30 Years Ago Today (August 19, 1977) - Groucho Marx's Death

[anotherguyTN]

This is something that I had forgotten about until saw it on another board, but it was 30 years ago today that Groucho Marx died. I believe that he hadn't passed away so close to the same day as Elvis that a bigger deal would have been made of it. Even though I live in the Memphis area, as a major Marx Brothers fan Groucho's death was just as significant to me as Elvis's.

Hello, I must be going...

 

[kirkiefan]

Interesting note here...I remember Groucho passing away shortly after Elvis did. Bing Crosby I think also passed on later that same year. (remember Bing singing "Little Drummer Boy" with David Bowie?) Was reading a paperback entitled "The Secret Word Is Groucho" an autobiography of his years with "You Bet Your Life" and "Best of Groucho." That series was still airing in sydnication at that time in the Indianapolis market on WTTV and even into the 80s on the CBN Family Channel. Groocho's last words in that book I think were "I'm going to live to a ripe old age."

...and he did!

You Tube clips of "You Bet Your Life" can also be found.

http://www.youtube.com

 

[Legend City]

On Youtube, there is an excellent rendition of him singing "Lydia the tattooed lady" on Cavett, its brilliant.

 

[Kurt Toy]

I've heard a story many times about one-time WIIC [now WPXI] Pittsburgh TV anchor Beverly Byer saying "Groucho Marx took a turn for the worse, in fact, he died." If that's not a big gaffe, I don't know what is.

 

[Stanislav]

On Youtube, there is an excellent rendition of him singing "Lydia the tattooed lady" on Cavett, its brilliant.

They ran the Cavett shows with Groucho recently on AMC. It's a precious piece of tape to have -- it was not long after that interview that he started going downhill fast, and it's great to have one last glimpse of him when he was still relatively sharp. I love the line when, after the audience has applauded something he said for about the 10th time, he looks at them in mock seriousness and says, "You know, if you keep applauding, you just waste time that I could be talking to you..."

 

[Stanislav]

Not to bring everyone down, but Mark Evanier's site has a couple of quite sad and poignant stories about Groucho's last years, including one of his last public appearances on the set of 'Welcome Back, Kotter."

Part 1 -- http://www.povonline.com/cols/COL238.htm
Part 2 -- http://www.povonline.com/cols/COL239.htm

 

[bpatrick]

I'm reminded of Groucho's appearance on
"The Mike Douglas Show." Mike asked him
why he'd taken so long to make an appearance
on his show. "Don't you like Philadelphia?" Mike
asked (his show originated there at the time).
"I don't like you. I love Philadelphia," Groucho
replied.

Happily, Groucho lived long enough to see the
revival of interest in both the Marx Brothers
pictures and "You Bet Your Life."

 

[rwells2265]

What I understand as Groucho's last TV appearance was truly depressing to watch. It was on Bob Hope's 1976 special "Joys", a parody of Jaws, where 40-some-odd guest stars are invited to Hope's house, and all of them are "devoured by a mysterious shark."

One brief scene has a midget - Billy Barty? - doing a Groucho imitation, while the REAL "The One And The Only" is seated nearby. The real Groucho says, "Am I having fun?"

Groucho deserved so much more in the way of tributes than he got. Elvis was great in the '50s and all, and nobody can dispute his place in music, however there's truly no contest.

--Russell