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Posted

:lol:

 

The photo is a study in contrasts, a paradox frozen in time. Four sharply dressed gentlemen—suits tailored to perfection, hair slicked back with precision—stand together in a way that almost dares you to believe their solemnity. They could be Wall Street bankers preparing for a power lunch or a secret society on the verge of revealing their clandestine mission. Their polished demeanor, however, masks the chaos they’re truly known for. If you looked at this picture without context, you’d never guess that these four men—Chico, Harpo, Groucho, and Zeppo Marx—were among the most wildly unconventional comedic geniuses Hollywood and Broadway had ever seen.

Taken in 1924, during the height of their Broadway success in *I’ll Say She Is*, this photo captures the Marx Brothers in an unusual light. Their usual antics—Harpo’s silent but chaotic mischief, Chico’s malapropisms delivered in a thick Italian accent, Groucho’s razor-sharp wit punctuated by his painted-on mustache, and Zeppo’s straight-man charm—are nowhere to be found. Instead, they appear subdued, almost ordinary. But “ordinary” was the last word anyone who saw them perform would use.

The Marx Brothers were at a crossroads in 1924. They had spent years honing their act in vaudeville theaters, where success was earned through grit and relentless innovation. Vaudeville was their boot camp, and by the time they arrived on Broadway, they were seasoned performers with an uncanny ability to read an audience. *I’ll Say She Is* was their breakout show, a revue-style production that defied conventional storytelling in favor of anarchic humor. It was a perfect vehicle for their unique talents, and its success marked the beginning of their ascent to stardom.

But their rise wasn’t without its challenges. The transition from vaudeville to Broadway demanded a level of polish and sophistication that didn’t come naturally to the brothers, whose humor was rooted in spontaneity and improvisation. Offstage, they were just as irreverent as their onstage personas. Groucho Marx’s daughter, Miriam, once recounted how her father’s transformation for a role made him unrecognizable. Dropping her off at school in full makeup and costume, Groucho looked so different that teachers and students alike failed to connect him to the witty, mustachioed figure audiences knew and loved.

The photograph, then, is a momentary glimpse of their duality. Dressed to the nines, they could pass for serious men, men of purpose. But beneath the polished exterior lay the raw energy of performers who thrived on subverting expectations. Chico, with his quick fingers on the piano and thick accent, often played the lovable hustler. Harpo, in contrast, communicated volumes without saying a word, relying on his expressive face, physical comedy, and an array of bizarre props. Groucho, the sarcastic leader, was a master of verbal acrobatics, his rapid-fire delivery packed with double entendres and biting commentary. And Zeppo, the “straight man” of the group, was the glue that held their madness together, grounding their antics just enough to keep the audience from spiraling into chaos.

By 1924, their Broadway success was paving the way for Hollywood, where they would achieve even greater fame in films like *Duck Soup* and *A Night at the Opera*. These movies cemented their legacy, showcasing their ability to blend absurdity with social commentary. They became icons not just of comedy but of a particular kind of rebellion—a refusal to conform to societal expectations, a celebration of wit and cleverness over decorum.

The photo is remarkable not only for its rarity but for what it represents. It is a snapshot of transformation, a moment before the world truly knew who these “gents” were. It’s hard to reconcile their serious poses with the chaos they would unleash on stage and screen, but perhaps that’s the point. The Marx Brothers were masters of disguise, not just in their costumes and roles but in their ability to navigate different worlds—vaudeville, Broadway, and eventually Hollywood—without losing the essence of who they were.

So when you look at this photo, you might ask, “Who are these gents?” And the answer, much like their comedy, is a punchline that surprises you every time: They’re the Marx Brothers, and they changed the world by refusing to take it too seriously.

 

FB_IMG_1737390779336.thumb.jpg.c9384dc93a26b43aa62198aed4e64cb9.jpg

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Posted

Rather dapper!!

  • Like 1
Posted

They look like they have "Tommy guns" :P

  • Haha 2
Posted

I think AI got in there a little bit.

 

Look at Zeppo's nose. The shape of his nose going up into the eye sockets. That is not human. He looks like he's wearing science fiction alien makeup.

 

Look at Groucho's eyes.

 

Harpo's face looks like Harpo, but look at his ears.

 

Chico's ears are also funny, although not as bad as Harpo's. But the shadow along the jawline on the right side of his face. It looks like somebody glued a picture of his face on somebody else's head.

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Posted
28 minutes ago, Alpo said:

I think AI got in there a little bit.

 

Look at Zeppo's nose. The shape of his nose going up into the eye sockets. That is not human. He looks like he's wearing science fiction alien makeup.

 

Look at Groucho's eyes.

 

Harpo's face looks like Harpo, but look at his ears.

 

Chico's ears are also funny, although not as bad as Harpo's. But the shadow along the jawline on the right side of his face. It looks like somebody glued a picture of his face on somebody else's head.

 

Trick if the lights and camera angle.  Or bad retouching oh the photo. 

 

tumblr_lss0jr6Pc41r1x0ppo1_1280.jpg.9d64c37164ee8cb9330158d4b9345d27.jpg

 

images.jpeg.07adad408bb5aa1b689a9ea0bdd00820.jpeg

 

four-marx-bros-1912.thumb.jpg.6031710d460ebf12bae48657f15ab9b0.jpg

 

  • Like 2
Posted
7 hours ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

:lol:

 

The photo is a study in contrasts, a paradox frozen in time. Four sharply dressed gentlemen—suits tailored to perfection, hair slicked back with precision—stand together in a way that almost dares you to believe their solemnity. They could be Wall Street bankers preparing for a power lunch or a secret society on the verge of revealing their clandestine mission. Their polished demeanor, however, masks the chaos they’re truly known for. If you looked at this picture without context, you’d never guess that these four men—Chico, Harpo, Groucho, and Zeppo Marx—were among the most wildly unconventional comedic geniuses Hollywood and Broadway had ever seen.

Taken in 1924, during the height of their Broadway success in *I’ll Say She Is*, this photo captures the Marx Brothers in an unusual light. Their usual antics—Harpo’s silent but chaotic mischief, Chico’s malapropisms delivered in a thick Italian accent, Groucho’s razor-sharp wit punctuated by his painted-on mustache, and Zeppo’s straight-man charm—are nowhere to be found. Instead, they appear subdued, almost ordinary. But “ordinary” was the last word anyone who saw them perform would use.

The Marx Brothers were at a crossroads in 1924. They had spent years honing their act in vaudeville theaters, where success was earned through grit and relentless innovation. Vaudeville was their boot camp, and by the time they arrived on Broadway, they were seasoned performers with an uncanny ability to read an audience. *I’ll Say She Is* was their breakout show, a revue-style production that defied conventional storytelling in favor of anarchic humor. It was a perfect vehicle for their unique talents, and its success marked the beginning of their ascent to stardom.

But their rise wasn’t without its challenges. The transition from vaudeville to Broadway demanded a level of polish and sophistication that didn’t come naturally to the brothers, whose humor was rooted in spontaneity and improvisation. Offstage, they were just as irreverent as their onstage personas. Groucho Marx’s daughter, Miriam, once recounted how her father’s transformation for a role made him unrecognizable. Dropping her off at school in full makeup and costume, Groucho looked so different that teachers and students alike failed to connect him to the witty, mustachioed figure audiences knew and loved.

The photograph, then, is a momentary glimpse of their duality. Dressed to the nines, they could pass for serious men, men of purpose. But beneath the polished exterior lay the raw energy of performers who thrived on subverting expectations. Chico, with his quick fingers on the piano and thick accent, often played the lovable hustler. Harpo, in contrast, communicated volumes without saying a word, relying on his expressive face, physical comedy, and an array of bizarre props. Groucho, the sarcastic leader, was a master of verbal acrobatics, his rapid-fire delivery packed with double entendres and biting commentary. And Zeppo, the “straight man” of the group, was the glue that held their madness together, grounding their antics just enough to keep the audience from spiraling into chaos.

By 1924, their Broadway success was paving the way for Hollywood, where they would achieve even greater fame in films like *Duck Soup* and *A Night at the Opera*. These movies cemented their legacy, showcasing their ability to blend absurdity with social commentary. They became icons not just of comedy but of a particular kind of rebellion—a refusal to conform to societal expectations, a celebration of wit and cleverness over decorum.

The photo is remarkable not only for its rarity but for what it represents. It is a snapshot of transformation, a moment before the world truly knew who these “gents” were. It’s hard to reconcile their serious poses with the chaos they would unleash on stage and screen, but perhaps that’s the point. The Marx Brothers were masters of disguise, not just in their costumes and roles but in their ability to navigate different worlds—vaudeville, Broadway, and eventually Hollywood—without losing the essence of who they were.

So when you look at this photo, you might ask, “Who are these gents?” And the answer, much like their comedy, is a punchline that surprises you every time: They’re the Marx Brothers, and they changed the world by refusing to take it too seriously.

 

FB_IMG_1737390779336.thumb.jpg.c9384dc93a26b43aa62198aed4e64cb9.jpg

They look like your average everyday mob bosses to me.  :o

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Posted

while i agree with your analysis of that photo , my memories of them were a bit later mustaches and cigars funny hats and pants , 

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