Wig owned by Groucho Marx
Object Details
- Description (Brief)
- Black wig owned by Groucho Marx. Little is known about the use of the wig, which was bequeathed to the museum in Marx's will.
- 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.
- Credit Line
- Julius H. Marx
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- ID Number
- 1987.0588.27
- accession number
- 1987.0588
- catalog number
- 1987.0588.27
- user
- Marx, Groucho
- Object Name
- wig
- Physical Description
- black (overall color)
- modacrylic (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 9 in; x 22.86 cm
- location where used
- United States: California, Beverly Hills
- See more items in
- Culture and the Arts: Entertainment
- Popular Entertainment
- Exhibition
- Entertainment Nation
- Exhibition Location
- National Museum of American History
- general subject association
- Motion Pictures
- Subject
- Comedians
- Comedy
- Record ID
- nmah_682860
