Born to Minnie and Sam Marrix (which was anglicized to Marx), The Marx Brothers included Chico (Leonard) 1887-1961, Harpo (Adolph Arthur) 1888-1964, Groucho (Julius) 1890-1977, Gummo (Milton) 1892-1977, and Zeppo (Herbert) 1901-1979.

Groucho debuted as a singer in vaudeville in 1905, joined by Gummo in 1907 and Harpo in 1908. By 1912, they had become a comedy act with Harpo as a mute harp player. Gummo left to serve in World War One and Chico and Zeppo joined the act.

Under Groucho’s creative direction, with Chico as business manager, they began playing Broadway. They became stars during the 1924-1925 run of I’ll Say She Is, written by Will B. Johnstone and Tom Johnstone.

Noted playwright George S. Kaufman (1989-1961) collaborated with composer Irving Berlin (1888-1989) and the brothers on The Cocoanuts in 1925-1926 and with Morrie Ryskind and Harry Ruby on Animal Crackers in 1928-1929. Both were huge hits on Broadway, leading to a film contract with Paramount.

The movie version of Cocoanuts was released in 1929 and Animal Crackers was released in 1930. The films introduced Margaret Dumont (1882-1965) as a wealthy high society widow wooed and insulted by Groucho, a regular feature in their subsequent pictures.

Monkey Businesscame out in 1931, followed by Horse Feathers in 1932 and Duck Soup in 1933.

After Zeppo left to become an agent, the three Marx Brothers (Groucho, Chico and Harpo) would go on to more films including A Night At The Opera in 1935, A Day At The Races in 1937, Room Service in 1938, and At The Circus in 1939.

Even after their movie days were done, Groucho’s fame continued as host of the popular game show You Bet Your Life. Created by John Guedel, the show first aired on NBC radio in 1947, then on TV from October 5, 1950 to June 29, 1961.