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Apparently Chico Marx was in Australia in 1948, here he entertains some Aussie Soldiers playing one of John Ford's favorite tunes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwlHNkH-fCY


RICHARD M ROBERTS

Here’s an article about Chico during this visit, from THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WEEKLY (no doubt the perfect paper to interview him), dated May 22, 1948
“COMEDIAN CHICO MARX IS A CIRCUS IN HIMSELF"

That's a great article Ed, thanks for posting it. Even in life, all of Chico's "real" personality is there: constantly on the make with women, the gambling, being worse off than his Brothers. One thing you can say about Chico was he was whom he was and made no bones about it, and still charmed the pants (so to speak) off a lot of women and folk.

I was also thinking, watching the clip of Chico playing "Waltzing Matilda", that you can also sing to the same tune:

"Abie the Fish-man
Abie the Fish-man
You look like Abie the Fish-man to me."

RICHARD M ROBERTS

If you've ever wondered what Chico sounded like when he spoke without an Italian accent, here it is. Lots of New York, little or no Italian.

Richard M Roberts wrote:That's a great article Ed, thanks for posting it. Even in life, all of Chico's "real" personality is there: constantly on the make with women, the gambling, being worse off than his Brothers. One thing you can say about Chico was he was whom he was and made no bones about it, and still charmed the pants (so to speak) off a lot of women and folk.

I was also thinking, watching the clip of Chico playing "Waltzing Matilda", that you can also sing to the same tune:

"Abie the Fish-man
Abie the Fish-man
You look like Abie the Fish-man to me."

RICHARD M ROBERTS

Richard, I can imagine Chico singing it now! it would’ve definitely been more tuneful than what we get in ANIMAL CRACKERS!
And in a related footnote, I came across this color photo clipped from an Australian magazine; Chico with another entertainer from his stage tour. Maybe they performed a duet of “The Monkey Doodle-Doo”?

Rob Farr wrote:If you've ever wondered what Chico sounded like when he spoke without an Italian accent, here it is. Lots of New York, little or no Italian.

As a kid when I first listened to the Gary Owens LP of Marx Brothers dialogue from their Paramount films, I didn’t immediately recognize Chico’s regular voice when he spoke the line, “Well that’s the last time we deliver the ice unless you pay the bill” from HORSE FEATHERS. No trace of an Italian accent whatsoever.

Yeah Ed, I was kinda thinking when Rob said "If you've ever wondered what Chico sounded like when he spoke without an Italian accent", just watch the movies. He slips in and out of it so much, you quit paying attention to it. Sometimes he puts the -a- on the ends of words, sometimes he doesn't.

So how many of us have that Decca album? And the W. C. Fields and Mae West ones? I think they were $1.99 remaindered at Publishers Central Bureau for years.

RICHARD M ROBERTS (extra points if you also have their "Boris Karloff and Friends" album)

I have the Marx Brothers LP (and the W.C. Fields & Mae West albums). I've used all of them for my radio show.

Took me many years to find copies of the Marx & Fields albums with the poster included (still looking for a copy of the West LP with the poster).

Don't have the Karloff & Friends album.

I think Chico's variable Italian accent is part of his charm (as is its obvious phoniness).

And thanks Richard & Ed for the fascinating links and fun conversations.

Dennis

Dennis Campa wrote:I think Chico's variable Italian accent is part of his charm (as is its obvious phoniness).

As Louis Sorin says to Chico in ANIMAL CRACKERS:

"Say, how did you get to be an Italian."

RICHARD M ROBERTS

Publishers Central Bureau: there's a name I haven't heard in a while. They were another money magnet in my youth. I still have the Fields double album, Groucho at Carnegie, and a couple of the George Garrabedian L&H albums, and many books.