The Marx Brothers TV Collection is an interesting, entertaining collection of TV appearances by Groucho, Chico, and Harpo Marx. It does not include Groucho’s famous You Bet Your Life TV series. Although it does include an episode of an English version of the show, and a hilarious take on it courtesy of the Jack Benny show.
Contents
DISC 1
- The General Electric Theater: The Incredible Jewel Robbery (March 8, 1959)
- A very funny, almost silent, TV show. Chico and Harpo rob a jewelry store — and frame Groucho! The last time the brothers all worked together on screen.
- The Jack Benny Program (April 3, 1955)
- A very funny episode, where the tightwad Jack Benny goes onto “You Bet Your Life” — Groucho’s quiz show. Jack’s in a very transparent disguise, which Groucho sees through immediately. It’s frankly hilarious when Jack’s trying to guess the secret word by tossing out word after word.
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (October 20, 1962)
- A TV sitcom that’s before my time, that I frankly never heard of before. Inspired by the famous movie, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. It’s about a country man, catapulted to Washington D.C. as a representative. He mistakes Harpo for a French pianist, and invites him to perform at the White House. Of course, Harpo does his harp playing for the president. Harpo’s final TV appearance.
- The College Bowl (March 26, 1951)
- A TV series, starring Chico. With a young Andy Williams, Muriel Landers, and Joan Holloway, among others. Chico owns a soda shop where college kids hang out, swap jokes, and sing songs. Chico has to decide if he’ll sell the shop for $20,000.
Bonus TV Clips:
- Labatt’s Beer commercial # 1 (1960)
- I’ve Got a Secret (April 21, 1954)
- All-Pure Evaporated Milk commercial # 1 (Fall, 1951)
- The Colgate Comedy Hour (March 30, 1952)
- All-Star Revue (October 4, 1952)
- All-Pure Evaporated Milk commercial # 2 (Fall, 1951)
- All Star Revue (October 4, 1952)
- Showtime (October 4, 1959)
- Foster’s Freeze commercial # 1 (Fall, 1951)
- U.S. Royal Showcase (January 20, 1952)
- The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (October 4, 1959)
- Labatt’s Beer commercial # 2 (1960)
- Kraft Music Hall with Milton Berle (January 14, 1959)
Bonus Short Films:
- You Bet Your Life Stag Reel # 7 (1960 – 1961)
- Showdown at Ulcer Gulch (1958)
- The Marx Brothers Home Movie Collection, with music and narration by Harpo’s son Bill Marx
DISC 2
- The Red Skelton Hour – Somebody Up There Should Stay There (September 25, 1962)
- A very funny episode, with Harpo as the guest star. First, a very funny episode where mischievous guardian angel Harpo “helps” George Appleby. Then, Harpo and Red perform in the silent spot, as soldiers on opposite sides of World War I. Hilariously funny!
- The General Electric Theater: The Hold Out (January 14, 1962)
- Celebrity Golf (April 23, 1961)
- Harpo golfing against Sam Snead. The funny moments are hilariously funny. I’m not a fan of golf, but I enjoyed it anyway.
- Championship Bridge with Charles Goren (October 16, 1960)
- Chico playing bridge with three other people. I don’t play bridge, and I found it as exciting as watching paint dry. If you enjoy bridge, you may enjoy it more than I did.
- Groucho (July 1, 1965)
- Effectively, a one-shot version of You Bet Your Life, in the United Kingdom.
Bonus TV Clips:
- The Colgate Comedy Hour (March 30, 1952)
- All-Pure Evaporated Milk commercial # 3 (Fall, 1951)
- The RCA Victor Show (February 1, 1952)
- The Swift Show Wagon (May 21, 1955)
- All-Pure Evaporated Milk commercial # 4 (Fall, 1951)
- U.S. Royal Showcase (January 20, 1952)
- McCall’s Magazine commercial (May 1961)
- The Colgate Comedy Hour (March 30, 1952)
- Labatt’s Beer commercial # 3 (1960)
- The Perry Como Show (December 15, 1956)
- I’ve Got a Secret (May 3, 1961)
- Pepsi Cola Refreshment Musicale (November 27, 1957)
- The Sunday Spectacular: Inside Beverly Hills (January 29, 1956)
DISC 3
- The DuPont Show with June Allyson: A Silent Panic (December 22, 1960)
- The Arthur Murray Party (November 16, 1953)
- Groucho shows up on The Arthur Murray Dance Party! And, he wants his two free lessons. Dancing with pretty girls, of course! Even Mrs. Murray! Though at the end, Arthur Murray shows up, and the show ends with Groucho & Arthur dancing. A very funny episode.
- The DuPont Show of the Week: The Wonderful World of Toys (November 12, 1961)
- A different, but excellent, show. It’s hosted and narrated by Carol Burnett, with Harpo working as the person who get to play with/interact with toys new and old. New for 1961, of course. Along the way he interacts with various people, including Milton Berle.
- Who Said That? (May 10, 1955)
Bonus TV Clips:
- Labatt’s Beer commercial # 4 (1960)
- The Colgate Comedy Hour (March 30, 1952)
- Foster’s Freeze commercial # 2 (Fall, 1951)
- The Sunday Spectacular: Inside Beverly Hills (January 29, 1956)
- I’ve Got a Secret (August 17, 1955)
- All-Pure Evaporated Milk commercial # 5 (Fall, 1951)
- The Jackie Gleason Show (October 14, 1967)
- Celebrity Billiards (July 19, 1968)
- Candid Camera (May 14, 1961)
- The Martha Raye Show (April 17, 1956)
- The Dick Cavett Show (March 20, 1970)
- Right Guard Commercial (May 1972)
Bonus Short Films:
- Skidoo trailer (1968)
- Beds (1976)
Product Description of The Marx Brothers TV Collection
The Marx Brothers became entertainment icons through a long and brilliant career on vaudeville and Broadway stages, and they sealed their immortality in a string of celebrated feature films. But the end of their film career was perfectly timed for a collision with the birth of television. The new medium provided Groucho, Chico and Harpo with unprecedented exposure: which meant, of course, an opportunity to bring laughter to millions of people all at once. It was as if live vaudeville was being beamed to the entire nation. For the next 20 years, the Marx Brothers’ appearances on television (individually and together) included sitcoms, game shows, variety programs and even the occasional drama.
This first of its kind set (featuring long-lost material from the Marx Brothers’ own collections) presents a broad and genuinely rare array of television work from the comedy legends, who still had plenty of laughs left in them after the movies. For Marx Brothers fans, and fans of comedy in general, this is truly must see TV.
Over 50 Television Appearances
GE Theater, The DuPont Show, The Jack Benny Program, The Jackie Gleason Show, The Colgate Comedy Hour, The Dick Cavett Show, All Star Revue, The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, Kraft Music Hall, The Red Skelton Hour, The RCA Victor Show, The Perry Como Show, The Arthur Murray Party, Championship Bridge, Celebrity Golf, Celebrity Billiards and many, many more!