Groucho Marx…August 19, 1977

43 years ago Groucho Marx died on August 19, 1977 and the news of his death was swallowed up by Elvis dying 3 days before. Groucho was 87 years old and still was popular among college kids partly due to a resurgence of the Marx Brothers movies. He was constantly photographed with Rock Stars (Alice Cooper, Queen) and movie stars in the mid-seventies. 

The Marx Brothers remain my favorite comedy team hands down. All of them were talented and Harpo and Groucho in particular never fail to make me laugh.

I’ll leave you with some Groucho Quotes.

He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot but don’t let that fool you. He really is an idiot.

Some people claim that marriage interferes with romance. There’s no doubt about it. Anytime you have a romance, your wife is bound to interfere.

I have nothing but respect for you — and not much of that.

Man does not control his own fate. The women in his life do that for him.

Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them… well, I have others.

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.

I intend to live forever, or die trying.

A man’s only as old as the woman he feels.

Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who wants to live in an institution?

I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it.

I never forget a face, but in your case I’ll be glad to make an exception.

I sent the club a wire stating, PLEASE ACCEPT MY RESIGNATION. I DON’T WANT TO BELONG TO ANY CLUB THAT WILL ACCEPT ME AS A MEMBER.


Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball fan, old movie and tv show fan... and a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

38 thoughts on “Groucho Marx…August 19, 1977”

      2. I’m an idiot Jeremy….lol… No I have been so busy lately I haven’t been around the blog as much…sorry man

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  2. I remember where I was when he died – sort of. I was seven, and my family was on a camping trip in S. Dakota and Colorado. I was actually more familiar with Groucho than Elvis at the time because my older brother was into the Marx Bros. movies, but by the time we returned home I was wearing a canary yellow Elvis iron-on t-shirt that said “Love Me Tender” on it. Thankfully it was too small because it was embarrassing.

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    1. I remember it vaguely. That is really cool that you knew of him at that time. I knew the name but that is it.
      Great story lol.

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  4. Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside a dog, it’s too dark to read.

    I really enjoyed the way he and Margaret Dumont worked together, especially since she didn’t understand any of the jokes. In one of the movies, he’s walking up the gangplank of a cruise ship behind her. She turns and says “Do you have everything?” and he replies “I haven’t had any complaints.”

    My favorite of the three is Chico. The way he and Groucho would get into discussions was priceless. And a pretty incredible piano player, to boot.

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    1. I love Chico’s piano playing…just incredible. Out of the three I enjoy his music sections the best.
      The best auto biography I’ve ever read was Harpo Speaks…such a great human being…not a saint but a wonderful guy.

      There are so many scenes… “Hold me closer, closer, closer” “If I held you any closer I’d be in back of you”

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  6. adore Groucho, a total hero of mine when I was 14 – when I was younger I loved harpo best, when a teen it was all Groucho, when I got older I realised Chico was just as funny, especially when he was getting one over smart Groucho:

    There ain’t no Sanity Clause!

    The tragedy is because they were in black & white modern generations have no idea who they are, they just dont do B&W anything. What we need is a terrific Netflix series about their life and career…..!

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    1. I would love a special like that! I read Harpo’s autobiography and it was the best bio I’ve ever read hands down. What an interesting guy and what a childhood they all had.

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      1. Groucho’s autobiog is fab and the bio of all the Brothers is a fascinating snap of the late 19th century and early 20th, so much material for a funny series, they were naughty boys 🙂

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  7. The Marx Brothers were all so talented and most were funny (except Zeppo, who didn’t try to be funny.) I regard Groucho’s humor as zen humor, as you can’t predict what his punchline will be. I love that quote you shared from him about politics 🙂

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    1. It’s anarchy and just craziness…I love it so much. Very smart humor.
      That reminds me…I must watch a Marx Brothers movie soon…their first 5 are the best to me.

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      1. Why doesn’t it surprise me that you are well-versed in Marx Brothers filmology? I used to watch them with my dad way back when but the only two names coming to mind are Duck Soup and Horse Feathers. I remember laughing through it all, but my favorite part was always when Harpo played the harp ❤

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      2. Coconuts, Animal Crackers, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers, and Duck Soup…LOVE those movies Lisa…My favorite is probably Horse Feathers.
        Harpo is my favorite brother…what a guy he was on and off the screen. He adopted 4 kids so he could see them in his 4 front windows when he got home…use to wake them up in the middle of the night to play.

        Sorry…Yea I’m a HUGE Marx Brothers fan…I’ve read and watched a lot… The Marx Brothers, Chaplin, and Buster Keaton are my Beatles of comedy!

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      2. I’m doing good man. That is cool that you are back to work.
        Have you figured out how you are going to arrange your menu deal yet?

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      4. No hurry man…just wanted you to know I’m here when you are ready. I’m going to re-arrange mine.
        I know you are busy as hell right now. That daughter of yours keeps you busy all by herself!

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  9. Completely apropos for today:
    “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.”

    I think my dad was a Groucho fan. This sounds like something my dad would say:
    “I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it.”

    IIRC, Harpo hung out with Dorothy Parker and the Algonquin Round Table.

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    1. I started to read about the Algonquin Round Table after I read Harpo’s book…He said he was a professional Listener because he was the only one that did listen at the table.

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      2. All of them I seek out. I’ve never been able to see any of them on the big screen. I would love to see them with an audience.

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  11. The photo is NOT Groucho Marx. This is photographer Albert Eisenstaedt made up as Groucho. Marx Bros. fans are tired of seeing that photo! Again, it’s NOT, NOT, NOT Groucho!!

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