Object Details
- referenced
- Marx, Groucho
- Queen
- Description (Brief)
- Gold record presented to Groucho Marx by the English rock band Queen in 1977. The record is mounted in an enclosed plastic and wood frame with an engraved metal plate and two other mounted plastic plates bearing images of Queen's albums A Day at the Races (1976) and A Night at the Opera (1975). Upon hearing that the band had named the albums for the 1930s Marx Brothers films of the same names, Groucho sent the band a message congratulating them on their excellent choice of titles. Subsequently, members of Queen visited Groucho's Los Angeles home in 1977 and gave him this record.
- Julius H. "Groucho" Marx (1890-1977) was an influential, popular, and versatile entertainer best known for his film appearances alongside brothers Arthur ("Harpo") and Leonard ("Chico") in the 1930s and 40s. The Marx Brothers, including lesser-known siblings Herbert ("Zeppo") and Milton ("Gummo") began their careers singing and cracking jokes on vaudeville stages across the country in the 1900s. By the 1920s, the Marx Brothers had become the most popular comedians on the Broadway stage, each with a characteristic costume and persona they combined to create antic and zany performances in a series of successful musical comedies. Groucho was known for his signature eyeglasses, greasepaint mustache and eyebrows, and irreverent wisecracks The brothers' films The Coconauts, Animal Crackers, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers, Duck Soup, and A Night at the Opera among others, were critical and popular successes. In his later years Groucho was a popular solo radio, television, and film performer, helming the quiz series You Bet Your Life from 1947-1961.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Bequest of Julius H. Marx
- 1976
- ID Number
- 1987.0588.09
- accession number
- 1987.0588
- catalog number
- 1987.0588.09
- Object Name
- plaque
- Physical Description
- plastic (overall material)
- wood (overall material)
- gold (overall material)
- metal (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 19 in x 16 in; 48.26 cm x 40.64 cm
- place made
- United States: California, Los Angeles
- location where used
- United States: California, Beverly Hills
- See more items in
- Culture and the Arts: Entertainment
- Popular Entertainment
- Music & Musical Instruments
- Family & Social Life
- Sound Recordings
- National Museum of American History
- general subject association
- Motion Pictures
- Subject
- Comedians
- Comedy
- Record ID
- nmah_682842
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-61e0-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
