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: [email protected]
- Update frequency
- every 28 days
- Average duration
- 88 minutes
- Episodes
- 97
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2025
84 “Traveling Sohlo” featuring Brad Sohlo
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 als…
00:42:41 |
Wed 03 Sep 2025
BONUS EPISODE: Horse Feathers Unredacted
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. …
01:57:00 |
Mon 11 Aug 2025
83 “Horse Feathers Reeducated” featuring The Marx Brothers Council
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…
01:14:40 |
Mon 28 Jul 2025
82 “Bob & Noah & Matt & Elliott” featuring Elliott Gould
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…
00:27:42 |
Wed 18 Jun 2025
81 “Ten Annotated Years”
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 th…
01:17:54 |
Tue 27 May 2025
80 “Strange Interludes” (“The King and the Chorus Girl” & “Time for Elizabeth”)
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…
01:24:58 |
Wed 30 Apr 2025
79 “Monkey Business Rekippered” featuring The Marx Brothers Council
With listener insights, we take another look at the film that marked the Marxes’ Hollywood debut and stands out as the only one featuring a manicurist we can name.
This episode highlights the distin…
01:20:10 |
Fri 28 Mar 2025
78 “What is Your Opinion of Art?” featuring Pat McCaughey
By all accounts, the brothers acquired their iconic names in 1914 while playing cards with a performer named Art Fisher…but does this story hold water, or even milk? To get to the bottom of this, we …
01:01:04 |
Wed 26 Feb 2025
77 “And Always Zeppo” (our look at "Zeppo: The Reluctant Marx Brother")
Noah and Matthew dive into Robert S. Bader’s new book, Zeppo: The Reluctant Marx Brother, the first-ever biography of the universally acknowledged youngest Marx Brother.
The guys explore Zeppo’s lif…
00:55:27 |
Thu 30 Jan 2025
76 “Animal Crackers Reopened” featuring The Marx Brothers Council
Once again, our audience takes centerstage as we respond to listener comments on the Marxes’ second (or third) film…
How is viewing the restored version akin to seeing the team live onstage? What is…
01:31:25 |
Fri 20 Dec 2024
75 “You Can’t Fool Me! There Ain’t No Santopadre!” featuring Frank Santopadre
Emmy-winning comedy writer and producer Frank Santopadre, renowned for co-hosting the often Marx-focused Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast, joins us for an insightful conversation.
Frank …
01:02:55 |
Thu 28 Nov 2024
74 “We Need To Talk About Erin” featuring David Fleming
David Fleming, Erin’s nephew, offers raw and compelling insight into the complex life of Groucho’s “secretary.”
He recounts visits to his aunt at Groucho’s home and encounters with the man himself. …
01:29:14 |
Thu 31 Oct 2024
73 “The Cocoanuts Revisited” featuring The Marx Brothers Council
After 72 episodes of you listening to us, today we listen to you, as Council members offer their insights and opinions of the Marxes’ first (surviving) film.
Are its age and creakiness actually a bl…
02:30:49 |
Mon 30 Sep 2024
72 “What If?” featuring Danny Fingeroth
Biographer, cultural critic, and comics veteran Danny Fingeroth joins Noah and Bob for a game of Marx Brothers "What If...?" inspired by the multiverse series Danny worked on in his days at Marvel Co…
01:13:17 |
Fri 30 Aug 2024
71 "If She Figures That One Out, She's Good"
Matthew and Noah share a few of the most perplexing Marx Brothers mysteries they've encountered in their research, which have remained unsolved despite considerable effort.
No, this episode is not a…
01:08:28 |
Wed 24 Jul 2024
70 “What Do You Get For Not Directing?”
This month the guys examine the directors of each of the Marx Brothers’ films. From Dick Smith of Humor Risk to The Incredible Jewel Robbery’s Mitchell Leisen, they discuss each director’s qualificat…
01:34:18 |
Fri 28 Jun 2024
69 “Marxfest Memories” featuring Kathy Biehl and Jonny Porkpie
An in-depth report on Marxfest 2024 with two of Noah’s co-organizers, Kathy Biehl and Jonny Porkpie. Detailing each event, they share stories of the fans, presenters and performers who made it an unf…
02:50:31 |
Fri 07 Jun 2024
68 “Miscellany Business” featuring Trav S.D.
“The Marx Brothers Miscellany” is not only the name of a new book by our guest, Trav SD, it also aptly describes this episode. We engage in a free-wheeling discussion of numerous Marx topics, includi…
01:20:05 |
Fri 26 Apr 2024
A Few Words About MARXFEST
In between episodes, Noah pops in with a few words about MARXFEST, coming to New York City in May of 2024. Tickets and information at marxfest.org.
00:05:53 |
Thu 11 Apr 2024
67 “Of Muppets and Marxes” featuring Eric Jacobson and Craig Shemin
Well, this one doesn’t need much explanation, does it?
Muppeteer Eric Jacobson and writer/producer/historian Craig Shemin join us for a look at the intersection of the worlds of the Marx Brothers an…
01:42:24 |
Thu 28 Mar 2024
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