Comrade Gorley
15th May 2003, 03:20
http--www.acmi.canoe.ca-PeopleImagesM-marx_groucho_220.jpg
Turns out that another Jewish celebrity named Marx was a communist too. Apparently the Marx Brothers was not at all related to Karl (I'm not sure if that adds to the irony or subtracts from it). But the FBI actually had a file on Julius Henry Marx, although it didn't appear to affect his career. Apparently, a handful of people thought he was communist.
The earliest claim, in 1953, was that in 1934 he contributed a satirical article to a communist newspaper called the Daily Worker. Supposedly it supported the Scottsboro Boys and their idea of a "Soviet America". He also defended revolutionary workman Tom Mooney, who was imprisoned after leading a violent protest. Apparently nothing came out of this in particular. However another cappie claimed that during the 40's "Graucho Marx" he entertained at a benefit concert for Russian war relief, and that he supported liberal magazine ''The Nation" as well as being a member of the Committee for the First Amendant, which promoted free speech and opposed the House of Un-American Activities. In 1945 he was a member of a group that opposed UN recognition of Spain's fascist government. Another letter claimed that "Groucho Marks", on his show "You Bet Your Life", made many deragatory comments towards the firmly capitalist America.
When a guest told Groucho he was a former pugilist and bootlegger, the comedian responded, "You mean you were a bootlegger for the FBI?" Also, "Groucho Marks" had referred to the United States as "the United Snakes". He was friendly with Charlie Chaplin, who was banished from America after being accused of being a communist sympathizer. "Mr. Marx, I'd like to thank you for all the joy that you've put into this world," a Catholic priest once said. "And I'd like to thank you for all the joy you've taken out of this world," Groucho replied.
The letter ended with, "By the way, your own book 'Masters of Deceit' is a masterpiece."
What do you all think? Was Groucho a full-fledged commie or just a leftist?
(Edited by Comrade Gorley at 3:36 am on May 15, 2003)
Turns out that another Jewish celebrity named Marx was a communist too. Apparently the Marx Brothers was not at all related to Karl (I'm not sure if that adds to the irony or subtracts from it). But the FBI actually had a file on Julius Henry Marx, although it didn't appear to affect his career. Apparently, a handful of people thought he was communist.
The earliest claim, in 1953, was that in 1934 he contributed a satirical article to a communist newspaper called the Daily Worker. Supposedly it supported the Scottsboro Boys and their idea of a "Soviet America". He also defended revolutionary workman Tom Mooney, who was imprisoned after leading a violent protest. Apparently nothing came out of this in particular. However another cappie claimed that during the 40's "Graucho Marx" he entertained at a benefit concert for Russian war relief, and that he supported liberal magazine ''The Nation" as well as being a member of the Committee for the First Amendant, which promoted free speech and opposed the House of Un-American Activities. In 1945 he was a member of a group that opposed UN recognition of Spain's fascist government. Another letter claimed that "Groucho Marks", on his show "You Bet Your Life", made many deragatory comments towards the firmly capitalist America.
When a guest told Groucho he was a former pugilist and bootlegger, the comedian responded, "You mean you were a bootlegger for the FBI?" Also, "Groucho Marks" had referred to the United States as "the United Snakes". He was friendly with Charlie Chaplin, who was banished from America after being accused of being a communist sympathizer. "Mr. Marx, I'd like to thank you for all the joy that you've put into this world," a Catholic priest once said. "And I'd like to thank you for all the joy you've taken out of this world," Groucho replied.
The letter ended with, "By the way, your own book 'Masters of Deceit' is a masterpiece."
What do you all think? Was Groucho a full-fledged commie or just a leftist?
(Edited by Comrade Gorley at 3:36 am on May 15, 2003)