Breaking Harpo Marx's Silence

If Groucho was the witty Marx Brother, Harpo was without a doubt the wild one. His persona of the silent lunatic who runs around wreaking havoc is one of the most instantly recognizable characters in movie history. But just who was the man behind the character? The answer to that is much different than people realize.
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[@michaelsullivan3581]

On a Saturday, two consecutive years, before I was 10 years old, my mother took me to my City's Municipal Auditorium. Where she dropped me off. Only kids were allowed inside. There, Harpo Marx conducted a 50 piece orchestra in a celebration of musical artistry! It was truly spectacular. Harpo was the master of ceremonies. He spoke throughout the entire show. He introduced us to all of the instruments and artists. He, himself, gave a quick tutorial on the playing of each instrument. Yes, all of them! Then helped all to see how all the instrumentation were properly meshed sonically to perform orchestral pieces. It was a phenomenal show and incredibly entertaining and educational. Of course, the entire event was infused with Harpo's innate sense of humor! The highlight for me was, as he led the orchestra in playing a complex song, without missing a beat of his baton, proceeded to pull out of his pocket a set of 'wind up chattering teeth', which he placed on his dais chattering away. He continued to bring out another and another. Winding them up and setting them to chatter. He eventually brought out what seemed like 30 pairs of wind up teeth. He covered his dais, and placed many of them surrounding him on the floor. Of course, he would immediately grab and rewind any pair the moment it wound down! It was an impossibly funny scene with him making his astounding faces throughout! The whole show was so memorable as to be one of the highlights of my highlight filled life! Harpo apparently did this concert series all over the USA for at least the two years that I was lucky to see him! He will always be one of my heroes!

[@michaelshultz2540]

What a wonderful experience ❤️

[@vickiboyer7169]

What a fantastic opportunity you were given, which in turn became an awesome lifetime memory. Lucky You!

[@WVAlmostHeaven]

So you were 8 years old when this happened... since it was 2 years before you turned 10? I have to say I'm not sure what you meant by that. But it's funny. 😂

[@sheridanclaude2133]

@@WVAlmostHeaven What Michael meant is his mother dropped him off for 2 years in a row before he turned 10, to see the show when it was in his area. 😅

[@SparkyTuttle]

What a beautiful moment in time. Thank you for letting us share your memory. I honestly wish that today's youth had that same innocent curiosity along with the ability to focus on something so informative. I also wish we had someone like Harpo , with extraordinary talent, to engage the minds of those same youth. Again, thank you for sharing.

[@raymondmartin318]

He was an angel....virtually everyone that met him, knew him, said he was the kindest soul going...talented and superbly funny.... A true genius in so many ways.

[@janebaker966]

That's so nice to know.

[@philipskalla4312]

Groucho said during an interview that he 'was an angel'.

[@winstonelston5743]

@@philipskalla4312 Groucho's son Arthur said the only time he ever saw Groucho cry was at Harpo's funeral.

[@victormalyar9200]

@@philipskalla4312 who is? Everyone has a dark side, Groucho's favorite brother was Gummo who never starred in movies.

[@terrysikes6638]

In "Why a Duck?," Groucho said Harpo never lacked money when he retired. He took Hollywood producers golfing and invited them to play cards. He was such a talent at cards and a great golfer, and everyone lost money to him. The producers didn't mind, though. Harpo was so entertaining they enjoyed it.

[@retroguy9494]

Harpo was actually quite wealthy. He had a very large home on an even larger piece of property in Palm Springs which was his main residence. In fact, Edward R Murrow did one of his 'Person to Person' shows about Harpo and his place was so large that he used a golf cart to get around on his own property!

[@janebaker966]

That's so funny and quite heart warming,

[@lindawhite1869]

They made the last couple of movies because Chico (a gambling addict) needed the money

[@PeteOtton]

@@lindawhite1869 Unfortunately they tried to do a TV series but Chico's heart was too poor to do a series. I don't know why they didn't finish the pilot.

[@benoitpellet1657]

@@lindawhite1869Indeed. Especially « A Night in Casablanca », done solely for that purpose. Still a pretty good film - maybe not top Marx Brothers stuff, but still has its good laughs.

[@Georgie63]

My grandmother was his housekeeper. She said he was a very pleasant man.

[@gaylasmith5279]

So glad to read this!

[@Deam7666]

Aaaaaa!!! That’s amazing❣️Thank you for sharing that. Must be pretty damn neat to have something like that in your family history 🥰

[@peterlewis6324]

Should be a movie about him, Harpo was super special.

[@retroguy9494]

Was this after he moved to Palm Springs? Or beforehand?

[@TnseWlms]

I suppose people ask you if Harpo spoke to your grandmother.

[@rightlyso8507]

By all accounts, Harpo was a truly good man. I remember hearing his actual voice. He sounded like his brother, Chico.

[@lovealways2609]

chico was so cool.. the females really liked him, too

[@PeteOtton]

@@lovealways2609 Unfortunately he was a gambling addict and was often insolvent.

[@glamgal7106]

I heard Harpo's voice on a recording--he had the New York accent. He talked about playing the piano in a brothel and "keeling over" because he got sick very sick. The doctor had came in when he fell over and mentioned that he had the measles. The brothel owner said something like, "Get that SOB out of here; I don't want any sick J**s here." What a horrible thing for Harpo to experience.

[@solgoode1]

@@lovealways2609 haha Chico the chicken chaser, is what they called him.

[@boydovens4180]

For someone that did not speak , His acting and humour spoke volumes .

[@BeeWhistler]

So did his autobiography. Which I recommend since this video got so much wrong.

[@davidmiller4078]

Thats Art for you !

[@gtaylor6937]

What an amazing story! So many wonderful qualities to this man. To hear that he and his wife had such a long, happy marriage - that doesn't happen unless you are a good man.

[@tinygrim]

And woman. Takes two ❤

[@jegsthewegs]

I think that it's WONDERFUL to know he had a contented, sustaining and happy marriage. So heartwarming 🕊️

[@chelittle6433]

That doesn't happen unless she is a good woman. A rare and almost extinct thing these days.

[@Maldoror200]

@gtaylor.., Verry nicely spoken.., I do agree. Wholeheartedly..!!

[@Maldoror200]

​@@tinygrim..HaaHaa !!, Damn Right.., It takes 2 to equal 1 in this World 🌎/ Universe.., (..a little LOVE, and some Faith definitely helps..)~Peace, K

[@gaylasmith5279]

That bit he and Lucy did is such a classic. Absolutely brilliant!❤

[@jay-day]

13:45 a hilarious clip pf Lucy vs Harpo

[@retroguy9494]

Yes it was! And almost perfectly executed by her as well. It really showed off Lucy's talent. Harpo had suffered a heart attack prior to that episode and his doctor's had advised him not to do the show until he was more recovered. However, he ignored their advice and did it anyway.

[@scubadiva666]

It's the only reason a lot of people know about Harpo.

[@jay-day]

@@scubadiva666 I'd respectfully disagree. Anyone who's seen a Marx Bros movie knows who Harpo was.

[@scubadiva666]

@@jay-dayI wasn't referring to the people who know the Marx Brothers; nowadays, people think Karl was the unfunny Marx Brother!

[@honodle7219]

Harpo was a rare talent. A real pleasure to watch in the old movies.

[@yankee2666]

Harpo was the only actor in history that never flubbed a line.

[@geneard639]

I remember Harpo passing. Jimmy Durante was the star of the Kellog's Morning Show and he spoke tearfully of his passing. damn, I'm old.

[@theaboucher8884]

Really! Makes me feel so old too, but how lucky we lived in those times! I’m so glad I grew up when I did!

[@michaelszczys8316]

There is a KZbin video of an old Saturday TV show on golf with Sam Snead where Sam plays a round with a celebrity and in this one the celebrity is Harpo Marx. Harpo shows his odd method of putting between his legs. Probably from the croquet playing described here.

[@sheilagravely5621]

Me too.😢

[@retroguy9494]

WOW and I thought I was old! Harpo died the year I was born! LOL

[@petejones879]

​@@retroguy9494well I must be ancient lol I was nearly 10 the year he died

[@AndrewLoukidis-jr2bp]

His brilliant harp playing was a huge influence on my guitar playing What a talent

[@TnseWlms]

He was a great harp player, but I always felt his contractual obligation harp pieces in each film strayed from the zany comedy theme.

[@waukivorycopse2402]

" When Harpo played his harp, it was a dream it was. Well, if someone else can do it, how come nobody does..." - J. Richman, 1988.

[@voronOsphere]

​@@TnseWlms As a young, wannabe musician, I cherished his harp playing in the films. I was always amazed at how serious his face would get, during those scenes. It probably is odd that they weren't really part of the comedy, but I loved the scenes, anyway.

[@TnseWlms]

@@voronOsphere I liked Chico's piano pieces, and that even inspired me to teach myself to play On the Beach at Bora Bora.

[@cc1k435]

I am imagining you as some kind of one-man band, guitar strummed in an upright position, with an old top hat on your head and car horn on your belt. That's influence. 😂

[@cynthiastrawson3316]

My father used to bring reels and projector home so that we could watch the Marx brothers just as he did when young. So enjoyed the antics, a precious childhood memory. What a talented set of brothers!

[@laurab9867]

Mother Marx made sure they 'develop" talent.. know what I mean? 😄

[@stewartfenton7660]

​@@laurab9867no

[@Maldoror200]

@cynthiastrawson..Woww.., Sounds Sooo Fun..!!! 😂👌~Peace, K

[@marmap100]

Marx bros marathons used to be shown every New Years Eve and I loved watching them as a kid.

[@melissacooper8724]

I recently came across a Marx Brothers movie marathon on New Years Day 2024. It was on the Turner Classic Channel.

[@2012Ursula]

A fab tradition; it should be observed around the world.

[@CabinFever52]

I could always count on my dad to tune to the classics that came on whenever they did.

[@DrLesleyStevens]

Can we get that back please!

[@SenzaMotiva]

⚡RITUAL here in SoCal 1980s

[@jamesc7277]

After all that (mostly accurate) information, the simple reason Harpo didn’t speak was that he didn’t talk as fast as his brothers, he was a brilliant physical comedian, and it was decided he would stay mute.

[@sheilamacdougal4874]

Thanks. I was looking for this comment to save watching the click bait vid.

[@kellywalker1664]

Stage aesthetics be weird like that. Teller of Penn & Teller was mute because it confused hecklers in the early days. It also made him stand out with the much taller and louder Penn.

[@plan7a]

It was my understanding - at least according to another video I've seen/heard (so to speak) that he also didn't speak due to his very strong accent. Just what I remember, anyway.

[@sheilamacdougal4874]

@@plan7a Strong accent of what? He was born and raised in New York.

[@kim5him]

how about the Bronx @@sheilamacdougal4874

[@beekind6267]

I loved Harpo in the I love Lucy episode. He played the harp so beautifully and delicately. It was wonderful. ❤

[@jdsnyc]

First thing I thought of was that! It's my favorite ever episode on "I ♥️ Lucy"!

[@beekind6267]

@@jdsnyc 🤗🤗🤗🥰🥰

[@Frankie5Angels150]

“Nobody cares about Zeppo…” A gifted engineer and entrepreneur, Herbert “Zeppo” Mark invented the Marmon clamp, still used today to hold radiator hoses and pressure tanks together. Marmon clamps were also used on the first atomic bomb casings. More of his designs were integral in winning World War II a as well as the Cold War. The youngest of the brothers, Herbert was far and away the most versatile, playing guitar like Julius “Groucho”, piano like Leonard “Chico”, and Harp like… well, you know. He often filled in for his brothers on tour when one of them was ill or otherwise indisposed. After one such fill-in for Groucho, Julius told a theater critic that “I’d let him do my part of the act every time but they won’t let me smoke my cigar in the audience.” So… somebody cares… just not you.

[@sharonviale8423]

Hahahah.....thank you!

[@BeeWhistler]

Well done. If this video had been made with half the intelligence Zeppo brought to his efforts, it might actually be 3/4 more accurate.

[@frankmagadan-bv5dh]

"no one cared about zeppo" ..was just wrong 😂😂😂

[@jeannewillard8675]

@@BeeWhistlermom l look😊

[@jeannewillard8675]

​

[@zelly8163]

Words from the Horsefeather's mouth: So my little bungalow in the Garden of Allah was a peaceful retreat. It was the best place to practice I ever had-until a piano player moved into a bungalow across from mine and shattered the peace. I was looking forward to a solid weekend of practice, without interruptions, when my new neighbor started to bang away. I couldn’t hear anything below a forte on the harp. There were no signs the piano banging was going to stop. It only got more overpowering. This character was warming up for a solid weekend of practice too. I went to the office to register a complaint. One of us had to go, I said, and it wasn’t going to be me because I was there first. But the management didn’t see it my way. The new guest, whose playing was driving me nuts, was Sergei Rachmaninoff. They were not about to ask him to move. I was flattered to have such a distinguished neighbor, but I still had to practice. So I got rid of him my own way. I opened the door and all the windows in my place and began to play the first four bars of Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C-sharp Minor, over and over, fortissimo. Two hours later my fingers were getting numb. But I didn’t let up, not until I heard a thunderous crash of notes from across the way, like the keyboard had been attacked with a pair of sledge hammers. Then there was silence. This time it was Rachmaninoff who went to complain. He asked to be moved to another bungalow immediately, the farthest possible from that dreadful harpist. Peace returned to the Garden. I didn’t really know until much later how sharp my intuition had been. I found out that the great pianist and composer detested his Prelude in C-sharp Minor. He considered it a very Minor piece of work. He was haunted by it everywhere he went, by students who butchered it and by audiences who clamored for it, and he wished he’d never written it. After playing the damn thing nonstop for two hours I knew exactly how he felt.. ps thanks for who doesn't love Harpo

[@BeeWhistler]

@susanivy3619Oh, it actually happened, but not the way the video told it. I’m not sure why they felt the need to suggest they were long time neighbors and other trivial inaccuracies. But every story was peppered with them.

[@VictoriaJarvis-c1k]

Wonderful tale. Thanks!

[@bobdionne4625]

I kept expecting addiction, corruption, greed or abuse. But no. He just lived a good life

[@micheleparker3780]

I enjoyed this video. I didn't think it was clickbait at all. It told me a lot that I didn't know about Harpo Marx, and I think his whole life was tragic in so many was - imagine, as a child in second grade, being thrown out a second story window by your "peers". I'd never have come back, either. As a matter of fact, after being relentlessly bullied from kindergarten on, one recess (I think it may have been when I was in 2nd grade) I simply walked home. Unfortunately, my mother was off work that day and brought me back. On a separate day, I remember telling my mother that I didn't think I needed anymore schooling - I could read, write, and do math - wasn't that enough? Because I certainly had enough of my classmates despising me for no reason (other than jealousy, which I didn't know about at the time). The bullying and lack of support in stopping it from my family made me feel quite unimportant, unloved, a feeling that strongly influenced the rest of my life and I'm 65 now. Harpo did a hell of a lot better in life than I ever did. God bless and godspeed to him.😢

[@wendymuir7818]

I'm so sorry this happened to you. Please accept this hug from a stranger on the internet. {{{ you }}}

[@MsDormy]

Bless you Michelle… my brother walked out of his school aged seven - he was half way home when our auntie spotted him, and took him back to school… poor little lad. They were sadists there - they beat the boys and relentlessly mocked my brother - this is the head teacher, not the other children. My parents and auntie never thought to wonder why he had tried to escape. That school damaged my brother terribly. You know, success isn’t just being rich or famous, it’s being kind, and loved and trying to do the best you can. Im sure Harpo would agree. 🙏

[@deborahpoppell1990]

I also remember walking home the first day of school at recess. Terribly upsetting for me to realize how long the school day actually was. 😢

[@KassiusFineArt]

Louise Hay said we choose our lives. Some of us choose very sad, challenging lives that we can grow immensely from. I believe it helps us connect with others and comfort them, as we've been through it and understand. What our soul takes from this life goes to help us all.

[@oceansams5886]

You faired better than me! I would get into fights with the boys and girls at school. Which sent me to the principals office numerous times. I had my mouth washed out with the nasty school soap.had spankings. I hated school and the teacher never believed anything I told her about what happened before I got into a fight. The only time I loved school was the time I lived in Washington, DC.I had a Tudor who took me the the zoo , museum, park, Smithsonian, ect. She was a damn good teacher. I had excelled in academics. Rip Ann, you were the best teacher.

[@MondoBeno]

The reason he didn't talk was that he had a very deep voice that didn't match the character. He thought he could do better as a physical comic than a wisecrack.

[@skyscraper14]

Bill Marx, Harpo's son (not Groucho's - to the commenter who said he was) was a big part of my life in the '70s and '80s. He and my mother dated for many years and for all intents and purposes, he was my stepdad and extremely influential in my upbringing. A truly remarkable man and quite the positive father figure, a direct characteristic, I can only imagine he'd acquired from his father. As an example of his and his siblings' adoptions along with all the adopted people I've known my life, I, in turn have adopted my only child. This is the influence of the Marx Bros. outside of entertainment. In case anyone's wondering, my sisters and I are mentioned at the bottom of page 230 in Bill's autobiography, "Son of Harpo Speaks".

[@skyscraper14]

​EllieDYorks​Amen and thank you for the reply. I didn't realize how influential he was until I got older and became a parent myself. One can never have enough good people in one's life. I haven't spoken to him in years, perhaps he's due for a call.

[@voronOsphere]

Great comment!

[@bahoonies]

What a lovely heartwarming story. Thank you for sharing it.

[@rfgiowa]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@VictoriaJarvis-c1k]

Gosh! What are the like to hear from you. Thanks for sharing❤.

[@arlettasloan6453]

4:04 Good gracious ... he is beautiful! Also, with or without the Harpo gear, he reminds me of Martin Short, a lot.

[@63mckenzie]

Apparently it was him and not Chico who had all the women.

[@bwilliams463]

@@63mckenzie Arthur and Leonard (Chico) were nearly identical. It was Chico who got him the piano-playing job at the whorehouse: Chico went and auditioned, then he sent Harpo down to take the job, banking on the Madam not being able to tell him from his brother.

[@boop7313]

ha! classic!@@bwilliams463

[@NWPaul72]

I see Paul Simon in his face.

[@JayCossey]

Like Martin Short, but funny. ;-) (I'm kidding!)

[@TheDacapo1]

I once read that when all the brothers were now living in Beverly Hills with big houses and their film careers mostly over, Harpo received a telegram at home out of nowhere for no reason and for no special occasion. The telegram read “Harpo, no message, Love Groucho”. To this day, the thought of that telegram practically moves me tears. So sweet and memorable and powerful. The way only brothers would understand.

[@Peter-mo4xw]

Read his own book. Minnie never 'forced' her sons to work. They were poor, the boys wanted money to do the things they wanted to do. They had skills, they utilised them. This is such a slanted documentary.

[@hippomancy]

one of my fave Marx Bros performance stories was that during their stage success, they would switch costumes/roles, and the audience did not catch on; they all looked so similar and their exaggerated makeup was enough to convey character...

[@winstonelston5743]

Read his autobiography, _HARPO SPEAKS._ One of his friends called him "...the only normal man in Hollywood..." and pointed out that Harpo didn't have an enemy in the world, had never taken a sleeping pill, never spent an hour on the psychiatrist's couch, that he had been married to the same lady for [however-many] years, that his children were well-adjusted and genuinely loved heir parents, just on-and-on. Then another friend brought up a gag on the golf course tha had resulted in Harpo getting poison ive, let's just say below the waist but well above the knees... Friend one amended his assessment to "...the most normal man in Hollywood."

[@BeeWhistler]

Yeah, folks need to read the book so they can find out how all these stories really happened! They got so much wrong here…

[@gravyboooby]

Harpo Speaks is the best biography I have read, no joke!

[@thechroniclesofnessworld6584]

Gréât book

[@winstonelston5743]

@@thechroniclesofnessworld6584 Harpo's autobiography gives insight into the times when he lived, an understanding of life in New York's tenements in the 1890s and turn of the twentieth century, the houses of ill fame and other less-than-desirable establishments, defenestration and a madcap account of a tonsillectomy, a hard-driving but devoted mother and hard-working father, friendships with the most famous and influential people of his time, an extraordinary story of an extraordinary time, told by an extraordinary man.

[@claireingles-sj6xz]

​@@gravyboooby😂

[@madnessbydesignVria]

What makes his 'physical comedy' so good is how casual and effortless it feels. He's not 'trying', he's just doing what comes naturally to a gifted comedian. Well done, Harpo, well done... :)

[@yohannbiimu]

There is a recording of him speaking and he had a rather deep, low voice which was contrasted heavily with the other three (including Zeppo) brothers' voices. All-in-all I think that Harpo's 'regular act" as the mute anarchist fit him perfectly. I can't imagine him playing another type of character.

[@prschuster]

The words, "beautiful man" usually don't go together, but it works for Harpo.

[@MrBastilleDay]

I see, why do they otherwise not go together?

[@j.dunlop8295]

Absolutely, when children of his brothers' were unhappy they'd go to uncle Arthurs! (He weirdly, awake kids to play with them, not drinking or smoking!)

[@ricktheexplorer]

@@MrBastilleDay I'm a beautiful man; we don't get work or women. Every man is a jealous rival, so no employment. Every woman is jilted as soon as they see me, and will rob me. Beautiful boys used to be killed at 5 years old, and their blood spread across the fields to ensure a good harvest season, in many cultures for thousands of years, hence the Greek Myth of Narcissus, and the custom of 'Passover'. Men aren't usually attractive at all; they are just supposed to be work-horses, and a beautiful man can't do that.

[@GavinsMarineMom]

Daddy issues?

[@prschuster]

@@MrBastilleDay Gender stereotypes usually associate beauty with women, but I see no reason for that association.

[@celestehogan5907]

YesHarpo was an angel. He didn’t really belong here .. thank God we got to witness his wit and wonderful playing of the harp!!! Jus beautiful!!

[@Sonnycorleone162]

I read Harpo Marx had trouble memorizing lines that's why he stayed silent in the Marx Brothers' movies. Harpo's son Bill said- Harpo Marx was a silent man anyway. His real voice was a quiet New York accent. I love the Marx Brothers. They were so funny! Even made my mom laugh when we watched "Duck Soup" together and they were dancing towards the camera! Thanks for the upload.

[@BeeWhistler]

Harpo said it was because of the bad review. It was in his autobiography. It’s not some big mystery.

[@sharonconstan8234]

Harpo is memorable still. Loved his character. Enjoyed the bio!

[@Jan-m5c2r]

"There was Groucho and Chico and Harpo that didn't speako then there was Zeppo and Gummo. Five baby boys we born. Minnie Marx' many mini marxes made us marxist minions all." These lyrics are from The Melody Four's "Thanks to Minnie" from the 10" inch album, "Hello, we must be going" (1987). It's actually a trio and they are so much in tune with the Marx Brothers when playing and singing songs from the movies 🙂Many thanks for this wonderful portrait of Harpo!

[@sherrybirchall8677]

So, why didn't he speak?

[@paolow1299]

Legends the fact that Harpo was a kind and generous person just makes the legend bigger .The brothers are on screen for our enjoyment to this day .

[@hootinouts]

This man is legendary. I always looked forward to his harp playing in the Marx brothers movies.

[@ozwalkr]

He may have stayed silent vocally, but that man could play the floor harp like an angel! He was magnificent at making that harp sound so delicate and then so resounding. Fabulous player.

[@kathleenferguson3296]

My entire high school class practiced the face he called "the googie". We treated our history teacher to 35 faces blown out with lips and teeth exaggerated. The principal got the same treatment from hundreds of us when he "laid down the law."

[@victorcelna3028]

Gookie. The name of someone Harpo used to watch roll cigars for a job. The more Gookie concentrated, the more pronounced Gookie pulled a "gookie". That face. - I read about that in Harpo's book, "Harpo Speaks".

[@kathleenferguson3296]

@@victorcelna3028 I did too. I read it when I was in college. I'm 70.

[@KairuHakubi]

@@victorcelna3028 I always heard it as 'googie' when Wakko did it, I think both of them have a problem enunciating the K sound. Which is a really important comedy sound!! though also I feel like 'Gookie' could get you in trouble these days..

[@BeeWhistler]

@@KairuHakubiI dunno if theirs was called a googie or it just sounded that way when they sang it, but I know what you mean.

[@claireingles-sj6xz]

​@@KairuHakubiConsidering the ignorance of the younger generation(s) in the area of even relatively recent history, the reference to a "Gook" would probably fly about a mile over their heads. With your Asian heritage, neither can anyone else claim to be insulted. (Probably 99% of Americans can't tell the difference between an Indian and a Pakistani. Chinese or Japanese. Neither can most of them tell a British accent from Australian. Never mind trying to add Scottish and Irish to that pot.) It's like Mel Brooks making fun stereotypical Jewish tropes, or blacks calling each other the -N- word.

[@michaelszczys8316]

Many years ago, i think it was my dad that told me that the reason Harpo took to being silent was because in the throws of a huge fight with some theater owner Harpo blurted out that he " hoped that his theater burns down " and after saying it, that same night the man's theater burned to the ground. Harpo then decided he better keep his mouth shut and did so incredibly well.

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

throes

[@philwilliams8328]

@@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633 ?

[@robheiler4841]

Very enjoyable. The slight given to Zeppo should have been omitted though.

[@pampietro8980]

I agree, That was very rude 😢

[@machinelearng]

Harpo was my favorite Marx Brother

[@sharonconstan8234]

Mine too ❤

[@moralityisnotsubjective5]

He was the family favorite too. The most easygoing and relaxed of the family. Everyone who met him loved him.

[@sharonconstan8234]

@@moralityisnotsubjective5awww

[@heliotropezzz333]

Marx Brother

[@machinelearng]

@@heliotropezzz333 Typo

[@markwegner6821]

Whoever did this life review, should do all the famous 20th century entertainers. This one is brilliantly prepared and presented. God bless

[@BeeWhistler]

No. No they should not. They did a terrible job, I promise you. Read “Harpo Speaks” and you’ll learn why.

[@markwegner6821]

@@BeeWhistler point taken

[@truecynic1270]

Fascinating narrative!!! Thank you for illuminating their history which I knew zero about but I sure LOVED their movies!!

[@BeeWhistler]

Yeah, about as illuminated as a broken lamp in a blackout. Read Harpo Speaks and you’ll learn a lot more.

[@truecynic1270]

@@BeeWhistler oh, ok, thanks!!!

[@shary5165]

I watched them as I grew up. They were one of the initial exposures I had to classical music, the love growing as I got older. Now I play piano and remember my childhood heros playing it their way. They put the play into playing music.

[@NeilFiertel]

This was a fantastic doc on my favourite Marx Brothers. It is filled with so much I did not know about. Harp essentially introduced me to classical music! I love him still. My father lived in the neighbourhood where they evolved from and the Marx brothers for us were the great successes to him. We never missed a showing. I love them still and Harpo above all. This is the best doc I have ever seen as I lived again my memories through the narration!

[@sophiehanssel2017]

I'm a Gen Z who grew up watching the Marx Brothers thanks to my parents. Harpo has always been my favorite. I dressed as him for Halloween 2 years in a row!

[@nicolecampbell208]

I LOVE ... To this day... Cracking Marx brother jokes with my dad, watching the movies, Harpo with the piano or harp is just magic to me... We make Harpo faces at each other too 😊

[@laurab9867]

Awesome documentary! I bet most of the viewers never knew much about Harpo - myself included. Thank you for telling his story. ❤

[@rosemaryfranzese317]

So Harpo was named Harp because he played the harp, fancy that, who would have guessed. Marion Davies was not a starlet, she was a star. The definition of a starlet is a young woman in the early stages of her career who has yet to become a star. Actually Harpo was the most popular of the brothers in real life, Groucho’s son wrote that when Harpo walked into a room all the children and pet dogs ran to him. Harpo was apparently a wonderful person. You treated Zeppo with great disrespect, in fact he was an intelligent and very gifted man

[@jonnawyatt]

🙄

[@melissacooper8724]

I recall that poor Zeppo got the short end of the stick during his film career. He always had to be the straight man while his brothers got to be funny! I don't blame him for leaving the act to be an agent!

[@porflepopnecker4376]

Zeppo often filled in for his brothers onstage when they couldn't be there. ln "Animal Crackers", during the scene in which Capt. Spaulding and Mrs. Rittenhouse are sitting in the dark, that's actually a disguised Zeppo filling in for a missing Groucho. He was just as talented as his brothers.

[@derralle5705]

And he didn't even mention Gummo.

[@petuniasevan]

And when Groucho saw that Zeppo could "Groucho" better than he could (Groucho had a bout of larygitis), he forbade Zeppo to play his part ever again. Julius (Groucho) could be petty. I remember how when he died in 1977, it was only a week after Elvis died, so the news swarmed THAT event, and barely noticed Groucho.

[@ireneparrish3070]

I discovered the Marx Bros in 1972, when I went to college. Students would rent old movies and show them wherever they could find a place. I got hooked on 30s and 40s movies. And I just fell in love with Harpo. He was just so cute and so funny !!!! The best movie of theirs, in my opinion, was Duck Soup.

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

I understand you getting hooked on 30s and 40s films. I am too.

[@Jeffrey-t8g]

Pre-code movies are so much better than what came after. Like the rawness of 1932 Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde, or the Warner Brothers gangster movies.

[@JulianneRemley-l2q]

Interesting

[@robertbarlow9251]

For anyone interested in Harpo or indeed the Marx Bros, read ‘Harpo Speaks’. It is a wonderful read and I can’t recommend it too highly.

[@BeeWhistler]

Hear hear! Because this video sucked.

[@janiebennett5645]

Great info, very little interruptions, pleasant voice,... Fantastic video!!

[@deadman746]

Philip K. Dick once wrote that if he could have anything he wanted, it would be for God to listen to what Harpo was not saying.

[@Bengtedvard]

Very educating video. Harpo learning to play the harp on his own was a surprise it must be one of the most instrument to master and master it he did.

[@kevin-parratt-artist]

Thank you, so much for this, truly wonderful presentation. 🙏 I can recommend Harpo's autobiography, "Harpo Speaks".

[@tobiasmostel]

Yes. Also there's Moss Hart's 'Act One.' (It's one of the books being spoken from memory in 'Fahrenheit 451').

[@BeeWhistler]

You read his autobiography and you still thought this video was good? I think you need to read it again.

[@DPaulLeDesma]

for some of the best info on harpo marx read " Harpo Speaks" if i remember correctly it was written by his son Bill Marx, an entertainer in the Palm Springs area for many years....i just saw Bill this past monday at a special event....

[@moralityisnotsubjective5]

It was actually dictated to Rowland Barber as Harpo sat in a room and told him his life story probably over a number of days, but it is indeed a great book and I have a copy of it.

[@ackerjawaka1966]

Bill Marx is actually Grouchos son, Harpo and his wife adopted 4 kids themselves one for each window at the front of their house, I've read most of the Marx brothers biographies, chicos is really good 😜

[@melissacooper8724]

I remember that Harpo and Susan let their children know as soon as they were old enough to speak that they were adopted. They felt that it shouldn't be a shameful secret and to let them understand that they are theirs.

[@BeeWhistler]

For some of the most accurate info, read that book… this video did not provide accuracy.

[@martineldritch]

Adolph Marx ? Now there's a bag of ferrets of a name. When Harpo was performing the irrepressible Groucho was unable to get a word in edgewise

[@timacrow]

Adolph Marx would be a good name for any Demoterrorist candidate.

[@laurab9867]

"Bag of ferrets"? 😅😂 Omg!

[@retroguy9494]

@@laurab9867 😂😂🤣🤣

[@harrymills2770]

Harpo was the one that kids related to, the most. I didn't know they adopted all their kids. Imagine being one of the 4 orphans he adopted. It'd be like hitting the lottery!

[@evebartolo792]

❤❤❤❤❤❤ loved the way you told his story. 😊 from Melbourne Australia

[@ckaydw]

I love the video. Just wish it was longer. I loved Harpo since I was a little girl. To me he was funny and cute. What an entertainer he was. Such a natural at his craft. ❤❤❤❤

[@BeeWhistler]

I just wish it was accurate.

[@63mckenzie]

My favourite story of the Marx Bros is about a clause in their contract where if one of them got ill they all got time off. One time Harpo had a problem so filming was stopped. The reason? He had lost his voice!

[@lindawhite1869]

😂😂

[@BertGrink]

Now there's irony for you lol

[@David-yw2lv]

I once heard he had laryngitis and decided to do mime until he recovered.It went over so well he went with it permanently.

[@donpardo2510]

@David-yw2lv, according to the book he wrote about himself it was the bad review. The critic complained about Harpo's high pitched voice.

[@David-yw2lv]

@@donpardo2510 I have heard several stories about why he never spoke.There is a film clip of Harpo speaking.At the premier of The Great Ziegfeld he says "honk,honk"on a podium.

[@ratdad48]

It is hard for one to believe anything anymore. This video said his wife asked him three times to marry her. There is an interview with her right here on KZbin. According to her, he is the one who asked her to marry him. And didn't mention anything about three times either.

[@BeeWhistler]

@@ratdad48Oh, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This video is so misleading! And I even tried looking up whether he invented “in the hot seat.” The only thing I found with his name and that expression was a debunked Facebook post.

[@ratdad48]

@@BeeWhistler Yes, indeed.

[@edreid7872]

I always wondered about his silence.. Thank you

[@foxopolos9681]

Harpo and Chico were my absolute favourites. So much musical talent. Thank you for a wonderful video. Cheers. 👍💜👍

[@vebnew]

They were always in a category by themselves; they are a true classic.

[@lafter8655]

Totally enjoyed this. Love learning new things. Harpo was in my Era. I despised TV as a kid. Still do but now I can choose what I want to see and I prefer to find the gold nuggets of truth in history. Thank you for the time at preparing such a wonderful story.

[@johndef5075]

My dad use to take us to see the Marx bros. at the theater. Great memories. And they are still funny even now.

[@63mckenzie]

I used to watch them on TV with my father when I was a kid. He knew every line and kept exclaiming, 'this bit is funny, watch this bit!'

[@onesunnyday5699]

I have all their best movies in a DVD set.

[@SundaysChild1966]

Those Black and White photos are breath-taking! Why can't we have pix like that .. now?

[@laydown6]

You can take Black and White photo's

[@antonydrossos5719]

I remember LOVING the Marx Brothers movies in my childhood! Comedic genius, all of them.

[@solarski2004]

I enjoyed this. Thank you for taking the time to make it. The Marx Bros were incredibly talented and still play a major role in modern entertainment.

[@truthseeker1867]

There is no disturbing reason for his silence, he just wasnt very good at remembering lines, so they made him silent.

[@710MaryJane]

🎉 EXCELLENT VIDEO! SO INFORMATIVE, I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT HARPO. ❤ SUCH A LOVABLE CHARACTER! 😊 THANK YOU 🎉

[@denisesmith2745]

I thoroughly enjoyed this! Thank you

[@Factinate]

You are so welcome!

[@BeeWhistler]

@@FactinateYeah, it was a very creative interpretation. Where’d you do your research, Tumblr?

[@gabrielleangelica1977]

Harpo's autobiography is a must read.

[@whyjnot420]

"Nobody cares about Zeppo." I was trying my best, but I couldn't even think of his name until this came up. Obviously I am not a big Marx Brothers fan, but I could at least remember the names of the other three.

[@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL]

Harpo kept a Christmas tree up year round in his house. I forget if it was to make his wife happy or if he just liked Christmas trees, but it fit his personality.

[@dkirk5814]

You're my favourite narrator on this channel, mostly because I'm Scottish too.

[@ratdad48]

Seems to have got the marriage proposal wrong if you believe his wife. Interview of her on KZbin. (He asked her).

[@kathleenhartnellharper7234]

Ripe old age at 75?! Yikes, I’m 74 and still have a lot of living to do!

[@kathleenferguson3296]

When playing "Patsy Brannigan" onstage in his red wig, his voice was changing. His voice cracked, the audience laughed, and he swore he'd never speak onstage again. From "Harpo Speaks" his autobiography.

[@BeeWhistler]

No, it bloody isn’t. He stopped speaking onstage after the bad review. From his autobiography.

[@jonpritz8358]

Hey Harpo..You gave & taught me comedy/ communication without a word being spoken - bless you, you precious soul, you never let me down...❤❤❤

[@paulakaye2108]

Harpo, Chico, Groucho, Gummo and Zeppo.

[@sundayoliver3147]

I love that your comment got "Translate to English" put underneath it by KZbin!

[@adventuresinmichiganwlisa9852]

Thanks for sharing. Morning coffee with a flash back☕❣️☕cheers Harpo❣️🙏❣️

[@patricia344]

Same here!

[@mannettabraunstein9283]

Chico’s name is pronounced chick-o (as in a baby chicken) because he chased after the ladies.

[@Faretheewell608]

In real life, all the Marx brothers chased the ladies

[@melissacooper8724]

I remember for the longest time I mispronounced Chico's name. I learned that it's pronounced Chick-o and not Cheek-o.

[@retroguy9494]

Yes, you are correct about the pronunciation. It surprised me when I was a kid how many people didn't know how to pronounce it properly and would say 'cheek o.'

[@TnseWlms]

A local pizza place offered a free bottle of soda to anyone who could name all five Marx brothers and pronounce them correctly. Many people thought the fifth brother was Karl.

[@melissacooper8724]

@@TnseWlms LOL 😆

[@williesnyder2899]

Great episode full of fascinating information and insights which I was not aware of!!

[@prschuster]

Adolph Marx... Two names that spark controversy.

[@brianmurphy250]

In the early vaudeville days…Groucho used a German accent. The oncoming anti German sediment made Groucho Switch to the “bugs bunny” type of NYC accent

[@janebaker966]

Obviously nominative determinism didn't apply here,or maybe that's why he changed to Arthur.

[@zoeyrochellezhombie829]

Given he was born BEFORE WW2 and Hitler wasn't a household name yet, it would make sense.

[@fester73666]

I really enjoyed watching the Marx's brothers films, they were very funny and entertaining, great video, very interesting about Harpo 👍👍

[@v.e.7236]

The story I heard about why Harpo didn't speak was his deicidedly New York accent. Words like "girl" came out something like "goil" and so on. Either way he was always my favorite Marx Brother, as he was the musical genius of the group and I'm a musician myself, playing trumpet, flute, French horn and piano. Stringed instruments seem to confound me. smh

[@BeeWhistler]

That wasn’t it, it was the bad review. He said so.

[@lmadeira9826]

I'm so grateful to see this. Good men with his talent are hard to find.

[@bobspence5322]

you know hollywoods short on talking points when this many videos are made about the 30s.

[@biggusdickus5986]

​@@bobspence5322Short on Charismatic Characters, l agree.

[@tricivenola8164]

Thank you! What a story, and so unsuspected. The Marx Brothers comedy has depth, and this is partly why.

[@PaulBridge-e7f]

This autobiography was fascinating, I loved the Marx brothers, particularly Harpo. The narrator was very good and kept me entertained throughout, I will be looking at more of your videos.

[@nooneinparticular1491]

I've only read the first few chapters, but his autobiography "Harpo Speaks" was fascinating.

[@premanadi]

There are a couple of very short clips of Harpo speaking, which you can find on KZbin. He had a very deep and melodious voice, and would have made a great radio announcer. Also a very pronounced Brooklyn accent.

[@theoutsiderartists1231]

Harpo had a high pitched voice, that's all nothing more but a high-pitched voice. I love the Marx Brothers.❤

[@janebaker966]

Whatever the reason and seems like not one but several it was a great career move and very smart to stick with it. Funny that,as I heard,he was the most "intellectual" of the brothers!

[@eblackadder3]

Harpo's voice didn't sound high pitched at all, if you've ever heard recordings of him speaking. If any of the brothers had anything resembling a high pitched voice, it was Groucho. And Groucho, not Harpo, was the most intellectual of the five bothers.

[@Bobbyo60]

I really enjoyed this video. it certainly fleshed out his Marx Brothers character, and gave me a fresh insight into Harpo the man.

[@kathleenferguson3296]

As for Zeppo, he was athletic, and a popular act was a chimp named "Mr. Zippo". Zeppo was named after the chimp, as he frequently did acrobatic swinging by his arms.

[@npadiscoveryy]

I'll never forget seeing Harpo Marx conduct a 50-piece orchestra when I was a kid. It was magical! He was hilarious, informative, and made music accessible to everyone. A truly unforgettable experience

[@MichaelBoyce-tm2vw]

On Milton Berle's show.

[@JoAnn1108]

This is the 2nd time I've heard this narrator. I really like his soothing voice and the rate at which he speaks. Sadly, I can't say the same for most other narrators.

[@BeeWhistler]

Wish he was reading accurate information.

[@josephinecatherinemusso]

So what was the disturbing reason poor Harpo was silent. Its very annoying when you watch something that is misleading.

[@manchagojohnsonmanchago6367]

Money, he wanted to make money from the goyim

[@winstonelston5743]

It has been said it relates to an incident where a theater impresario cheated the brothers and Harpo flew off the handle with an imprudently expressed wish: "I Hope your damned theater burns to the ground!" That night it did. Turned out the owner had hired an arsonist for the job for insurance fraud reasons, but you can see why Groucho, Chico, and Zeppo encouraged him never to speak in public again. In fact, however, the "Patsy Branigan" character's lines were mostly weak throw-aways and they already had a dialect comic in Chico. Harpo could mold his face like rubber, he had considerable talent at playing the piano, he taught himself to play the harp and worked his magical mime act into his on-stage presence, and thus was born a legend.

[@AnimalEncounterShows]

That was a family joke. Pantomime was a traditional role as was a mute or also known as dumb character. Chico was the comic and Grouchy was the straight man. Bother number 4 was the romantic.

[@winstonelston5743]

@@AnimalEncounterShows May I suggest you read my comment all the way through? Harpo was another romantic archetype, a romantic clown not completely unlike WS Gilbert's Jack Point from _The Yeoman of the Guard._

[@AnimalEncounterShows]

@@winstonelston5743 your comment was not worth even reading once let alone twice. You clearly do not know when they were going for the laugh and when they were serious.

[@marjake3147]

As a child, I could NOT stand to watch Laurel & Hardy or the 3 Stooges. But I loved watching the Marx Brothers - especially Harpo!

[@retroguy9494]

I actually liked Laurel and Hardy more than the Marx Brothers. I could watch The Three Stooges, but I didn't think they were as good as L&H. My father, who died last year in his mid 90's liked all of them. The only thing was he didn't care for the Stooges shorts if Shemp was in it instead of Curly. Of course, he saw those shorts in the theater when he was a kid and they first ran.

[@richkostanski5622]

I loved all of them,what great times.i miss them!

[@darkangel_1978]

I have always loved Harpo. He made me laugh so much. I also loved Groucho's quips.

[@monicaenriquez8643]

Loved this video. Harpo was also a very handsome man! Happy he found love & had 4 children. He must have been an incredible husband & father. I have all the Marx Brothers movies.

[@cuckootown9478]

I read Harpo Talks about 40 years ago, a wonderful book, I can still recall parts of it.

[@BeeWhistler]

Harpo Speaks. Read it again, this video got a lot wrong.