fbpx
Wikipedia

Gummo Marx

January 01, 1970

Milton "Gummo" Marx (October 23, 1892 – April 21, 1977) was an American vaudevillian performer, actor, comedian, and theatrical agent.[1] He was the second youngest of the five Marx Brothers. Born in Manhattan, he worked with his brothers on the vaudeville circuit, leaving the act when he was drafted into the US Army in 1918 during World War I and replaced by his brother Zeppo. He had no taste for the theatre and became a successful businessman.

Gummo Marx
Gummo at a reunion of his brothers on the Tonight Show
Born
Milton Marx

(1892-10-23)October 23, 1892
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedApril 21, 1977(1977-04-21) (aged 84)
Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Glendale, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Vaudevillian
  • actor
  • comedian
  • theatrical agent
Years active1899−1960
Spouse
Helen von Tilzer
​
​
(m. 1929; died 1976)​
Children1
Parent(s)Sam "Frenchie" Marx
Minnie Schönberg
RelativesChico Marx (older brother)
Harpo Marx (older brother)
Groucho Marx (older brother)
Zeppo Marx (younger brother)
Al Shean (maternal uncle)

Early life edit

Marx was born in Manhattan, New York City, on October 23, 1892.[note 1] His parents were Sam Marx (called "Frenchie" throughout his life), and Minnie Schoenberg Marx. Marx's family was Jewish. His mother was from Dornum in East Frisia, and his father was a native of Alsace and worked as a tailor.[2][3][4]

Career edit

 
1913 advertisement for "Green's Reception" at the Greenwall. Left to right, Groucho, Chico, Harpo and Gummo.
 
Gummo Marx in military uniform, 1916

Gummo was the first of his brothers to make his debut on stage, pretending to be a dummy in an act with his uncle Henry Shean (né Heinemann Schoenberg), the brother of Al Shean, in 1899. Milton was put into a costume with a papier-mâché head and pretended to be a dummy while Henry pretended to work him. The act may have only been performed once and was not helped by Shean's deafness or Milton's stammer.[5]

Gummo, who in an interview said he never liked being on stage, left the group and joined the military during World War I. He was not sent overseas because the armistice was signed shortly afterward. Gummo's younger brother Zeppo took his place in the group. After his Army career, Gummo went into the raincoat business.[6] He later joined with Zeppo and operated a theatrical agency.[7] After that collaboration ended, Gummo represented his brother Groucho and worked on the television show The Life of Riley, which he helped develop.

Gummo represented other on-screen talent and a number of writers, and was well-respected as a businessman. He rarely required contracts, believing that if the people he represented liked his work, they would stay with him.[8] Around the time he left his brothers' Vaudeville act, Marx applied for a patent for a clothes-packing rack. On October 28, 1919, Marx was granted patent US1320335A.[9]

Gummo may have received his nickname because he had a tendency to sneak around backstage, creeping up on others like a "gumshoe" private detective. Another explanation cited by biographers and family members is that Milton, the sickliest of the brothers, often wore rubber overshoes, also called "gumshoes", to protect himself in inclement weather.[10] According to Zeppo in a much later BBC TV interview, Gummo may have received his nickname because he was usually chewing gum.[11]

Personal life and death edit

Marx married Helen von Tilzer née Theaman (who had a two-year-old daughter, Karlyn "Kay" von Tilzer, from her previous marriage), on May 3, 1929.;[12] they remained married until her death in January 1976. Their son, Robert Stuart, was born in 1930.[13] Gummo's grandson Gregg Marx is an actor.

 
Crypt of Gummo Marx

Gummo died on April 21, 1977, at his home in Palm Springs, California, aged 84, from a cerebral hemorrhage.[1] His death was never reported to Groucho, who by that time had become so ill and weak that it was thought the news would be a further detriment to his health. Groucho died four months later on August 19, at age 86.

Gummo and his wife Helen are interred next to each other in the Freedom Mausoleum at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.[14] Gummo's brother Chico is in a crypt across the hall from them.

Notes edit

  1. ^ The 1900 United States Census shows his birth as "October 1892". His World War I and World War II draft registrations uses "October 21, 1892". His death certificate and his grave use the year 1893. The documents originating closest to the birth date are usually more accurate.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Gummo Marx, Managed Comedians". New York Times. Reuters. April 22, 1977. p. D19. Retrieved December 15, 2013. Gummo Marx, an original member of the Marx brothers' comedy team, died here today. He was 83 years old.
  2. ^ La famille paternelle des Marx Brothers (in French)
  3. ^ "Mrs. Minnie Marx. Mother of Four Marx Brothers, Musical Comedy Stars, Dies". New York Times. September 16, 1929. p. 27. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  4. ^ "Samuel Marx, Father of Four Marx Brothers of Stage and Screen Fame". New York Times. May 12, 1933. p. 17. Retrieved June 27, 2008.
  5. ^ Bader, Robert S. (2016). Four of the Three Musketeers: The Marx Brothers on Stage. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press. pp. 53–54. ISBN 9780810134164.
  6. ^ , The H. W. Wilson Company, archived from the original on April 26, 2012, retrieved November 29, 2011
  7. ^ Anstey, Robert Graham (June 5, 2017). The Marx Brothers: Their World, Their Movies, Their Lives, Their Humour and Their Legacy. West Coast Paradise Pub. ISBN 9781896779850. Retrieved June 5, 2017 – via Google Books.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ Simon Louvish (2000) Monkey Business: The Lives and Legends of the Marx Brothers. New York: Thomas Dunne, 337–8. ISBN 0-312-25292-7
  9. ^ Patent US1320335A: Devices facilitating the insertion of articles or materials into bags e.g. guides or chutes, US Patent Office, 1919.
  10. ^ Bader, Robert S. (2016). Four of the Three Musketeers: The Marx Brothers on Stage. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press. p. 170. ISBN 9780810134164.
  11. ^ BBC Archives
  12. ^ Index to New York City Marriages, 1866-1937. Marriage License Date: 3 May 1929; License Number: 10208
  13. ^ "Gummo Marx". Biography.com. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  14. ^ Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries

External links edit

January 01, 1970
gummo, marx, milton, gummo, marx, october, 1892, april, 1977, american, vaudevillian, performer, actor, comedian, theatrical, agent, second, youngest, five, marx, brothers, born, manhattan, worked, with, brothers, vaudeville, circuit, leaving, when, drafted, i. Milton Gummo Marx October 23 1892 April 21 1977 was an American vaudevillian performer actor comedian and theatrical agent 1 He was the second youngest of the five Marx Brothers Born in Manhattan he worked with his brothers on the vaudeville circuit leaving the act when he was drafted into the US Army in 1918 during World War I and replaced by his brother Zeppo He had no taste for the theatre and became a successful businessman Gummo MarxGummo at a reunion of his brothers on the Tonight ShowBornMilton Marx 1892 10 23 October 23 1892New York City New York U S DiedApril 21 1977 1977 04 21 aged 84 Palm Springs California U S Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery Glendale California U S OccupationsVaudevillianactorcomediantheatrical agentYears active1899 1960SpouseHelen von Tilzer m 1929 died 1976 wbr Children1Parent s Sam Frenchie MarxMinnie SchonbergRelativesChico Marx older brother Harpo Marx older brother Groucho Marx older brother Zeppo Marx younger brother Al Shean maternal uncle Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life and death 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editMarx was born in Manhattan New York City on October 23 1892 note 1 His parents were Sam Marx called Frenchie throughout his life and Minnie Schoenberg Marx Marx s family was Jewish His mother was from Dornum in East Frisia and his father was a native of Alsace and worked as a tailor 2 3 4 Career edit nbsp 1913 advertisement for Green s Reception at the Greenwall Left to right Groucho Chico Harpo and Gummo nbsp Gummo Marx in military uniform 1916 Gummo was the first of his brothers to make his debut on stage pretending to be a dummy in an act with his uncle Henry Shean ne Heinemann Schoenberg the brother of Al Shean in 1899 Milton was put into a costume with a papier mache head and pretended to be a dummy while Henry pretended to work him The act may have only been performed once and was not helped by Shean s deafness or Milton s stammer 5 Gummo who in an interview said he never liked being on stage left the group and joined the military during World War I He was not sent overseas because the armistice was signed shortly afterward Gummo s younger brother Zeppo took his place in the group After his Army career Gummo went into the raincoat business 6 He later joined with Zeppo and operated a theatrical agency 7 After that collaboration ended Gummo represented his brother Groucho and worked on the television show The Life of Riley which he helped develop Gummo represented other on screen talent and a number of writers and was well respected as a businessman He rarely required contracts believing that if the people he represented liked his work they would stay with him 8 Around the time he left his brothers Vaudeville act Marx applied for a patent for a clothes packing rack On October 28 1919 Marx was granted patent US1320335A 9 Gummo may have received his nickname because he had a tendency to sneak around backstage creeping up on others like a gumshoe private detective Another explanation cited by biographers and family members is that Milton the sickliest of the brothers often wore rubber overshoes also called gumshoes to protect himself in inclement weather 10 According to Zeppo in a much later BBC TV interview Gummo may have received his nickname because he was usually chewing gum 11 Personal life and death editMarx married Helen von Tilzer nee Theaman who had a two year old daughter Karlyn Kay von Tilzer from her previous marriage on May 3 1929 12 they remained married until her death in January 1976 Their son Robert Stuart was born in 1930 13 Gummo s grandson Gregg Marx is an actor nbsp Crypt of Gummo Marx Gummo died on April 21 1977 at his home in Palm Springs California aged 84 from a cerebral hemorrhage 1 His death was never reported to Groucho who by that time had become so ill and weak that it was thought the news would be a further detriment to his health Groucho died four months later on August 19 at age 86 Gummo and his wife Helen are interred next to each other in the Freedom Mausoleum at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale California 14 Gummo s brother Chico is in a crypt across the hall from them Notes edit The 1900 United States Census shows his birth as October 1892 His World War I and World War II draft registrations uses October 21 1892 His death certificate and his grave use the year 1893 The documents originating closest to the birth date are usually more accurate References edit nbsp Film portal nbsp Biography portal a b Gummo Marx Managed Comedians New York Times Reuters April 22 1977 p D19 Retrieved December 15 2013 Gummo Marx an original member of the Marx brothers comedy team died here today He was 83 years old La famille paternelle des Marx Brothers in French Mrs Minnie Marx Mother of Four Marx Brothers Musical Comedy Stars Dies New York Times September 16 1929 p 27 Retrieved December 15 2013 Samuel Marx Father of Four Marx Brothers of Stage and Screen Fame New York Times May 12 1933 p 17 Retrieved June 27 2008 Bader Robert S 2016 Four of the Three Musketeers The Marx Brothers on Stage Evanston IL Northwestern University Press pp 53 54 ISBN 9780810134164 Current Biography The H W Wilson Company archived from the original on April 26 2012 retrieved November 29 2011 Anstey Robert Graham June 5 2017 The Marx Brothers Their World Their Movies Their Lives Their Humour and Their Legacy West Coast Paradise Pub ISBN 9781896779850 Retrieved June 5 2017 via Google Books permanent dead link Simon Louvish 2000 Monkey Business The Lives and Legends of the Marx Brothers New York Thomas Dunne 337 8 ISBN 0 312 25292 7 Patent US1320335A Devices facilitating the insertion of articles or materials into bags e g guides or chutes US Patent Office 1919 Bader Robert S 2016 Four of the Three Musketeers The Marx Brothers on Stage Evanston IL Northwestern University Press p 170 ISBN 9780810134164 BBC Archives Index to New York City Marriages 1866 1937 Marriage License Date 3 May 1929 License Number 10208 Gummo Marx Biography com Retrieved June 5 2017 Celebrities in Los Angeles CemeteriesExternal links editGummo Marx at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gummo Marx amp oldid 1220329569, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.