Books and articles by and about colleagues and contemporaries of the Marx Brothers
Should have a bit about the Brothers.
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Allen, Fred; McCarthy, Joe (ed.): Fred Allen's Letters
Letters to Groucho Marx, Abe Burrows, Pat Weaver, John Steinbeck, Herman Wouk, and H. Allen Smith.
Alonso, Harriet Hyman: Yip Harburg: Legendary Lyricist and Human Rights Activist
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- Wesleyan University Press, 2012, ISBN: 0 8195 7128 8 (ISBN-13: 9780819571281) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Ashley, Sally: FPA: The Life and Times of Franklin P. Adams
Benchley, Nathaniel: Robert Benchley (a biography)
Benchley, Robert: From Bed to Worse
Benchley, Robert: Inside Benchley
Benchley, Robert: The Benchley Roundup
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- The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, 1983, ISBN: 0 226 04218 9 (ISBN-13: 9780226042183) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Bernstein, Burton: Thurber (a biography)
Blackburn, Dick: In Cadaques the Name of the Game is Dali
"... account of the Dali story" (Adamson)
Bogdanovich, Peter: Leo McCarey Interviews, Nov 25, 1968 - May 6, 1969
Brecher, Irving (with Hank Rosenfeld): The Wicked Wit of the West
The Last Great Golden Age Screenwriter Shares the Hilarity and Heartaches of Working With Groucho, Garland, Gleason, Burns, Berle, Benny, and many more
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- Ben Yehuda Press, Teaneck, NJ, 2008, ISBN: 0 978998 08 1 (ISBN-13: 9780978998080) / (hardback) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() - Ben Yehuda Press, Teaneck, NJ, 2008, ISBN: 1 934730 23 8 (ISBN-13: 9781934730232) / (paperback) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() - Ben Yehuda Press, 2009, ISBN: 1 934730 32 7 (ISBN-13: 9781934730324) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() - (italiano) Sagoma, 2013, ISBN: 88 650 6031 X (ISBN-13: 9788865060315) titled: A pesca con Groucho Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() - (italiano) Sagoma, 2013 titled: A pesca con Groucho / Kindle edition Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Brownlow, Kevin: The Parade's Gone By ...
"... impressions of Thalberg" (Adamson)
Burns, George: Living It Up. Or, They Still Love Me in Altoona
(reference in Arce: Groucho)
Calman, Mel: Perelman in Cloudsville
Carlisle Hart, Kitty: Kitty, an autobiography
Biography by the actress from "A Night At The Opera" who later married the writer Moss Hart
- Doubleday, New York, NY, 1988, ISBN: 0 385 24425 8 (ISBN-13: 9780385244251) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() - Thorndike Press, Thorndike, ME, 1989, ISBN: 0 89621 851 1 (ISBN-13: 9780896218512) / Large Print Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() - St. Martin's Press, New York, NY, 1989, ISBN: 0 312 03373 7 (ISBN-13: 9780312033736) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Cassandra: The Agony of Making People Laugh
"A meeting with S.J. Perelman" ('Other references' in Eyles, 1969)
Cassara, Bill: Edgar Kennedy - Master of the slow burn
Edgar Kennedy appeared as the lemonade vendor in "Duck Soup"
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- Bearmanor Media, Albany, GA, 2005, ISBN: 1 59393 018 6 (ISBN-13: 9781593930189) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Curtis, James: Buster Keaton: A Filmmaker's Life
Mostly, the brothers are mentioned in passing. One section talks about working on At the Circus. There is mention of Chico attending Keaton's opening at the Medrano, and it mentions is Keaton attending Chico's funeral.
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Daney, Serge; Noames, Jean-Louis: Leo et les aléas
Interview with Leo McCarey ('Other references' in Eyles, 1969)
Drennan, Robert E. (Ed): The Algonquin Wits
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- Frewin, London, UK, 1973, ISBN: 0 85632 063 3 (ISBN-13: 9780856320637) / titled: Wit's end: the best of the brilliant humour of the celebrated Round Table (The vicious circle of wit) at the Algonquin Hotel, New York Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() - Citadel Pr, 1995, ISBN: 0 8065 0947 3 (ISBN-13: 9780806509471) / Heywood H. Broun (foreword), paperback Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() - Replica Books, 2000, ISBN: 0 7351 0116 7 (ISBN-13: 9780735101166) / Heywood H. Broun (foreword), hardcover Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Enss, Chris; Kazanjian, Howard : Straight Lady
The Life and Times of Margaret Dumont, "The Fifth Marx Brother"
Reviews note that the book doesn't really have a lot about Margret Dumont. It also seems to be riddled with errors.
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- Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. / The Lyons Press, 2022, ISBN: 1 4930 6040 6 (ISBN-13: 9781493060405) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() - Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. / The Lyons Press, 2022 (ISBN-13: 9781493070732) / (Kindle ebook) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Florey, Robert: Hollywood d'Hier et d'Aujourd'hui
Writes about his time when making of 'The Cocoanuts' and has two pictures from that movie.
Gaines, James R.: Wit's End (Days and Nights of the Algonquin Round Table)
Gale, Steven H.: S.J. Perelman (an annotated bibliography)
- Garland Publishing, New York, NY, 1985, ISBN: 0 8240 8845 X (ISBN-13: 9780824088453) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Gale, Steven H.: S.J. Perelman (a critical study)
The chapter on Perelman's film scripts is mainly on his work with the Marx Brothers
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- Greenwood Press, New York, NY / Westport, CT / London, UK, 1987, ISBN: 0 313 25003 0 (ISBN-13: 9780313250033) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Garcia, Roger (ed.): Frank Tashlin
Publisher's description: "A tribute to a multi-talented American illustrator, film director and screenwriter, whose comic scripts were used by Hal Roach, the Marx Brothers and Bob Hope, amongst other stars. Tashlin's work is saluted in this volume by Martin Scorsese, Wim Wenders, Joe Dante and many others."
- British Film Institute, 1994, ISBN: 0 8517 0462 X (ISBN-13: 9780851704623) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Goldstein, Malcolm: George S. Kaufman (His life, his Theater)
Golenpaul, Dan: Papers, 1934-1981 (bulk 1934-1977)
Radio and television producer. Born 1901, died 1974. Correspondence, writings, scripts, contracts, clippings, and guest lists relating particularly to the Information Please program produced by Golenpaul for radio and television and to his subsequent publication, Information Please Almanac. Correspondents include ... the Marx Brothers (LOC info)
Haining, P.: The Legend of Charlie Chaplin
A collection of articles & essays by people who knew & worked with Chaplin (among them Groucho)
Herrmann, Dorothy: S.J. Perelman (a life)
- Simon and Schuster, New York, NY / London, UK, 1988, ISBN: 0 671 65460 8 (ISBN-13: 9780671654603) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Hoyt, Edwin P.: Alexander Woollcott: The Man Who Came to Dinner
Kaufman, George S.; Donald Oliver (ed.): By George (A Kaufman collection)
This book has a script of the stage version of "The Cocoanuts"
- St. Martin's Press, New York, NY, 1979, ISBN: 0 312 11101 0 (ISBN-13: 9780312111014) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Keaton, Buster; Samuels, Charles: My Wonderful World of Slapstick
Has something about the making of 'At the Circus' (Adamson)
Laight, Jane Margaret and Pitts, Reginald H.: Majesty of Missed Chaos: The Life and Times of Margaret Dumont
Lardner, Ring; Geismar, Maxwell (ed.): The Ring Lardner Reader
Levant, Oscar: The Unimportance of Being Oscar
Contains Hollywood anecdotes, witticism, ad libs, reminiscences, and commentaries. Comments by Levant on Groucho and Harpo Marx, Leonard Bernstein, Jack Paar, Truman Capote, George and Ira Gershwin, Noel Coward, Billy Rose, Benny Goodman, Humphrey Bogart.
Lister, Eric: Don't Mention the Marx Brothers: Reminescences of S.J. Perelman
The Marxes are mentioned three of four times. "... stringing together a dozen anecdotes does not create a book" (TFG)
Luminello, Stephen: Esther Muir (with filmography)
Abstract: "A biography of motion picture and stage actress Esther Muir. Muir is best remembered today for her role opposite the Marx Brothers in A Day At The Races. [..]"
Marx, Samuel: Mayer and Thalberg: The Make-Believe Saints
Meade, Marion: Dorothy Parker, What Fresh Hell Is This?
Several pages mention the Marx Brothers and their association with Parker.
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- Penguin Books, New York, NY, 1989, ISBN: 0 14 011616 8 (ISBN-13: 9780140116168) / paperback Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Meredith, Scott: George S. Kaufman and his Friends
- , ISBN: 0 04 920052 6 (ISBN-13: 9780049200524) / titled: 'George S. Kaufman and the Algonquin Round Table' Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Meryman, Richard: Mank: The Wit, World and Life and Herman Mankiewicz
Best known as the primary author of CITIZEN KANE, Mankiewicz, though he failed in his one desire to become a renowned writer, did give us some classic film scripts: DINNER AT EIGHT; GIRL CRAZY and PRIDE OF THE YANKEES. (Not to mention producing two of the Marx Brothers films.) He was also a member of the famous Algonquin Round Table in New York with such greats as Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley, James Thurber, George S Kaufman
O'Brien, Scott: Kay Francis: I Can't Wait to Be Forgotten
Kay Francis played 'Penelope' in The Cocoanuts
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- Bearmanor Media, Albany, GA, 2006, ISBN: 1 59393 036 4 (ISBN-13: 9781593930363) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
O'Toole, Monsignor Joseph M.: My God, What A Life
Includes stories of his relationships with such reknown entertainers as Harpo Marx and Betty Grable.
Oppenheimer, George: The View from The Sixties: Memories of a Spent Life
Chapter 4: "The Sound Stage"; "Oppenheimer's account of working on the script of 'A Day at the Races'" ('Other references' in Eyles, 1969)
Perelman, S.J.: Dawn Ginsbergh's Revenge
the first book to have a dust jacket blurb from Groucho
Perelman, S.J.: The Most of S.J. Perelman
Includes "I'll always call you a schnorrer, my African explorer" which had appeared as an article in 'Holiday' titled "A Weekend with Groucho Marx"
- Eyre Methuen, London, UK, 1978, ISBN: 0 413 45490 8 (ISBN-13: 9780413454904) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Perelman, S.J.: The Last Laugh
Includes a chapter "The Marx Brothers" which had been an article in 'Show' called "The Winsome Foursome"
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- Simon and Schuster, New York, NY, 1981, ISBN: 0 671 42515 3 (ISBN-13: 9780671425159) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Perelman, S.J.; Crowther, Prudence (ed.): Don't Tread on Me (The selected letters of S.J. Perelman)
Has two letters addressed to Groucho. The Marx Brothers are mentioned in letters to other people
- Viking, New York, NY, 1987, ISBN: 0 670 81759 7 (ISBN-13: 9780670817597) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Perelman, S.J.; Marshall, Richard C. (ed.): That Old Gang of Mine (The early and essential S.J. Perelman)
Perelman, S.J.; Teicholz, Tom (ed.): Conversations With S.J. Perelman (Literary Conversations Series)
contains the chapter where Perelman, Groucho, and Kenneth Tynan talk about funny men
- University Press of Mississippi, 1995, ISBN: 0 87805 789 7 (ISBN-13: 9780878057894) / (hardcover) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() - University Press of Mississippi, 1995, ISBN: 0 87805 790 0 (ISBN-13: 9780878057900) / (paperback) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Roth, Lillian; Conolly, Mike; Frank, Gerold: I'll Cry Tomorrow
"'It was one step removed from a circus' and other comments about working with the Marx Brothers on 'Animal Crackers'." ('Other references' in Eyles, 1969)
Ryskind, Morrie; Roberts, John H. M.: I Shot an Elephant in My Pajamas: The Morrie Ryskind Story
- Huntington House Publishers/Vital Issues Press, 1994, ISBN: 1 56384 000 6 (ISBN-13: 9781563840005) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stern, Sydney Ladensohn: The Brothers Mankiewicz: Hope, Heartbreak, and Hollywood Classics
Herman J. Mankiewicz was the producer of Monkey Business, Horse Feathers and Duck Soup,
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- University Press of Mississippi, 2019, ISBN: 1 617 03267 0 (ISBN-13: 9781617032677) / (hardcover) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Strom, Robert: Virginia O'Brien: MGM's Deadpan Diva
Cover text: "Virginia O'Brien was one of the more unique talents under contract to Metro Goldwyn Mayer. The California native was discovered by MGM's mogul, Louis B. Mayer when he attended a performance of the musical revue Meet the People. It was here that Virginia stopped the show with the deadpan delivery of her solo number. Her appearances in more than a dozen of MGM's musicals were always a highlight. While one can't 'stop' a film, Virginia's singular performances are etched in the memory of the fans of MGM's lavish musicals. This is the story of the comedic actress-singer who was fondly known as 'Miss Frozen Face.'"
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- Bearmanor Media, Albany, GA, 2017, ISBN: 1 62933 220 8 (ISBN-13: 9781629332208) / (hardback) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() - Bearmanor Media, Albany, GA, 2017, ISBN: 1 62933 219 4 (ISBN-13: 9781629332192) / (paperback) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Taves, Brain: Robert Florey, the French Expressionist
Florey directed 'The Cocoanuts'
Teichman, Howard: George S. Kaufman (An intimate portrait)
Teichman, Howard: Smart Aleck: The Wit, World, and Life of Alexander Woollcott
- William Morrow and Company, New York, NY, 1976, ISBN: 0 688 03034 3 (ISBN-13: 9780688030346) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Thomas, Bob: King Cohn (The life and times of Harry Cohn)
"See [this] for [Harry] Ruby's days with Cohn" (Adamson)
Thomas, Bob: Thalberg
Thurber, James: My Life and Hard Times
Thurber, James; White, E.B.: Is Sex Necessary?
Young, Jordan R.: The Laugh Crafters: Comedy Writing in Radio and TV's Golden Age
Interviews with writers for radio comedy. Includes Charlie Isaacs and Irving Brecher who did write for Groucho.
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- Past Times Pub Co, 1999, ISBN: 0 940410 37 0 (ISBN-13: 9780940410374) Check availability (amazon*): ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Zinsser, William: That Perelman of Great Price Is 65
The Marx Brothers - Los Hermanos Marx - האחים מרקס -
マルクス兄弟 - Les Freres Marx - 마르크스형제 -
Братья Маркс -
Bröderna Marx - برادران مارکس - I Fratelli Marx - Братята Маркс - Bracia Marx -
Germans Marx - الأخوة ماركس - 馬克思兄弟 -
Αδελφοί Μαρξ - Irmãos Marx