Photograph was edited for publication purposes.; Title supplied by cataloger. Leonard "Chico" Marx (1887-1961) was an actor, comedian, bandleader and manager. A talented pianist, he started playing at a young age to earn money for his family, in his later years he would inject this talent into his comedic acts. When their mother - who was their manager, died, Chico took over the role. As manager, his connections opened doors for the brothers into Hollywood filmdom. Surprisingly, in the 1930s and '40s, he led a big band, the Chico Marx Orchestra, which is where Mel Torme began his professional singing career. The fact that he was a compulsive womanizer earned him his nickname, and he was also known for his lifelong gambling habit which cost him millions of dollars by his own account, inevitably the brothers were forced to put him on allowance, on which he stayed until his death. Marx was married twice: to Betty Karp in 1917, producing one daughter, and to Mary De Vithas in 1958, until his passing. Chico Marx died of arteriosclerosis on October 11, 1961 in Hollywood, and is entombed in a crypt at the Freedom Mausoleum in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Chico Marx and Laurie Mitchell will be featured in Sylvia Reason's comedy about the clothing industry, "The 5th Season". The famed member of the Marx Brothers team will step out on stage at Civic Playhouse sans wig and the Italian beanie, which have been his trademark for 30 years. The comedian will be making his first break from appearing with his famous brothers. Photograph dated February 18, 1957.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;26 x 21 cm. Photographic prints
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