello had the split reversed in his favor.)

In 1938 they received national exposure for the first time by performing on the Kate Smith Hour radio show, which led to the duo appearing in a Broadway musical, The Streets of Paris. In 1940, Universal signed Abbott and Costello for their first film, One Night in the Tropics. Although Abbott and Costello were only filling supporting roles, they stole the film with their classic routines, including "Who's On First?" (It is widely rumored that Abbott and Costello are the only two non-baseball players honored in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but this is actually not true.)[1]

During World War II, Abbott and Costello were among the most popular and highest-paid stars in the world. Between 1941 and 1956 they made more than 30 films, and earned a percentage of the profits on each. They were popular on radio throughout the 1940s, primarily on their own program which ran from 1942 until 1947 on NBC and from 1947 to 1949 on ABC. In the 1950s they brought their comedy to live television on the Colgate Comedy Hour, and launched their own half-hour series, The Abbott and Costello Show.

The team's popularity waned in the 1950s, and Abbott and Costello parted ways in 1957. Lou Costello died in 1959.

Abbott attempted to begin performing again in 1960, with a new partner, Candy Candido, and received good reviews. But Abbott called it quits, remarking that "No one could ever live up to Lou." On TV, he performed in a dramatic episode of General Electric Theater titled "The Joke's On Me" in 1961. A few years later Bud provided his own voice for the Hanna-Barbera animated series Abbott and Costello, with Stan Irwin providing the voice of Lou Costello.

Bud and Betty were married for 55 years. The couple adopted two children: Bud, Jr. in 1942, and Vickie in 1949. Bud Jr. died in 1997.

Bud Abbott has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: the radio star is located on 6333 Hollywood Blvd., the motion pictures star is located on 1611 Vine St., and the TV star is located on 6740 Hollywood Blvd.

Bud Abbott suffered from epilepsy and died of cancer at the age of 76 (reported as 78) on April 24, 1974 in Woodland Hills, California. He was cremated at his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.[2]

George McFarland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Born October 2, 1928
Dallas, Texas
Died June 30, 1993
Grapevine, Texas

George Robert Phillips McFarland (October 2, 1928 - June 30, 1993) was an American actor most famous for his childhood role as Spanky in the depression era children's comedy movie series Our Gang, also known as the Little Rascals.

McFarland was born in Dallas, Texas (not in Ft. Worth as many biographies report). His nickname "Spanky" is said to have arisen from repeated warnings by his mother not to misbehave. He had a habit of reaching out and grabbing things, so his mother would say, "Spanky, spanky, mustn't touch!" He was discovered at the age of three and soon became a popular member of the Our Gang children's comedy movie series from during the 1930s and 1940s. He played the role of an enterprising idea man and the de facto leader of the gang.

In later years some in his family affectionately would refer to him as just "Spank". His middle names came from family names, Robert after his father and Phillips was his mother's maiden name (George was his father's brother's name). Other biographies incorrectly report his middle name as being Emmett; however this was his father's middle name. His brother Tommy, who was also named after their father (Thomas Emmett McFarland), died in 1982.

George "Spanky" McFarland died of a heart attack on June 30, 1993, aged 64. McFarland's mother died just 30 days later. In January 1994, "Spanky" joined fellow alumnus Jackie Cooper to become one of two Our Gang members to receive a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

Don McLean
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Don McLean, (born October 2, 1945 in New Rochelle, New York) where he attended Iona College and was a popular folk singer at campus events. With the help of a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts, he began reaching a wider public, with visits to towns up and down the Hudson River, where he learned the art of performing from his friend and mentor Pete Seeger. He is an American singer-songwriter, most famous for his 1971 ballad "American Pie", about the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper amongst many other themes. The song spawned the phrase "The Day the Music Died", referring to the day of the crash.Also he is cousins with the Bucci family in Port Chester N,Y.

Other well-known songs include

"And I Love You So" - covered by Elvis Presley, a 1973 hit for Perry Como
The lyrics to "And I Love You So": "The book of life is brief And once a page is read, All but love is dead. That is my belief." Seem to mirror "The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on:" from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

"Vincent" (a tribute to the 19th century Dutch painter, Vincent van Gogh)
"Castles in the Air"
"Winterwood"
"Wonderful Baby" (a tribute to Fred Astaire that Astaire himself recorded.)
"Superman's Ghost" (a tribute to George Reeves, who portrayed Superman on TV in the 1950's)

Early in his career, McLean was mentored by the folk legend Pete Seeger, and accompanied Seeger on his Clearwater boat up the Hudson River in 1969 to protest at environmental pollution in the river. The Clearwater campaign was widely credited for improving water quality in the Hudson River.

The album American Pie features a version of Psalm 137, 'Babylon' arranged by Don McLean and Lee Hays (The Weavers). This is the same song that Boney M would have a number one hit in the UK with seven years later under the title Rivers of Babylon, although the two renditions are so different it is not immediately noticeable that they are versions of the same song.

A poem about McLean, "Killing Me Softly With His Blues" by Lori Lieberman, was reworked into a song called "Killing Me Softly" by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel. Lieberman was the first to record it (in 1972), but the song has two far better-known covers. The first major hit version was by Roberta Flack in 1973; nearly a quarter-century later (1996), another version was a major hit for The Fugees.

In 1980, McLean had an international number one hit with the Roy Orbison classic, "Crying". Only following the record's success overseas was it released in the US, becoming a top-10 hit in 1981. Orbison himself once described McLean as "the voice of the century", and a subsequent re-recording of the song saw Orbison incorporate elements of McLean's version.

In 1991, Don McLean returned to the UK top-10 with a re-issue of "American Pie", which nine years later became a worldwide smash all over again thanks to Madonna's controversial cover.

In 2003, George Michael covered Don's anti-war song "The Grave" from the "American Pie" album in protest at the imminent invasion of Iraq by the US and allied forces.

In 2006, Don continues to tour extensively both in the US and Europe. His new album "Addicted to Black" is due out later this year, along with his much anticipated biography "Killing Us Softly: The Don McLean Story

GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:
1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.



GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:
1) Raising teenagers is like nailing Jell-O to a tree.
2) Wrinkles don't hurt.
3) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.



GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD
1) Growing up is mandatory; growing old is optional.
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.


THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:

1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus.



SUCCESS:

At age 4 success is . . not peeing in your pants.
At age 12 success is . having friends.
At age 16 success is . . . having a drivers license.
At age 35 success is . having money.
At age 50 success is . . . having money.
At age 70 success is . . . having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is . having friends.
At age 80 success is . not peeing in your pants.

Well folks, we know our hawkman is through when we hear a replica of Shakespeare's "The Seven Ages of Man." Thanks, Boston. Well, I was completely uninformed about Don McLean. I had no idea about his later songs, and what great info on the rest of your notables. We'll await our Raggedy's pictures before commenting, however.

Late last evening, after my daughter felt better, we discussed whether memory was inherited. I have often wondered why I know songs that I don't recall hearing, EVER.

What a surprise to find this Nobel News:

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Americans Andrew Z. Fire and Craig C. Mello won the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine Monday for discovering a way to turn off the effect of specific genes.

"RNA interference" is already being widely used in basic science as a method to study the function of genes and it is being studied as a treatment for virus infections, heart diseases, cancer and several other conditions.

Fire, of Stanford University, and Mello, of the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, published their seminal work in 1998.

RNA interference occurs naturally in plants, animals, and humans. The Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, which awarded the prize, said it is important for regulating the activity of genes and helps defend against viral infection.

"This year's Nobel laureates have discovered a fundamental mechanism for controlling the flow of genetic information," the institute said.

Genes produce their effect by sending molecules called messenger RNA to the protein-making machinery of a cell. RNA interference destroys this RNA and prevents the specific protein from being produced. Thus the gene is effectively silenced.

The announcement opened this year's series of prize announcements. It will be followed by Nobel prizes for physics, chemistry, literature, peace and economics.

Last year's medicine prize went to Australians Barry J. Marshall and Robin Warren for discovering that bacteria, not stress, causes ulcers.

The Nobel committees do not reveal who has been nominated for the awards, but that does not stop experts and Nobel-watchers from speculating on potential winners.

Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in his will in the categories of literature, peace, medicine, physics and chemistry. The economics prize is technically not a Nobel but a 1968 creation of Sweden's central bank.

Winners receive a check of $1.4 million, handshakes with Scandinavian royalty, and a banquet on Dec. 10 ?- the anniversary of Nobel's death in 1896. All prizes are handed out in Stockholm except for the peace prize, which is presented in Oslo.

What in the world is RNA interference?

Discovered this old milkcan behind a farm (actually a farm café with a nice decoration shop as well :wink: )




No milk today, my love has gone away
The bottle stands forlorn, a symbol of the dawn
No milk today, it seems a common sight
But people passing by don't know the reason why

How could they know just what this message means
The end of my hopes, the end of all my dreams
How could they know the palace there had been
Behind the door where my love reigned as queen

No milk today, it wasn't always so
The company was gay, we'd turn night into day

But all that's left is a place dark and lonely
A terraced house in a mean street back of town
Becomes a shrine when I think of you only
Just two up two down

No milk today, it wasn't always so
The company was gay, we'd turn night into day
As music played the faster did we dance
We felt it both at once, the start of our romance

How could they know just what this message means
The end of my hopes, the end of all my dreams
How could they know a palace there had been
Behind the door where my love reigned as queen

No milk today, my love has gone away
The bottle stands forlorn, a symbol of the dawn

But all that's left is a place dark and lonely
A terraced house in a mean street back of town
Becomes a shrine when I think of you only
Just two up two down

No milk today, my love has gone away
The bottle stands forlorn, a symbol of the dawn
No milk today, it seems a common sight
But people passing by don't know the reason why

How could they know just what this message means
The end of my hopes, the end of all my dreams
How could they know a palace there had been
Behind the door where my love reigned as queen

No milk today, it wasn't always so
The company was gay, we'd turn night into day

But all that's left is a place dark and lonely
A terraced house in a mean street back of town
Oh all that's left is a place dark and lonely
A terraced house in a mean street back of town
Oh all that's left is a place dark and lonely
A terraced house in a mean street back of town

Well, thank goodness, folks. Here's our Walter back with a song about milk bottles. Great, Germany, and we do appreciate your appearance here. We'll take one rep from Europe, even though it's a one- a- day vitamin.

As we wait for Walter's picture to develop, let's hear that song from Don McLean:

The Grave Lyrics

The grave that they dug him had flowers
Gathered from the hillsides in bright summer colors,
And the brown earth bleached white at the edge of his gravestone.
He's gone.

When the wars of our nation did beckon,
A man barely twenty did answer the calling.
Proud of the trust that he placed in our nation,
He's gone,
But eternity knows him, and it knows what we've done.

And the rain fell like pearls on the leaves of the flowers
Leaving brown, muddy clay where the earth had been dry.
And deep in the trench he waited for hours,
As he held to his rifle and prayed not to die.

But the silence of night was shattered by fire
As guns and grenades blasted sharp through the air.
And one after another his comrades were slaughtered.
In morgue of marines, alone standing there.

He crouched ever lower, ever lower with fear.
"they can't let me die! the can't let me die here!
I'll cover myself with the mud and the earth.
I'll cover myself! I know I'm not brave!
The earth! the earth! the earth is my grave."

The grave that they dug him had flowers
Gathered from the hillsides in bright summer colors,
And the brown earth bleached white at the edge of his gravestone.
He's gone.

Tragically true, folks.