Episode 30: K&R vs K&R

The thirtieth episode of The Marx Brothers Council Podcast is also our final episode of the year 2020. This has been a singular year, to say the least, but through it all we've stubbornly persisted in keeping the Marxian conversation going. Thanks to our guests, and especially our listeners, the podcast has been one of the life rafts keeping us going through tough times. We hope it's served the same purpose for you, in some small way, and while we all hope that 2021 is better, we promise that The Marx Brothers Council Podcast will be there no matter what. Now on with this month's show.

Official description: "A holiday extravaganza because we say it is!

"Actor/writer Nick Santa Maria returns for an examination of the Marxes’ two principal writing teams, George S. Kaufman & Morrie Ryskind, and Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby. We compare their styles and strengths, and go off on numerous unrelated tangents. But first, we detour to Kalmar & Ruby’s original vision for the finale of A Night at the Opera, featuring another performance by The Not Ready For Online Players...augmented by Kathy Biehl and Pete Lutz.

"Name-checked in this episode: Parkyakarkus, Carroll O’Connor (twice), Paul Harvey. 

"WARNING: Due to Matthew’s overly-festive mood, this episode contains a moment of adult language."

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 the previous episode is still the most recent one you see there, be patient! And above all, don't worry.

Download an MP3 directly to your computer.

Stream the episode via Cast.

Listen and subscribe via Google Podcasts.

Listen and subscribe via Apple Podcasts.

Listen and subscribe via Spotify.

Listen and subscribe via Stitcher.

Listen and subscribe via Blubrry.

Listen via YouTube:

 

Footnotes:

• Nick Santa Maria's website
• Matthew's new book, Dracula AD 1931
• Noah's virtual production Quarantigone

Episode 29: Make That Three Hard Boiled Eggs

Episode 29 is a big one, folks, in which we discuss one of the Marx Brothers' greatest films with a gifted photographer and designer, an accomplished novelist, a fine musician, Groucho's grandson for cryin' out loud, and Gus Kahn's grandson at the same time -- with only one guest!

Official description: "In our NEW longest episode yet, we welcome Groucho’s grandson, Andy Marx, for a deep dive into A Night at the Opera, and a whole lot more…

"Andy recalls growing up with Groucho during the time he went from being a game show host to a legend. We learn about his curious connection to rock stars and speculate on his politics. We also hear about Andy’s other famous grandfather.

"Finally (at 28:40), we turn our attention to what most Marx fans agree is their first film for MGM. We try and make sense out of why this reinvention of the team  works so well…all while doing the unbearable nitpicking we have become famous for!

Name-checked in this episode: Elton John, Richard Nixon, Scott Alexander."

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 the previous episode is still the most recent one you see there, be patient! And above all, don't worry.

Download an MP3 directly to your computer.

Stream the episode via Cast.

Listen and subscribe via Google Podcasts.

Listen and subscribe via Apple Podcasts.

Listen and subscribe via Spotify.

Listen and subscribe via Stitcher.

Listen and subscribe via Blubrry.

Listen via YouTube:

 

Footnotes:

• Andy's novel, Royalties
• Andy's photography and design site
• Andy's 2013 Boing Boing article about You Bet Your Life
• Andy's 1999 L.A. Times article, "Growing Up with Groucho"
• Matthew's new book, Dracula AD 1931
• Noah's presentation Home Again: The Marx Brothers and New York City
• Noah's virtual production Quarantigone
• Bob's podcast

Episode 28: Flywheel, Shyster, and Tefteller

It's always a treat to speak with someone who knew Groucho Marx in real life -- even more so if that person is a good storyteller. And if that person has also dedicated a lifetime to the preservation of rare Marx Brothers performances, then you must be speaking with John Tefteller.

Official description: "In our longest episode yet, we barely scratch the surface while talking to archivist John Tefteller. John has spent more than four decades accumulating rare Marx Brothers audio, and is producing a collection of the long-lost radio series Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel.

"John details how, as a high school sophomore, he was hired to be Groucho’s personal recording engineer and archivist. His stories of rare finds, heartbreaking misses, and colorful personalities will entertain you more than we ever did. You’ll even get to hear about John’s days as a teenage relationship counselor to Zeppo, and then Erin Fleming.

"Yes, your three hosts are on the show…but about as much as the Marxes are in The Story of Mankind.

"Name-checked in this episode: Bill Clinton, Perry Como, Ed Begley Jr."

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 the previous episode is still the most recent one you see there, be patient! And above all, don't worry.

Download an MP3 directly to your computer.

Stream the episode via Cast.

Listen and subscribe via Google Podcasts.

Listen and subscribe via Apple Podcasts.

Listen and subscribe via Spotify.

Listen and subscribe via Stitcher.

Listen and subscribe via Blubrry.

Listen via YouTube:

BONUSCAST | The Jay Hopkins Interviews: Volume 5 - Nat Perrin

Official description: "In our final trip into the vault, we are treated to Jay’s never-before-heard 1984 chat with writer Nat Perrin. Perrin talks about his 50-year association with the Marxes, from contributing gags to Monkey Business all the way to Erin Fleming’s legal challenge to Groucho’s estate.

"You’ll hear about Nat’s work on the Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel radio series, and his later contributions to Go West and The Big Store. Perrin also discusses some of his non-Marx films and later TV work.

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 the previous episode is still the most recent one you see there, be patient! And above all, don't worry.

Download an MP3 directly to your computer.

Stream the episode via Cast.

Listen and subscribe via Google Play.

Listen and subscribe via Apple Podcasts.

Listen and subscribe via Stitcher.

Listen and subscribe via Blubrry.

Listen via YouTube:

Episode 27: A Compilation, a Sandwich, and You

The theory has often been advanced that the best Marx Brothers movie would actually be a Frankenstein's monster, consisting of the best parts of all their movies. (Well, most of them, anyway.) In our twenty-seventh episode, we take one approach to that challenge.

Official description: "In the spirit of the great comedy compilation films of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, we’ve decided to create our own 'Best of the Marx Brothers' money-grab.

"To be precise, the three of us have each compiled our own films…hamstrung by the constraints of our in-house Irving Thalberg. We’ll discuss our scene choices and come up with a final tracklist, all before realizing the whole exercise was pointless.

"Did your favorite scene make the cut? Listen and find out, unless you’re an Eve Arden fan, in which case don’t even bother….

"Name-checked in this episode: W.C. Fields, Kristen Schaal, Jay Hopkins."

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 the previous episode is still the most recent one you see there, be patient! And above all, don't worry.

Download an MP3 directly to your computer.

Stream the episode via Cast.

Listen and subscribe via Google Podcasts.

Listen and subscribe via Apple Podcasts.

Listen and subscribe via Spotify.

Listen and subscribe via Stitcher.

Listen and subscribe via Blubrry.

Listen via YouTube:

Footnotes:

• Information about Home Again: The Marx Brothers and New York City, live-streaming on October 2, 2020, can be found here and here.
  
  
• Information about the forthcoming Blu-Ray release of A Night in Casablanca is here.

Episode 26: The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell in a Nutshell

What, we sometimes wonder, does the public want from the world's preeminent Marx Brothers podcast? A topic essential to the Brothers' legacy, but not recently explored in depth? Check! Brilliant and engaging guests who are Marxian A-listers? Check! Skillful editing that makes the three hosts seem almost coherent? Check, please! 

Official description: "Our long overdue look at the definitive Marx Brothers documentary, with our special guests, producer/meme Robert B. Weide, and writer/editor Joe Adamson. 

"The guys take us on Nutshell’s long journey, full of roadblocks and last minute scrambling. How did they get both Paramount and MGM clips when told it was impossible? Why did PBS viewers not see Woody Allen, and no one see Betty Marx? What happens when you ask Gene Kelly to do a retake? These and many other questions you never asked will all be answered...

"Oh, and if you want to watch The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell before listening, you can purchase a DVD at duckprods.com.

"Name-checked in this episode: Kurt Vonnegut, Lauren Bacall, Mort Sahl."

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 the previous episode is still the most recent one you see there, be patient! And above all, don't worry.

Download an MP3 directly to your computer.

Stream the episode via Cast.

Listen and subscribe via Google Podcasts.

Listen and subscribe via Apple Podcasts.

Listen and subscribe via Spotify.

Listen and subscribe via Stitcher.

Listen and subscribe via Blubrry.

Listen via YouTube:

Footnotes:

• Get The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell and W.C. Fields Straight Up on DVD.
  
  
• Get the official "Directed by Robert B. Weide" tee shirt! It's a sign of the times.

Episode 25: Send Out the Clowns

About every fourth episode, we devote an entire conversation to a deep-dive exploration of a specific Marx Brothers movie. That being the case, it was inevitable that at some point we would focus on At the Circus, no matter how many people begged us not to. We hope you find this episode enjoyable anyway, but if you don't, remember that it could be worse -- and will be, when we devote an episode to Go West.

Official description: "Our contractually obligated deep dive into At The Circus, where your hosts are as enthused watching the film as the Marxes were in making it. We try our best to make sense out of this jumble of wonderful and embarrassing moments.

"You'll scream as you experience the lost courtroom scene that MGM cut instead of 'Two Blind Loves'...you'll thrill as we struggle to remember plot points no one cares about anyhow…you'll jump for joy as we play no clips of Groucho yelling 'Help, Pauline!'

"NOTE: This ep does contain moments of explicit language, which should be a hint to those still wondering what we thought of the film.

"Name-checked in this episode: Marilyn Monroe, Eddie Deezen, Adolf Hitler."

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 the previous episode is still the most recent one you see there, be patient! And above all, don't worry.

Download an MP3 directly to your computer.

Stream the episode via Cast.

Listen and subscribe via Google Play.

Listen and subscribe via Apple Podcasts.

Listen and subscribe via Stitcher.

Listen and subscribe via Blubrry.

Listen via YouTube:



Footnotes:

• The At the Circus page on Mikael Uhlin's website Marxology includes the text of the deleted courtroom scene (as it appeared in The Freedonia Gazette, issue 13), with stills.
  
• For Kenny Baker fans, here he is singing "Alone" from A Night at the Opera.
  
• Here is the video section of Frank Ferrante's Groucho site.