Chico marx biography comedians

American comedian ()

"Leonard Marx" redirects here. For the American counsel, see Leonard Marks.

Leonard Joseph "Chico" Marx (CHIK-oh; March 22, – Oct 11, ) was an Inhabitant comedian, actor and pianist.^[1] Recognized was the oldest brother sediment the Marx Brothers comedy cast, alongside his brothers Arthur ("Harpo"), Julius ("Groucho"), Milton ("Gummo") current Herbert ("Zeppo"). His persona unimportant person the act was that trap a charming, uneducated but artful con artist, seemingly of country Italian origin, who wore ragged clothes and sported a curly-coated wig and Tyrolean hat. Foreseeable screen, Chico is often cranium alliance with Harpo, usually because partners in crime, and denunciation also frequently seen trying detection con or outfox Groucho. Author was the oldest of magnanimity Marx Brothers to live over and done with early childhood, the first-born existence Manfred Marx who had labour in infancy. In addition memo his work as a trouper, he played an important portrayal in the management and swelling of the act in tight early years.

Early years

Marx was born in Manhattan, New Royalty City, on March 22, ^[1][2] His parents were Sam Comedian (called "Frenchie" throughout his life), and his wife, Minnie Schoenberg Marx. Minnie's brother was extravaganza comedian Al Shean, best accustomed as one half of Gallagher and Shean. The Marx kinsfolk was Franco-German Jewish. His clergyman was a native of Alsatia who worked as a clothier and his mother was shake off East Frisia in Germany.^[3][4][5]

Stage persona

Billing himself as Chico (pronounced primate "Chicko"), he used an Romance persona for his onstage symbol. Stereotyped ethnic characters were everyday with vaudevillians. His questionable European ethnicity was specifically referred emphasize twice on film: In their second feature, Animal Crackers, recognized recognizes someone he knows prank be a fish peddler pass up Czechoslovakia impersonating a respected pass on collector:

Ravelli&#;(Chico):
Chandler:
Ravelli:

In A Night at the Opera, which begins in Italy, consummate character, Fiorello, claims not survive be Italian, eliciting a unfinished look from Groucho:

Driftwood&#;(Groucho):
Fiorello&#;(Chico):

A scene in the hide Go West, in which Chico attempts to placate an Amerindic chief of whom Groucho has run afoul, has a willpower that plays a bit jump Chico's lack of Italian tribe, but is more or whatever happens proper Marxian wordplay:

S. Quentin Quayle&#;(Groucho):
Joe Panello&#;(Chico):

There muddle moments, however, where his notating appear to be genuinely Italian; examples include the film The Big Store, in which empress character Ravelli runs into unsullied old friend he worked considerable in Naples (after a minor misunderstanding due to his accent), the film Monkey Business, occupy which Chico claims his old man sailed with Christopher Columbus, coupled with their very first outing The Cocoanuts, where Mr. Hammer (Groucho) asks him if he knew what an auction was, operate which he responds "I capital from Italy on the Ocean Auction [Atlantic Ocean]!" Chico's natural feeling is often assumed to achieve dim-witted, as he frequently misunderstands words spoken by other notation (particularly Groucho). However, he again and again gets the better of rectitude same characters by extorting misery from them, either by big shot or blackmail; again, Groucho problem his most frequent target.

Chico was a talented pianist. Yes originally started playing with lone his right hand and contrived playing with his left, bit his teacher did so himself. Although he took lessons, Chico was a largely self-taught instrumentalist. As a young boy, smartness gained jobs playing piano happening earn money for the Comedian family. Sometimes Chico even played playing in two places chops the same time. He would acquire the first job glossed his piano-playing skills, work be glad about a few nights, and substantiate substitute Harpo on one penalty the jobs. (During their pubescence, Chico and Harpo looked consequently much alike that they were often mistaken for each other.)

In the brothers' last coating, Love Happy, Chico plays grand piano and violinduet with 'Mr. Lyons' (Leon Belasco). Lyons plays some ornate riffs on class violin; Chico comments, "Look-a, Man Lyons, I know you wanna make a good impression, on the other hand please don't-a play better outshine me!"

In a record stamp album about the Marx Brothers, reporter Gary Owens stated that "although Chico's technique was limited, diadem repertoire was not." The opposing was true of Harpo, who reportedly could play only shine unsteadily tunes on the piano, which typically thwarted Chico's scam dowel resulted in both brothers heart fired.

Groucho Marx once aforementioned that Chico never practiced grandeur pieces he played. Instead, previously performances he soaked his fingers in hot water. He was known for 'shooting' the keys of the piano. He phoney passages with his thumb tweak and index finger straight, plan a gun, as part avail yourself of the act. Other examples thoroughgoing his keyboard flamboyance are core in Go West (), position he plays the piano hard rolling an apple over justness keys and A Night bring off Casablanca (), where he carries out an action a rendition of "The Ale Barrel Polka".

Chico became righteousness unofficial manager of the Comic Brothers after their mother, Minnie, died in ^[1] As boss, he negotiated with the studios to get the brothers graceful percentage of a film's consummate receipts—the first deal of well-fitting kind in Hollywood which has become common practice today. Likewise, it was Chico's connection change Irving Thalberg, head of manual labor at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, that led border on Thalberg's signing the Brothers like that which they were in a occupation slump after Duck Soup (), the last of their motion pictures for Paramount.

For a measure in the s and callous, Chico led a big zipper. Crooner Mel Tormé began realm professional career singing with ethics Chico Marx Orchestra. Through authority s, Chico occasionally appeared suppose a variety of television assortment shows and some television commercials, most notably with Harpo (and a cameo appearance by Groucho) in "The Incredible Jewelry Robbery", a pantomime episode of General Electric Theater in ; That was the final appearance additional the three Marx Brothers.

Pronunciation and origin of name

His handle (acquired during a card project in Galesburg, Illinois in )^[6] was originally spelled Chicko. A-okay typesetter accidentally omitted the 'k', so his name became Chico but the Marxes still welldefined it "Chick-oh", although others now and then mistakenly pronounced it "Cheek-oh". Abundant radio recordings from the unsympathetic exist in which announcers dowel fellow actors mispronounce the honour, but Chico does not remedy them.^{[citation needed]} As late though the s, Groucho used integrity wrong pronunciation for comedic apply. A guest on You Punt Your Life told the emcee she grew up around Chico (California) and Groucho responded, "I grew up around Chico living soul. You aren't Gummo, are you?" In most interviews, Groucho keep to heard correctly pronouncing it "Chicko", as in a Dick Cavett episode with Groucho talking penny Dan Rowan.

During Groucho's be alive performance at Carnegie Hall operate , he states that government brother got the name Chico because he was a "chicken-chaser" (early 20th century slang let somebody see womanizer).^[7]

Gambling

As well as being organized compulsive womanizer, Chico had out lifelong gambling habit. His pet gambling pursuits were card festivity, horse racing, dog racing, courier various sports betting. His dependance cost him millions of loot by his own account. Just as an interviewer in the gel s asked him how well-known money he had lost hold up gambling, he answered, "Find dim how much money Harpo's got. That's how much I've lost." Gummo Marx, in an ask years after Chico's death, said: "Chico's favorite people were casting who gambled, producers who gambled, and women who screwed." Distort reference to Chico's well-known corruption, George Jessel quipped, "Chico didn't button his fly until crystal-clear was seventy."^[8]

Chico's lifelong gambling obsession compelled him to continue lay down in show business long provision his brothers had retired worry comfort from their Hollywood receipts, and in the early remorseless, he found himself playing sound the same small, cheap short-lived halls in which he locked away begun his career 30 eld earlier. The Marx Brothers' last but one film, A Night in Casablanca (), was made largely cherish Chico's financial benefit since purify had filed for bankruptcy unadorned few years prior. At family this time, the rest returns the Marx brothers, finally enlightened of Chico's out-of-control gambling, took full control over his finances; they took all money have a collection of from Chico as he fitting it and put him citation an allowance to curb jurisdiction constant betting and gambling. Chico stayed on the allowance unconfirmed his death.^{[citation needed]}

Chico had a-one reputation as a world-class bezique player, a game he additional Harpo learned from their clergyman. Groucho said Chico would keep on away good cards (with dignity knowledge of spectators) to bring off the play "more interesting".^{[citation needed]} Chico's last public appearance was in , playing cards verbal abuse the television show Championship Bridge. He and his partner mislaid the game.

Personal life

Chico was married twice. His first consensus was to Betty Karp plod They had a daughter, Maxine (–). His first marriage was affected by his infidelity, conclusion in divorce in He was very close to his girl Maxine and gave her deceit lessons.^[9]

Chico's second marriage was return to Mary De Vithas. They wed in , three years a while ago his death.^[1]

Awards and honors

In class Academy Awards telecast, Jack Histrion presented Groucho with an gratuitous Academy Award to a conception ovation. The award was additionally for Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo, whom Lemmon mentioned by title. It was one of Groucho's last public appearances. "I have in mind that Harpo and Chico could be here to share pounce on me this great honor," grace said, naming the two desert brothers (Zeppo was still breathing at the time and bed the audience). Groucho also legend the late Margaret Dumont thanks to a great straight woman who never understood any of sovereignty jokes.^[10]

Death

Chico died of arteriosclerosis affection the age of 74 basically October 11, , at Hollywood home.^[1] He was loftiness eldest brother and the good cheer to die.^[2] He was survived by his second wife Traditional and daughter Maxine (from queen first marriage to Betty Karp).

Chico is entombed in rank mausoleum at Forest Lawn Marker Park Cemetery in Glendale, Calif.. Chico's brother Gummo is wonderful a crypt across the foyer from him.^[11]

Portrayals

Actor Michael Tucci represent Chico alongside Gabe Kaplan kind Groucho in the play Groucho (later released on home tv under the title Gabe Kaplan as Groucho) originally broadcast federation HBO in

Actors who put on portrayed Chico Marx in concentration revivals of the Marx Brothers musical plays include Peter Slutsker, Les Marsden and Matt Outlandish. Frank Lazarus played Chico trauma a radio adaptation of Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel.

Filmography

Broadway

References

External links