Episode 21: No Snow and No Ice

Oh, among the mangoes, where the monkey gang goes, you can hear them talking, and talking, and talking about the first Marx Brothers movie (except for Humor Risk), adapted from their first Broadway show (except for I'll Say She Is). It's the first time it's ever been mentioned down here, today. If you're too old to listen to this podcast, get yourself a monkey gland! And then let's go.

Official description: "After avoiding its 90th anniversary, Matthew pushes Noah and Bob into the pool for a deep dive into The Cocoanuts. Why did contemporary critics consider it their best? Why does Margaret Dumont get more laughs than Zeppo? Who the hell is Penelope? Noah connects a Groucho line to Star Trek: The Next Generation, Bob brings up Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Matthew is certain one shot was cut for a 1984 British TV broadcast. It’s appointment podcasting!"

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Footnotes:

• You know me -- Prince of Wales:

• Bob notes, "Harpo leans over, but his mouth doesn't really move":

• "Gems from The Cocoanuts," performed by the Victor Light Opera Company with Billy Murray, 1926
  
• Sheet music for the 1913 version of "The Monkey Doodle Doo"
  
• "Why am I a Hit with the Ladies?," performed by Frank Ferrante, 2018
  
• From Noah's Marx Brothers on Broadway lecture, 2016:

Episode 20: The Biggest Place in Town

Official description: "A deep dive into Groucho’s first solo effort, 1947’s Copacabana, which can be considered both a success and a failure…as well as neither. Surprisingly, for one of your hosts, this was a first time viewing, so Bob comes up with observations that most of you had decades ago. We explore the fascinating teaming of Groucho with Carmen Miranda, and romances that are undefined and unresolved. The Barry Manilow jokes and song excerpts are kept to a minimum, so don’t be afraid."

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Episode 19: Two of the Four of the Three Musketeers

The party of the first part shall be known in this episode as the party of the first part. How do you like that? Pretty neat, eh?

Official description: "This month we take it easy and discuss only half of the team, Groucho and Chico. We listen to and deep dive into all their great scenes together...as well as the one from At the Circus. You'll learn why perhaps their most famous encounter isn’t really a Marx scene at all. We also introduce a new feature where we reveal our latest and greatest Marx Brothers revelations."

Note for early birds: When a new episode is released, it might not appear at all of the locations below right away. If you visit your favorite podcast provider and Episode 18 is still the most recent one you see there, be patient! And above all, don't worry.

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Episode 18: Marx Brothers: Unsolved

In our latest episode, we examine some unsolved Marx Brothers mysteries. Put on your deerstalker hat and join us on this journey into confusion.

Official description: "Marx Brothers scholar Stewart Tryster returns as we try to explain curious moments in the Marxes' films and career. Who was that in the dark in Animal Crackers? Did pressure from Italians result in the pigeons being cut from A Day at the Races? What edible substance made up Harpo’s A Night in Casablanca hair? We speculate, jump to conclusions, and ignore facts that go against our theories…so you know you’re getting the most solid info anywhere."

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Footnotes for this episode:

Here's the photo Stewart mentions, taken on the set of Monkey Business, and featuring Frenchie, Harpo, Chico, and possibly Zeppo?

And here's the photo Noah mentions, of the Six Mascots in 1910, featuring Groucho as Hans Pumpernickel, performing "Schnitzelbank":

Bonuscast | The Jay Hopkins Interviews: Volume 2 - Erin Fleming

Before Jay Hopkins became internationally famous as the special guest on Episode 15 of the Marx Brothers Council Podcast, he was already beloved as social media gadfly and leader of the Marx Brotherhood. During the Brotherhood's golden age, Jay conducted numerous exclusive interviews with noteworthy figures from the Marx Brothers universe. Jay has generously agreed to allow some of those interviews to be released here as bonus episodes. These are the Jay Hopkins Interviews.

[In case you missed it, we previously issued Volume One in this series, Jay's 1979 interview with You Bet Your Life creator John Guedel.]

Official description: "The second in our exclusive series of vintage interviews from the archives of Marx Brotherhood founder, Jay Hopkins. From 1979, Jay talks with the infamous Erin Fleming, Groucho’s secretary, personal manager, and companion in his final years. Erin details day-to-day life with Groucho, as well as the celebrities and events she seemed to crave. She’s opinionated, charming and infuriating. It’s a unique and revealing look at the complex woman who became the center of a storm of controversy."

Note for early birds: When a new episode is released, it might not be immediately available at all the locations below. If you click a link and this episode isn't there yet, try another, or try to be patient! And above all, don't worry.

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Episode 17: Hail and Farewell

Apologies in advance, friends, if we don't dislike Room Service quite as much as you do. Anyway, listen to us talk about it for two hours, and let us know if the experience causes you to: a) like Room Service more, b) like Room Service less, or c) hate the Marx Brothers Council Podcast and vow never to spend another minute listening to these three babbling wiseguys. We hope it's a) or b), and that this episode doesn't drive you to your death just as it drove Leo Davis.

Official description: "This month we take a deep dive into the misunderstood Room Service, perhaps not the best Marx film, but the one with the most interesting backstory…as well as the most frustrating compromises. Matthew enlightens us on how it almost became more of an authentic Marx vehicle, and how it almost became less of one. Bob is surprised by his reaction to the film, while Noah leads post-graduate courses on New York theater, and the word frowsy.  Special guest stars: Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick."

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Footnote for this episode:



See you next month! Till then, godspeed and hail and farewell, but definitely not jumping butterballs.

Episode 16: (After) The End of the Marx Brothers

The picaresque career of the Marx Brothers had many beginnings and many endings. Just as the three decades beginning in 1905 were filled with various "this is our big break!" breakthroughs, there was a repetitive, meandering quality to their final efforts as a team. Their "farewell picture," The Big Store (1941), was followed not just by two more Marx Brothers movies, but by a ragtag series of film and television projects which occasionally succeeded in putting more than one Marx Brother in the same place at the same time.

In this sixteenth episode of the Marx Brothers Council Podcast, we examine the Brothers' joint efforts following the release of what was technically the last Marx Brothers movie.

Official description: "Though the Marx Brothers stopped performing together after 1949’s Love Happy, that didn’t stop the constant stories, rumors, and plans of future projects. This month we take a look at the Marxes' 1950s post-career, which included a few moments when they did reunite. Bob comes up with a unique (and probably stupid) theory about The Incredible Jewel Robbery, while Matthew admits to a Marx appearance that he can’t be bothered to watch. Later, we are joined by Marx and Re-Marx author Andrew T. Smith for a closer look at the aborted Deputy Seraph project."

Note for early birds: When a new episode is released, it might not be immediately available at all the locations below. If you click a link and Episode 16 isn't there yet, try another, or try to be patient! And above all, don't worry.

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Footnotes for this episode:

• Michael J. Hayde on the five Marxes' Tonight appearance
  
• Bela Chaney's Deputy Seraph edit
  
• The Television Scripts of Philip Rapp, edited by Ben Ohmart, from BearManor Media. (This is the book which contains the pilot script for Deputy Seraph.)
  
• Noah's United Nations song