Jack and the Marx Brothers

[Yhtapmys]

So I’m listening to a Fitch Bandwagon show of December 7, 1941. No, they’re not talking about the war. They’re talking about someone we all know and love.

Toby Reid is hosting and doing a Q & A with Chico Marx about the Marx Brothers:

Toby: What was the start of the act as we know it today, Chico?
Chico: Well, Groucho, Harpo and Zeppo were doing an act together in Waukegan and my mother took me to see them. They didn’t know I was coming, y’see I hadn’t been home in five years.
Toby: Well, I can imagine that that was (audience laughs) quite a reunion. Naw, it wasn’t what you think; he could have gone home, he just hadn’t been home. Were they surprised to see you, Chico?
Chico: You bet they were. You see, I asked the orchestra leader of the theatre to let me play the piano for their act. They didn’t know I was there. He was a tired violin player. Maybe you heard of him?
Toby: Yeah, I think I know a tired violin player by the name of Ben Bernie.
Chico: (laughs) No, it’s the other one. Jack Benny.
(audience laughs)
Toby: Well, I should have suspected when you mentioned Waukegan. Tell me, what happened when your brothers spotted you out there in the orchestra?
Chico: Well, you see, Harpo saw me first. He had an orange under his hat that he used in the act. So he took it out and hit me right on the head with it (audience laughs). I threw it back and hit Groucho. And the act broke up with us throwing things at each other. The audience thought it was all part of the act and they ate it up and the fellows they decided to put me in it.

Yhtapmys

[LLeff]

So what do you think? Real or the stuff of Radio Mirror/Movie magazine fodder? You'd think Jack would have remembered it...is this mentioned in any of the Marx biographies?

[Yhtapmys]

So what do you think? Real or the stuff of Radio Mirror/Movie magazine fodder? You'd think Jack would have remembered it...is this mentioned in any of the Marx biographies?

I have no idea, Laura, as I don't have any Marx bios. All I know is the story of Minnie trying to recruit Jack.

Yhtapmys

[scottp]

Does Toby Reid call him "Chicko" or "Cheeko?"

[Yhtapmys]

Does Toby Reid call him "Chicko" or "Cheeko?"

Chico. As in Freddie Prinze.

Yhtapmys

[scottp]

Does Toby Reid call him "Chicko" or "Cheeko?"

Chico. As in Freddie Prinze.

Yhtapmys

That's what I figured. I heard a WWII show with Chico and his band, and the announcer first addressed him as "Cheek-o" and then... shortened it to "Cheek"!

[CBSTelevisionCity]

But didn't the Marx Bros. themselves pronounce Chico's name
as "Chick-o"?

Film historian Leonard Maltin, who, for decades pronounced Chico as "Cheek-o", said recently that research has led him to believe the proper pronounciation of Chico is "Chick-o".

Although I've also heard that wartime Chico Marx Orchestra broadcast, and the announcer does indeed call Chico "Cheek-o" !

- William

[Maxwell]

I don't know about the other brothers, but Groucho always called him "chick-o" because he was a "chicken [chick] chaser." According to Groucho, he received his name for obvious reasons, as did Harpo. Gummo got his name because he wore gum shoes, and Zeppo because he was born "when the Zeppelin arrived."