Here’s the page where I added the random pieces of information that didn’t fit under any other tabs.
Newberry Library, Chicago
I went into the Ben Hecht papers at the Newberry and found a letter Harpo wrote him 17 Feb 1949. It has a good description of the last day of shooting “Love Happy.” Lester Cowen doesn’t come out looking very good here.
Bankruptcy
And the Marxes seemed to have a habit of filing for bankruptcy.
Minnie in 1914.
Chico in 1918
And Harpo in the Chicago Clipper of 5 Mar 1919. Judge Landis eventually became the first commissioner of baseball.
Groucho’s FBI File
Groucho had an extensive file with the FBI. Pieces of it can be found on different parts of the internet (including the FBI site itself). But some versions have scans that are virtually unreadable and others are less complete. Here are the best pieces I could find.
The first, from 1953, mainly concerns in investigation into whether Groucho was helping fund Communist leaning organizations. (From Digital Commons @ the University of Nebraska)
Groucho Marx- FBI Files DC part one
The second file contains a first 18 pages from 1957 and then 22 pages that are included in, and much more readable in, the following document.
Those first 18 pages are from 1957 and deal with an extortion letter sent to Groucho. Sadly, they’re very difficult to read. (From Digital Commons @ the University of Nebraska)
Groucho Marx- FBI Files DC part two
File 3 is the longest. It’s from 1937 and deals with a copyright case over a radio script that two brothers, Garrett and Carroll Graham, submitted to the Marxes and which they subsequently aired without compensating the Grahams.
Patents
Here’s Gummo’s patent, US 1320335A, for a packing rack. The application was filed on 26 Mar 1918 when he was living on the chicken farm in La Grange, Illinois. The patent was granted on 28 Oct 1919.
According to the patent: “The invention relates particularly to racks for assembling miscellaneous articles for insertion into inclosing containers.”
Here’s Zeppo’s first patent, US 2590026A, for a Vapor Delivery Pad Distributing Moist Heat. The application was filed on 14 Jun 1950 by Marmon Products Co, Inc., inventor Zeppo Marx. The patent was granted on 18 Mar 1952.
According to the patent: “This invention relates to the hydrotherapy art and has as its general object to improve and simplify the treatment of ailments of the human body by the application thereto of moist heat.”
Here’s Zeppo’s second patent, US 3426747A, for a Method and watch mechanism for actuation by a cardiac pulse. The application was filed on 20 Nov 1967 and was granted on 11 Feb 1969 to “Herbert Zeppo Marx, Tamarisk Country Club, Palm Springs, Calif. 92262.”
According to the patent: “Means for driving a watch my (sic) means of a cardiac pulse at a rate that varies according to the frequency, strength and regularity of the pulse.”
And here’s the third patent, US 3473526A, related to the first. The application was filed on 14 Jul 1967 and was granted on 21 Oct 1969.
According to the patent: “A unit to provide an audible and vibratory warning to advise persons who have cardiac impairment, of extreme variations in the pulse rate.”
Women Troubles
Before Chico joined his brothers in 1912 he was partnered with his cousin Louis Lefevre (Aunt Hannah’s son) as “Shean and Marx.” He got in a bit of trouble in Ft. Wayne, IN in February 1912.
From the front page of the Fort Wayne News 19 Feb 1912.
The story continues. From the Fort Wayne Sentinel 20 Feb 1912.
And continues. From the Fort Wayne Star 20 Feb 1912.
Harpo had his excitement, too, with Kathleen Fleming, a dancer on the road with the Marxes. They dated for three years but it didn’t end well. From the Chicago Tribune 23 Mar 1915.
More
Here’s grandpa Levy celebrating his 98th birthday. From the Chicago Examiner, 20 Jan 1917.
From The Marxives 