The Marx Brothers Council Podcast

An insightful but not too serious look at the Marx Brothers films, careers, and lives from some guys who really need to get out more. Hosted by Matthew Coniam ("The Annotated Marx Brothers," "That's Me, Groucho!"), Noah Diamond ("Gimme a Thrill: The Story of I'll Say She Is") and Bob Gassel (he'll write a book someday...or perhaps read one). Featuring guest appearances by Marx experts, notable fans, and even family members. New episodes post monthly. For more info or to leave a comment, visit us at: marxbrotherscouncilpodcast.com Follow us on Twitter: @MarxBrosPodcast or Bluesky: ‪@marxbrotherscouncilpodcast.com And join the lively discussion on 'The Marx Brothers Council' Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1389369721281242 Contact us directly at: marxbrotherscouncilpodcast@gmail.com

Episodes

96 Room Service Reordered

August 31, 2026 • 107 mins

We check back into Room Service, this time putting the spotlight on listener comments about the much-debated 1938 Marx adaptation of the Broadway hit. We rethink the film’s restrained version of the team, missed opportunities, and which brother surprisingly fares best. It’s a lively back-and-forth featuring defenses, complaints, fresh observations and some wonderfully specific nitpicking. By the end, Room Service may n...

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EMERGENCY PODCAST (featuring Bob Stryker)

August 10, 2026 • 20 mins

Stop the presses—one of the great mysteries of Marx Brothers fandom has finally been solved! After decades of anonymity, the manicurist from A Night at the Opera has a name. Bob Stryker joins us to explain how he stumbled onto the elusive answer, and we follow the story from a brief onscreen appearance to her surprising later career working behind the scenes in Hollywood.

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95 Who You Gonna Believe, Me or Your Own Eyes?

July 28, 2026 • 95 mins

Today, we spotlight two new Marx releases that are a feast for the eyes: Richard S. Greene’s book, "Marx Madvertising", overflowing with ads, stills, and promotional artwork, then (at 43:56) Andrew Murchie's fascinating new 3D conversion of "Animal Crackers"—available on disc or as a download, complete with a commentary by your favorite podcast hosts. We talk with both creators about how these passion projects came to l...

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94 The British Eyles (featuring Allen Eyles)

June 25, 2026 • 53 mins

We’re proud to welcome Allen Eyles, author of 1966’s "The Marx Brothers: Their World of Comedy"—the first in-depth look at the team’s films—and its successor, 1992’s "The Complete Films of the Marx Brothers", for his first-ever podcast on these landmark works. The conversation ranges from Eyles’ favourite (see what we did there) British comedians to his accidental status as the world&rsquo...

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93 “A Day at the Races” Resaddled (featuring The Marx Brothers Council)

May 28, 2026 • 106 mins

Listeners share their thoughts on the most divisive Marx film. Is it the last hurrah or the last straw? We sift through comments on everything from Tootsie-Frootsie to the excised “Dr. Hackenbush” song, while confronting the water carnival sequence that turns watching the movie into a hostage situation. We also take on the film’s most uncomfortable sequence, doing our best to put it in perspective... Along the w...

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92 N.Y. a Duck? (The MBCP LIVE)

April 17, 2026 • 64 mins

Matthew joins us in New York City for our first-ever episode in front of a live audience, recorded at the Museum of the Moving Image—just steps from Kaufman-Astoria Studios, where the Marxes filmed their first two movies. We kick things off with a quick dive into Horse Feathers (because The Cocoanuts or Animal Crackers felt a little too obvious), before welcoming Craig Shemin for a look at the studio’s ongoing history....

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91 Whatever Will B. Johnstone (featuring Meg Farrell)

April 1, 2026 • 89 mins

We welcome ethnomusicologist Meg Farrell, the great-granddaughter of Will B. Johnstone—an unsung hero of the Marx story who helped set the template for their act with I’ll Say She Is, and later contributed to Monkey Business, Horse Feathers, and A Day at the Races. Meg treats us to entries from “Grandpit’s” private diaries, revealing surprising Marx Brothers tales from the 1920s, and insights into his...

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MBCP SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

March 5, 2026 • 4 mins

April 12th, 2026. NYC. A unique event. More details at: https://movingimage.org/event/horse-feathers/

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90 The Marx Others (featuring Brett Leveridge and Trav S.D.)

February 27, 2026 • 92 mins

We turn our attention to the Marx family circle—on and off stage—highlighting relatives and influences that shaped the team. We examine the showbiz roots of Minnie’s parents, the short life of Manfred, and figures like Aunt Hannah, Cousin Polly, Mabel O'Donnell, and Lou Levy. We question common assumptions about Minnie and Frenchie, with Brett Leveridge shedding light on Minnie’s brief fling in the soft dri...

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89 “A Night at the Opera Reorchestrated” featuring The Marx Brothers Council

January 27, 2026 • 109 mins

The guys respond to insightful audience comments on the brothers’ MGM classic. Is the film actually more like their Paramount work than we give it credit for? Does the brothers’ career trajectory resemble that of Picasso—or Elvis? And did Margaret Dumont actually land a joke? These and other truly life-altering questions are debated, dissected, and delightfully overthought.

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88 “The Joy of Marx” featuring Joy Harmon

December 22, 2025 • 48 mins

Matthew and Noah take a closer look at “Tell It to Groucho”, the short-lived 1962 successor to “You Bet Your Life”. Though nearly identical in format, the series curiously never found its footing with audiences and was quickly cancelled. The guys are joined by the delightful Joy Harmon—Groucho’s assistant on “Tell It…” whom he first met when she appeared as a contestant on YB...

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87 “At’sa Some Joke, Eh, Boss?” featuring Elliott Kalan

November 30, 2025 • 112 mins

Award-winning writer/comedian and longtime Marx Brothers obsessive Elliott Kalan ("The Daily Show", "MST3K", "The Flop House", and the new book, "Joke Farming") takes us deep into the craft of professional comedy writing with a nice dose of Marx-inspired examples. Elliott details the difference between satire and parody, defends the noble pun, and tells the story behind his delightfully chaotic Marx-flavored children’s book, ...

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86 “Duck Soup Reheated” featuring The Marx Brothers Council

October 30, 2025 • 91 mins

Council members weigh in with their takes on the 1933 classic. We dive into the big questions: Is the film genuine satire or just anarchy in disguise? Which supporting characters truly “deserve” the wrath of the Marxes? And why is there not even incidental sound in the famed mirror scene? We’ll also discuss the difficulty some folks apparently have in fitting the entire movie on a VHS tape. Join us as we spin o...

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85 “That’s a Rodeo You’re Thinking of”

September 30, 2025 • 108 mins

In this episode, we listen to and examine some of Groucho’s, Chico’s, and (yes, even) Harpo’s most notable radio guest appearances. We discuss how, while much of their radio work was pedestrian, when paired with the right writers and co-stars, the brothers could flourish. These guest spots also let the brothers experiment in ways they couldn’t elsewhere — and even when the results were uneven, they wer...

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84 “Traveling Sohlo” featuring Brad Sohlo

September 3, 2025 • 42 mins

Alexander Woollcott authority Brad Sohlo returns to explore the celebrated critic’s influence on Harpo’s life, career, and legacy—and the surprisingly equal role Harpo played in Woollcott’s. Brad also shares stories from his visit to Woollcott’s Neshobe Island retreat, where Harpo and fellow Algonquin Round Table regulars gathered to unwind, rough it, and battle it out over croquet.

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BONUS EPISODE: Horse Feathers Unredacted

August 11, 2025 • 117 mins

A complete collection of listener submissions from episode 83, "Horse Feathers Reeducated". Because of time constraints and overlapping content, not every comment made it into the original episode. Now, you can enjoy the full, uncut versions of every clip we received—packed with great stories and fascinating insights. Enjoy!

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83 “Horse Feathers Reeducated” featuring The Marx Brothers Council

July 28, 2025 • 74 mins

Council members weigh in on one of the Marxes’ greatest films. Hear about a botched screening, why Jennings might be the dumbest gambler in history, and one member’s detailed dissent on Chico’s piano solo. You’ll also get mixed takes on the football finale, learn who holds the title of show business’s most ridiculed performer, and find out how Halle Berry’s name managed to enter the conversation.

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82 “Bob & Noah & Matt & Elliott” featuring Elliott Gould

June 18, 2025 • 27 mins

Screen icon Elliott Gould joins the guys for a heartwarming and at times profound conversation about his friendship with Groucho. From deli lunches to hospital antics to reflections on Mae West, Erin Fleming, and the meaning of legacy, Elliott offers deeply personal stories with warmth and wit. You’ll even learn what Groucho considered Elliott’s greatest performance.

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81 “Ten Annotated Years”

May 27, 2025 • 77 mins

We're celebrating the tenth anniversary of Matthew Coniam’s “The Annotated Marx Brothers: A Filmgoer's Guide to In-Jokes, Obscure References and Sly Details”. In this retrospective, we explore how the book came to be—and how it ultimately became something quite different from what the title might lead you to expect. What sets it apart from other books on the Marxes? Is an updated edition on the horizon? And...

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80 “Strange Interludes” (“The King and the Chorus Girl” & “Time for Elizabeth”)

April 30, 2025 • 84 mins

Friend of the podcast Kathy Biehl joins the guys to explore Groucho's only two produced scripts, the 1937 film "The King and the Chorus Girl", and the 1948 play "Time for Elizabeth" - which was later adapted for TV, featuring himself in the lead role. The crew delves into how these collaborations with Norman Krasna mark a conscious shift from Groucho’s signature humor, pondering what might have driven him to this new di...

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The Marx Brothers Council Podcast

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}96 Room Service Reordered

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}EMERGENCY PODCAST (featuring Bob Stryker)

95 Who You Gonna Believe, Me or Your Own Eyes?

94 The British Eyles (featuring Allen Eyles)

93 “A Day at the Races” Resaddled (featuring The Marx Brothers Council)

92 N.Y. a Duck? (The MBCP LIVE)

91 Whatever Will B. Johnstone (featuring Meg Farrell)

MBCP SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

90 The Marx Others (featuring Brett Leveridge and Trav S.D.)

89 “A Night at the Opera Reorchestrated” featuring The Marx Brothers Council

88 “The Joy of Marx” featuring Joy Harmon

87 “At’sa Some Joke, Eh, Boss?” featuring Elliott Kalan

86 “Duck Soup Reheated” featuring The Marx Brothers Council

85 “That’s a Rodeo You’re Thinking of”

84 “Traveling Sohlo” featuring Brad Sohlo

BONUS EPISODE: Horse Feathers Unredacted

83 “Horse Feathers Reeducated” featuring The Marx Brothers Council

82 “Bob & Noah & Matt & Elliott” featuring Elliott Gould

81 “Ten Annotated Years”

80 “Strange Interludes” (“The King and the Chorus Girl” & “Time for Elizabeth”)

Popular Podcasts

96 Room Service Reordered

EMERGENCY PODCAST (featuring Bob Stryker)