The Marx Brothers were a famous comedy group in the 20th century, known for their sight gags and chaotic setups. They started as a singing group on the vaudeville stage, but eventually became successful comedians on Broadway and in movies. The four brothers, Chico, Harpo, Groucho, and Zeppo, were known for their distinctive characters and are considered the greatest comedic gags in the history of the genre. Their legacy in the world of cinema and comedy is enormous.
The Marx Brothers was a famous 20th century comedy. Known for their sight gags and chaotic setups, the brothers’ family made a successful transition from the vaudeville stage to the movies. Chico, Harpo, Groucho and Zeppo are firmly etched in the encyclopedia of American culture as one of the greatest comedy crews in history.
The sons of two Jewish immigrants living in America, Leonard, Adolph, Julius and Herbert Marx, were all propelled into musical careers by their mother, Minnie. From their home on the Upper East Side of New York City, Minnie formed them into a singing group to perform publicly. On the vaudeville stage, the four Marx brothers and their fifth brother, Milton or Gummo Marx, found some success.
Eventually, when they started cracking jokes on stage, the boys realized their potential as comedians. For several years, they played both music and comedy, developing the comedic personas that would become their main characters throughout their careers. Gummo left the troupe to serve in World War I, being replaced permanently by his youngest brother, Herbert, better known as Zeppo Marx.
In the 1920s, the Marx Brothers filled theaters with their rousing comedies. Known for their slapstick gags and detailed characters, the four brothers went on to gain both skill and popularity. They moved their act to Broadway in 1924, starring in several musical reviews and their own shows, Animal Crackers and The Cocoanuts.
From Broadway, the Marx Brothers soon made the leap into the burgeoning motion picture business. Between 1921 and 1933, the four brothers made seven films, which gained enormous popularity. Zeppo left the group in the early 1930s and the other three brothers continued to make films, starring in nine films together and pursuing solo careers as comedians.
The Marx Brothers were well known for their distinctive characters on stage and screen. Julius, called “Groucho” on stage, was famous for his bushy mustache and glasses and constant flow of one-line jokes. Zeppo was the straight man, and often the butt of the jokes. Chico spoke with a country Italian accent, while Harpo was distinguished by his silence and his shiny, curly wig. The characters were created in collaboration with the brothers’ uncle and mentor Al Shean.
The legacy of the Marx Brothers is huge in the world of cinema and comedy. They are considered by many experts to be the greatest comedic gags in the history of the genre. Many modern physical comedians credit the Marx Brothers as mentors and inspirations, and the world of comedy would be unspeakably different without their influence and many recorded works.
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