If any #Comedon viewers want a movie with Zeppo Marx in it, this is *not* their week. Zeppo's last role was 1933's Duck Soup (the first #Comedon watch party) and this week is 1937's 100% Zeppo-free A Day at the Races.

When Zeppo retired the studio tried to cut their collective salary. Groucho retorted "We're twice as funny without Zeppo!"

That may not actually be true as the films with Zeppo are usually considered the Brothers' real classics. He always played the straight man in them but after that role was taken by various random actors in the later films, it feels like maybe the family chemistry had been a little diluted. A Day at the Races was still a big hit because it's pretty dang funny.

Alas, we'll never be able to compare Zeppo's work as a straight man to Gummo, who he replaced, because Gummo quit while they were still doing Vaudeville and hadn't yet made a film. But speaking of Vaudeville, when they were doing live shows, Zeppo was so good at imitating each of his older brothers that he'd step in and do their parts when they were sick. He may not have had his own comedic character but he wasn't a stick in the mud.

Why am I talking about Zeppo if he's not in the film? I dunno. At least I didn't talk about possible origins for his name.

The Marx Brother's A Day at the Races
Thursday June 12 @ 7:00 PM
Watch the #Comedon hashtag for links.

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