Minnie gave birth to Leonard Joseph “Chico” Marx the following year, Adolph “Harpo” Marx in 1888, Julius Henry “Groucho” Marx in 1890, Milton “Gummo” Marx in 1892, and the Herbert Manfred “Zeppo” Marx in 1901. In 1886, they sadly lost their firstborn son, Manny, to tuberculosis after only three months of life. Soon after Minnie and Frenchy met in 1884, they started their family in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Minnie learned to play the harp and passed on her family’s musical inclination to her boys. Minnie’s parents were both performers, her mother a yodeling harpist and her father a ventriloquist. Their parents, Miene “Minnie” Schoenberg and Samuel Marx (aka “Frenchy), were Jewish immigrants from Germany and France. Together they delivered a distinct brand of chaotic humor that was built upon songs, dances and musical performances that put them in a class all their own in the world of entertainment.Īll six of the Marx Brothers were born in New York City. Known by their stage names, Brothers Chico, Harpo, Groucho, Gummo, and Zeppo, each crafted a unique stage persona. Much of the humor in modern American culture can be traced back to the Marx Brothers. What began as a vaudeville act became enshrined in over a dozen feature films and several Broadway productions. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, the Marx Brothers introduced a brand of comedy that was integral to the artform’s evolution. It’s been nearly 75 years since the group disbanded, yet the Marx Brothers remain a household name even among younger generations. From left: Groucho, Gummo, Minnie (mother), Zeppo, Frenchie, Chico, and Harpo. All five Marx brothers with their parents in New York City, c.1915.

Show me a picture of the marx brothers