the marx brothers collection
TRANSCRIPT
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Compiled by Steven Lomazow, M.D.West Orange, New Jersey2010
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Little can be added to the filmography of the Marx Brothers. There are dozens of websites and books devoted to their legacy as icons of American humor.
For over thirty years I have been collecting Marx memorabilia, in particular sheet music, little of which has been documented from the standpoint of completeness and collectability. All values listed are guesstimates based on 2010 value.
This work is a significant addition to the literature. I do not profess it to be complete or without inaccuracy but can state with little doubt that it is, up to now, by far the most comprehensive and graphic depiction of its type.
Steven Lomazow, M.D.West Orange, New Jersey 2010
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With today’s ability to digitally carry thousands of songs around in a pocket, Vaudeville,Tin Pan Alley, and the hey-day of printed sheet music seem quite remote. Published sheet music provides the best documentation of a bygone era in the days prior to the widespread use of phonographs and talking pictures. Much of the cornucopia of musical and lyrical creativity, as is the case for the celluloid of the silent film era and even the kinescopes of early television, would otherwise be lost.
It is a sincere pleasure to be the first to put in one place virtually every piece of music published in conjunction with the career of one of the most celebrated musical comedy teams in the history of entertainment.
Enjoy the show!
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Mother Minnie Palmer was the driving force in the theatrical career of her sons. She had a brief entertainment career of her own and was the sister of Al Shean, of the comedic duo Gallagher and Shean (who were allegedly the model for Neil Simon’sThe Sunshine Boys). Here is an early newsboy photo ($200), the oldest piece in the collection, and a piece of sheet music from the Broadway production of Minnie’s Boy’s ($10), the newest.
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This sheet is the earliest known to contain an image of Julius (Groucho) Marx, and the only one in this work not personally owned.
The first copy to be sold on eBay went for an astronomical $5700, surely a record for a single piece of sheet music.
There are a few other copies known.
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Three early sheets from Groucho’s solo vaudeville career. Farewell Killarney ($100) is not uncommon, both Cobb & Edwards titles are rare ($500).
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Another exquisitely rare and early sheet, worth on the order of $1500.
Only a few copies known.
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A 1911 sheet of a song written by Chico (by the way pronounced “chick-o” after his well known success with and fondness for females as a
“chicken-chaser”) and a back cover from a 1915 issue of Variety documenting the participation of mother Minnie and Uncle Al.
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The earliest sheets to depict the brothers. Groucho has been joined by his older brothers Chico (Leonard) and Arthur (Harpo) and the younger Gummo (Milton). All are scarce ($300)
The two other songs mentioned did not portray the brothers. One shown at left, the other located in the collection of the University of Louisville
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The easiest to obtain of all the pre-movie sheets ($75).
From left of right:Harpo, Gummo, Chico, Groucho
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Program for the little remembered On the Balcony (1923)
1925 Judge cover
1920exit Gummo, enter Zeppo
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Strangely devoid of the names of the featureentertainers, “Only You” is the most common ($30). All others are very scarce ($100+)
A sheet featuring the orchestra ($10)
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The second successful Broadway production. For the first time a British edition is seen.
“A Little Bungalow” is by far the most common ($15). All others are scarce to very rare. (100-$400+).
See, Donald J. Stubblebine. Broadway Sheet Music: A Comprehensive Listing of Published Music From Broadway and Other Stage Shows, 1918-1993 (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1996), p. 58. For information about all the music, including unpublished songs, see Krasker, Tommy. Catalog of the American musical: musicals of Irving Berlin, George & Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart (Washington, D.C.: National Institute for Opera and Musical Theater, 1988)
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There are eighteen titles listed on the song sheets. Eleven probably exist in individual sheets.The original 1925 production1. A Little Bungalow2. Five O’clock Tea3. Florida By the Sea4. Lucky Boy5. The Monkey Doodle-Doo6. Tango Melody7. We Should Care
1926 summer production1. Everyone in the World is Doing the Charleston2. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes3. Ting-a Ling the Bells’ll Ring4. Why Do You Want to Know Why?
Others that possibly exist (information as per Berlin, Kimball and Emmet, The Complete Lyrics of Irving Berlin, Alfred A. Knopf, 2001)
1. My Family Reputation- professional edition only2. A Hit With the Ladies-unpublished3. When We’re Running a Little Hotel of Our Own- used in Philadelphia and Boston and dropped4. Minstrel Days- unpublished5. Take ‘im Away- unpublished, dropped during rehearsals6. With a Fam’ly Reputation- professional edition only7. Can You Tell- unpublished8. There Blaming the Charleston- listed as published in 1925 but not seen9. What’s There About Me- unpublished, dropped during rehearsals
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1.Watching the Clouds Roll By2. Waiting3. Long Island Low Down4. Who’s Been List’ning to My Heart
The third musical comedy. Four song sheets known.“Watching the Clouds Roll By” is common ($25)All others are rare ($200)
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The only song sheet from the movieQuite common ($5)
Poster and lobby card not in collection
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No title card for this movie. This is the only scene card to show three brothers. Only one song sheet from the movie ($20) though “I’m Daffy Over You” later appeared in conjunction with a radio program. Surprisingly, a song from this movie “Hello, I Must Be Going” quite often reprised by Groucho in concerts and television appearances, has never appeared on sheet music.
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No music published from the film
poster and lobby card not in collection
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One song ($25) and a great TIME cover featuring a scene from the movie ($100)
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A rare 1933 sheet of a songoriginally used in Animal Crackers ($500)
A revised 1936 version of the 1920 song ($150)
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French Magazine 1937
No music sheets publishedfrom the movie
Poster and lobby card not in collection
The last Paramount production
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The first MGM movie and the beginning of the association with the renowned illustrator Harry Hirschfeld.
Two songs published. Alone is very common, both versions, with or without the brother’s picture ($2).
Cosi Cosa is scarce ($40).
Australian American
British French
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Australian
British
American
Four songs and a complete songbook ($50) published
1.Blue Venetian Waters ($4)2. Tomorrow is Another Day ($4)3. A Message From the Man in the Moon ($25)4. All God’s Chillin Got Rhythm ($25)
Poster not in collection
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Jumping butterballs! No music published for this movie.
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Lydia the Tattooed Lady is perhaps the most celebrated of all Marx Brothers tunes ($250)Also, Two Blind Loves ($150). American, British and Australian versions exist.
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One song ($250)
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Two Songs. ($200)
The last MGM production
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One Song ($20)
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One song. Quite scarce ($200)
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Two sheets from Harpo’s musical career ($50) and a rare concert program ($100)
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Three Chico song sheets ($50)
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This rare ($500) sheet of the famous song from Animal Crackers was not published until 1956.
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1971 interview