A Signed Movie Still from "Animal Crackers"

A movie still from "Animal Crackers" (1930) was signed by Groucho Marx, probably decades after the original release. The eBay seller who attested to this in 2014 tried to inspire confidence by including a scan of a signed certificate of authenticity, otherwise blank. Also of questionable value is the seller punctiliously providing  a list of Groucho's solo film work, when the photograph is obviously from a Marx Brothers comedy.

Groucho Marx

eBay listing accessed March 15, 2014

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Groucho-Marx-signed-photo-27-a/360714481368?_trksid=p2050601.m2372&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D207%26meid%3D5511710636151456969%26pid%3D100085%26prg%3D1112%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D141220717019%26%26clkid%3D5511713585186065879&_qi=RTM1562572

Groucho Marx

eBay item description

03931

Groucho Marx's Copy of "The Butter and Egg Man" by George S. Kaufman

"Groucho Marx is the only actor I ever allowed to ad-lib in a show I wrote. That was because I couldn't stop him."

—George S. Kaufman on the liner notes of "An Evening With Groucho" (1972)

Frank Ferrante, who provided me with the quotation above, writes about a prized book in his library that once belonged to Groucho Marx:

I have a piece that is particularly special. A 1926 first edition of George S. Kaufman's play "The Butter and Egg Man" [1925]. One of GSK's few solo efforts. Inscribed by George to Groucho. 1925...the year that they collaborated on the Broadway version of "The Cocoanuts." Their first collaboration. Both gents were about 35 years old. (Both wrote pieces for The New Yorker.) Much has been written about their relationship. Many quotes from Groucho referring to GSK as his 'god.' Their synthesis, combined sensibilities, similarities may have shaped and influenced American humor in all media more than any other creative partnership. And still does.

Copyright is 1926. So it was gifted and signed to Groucho during the Broadway run of “The Cocoanuts.” For what it’s worth I portrayed George S. Kaufman and Groucho Marx in one-person stage shows that I also wrote: “By George” and “An Evening With Groucho.”

This book recalls a brief line of Groucho's about Boston that appeared in The New Yorker of April 4, 1925.

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1925-04-04/flipbook/024/

Note:  My thanks to Frank Ferrante for going above and beyond

Five years ago, Frank posted different images of this book in The Marx Brothers Council, a private Facebook group. The post may be found here. Members of the group may access this post including the discussion.

Images of items personalized by the hand of George S. Kaufman or Groucho Marx would be considered welcome contributions to future Attempted Bloggery blog posts.

My post from 2015 about The New Yorker's seventh issue (April 4, 1925) is in the archives here.

03435

Groucho's French Order of Arts and Letters

Steve Stoliar is the author of Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho's House, now in its second edition. When Groucho Marx's French Order of Arts and Letters was offered on eBay last October, the seller merely wrote, "I am not sure what Groucho received this for." Steve is the one who fully appreciated what was up for sale. He wrote:

I cannot tell you how sad this makes me. Groucho received this in 1972 at Cannes. He was SO proud of it. When he'd show it off, he'd say, "I got this and Chaplin got this." He kept it on his trophy table with his Oscar, Emmy, Peabody Awards, etc. He loved to wear it on special occasions (the Oscars) and show it off to guests. I don't know how this ended up simply "inventoried" per the label on the box and up for grabs, but it's extremely upsetting to me....

République française

République française

Ordre des Arts et des Lettres

Ordre des Arts et des Lettres

Estate of Groucho Marx Asset #860019

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GROUCHO-MARX-ORDRE-DES-ARTS-ET-DES-LETTRES-MEDALLION-/251364302101?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a867add15&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 

***

Groucho Marx displays his Honorary Oscar for Lifetime Achievement at the Academy Awards presentation in Los Angeles, Ca., April 3, 1974. Groucho is wearing the Commander of Arts and Letters medal he received from the French government at Cannes in 1972. (AP Photo)

--SFGate

Oscar through the ages: 1970-1989

Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, February 8, 2011

http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Oscar-through-the-ages-1970-1989-2382368.php#photo-1911721

Note:  Steve Stoliar's website is here. Be sure to check out his book Raised Eyebrows. He has always been a good friend to this blog. Posts of mine that Steve has contributed to may be seen here.

The original cover artwork to the new edition of Raised Eyebrows is currently being exhibited in New York at "Drew Friedman's Old Jewish Comedians" at the Society of Illustrators. This artwork along with other posts pertaining to Groucho Marx may be seen here.

01079

Groucho's Passport

Well, you never know what will turn up next on eBay. In this case it's Groucho Marx's 1939 passport. It is issued to Julius H. Marx who may be accompanied by his wife Ruth. This passport is issued just around the time the movie "At the Circus" is released. The Marx Brothers are a bit past their prime now although Groucho is sharp as ever. He is 48 years old. The couple has been married for 19 years and will be divorced in another three.

The passport is not signed on page three where indicated but is signed on the photograph. Information on the inside front cover has not been completed. There are no visa or customs stamps, at least in the photo. The question, then, is was this passport ever used?

What is clear is that this interesting piece of Hollywood memorabilia will have a new owner when the auction closes in some four days from now. A single bid of $1,250 has already been received.

Passport of Julius H. "Groucho" Marx, shown with wife Ruth

Passport of Julius H. "Groucho" Marx

Passport of Julius H. "Groucho" Marx, shown with wife Ruth

Passport of Julius H. "Groucho" Marx, shown with wife Ruth

http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-Passport-of-Julius-H-Groucho-Marx-and-Ruth-J-Marx-/370957349022?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item565ec7f09e

Marx Family 1933 Home Movie

December 11, 2013 Update:  Sold!

Note:  I am indebted to Steve Stoliar, author of Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho's House, for pointing out this auction to me. You can check out his website here. He has already made a significant contribution to this blog, sharing his personal library of three Dr. Seuss books, two inscribed with green eggs  and one with ham! Read all about it here, then reward him for his noble service to this blog and buy his book.

I have a few more posts of a distinctly Marxist nature here.

0973

Book Review: Love, Groucho

 Love, Groucho:  Letters from Groucho Marx to His Daughter Miriam

Groucho Marx
Edited by Miriam Marx Allen

This 1992 book collects the letters written by Groucho Marx to his daughter Miriam. Miriam is Groucho's daughter by his first wife Ruth, and the letters, covering the years 1938 to 1967, encompass all three of his marriages. Some of the earlier letters were written when Groucho was traveling and Miriam was at home in Beverly Hills, but the majority date from Miriam's years at Bennington College and her subsequent years in New York City and Topeka, Kansas.

Groucho was fortunate to have his career revitalized by the quiz show "You Bet Your Life" at a time when his brothers' careers were essentially over. His personal life didn't go nearly so well, but it was brightened, it seems, by the birth of his daughter Melinda. Miriam's life too is a mess for much of this book, although that isn't very clear to the reader at first.

Readers of The Groucho Letters know that Groucho wrote very well and very entertainingly. The letters to Miriam are of a more personal nature, and Groucho isn't trying to be funny all the time. Because of this, we get a very intimate look at this superb comedian and, yes, man of letters.

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Groucho's Glasses

These iconic wire rim glasses belonging to Groucho Marx were worn by the comedian in "A Night at the Opera" (1935) and "A Day at the Races" (1937), as well as elsewhere. They went on the auction block last week at Profiles in History with a pre-sale estimate of $20,000-$30,000. They were sold for the eyebrow-raising price of $70,000 plus a buyer's premium of $16,100, a fitting tribute to the legendary comedian.

Groucho Marx's Wire Rim Eyeglasses

http://bid.profilesinhistory.com/GROUCHO-MARX-A-NIGHT-AT-THE-OPERA-WIRE-RIM-EYE-GLASSES_i13427503

Groucho Marx, Publicity Still for "Go West" (1940)

http://bid.profilesinhistory.com/GROUCHO-MARX-A-NIGHT-AT-THE-OPERA-WIRE-RIM-EYE-GLASSES_i13427503

Groucho Marx "A Night at the Opera" Wire Rim Eyeglasses, Profiles in History Auction Listing

http://bid.profilesinhistory.com/GROUCHO-MARX-A-NIGHT-AT-THE-OPERA-WIRE-RIM-EYE-GLASSES_i13427503

Groucho Marx's Wire Rim Eyeglasses

http://bid.profilesinhistory.com/GROUCHO-MARX-A-NIGHT-AT-THE-OPERA-WIRE-RIM-EYE-GLASSES_i13427503

Marx Brothers -

A Night at the Opera, 

Funniest Scene

Note:  I last mentioned Groucho Marx here.

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Chwast's Groucho

Seymour Chwast is a superb graphic designer and a founder of Push Pin Studios. His limited edition serigraph of comedian Groucho Marx from the 1980's recently sold on eBay is new to me. Groucho's features are simplified into geometric shapes. Sharp angles are set against wavy diagonal lines at the top and straight diagonals at the bottom. I like the way Groucho's name is formed from his cigar smoke.

Seymour Chwast, Groucho

 

Seymour Chwast, Groucho, eBay winning bid

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&item=160774512675&nma=true&rt=nc&si=Zv4PhLp6HocGRC23iqci2JeQ2LI%253D&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc#ht_500wt_1413

Seymour Chwast, Groucho, eBay item description

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&item=160774512675&nma=true&rt=nc&si=Zv4PhLp6HocGRC23iqci2JeQ2LI%253D&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc#ht_500wt_1413

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