Episode 41: Waxing Wroth (Our Horse Feathers Deep Dive featuring Adam Gopnik)

Listeners to the podcast, podcast listeners, readers of the blog, and blog readers -- I guess that covers everything -- we have one of our epic deep-dives for you this month. The subject is the great masterpiece Horse Feathers, and the guest is the great essayist Adam Gopnik, whose most recent Marx-adjacent project is the new Library of America S.J. Perelman anthology. Where's the seal? Where's the seal? Where's the seal? Where's the seal?

Official description: "Adam Gopnik, New Yorker writer and editor of S.J. Perelman: Writings, joins us for an exhaustive look at the Marx Brothers’ 1932 classic, Horse Feathers.

"Adam discusses Perelman’s influence and tries to pinpoint his specific lines, Noah is skeptical that Horse Feathers owes anything to the brothers’ vaudeville school act, Matthew keeps track of the differences between the film and shooting script, while Bob constantly derails the conversation with trivial observations.

"Singing the film’s praises, we can’t help but lament the mangled version history has left us with…we talk about what’s missing and why. We also touch upon Chico’s limp, Thelma Todd’s traveling birthmark, and how Harpo isn’t a mime at all.

"Discussion more than twice the length of the movie with 1/10th the entertainment value!"

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Footnotes:

• S.J. Perelman: Writings, Library of America
  
  
• Adam's essays "Talking Man" and "How a Lost Marx Brothers Musical Found Its Way Back Onstage"
  
  
• Bob's edit of the scene in Connie Bailey's apartment:
  
   
  
  
  
  
  

Episode 40: Aboard This Tiny Ship (featuring Nell Minow, the Movie Mom)

Official description: "Renowned film writer Nell Minow joins us to discuss her longtime love affair with the Marxes, her first-hand encounters with two of the brothers, her famous dad’s round of golf with another, and her grandmother’s friendship with two of their spouses!

"Nell also details the origin and mission of her 'Movie Mom' franchise, and discusses the difficulty in getting young people to watch and appreciate classic films these days.

"You’ll learn the surprising connection between Nell and one of your hosts, as well as what she has in common with Andy Marx…and perhaps John Tefteller…and maybe even Steve Stoliar. 

"A snappy, commute-sized episode!

"Name dropped in this episode: Marlo Thomas, William F. Buckley, Superman."

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Footnote:

Visit Nell Minow's website, moviemom.com.

Episode 39: Why A Nobile? (Featuring Nick Santa Maria)

Official description: "This month, we take a deep dive into Richard J. Anobile’s controversial work from 1973, The Marx Bros. Scrapbook.

"Joining us is performer/writer/director Nick Santa Maria, who (like Bob) got the book when it first came out, has some deep insight, and (like Groucho) eye-opening opinions. 

"We examine Groucho’s shocking and explicit comments, his mindset, and  inconsistent cooperation. We discuss the Scrapbook’s other interviews, which are almost as provocative as Groucho’s…and often more informative. Later, we delve into the firestorm of controversy which greeted the book upon publication. We pay sincere tribute to Anobile, for his persistence and thick skin, and we lament Zeppo, who comes across as the sourest (and unfunniest) person on Earth.

"NOTE: The Marx Bros. Scrapbook contains very explicit language, and we oft-times quote or paraphrase passages, so be aware that this episode is not for sensitive listeners."

Groucho photo courtesy of Richard J. Anobile.

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There's Nothing Like Liberty: The Marx Brothers and America streams Friday, October 1

There's Nothing Like Liberty: The Marx Brothers and America, a multimedia program by Noah Diamond, presented by Freedonia Marxonia, has its streaming premiere Friday, October 1, 2021, at 7:00 pm ET.

This new "illustrated lecture" is the sequel to last year's presentation, Home Again: The Marx Brothers and New York City.

There's Nothing Like Liberty features guest appearances by Joe Adamson, Scott Alexander, Ira Dolnick, Hannah Mira, Reginald H. Pitts, Trav S.D., Scott A. Sandage, Seth Shelden, and Amanda Sisk; as well as artwork by Ed Draganski, Rik Sansone, and Tristan Yonce; and photo and video contributions from dozens of members of the Marx Brothers Council, helping to tell the story of the Brothers' vaudevillian odyssey.

The event streams for free, right here.

You can also access the stream at theresnothinglikeliberty.com, noahdiamond.com, and the Freedonia Marxonia website, and this article from BroadwayWorld has more details.

Please join us on Friday evening! Live Q&A to follow.

This presentation is supported by a grant from the Carnahan Jackson Humanities Fund of the Fredonia College Foundation. Freedonia Marxonia is supported by the Hahn Family Freedonia Marxonia Fund of the Fredonia College Foundation.

Episode 38: Help-a Those Kids (featuring Hannah Mira)

School and schoolteachers are a recurring theme in the Marx Brothers' work, from their earliest vaudeville comedy (Fun in Hi Skule), to the zenith of their Hollywood years (Horse Feathers), to the professorial quizmaster of You Bet Your Life and the childhood memoirist of Harpo Speaks. On this episode, our special guest is a real live teacher, who has used the Brothers' films as a curriculum for students in extraordinary circumstances. We say this every month, I know, but this is a good one.

Hannah Mira

Official description: "And now for something completely different...

"After relating our first impressions of the Marxes from way back when, we are joined by educator Hannah Mira, who details her fascinating story of screening Marx Brothers (and other classic) films to incarcerated teenagers, and their surprisingly positive response to them.

"A lifelong Marx fan, Hannah uses the brothers’ antics not only as entertainment, but also as a springboard to introspection. We learn what the most popular gags and scenes are with her students, as well as whom their favorite brother is (spoiler: it ain’t Zeppo). Hannah also tells of a surprising encounter with a Harpo painting.

"Of course, we are on our best behavior with a teacher present, but still find time for a few spitball fights."

Hannah says: "If listeners want to help at-risk youth stay out of juvenile hall / jail, please have them visit Homeboy Industries. It is the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program on the planet and the work they do is incredible. Donations and volunteers are always needed. The headquarters is in Los Angeles but they have outreach around the world."

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Here's the Harpo painting discussed by Hannah in the episode:

Episode 37: Raised Questions (featuring Steve Stoliar)

Last year, we had the honor of sharing, for the first time ever, Jay Hopkins' 1979 interview with the multitalented Steve Stoliar, author of Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho's House. Today, we've got an all-new conversation with Steve.

Official description: "We are honored to welcome Steve Stoliar, author of the iconic Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho’s House.

"Outspoken as ever, Steve is as entertaining as he is candid. But what do you ask a guy who’s been interviewed on just about every podcast known to man (including ours)? Well, we didn’t know either, so we farmed the questions out to our loyal listeners.

"Steve updates us on the Raised Eyebrows movie, and you won’t believe who stays up at night thinking about the casting. He further details life with Erin Fleming, and Groucho’s taste in music, movies, and TV…including a trip to a rock concert. And if you’ve ever wondered what happens when Steve and Dick Cavett get together with a whoopee cushion, wonder no longer!

"To get a personally autographed copy of Raised Eyebrows, go to http://stevestoliar.com/shop."

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Episode 36: We Spit on Lester Cowan (Our Love Happy Deep Dive)

Well, you should have known we'd do this eventually. Please join us -- we're begging you -- for a discussion of the universally beloved classic Love Happy. It may not be everyone's favorite Marx Brothers movie -- it may not even be a Marx Brothers movie -- but you have to admit, it is a movie. 

Official description: "DISCLAIMER: Since producer Lester Cowan defied contractual agreements and billed this as starring 'The Marx Brothers,' we are obligated to do an episode about it.

"The brothers search for jewels as we search for laughs…and though it’s not top-tier Marx, there is still plenty to enjoy as well as plenty to ponder. Matthew tells how Chico was the first to agree to appear in a Harpo solo film, Noah is baffled by how the jewels got into a sealed sardine can, and Bob goes off on Marilyn Monroe.

"You’ll learn about the two versions of the film, and why the shorter, less funny one is most likely what you’ve seen. You’ll learn why Groucho and Chico never appear onscreen together…but you won’t learn what those penguins are saying.

"Seriously, it’s not a bad film…wish we could promise the same about this podcast."

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.

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