Indianapolis Times, Volume 47, Number 223, Indianapolis, Marion County, 26 November 1935 — Page 16

PAGE 16

MAD MARX BROTHERS JUST AS FUNNY OFF-STAGE AS ON

Self-Sacrificing Mother Is Responsible for Success of Clowning Sons, They Aver She Made Lads Work Hard, and Took Deep Interest in Careers, Giving Up Chance to Become Great Actress to Help Her Brood. BY JOHN YV. THOMPSON Several years ago when the Marx brothers were appearing in person in "Animal Crackers" at English'?, 1 was working there as an usher for the highly acceptable remuneration of being allowed to see the various attractions. * I wormed my way into the Marx's dressing room and got a glimpse of the four madcap? as they really are off-stage. I might just as well have stayed out front. They are nearly as funny behind the curtain as in front of it. It was only a short time before show time and Groucho was combing his hair, looking for gray locks. His famous grease paint mustache was just half applied. He was asking the other brothers what they thought of the idea of wearing it like that for one performance. They didn't sav. Harpo. his red wig askew, strummed a ukelele, Chico, the glum comedian of the group, was busy tying knots in Zeppo's costume. Zeppo wasn’t there. Harpo confessed that night (hat his prime ambition was to say some-

thing on stage. Groucho chimed in with the remark that the day that Harpo said anything, the Marx brothers would have to seek employment other than th°atrical. Well, Harpo was to get his wish granted in "A Night at the Opera." After much haggling ai*i begging, the producers told him to go ahead and speak in the picture. But the director held him down to a single utterance of the one word, "No.” “Dialogue” ((lipped Out But here's the rub. When the picture was sent to the clipping room, someone (and there are definite reasons to suspect the crafty Groucho) instructed the clippers to ake out Harpo's "dialogue," and out it came. * Responsible for their success, according to the boys, was their mother, Minna Schoenberg Marx, daughter of a German magician. She came to America, married Samuel Marx, bore five sons. First born was Chico, whom she taught to play the piano. Next rame Harpo; she hadn’t the slightest idea of what to do with him. Then followed the wag, Groucho, who talked her out of all the bread and jam in the house. She taught him how to sing. The other two brothers were Gummo and Zeppo. Two Quit Stage Gummo is now in the raincoat business and Zeppo has quit the stage to become an actor’s agent in Hollywood. Mrs. Marx's brother is A1 Shean, appearing this week at Loew's in "It's in the Air." and a member of the famous team of Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Shean. “Plentv” wa? an unknown word in ♦he M" ’?ehold in the early years wnen Marx sacrificed the chance to Lecon.. a great actress to start her brood on the road to success. Chico readily became a fine pianist. He undertook to teach Harpo how to play. Harpo 'earned two songs, merely by mimicking his brother's finger movements. After losing five jobs that Chico got him as a pianist, Harpo gave up and became a bellboy in the Savoy Hotel. First Act Got S2O Groucho developed a good voice and also learned to tap dance. His mother found work for him one season in Gus Edward's musical school. Groucho was just 13 then. He later teamed with his other brother, Gummo, and a girl soprano to form "The Three Nightingales," an act which drew S2O a week. With Chico making ioney, Mrs. Marx feared to leave Harpo alone in New York so she forced him to give up carrying ice water and join the act. With no part written for him. one night she shoved him onto the stage with the other three. He pantomimed his part and did so well that Mother Marx wouldn’t allow him to say a word afterward. It was many years later that A1 Shean bought a decrepit harp in New York for S4O and sent it to Mrs. Marx. Harpo. ashamed of not being able to play an instrument, learned alone. But when his self-education was completed he discovered -that he had tuned his harp backwards and played it in a wholly unorthodox manner. He still does. Separated by YY'ar Success in vaudeville with a skit, “Fun in Hi Skule," was followed by the failure of a play, “Mr. Green’s Reception,” which they wrote and produced themselves in 1918. The war separated the brothers, Harpo going overseas, Gummo training at Great Lakes and Chico and Groucho entertaining in the camps. Reunited in '923, the boys and their mother tasted the first real tid-bit of success. It was in a musical, “I'll Say She Is.” which lasted two years. Followed "The Coconuts,"

MARTENS CONCERT, Inc. ENGLISH THEATRE Fortune tiiallo Presents 1W —l.alloi and Symphony Orchestra Fri. Night Nov. 29—''Aida,” 8:20 P. M. Sat. Mat. Nov. 30 ‘ Madame Butterfly," 2:20 P. M. Sat. Night—Nov. 30 —"Lohengrin,” 8:00 P. M. Prompt liood Now on Sal* Martens Ticket Office .{.t Monument Cirri* ENGLISH DEC. 2-3 RMSF K§ V\ EM with that Marvelous Wj R<, ° r * of Frans SchuH bert's Immortal MEBr KreatrM Slnsin* and flaying tin triable in America ■ frlrev-ftße, M.'O. M.GJ, *:.30 ld Tit. Scat* Than.

and “Animal Crackers,” and they were set. George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind wrote the story for “A Night at the Opera,” in which Kitty Carlisle, anew singer, Allan Jones, and, Walter King appear. Sam Wood directed. Opera to Close With 'Lohengrin' San Carlo to Give Wagner Work Saturday. Wedding March and all, “Lohengrin” will be heard at English's Saturday as the closing performance of the San Carlo Opera Cos. The march, inevitable musical accompaniment to weddings in three countries, is to take its proper place as the prelude to the third act of this music drama of medieval legend. In the leading roles Indianapolis will hear Goeta Ljungberg as Elsa and Dimitri Onofrei as Lohengrin. Mmo. Ljungberg, guest artist from the Metropolitan Opera Cos., is a native of Sweden, and sang with the Royal Opera of Stockholm, at Covent Garden in London and in ! the Berlin State Opera before coming to this country. Mr. Onofrei i& a Rumanian tenor whose American appearances have been with the San Carlo. He has been called the greatest Lohengrin since Jean de Reszke. Richard Wagner conceived the idea of the opera during his Paris years 1 1839-42), but actual writing was not begun until the summer of 1845 during a visit to Bohemia. It was completed in 1848. Right to Crown Challenged The plot, very briefly, concerns Elsa, Duchess of Brabant, who is challenged by the scheming Telramund and his wife, Ortrud, on her rights to the crown. They allege that she murdered her brother, Godfried, heir to the title. Elsa prays for a champion to fight her battle. In answer, a shining knight comes, standing in a boat drawn on the river Scheldt by a swan. He agrees to fight Elsa's battle and make her his wife on condition that she never ask his name or home. Lohengrin readily vanquishes Telramund in battle, and he and Elsa are married. But Ortrud has planted doubt in her mind, and already she is overcome by fatal curiosity. On their wedding night, she asks the sacred questions. To make matters worse, Telramund tries to kill the bridegroom and is killed himself. Tells His Story According to predestined fate, Lohengrin must depart. Before the assembled multitude he tells his story and leaves in the swan boat which now is drawn by a dove. The swan remains, transformed into the missing God f reid. Elsa dies. Wagner’s "Lohengrin” score is famous and beautiful It contains such familiar numbers as "Elsa's Dream.” Lohengrin's "Farewell to the Swan” and the "Narrative." and "Ortrud's Invocation." in addition to the well-known prelude to the first and third acts. The story, based on an obscure and minor legend, half pagan and half Christian, is rather trivial. You may, if you wish, read a great deal of philosophy and hidden meaning into it, as some do. To them, Wagner is the hero; the mystic secret is his visionary art. It is a logical idea, for Wagner was plagued with many questions regarding the source and meaning of his music. Too, he imagined he was the victim of villainy and sorcery. However interpreted, it is a powerful example of early Wagner, and

/ I FOUND iSTELLA PARISH' I with h g eatgit ce*t i & lAN HINTER • PAUL LUNAS • SYBIL JASON 1 A flrtt No* 9so> PATRICIAJPAIGE 8008 BLAKE Ami N*w Company 4ft—tteal Kin-lent Star*—lll

Wild Marx Hares Get Down to Cases for Mad Film, A Night at the Opera"

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The three Marx hares—wild—woolly and full of an effervescent lack of sense—are shown promoting their newest strip of film, “A Night at the Opera,” which opens Thursday (Turkey Day) at Loew’s. In fact, they’re harping on the various aspects of their opus and each believes he has a suitable case. Their names?—Harpo, Chico and Groucho.

WHERE, WHAT, WHEN APOLLO “Thanks a Million,” with Dick Powell. Fred Allen and Ann Dvorak, at 11:32, i:32, 3:32, 5:32, 1:32 and 9:32. CIRCLE “The Three Musketeers,” with Walter Abel and Paul Lukas at 11:30, 1:35, 3:40, 5:50. 7:55 and 10. CIVIC THEATER “Faun.” anew play by Charles Bruce Milholland, at 8:30 tonight. INDIANA “So Red the Rose,” starring Margaret Sullavan, with Walter Connolly and Randolph Scott, at 11:45, 1:50, 3:50, 5:55. 7:55 and 10, LOEW’S “It’s in the Aii," with Jack Benny, Ted Healy and Una Merkel, at 11, 1:52. 4:44, 7:36 and 10:28. Also “A Feather in Her Hat,” featuring Pauline Lord and Basil Rathbone, at 12:29, 3:21, 6:13 and 9:05. LYRIC “1 Found Stella Parish,” with Kay Francis on the screen at 11:40, 2:24 5:08. 7:52 and 10:26. Also “The Blue Venus Revue,” with Frank Libuse, on stage at 1:19. 4:03, 6:47 and 9:31. OHIO “Every Night at Eight,” at 10:30 1:54, 5:18 and 8:42. Also Katharine Hepburn in “Alice Adams," at 11:50, 3:23, 6:47 and 10:01. contains much of his fine melodic writing. Saturday night's cast is to be: King Henry Harold Kravitt, basso Lohengrin Dimitri Onofrei, tenor Elsa of Brabant.-Goeta Ljungberg soprano Teiramund Mario Valle, baritone Ortrud Dreda Aves. contralto King's Herald Stefan Kozakevich, baritone First Appearance Myrna Loy’s first appearance before a motion picture camera turned out to be merely a test for a dress to be worn by someone else!

AMMIK OAKLEY She wos the first advocate of the one- , piece bathing suit! She wore one as early as 1894! See Her Tttl F-I IFE Story Starting Thursday at the CIRCLE INDIANA SO RED THE ROSE ■ MARGARET SULLAVAN V WALTER CONNOLLY A 7-Wav' Cl GINGER GEORGE ROGERS BRENT n'm I'tiwox n CIRCLE

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

School Offers New Student Service The Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music announces anew test and advisory service for those contemplating the study of music, dancing or dramatic art. Applicants are to perform for members of the faculty who will advise them concerning their possibilities in their particular fields. The service is free and applicants are under no obligation to enroll. Miss Ada Bicking, acting director, says. All persons interested are asked to secure application blanks at the executive offices, 1204 N. Delawarest, following which an appointment will be made.

Exirrri'] HURRY! LAST 2 DAYS STARTS THAHKS6IVIW6 DAY | and I PICfURE! ROGERS IIM ’ [mm with DOROTHY WILSON RUSSELL HARDIE CHARLES SELLON LOUISE HENRY ; ALAN DINEHART BILL ROBINSON

Won Debating Honors months of speaking before his auSpencer Tracy won honors in de- diences, the desire to become an bating while in college, and through actor was born in him.

THE FUNNIEST PICTURE IN 10 YEARS!

<-the world’* best, team of.comedy'writers. year of production—and,you_have “A reasons why it’s, the .funniest picture, sine# Chaplin’s “Shoulder.Arms!.”v4</d glorious P\ t?yk \ new star Allan Jones and his singing sweet* jb. ; . • heart Kitty Carlisie and youhave the great, I Jgpr' *st entertainment this town has ever known! y|p A camivaloflaughter, 'romance, song and aa : •• --Si jAARjf I’ve ever seen!” K - WALLACE BEERY D D ▼ U C D C "’The Marx B- others are three of our foremost come ® ** ... .my wife can tell you the name of the fourth!” I -EDDIE CANTOR m I predict it vill have 1,000 first nights!” I # I | g I HV MV JACK BENNY I II WK/J airtfi atwwrcifj JBI MIW with KITTY CARLISLE • ALLAN JONES |WfIH nV| Directed by SAM WOOD fIHIHB I Story by Geo. S. Kaufman and Morrie Rytkind j tv# SMetro • Qoldwyn • 3ioyer; Ticture T I 1 and f T iC H EXTRA ADDED “OLD MEXICO” CARTOON V J 1 1 J FEATURES! IN FUI4. COLOR! IN COLOR!

Kreisler's Violin Has’ Old Magic Concert Becomes Rite in Hands of Supreme Artist. BY JAMES THRASHER BLOOMINGTON. Ind.. Nov. 25. . The magic of Fritz Kreislers violin playing again cast its spell over a large audience here tonight. It was an enthusiastic throng, drawn not only from the university's student body and citizens of Bloomington, but from those throughout the state to whom a Kreisler concert is more of a rite than a musical event.' A Midas of music is this great Viennese; a master in whose hands the tarnished pieces of old, familiar music are turned to gold. Kreisler gave us first the "Devil's Trill” sonata of Tartini and the Sarabande and Gigue from Bach's Partita in D Minor for violin alone, exquisitely done with freshness and originality of conception but never out of keeping with the classic style. Next he chose to do the A Minor Concerto of Viotti, a work which the passing years have shunted from the concert platform to the studio. But Kreisler s consummate genius transcended the many bleak bars of this ancient and familiar opus; a genius which first gave new life and substance to the thin accompaniment, recreated the cadenzas and then, in performance, gave the music anew beauty which those who heard it may treasure through all their days. Next came Kreisler’s own Prelude and Allegro, Chanson Louis

jVL gipft “FEATHER 1

NOV. 26, 1935

XIII et Parane. and Variations on a Theme by Corelli now subtitled, respectively, "in the style of Pugnani- Couperin-Scarlatti.” since last year's disclosure of their composer s brilliant "hoax"). And closing the programmed numbers were a Habanera bv Ravel. Debussy's "La fil'e aux cheveux de lin" and Kreisler s Gypsy Caprice. Os their performance it is enough to say that they were played as only Fritz Kreisier can play them. No one draws a tone of such golden splendor, and few can imbue otherwise ordinary' music with so much of the greatness of the man as well as the artist. At the piano again was the silverhaired. scholarly Carl Lamson. who, through the years, has come to be almost as much a part of a Kreisler recital as Krcisler’s violin. From Ins instrument, Mr. Lamson evokes a tone of great sonority and Deauty. Here is almast perfect ensemble, a unity of feeling between two admirable musicians growing old in the service of their art. One leaves them with the wish that they might live forever. Started Career at 6 Tom Brown, who plays his 200th screen role in Jane Withers’ starring picture, "Gentle Julia.” although only 20, is celebrating his 14t.h year in show business. He made his first stage appearance in "The Little Red Schoolhouse,” at the age of 6.

P^mTONIGHThmm Os Night fcrrvlc* lAc lnd. VTV ftjjl < King W i IP Wm •

Bair's Strand—TcnigM

m ! 1 m ® I.AST TIMES TONIGHT . KATHARINE HEPBURN in “ALICE ADAMS” Oeorje Raft in "Every Night at Eight" {

OLIVER THEATRE 12*3 OI.IVKR AVK. JEnH: WILL ROGERS “STEAMBOAT ROUND THE BEND" “DRESSED TO THRILL”