Talk:Harpo Marx

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[edit] I think this article needs an overhaul

also, i have a great picture of harpo. i was wondering how i add it under the fair use provision thingy? im pretty new here. Everything Inane 05:09, 2 Jun 2005 (UTC)

I agree, this article does need some work. And, if you're still around, I think your picture may be good. It should qualify as fair use. If you took the picture or it was taken before 1922 there'd be no copyright to worry about but I doubt either is the case. Nevertheless, it probably would qualify as fair use. Check out WP:Fair use if you haven't already for reasons why it might be acceptable.
This article does need a good photograph of Harpo. The Dali drawing (while interesting) isn't as good as a photograph would be. -kotra 11:32, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

Why did he have an open heart surgery?

It is usually because of a heart attack. Rarely done as elective surgery.Shsilver 16:34, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

yes, he had a few heart attacks. if you want to read about it i suggest "harpo speaks", his autobiography. he initially became scared and was careful with the heart attacks, but after a while he decided to continue to do the things he loved anyways, like the harp, and golf, and just having fun. he was true to the last. Everything Inane 04:18, 9 January 2006 (UTC)

  • I can't find my copy of the book. Since you have it, could you maybe clear up (if necessary) the question of what his real name was? I don't think it was "Adolph Arthur Marx", I think it was originally "Adolph" and he changed it to "Arthur". But I'm not totally sure on that point. Wahkeenah 09:56, 9 January 2006 (UTC)

i think you might be right, but i dont remember, ill have to look into it

Yes, his real name was Adolph. His brothers called him "Ahdie". It's a little creepy how his "adopted" son Alex looks alot like Gummo in later life!!!

Look for "Harpo speaks" on Amazon.com. You'll prolly find it at a great price! In his autobio, he interestingly understates his age by 5 years, claiming 1893 as year of birth but I think betrays this by mentioning things like Grover Cleveland buttons.Jrm2007 09:39, 29 April 2007 (UTC)

More about Harpo Speaks: discovered via web search year of brothel piano playing was 1907 -- he cites article about the owner and her gang. Deliberate fuzziness again about years?Jrm2007 09:06, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

I have Harpo Speaks in my travel bag - I'm fairly sure that in it he relates that he was born Adolph, and then changed it in the 1930s in response to the rise of Hitler and his brand of anti-semitism. I will search for the quote. -Harlsbottom 03:47, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

  • Please do. I've been trying to find my copy. I too am almost certain he was born Adolph and changed it to Arthur; that his name was not "Adolph Arthur Marx". However, I haven't posted that because I couldn't find the book. Feel free to fix it. :) Wahkeenah 04:20, 17 July 2006 (UTC)
  • This site [1] elaborates. The interesting thing is that Harpo was calling himself Arthur as early as 1913, before the outbreak of WWI. Now we really need to find out what he says in Harpo Speaks, especially if he is contradicting himself. But there seems little doubt that he was born Adolph and adopted the name Arthur. Wahkeenah 16:45, 29 July 2006 (UTC)
I think the popular legend is that he changed it prior to WWII for obvious reasons and particularly to distance himself from the anti-Semitic Nazis, but the truth may be closer to avoiding anti-German sentiment prior to the Great War. The Marxes were demonstrably proud of being American, and the extent of Nazi German anti-Semitism wasn't apparent in the US until after American involvement in WWII. [EDIT] This is from the article on Marx Brothers:
During World War I, anti-German sentiments grew, and the family tried to hide their German origin. Harpo changed his real first name from Adolph to Arthur, and Groucho discontinued his "German" stage personality.
There is no citation, but it strangely encapsulates what I was trying to say earlier. This is echoed by one of the article's references, http://www.marx-brothers.org/biography/harpo.htm:
Harpo was given the name Adolph, but changed it to Arthur during World War I because it was too 'German'.
Although no exact date is given, the consensus is leaning toward the pre-WWI explanation. Canonblack 01:59, 3 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Allan Sherman and HM

My relevant book (A Gift of Laughter) is packed away, but it's worth mentioning that Marx and Allan Sherman were neighbors and good friends. Marx, as I recall, was partially responsible for jump-starting Sherman's parody-singing career (as distinct from his stalled career in television game shows).Lawikitejana 18:01, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Harpocrates

it was recently suggested and edited into the harpo page here that harpo was names after harpocrates, the egyptian god of silence. This is untrue according to the autobiography "Harpo Speaks", and I have removed it, but Ill be god damned if this isnt an interesting point. We know that there was great interest in egyption culture or at least fashion in the 20's as well. But even if the card player who gave Harpo his name knew this, it is too interesting that harpo happened to play the harp as well, and wasn't this beore he stopped speaking on stage? As far as I can tell it's all unrelated but even if it partially wasn't, it's very coincidential.... —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Everything Inane (talk • contribs) 01:31, 14 February 2007 (UTC).

Everything Inane 01:31, 14 February 2007 (UTC)

It was simply vandalism. No need to comment about it, just revert it.Shsilver 02:05, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
It was at least somewhat clever... except Harpocrates would be Greek, not Egyptian. Meanwhile, there is no question that Harpo got his name from playing the harp. Groucho also mentioned that in his Carnegie Hall concert, along with Chico originally being Chick-o because he was a "chicken chaser". That prelude was a setup to his remark, "I have no idea where my nickname came from!" Wahkeenah 07:46, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
Hi guys, my friend edited that & he complained to me that his edit was reverted. Could you see see if you'd like my edit instead? (Wikimachine 19:12, 15 February 2007 (UTC))
Well, as Harpo would say... "HONK!" Wahkeenah 23:38, 15 February 2007 (UTC)

Someone keeps trying to add it back. It's only a coincidence, it's not true. And if you read the article, you'll see that the assertion that Harpocrates was the Egyptian god of silence is also not true. Wahkeenah 13:00, 17 February 2007 (UTC)

If the fact of the matter is, indeed, that there is not a real connection between Harpo and Harpokrates, then leave it out of the article. This is an encyclopedia after all, and not a trivia collection. I suggest we put it to a vote here: who wants Harpokrates in the article? I vote "no". --K72ndst 14:13, 17 February 2007 (UTC)
There is no reason to vote. It is plain and simple vandalism. Harpo got his name because he played the harp, a fact which is easily verifiable in numerous sources. If the vandals could find even a single reputable source for their garbage, I might think it could possibly be worth a vote. Voting on it, however, would be like voting whether to include a statement that Dorothy Parker got her name becasue she used to "park" with various men in dimly lit corners of Central Park. Shsilver 14:24, 17 February 2007 (UTC)
Probably parking with Chico, ironically enough. For the moment, I'm going to pretend it's an honest mistake or "original research". It it happens again, then it's vandalism for sure, and the three revert rule will not apply (nor hopefully will it be necessary, but we'll see). Wahkeenah 14:47, 17 February 2007 (UTC)

Please stop? Ha! Ridiculous. Look here. Did you not see the source? Just go to my user page. Any sign of credibility there? 3RR? I never reverted, added just once. Are you assuming that that anonymous user IP & I are sock puppets? I'd recommend some sign of apology, sir (or mam). Let me tell you this. My friend is the valedictorian at our school & sadly he can't contribute as he should because he has not a single clue on how Wiki works. Think of his contribution as a gift. He always complains that whatever he edits, people revert it back. Think again, buddy. Think again. (Wikimachine 00:52, 22 February 2007 (UTC))

A valedictorian who can't figure out how to type. Tell me another one. Like the Harpocrates story, which has nothing whatsoever to do with Harpo Marx. Wahkeenah 02:36, 22 February 2007 (UTC)
But the valedictorian did explain why they were named after Harpocrates. They were silent. (Wikimachine 04:24, 23 February 2007 (UTC))
Those "citations" are collections of uncited opinions and speculation, along with echo sites of this site. The Marx Brothers explained where their nicknames came from. Harpo's came from playing the harp. If you can find a cite where the Marx Brothers say anything about Harpocrates, then you've got something. Wahkeenah 02:56, 22 February 2007 (UTC)
I'm sorry. Taipei Times is reliable. Another source: [2]. Ah... A reliable hard copy! [3].

(Wikimachine 04:24, 23 February 2007 (UTC))

The Marx Brothers have only ever said that it had to do with Harpo's skill with the harp. Any other assertions are fabrications. Your continued insistence on pushing this fairy tale must now be considered vandalism, and will be treated as such. Wahkeenah 04:41, 23 February 2007 (UTC)

And no it won't. There's clear difference between vandalism & different viewpoints & let me tell you, sir, that you've started this discussion on the wrong foot. No good faith. To assume that the edits were done in conspiracy by sock puppets, & to "considered vandalism" (ha!)... What authority do you have to "consider" another user's edit as vandalism outside the procedural bounds? You haven't even apologized yet. You know, this arrogance of yours is smothering me out of here. I don't even know who Harpo Marx is nor am I interested, so I'll quit on this article & detach it off of my watchlist. Pathetic. (Wikimachine 06:31, 23 February 2007 (UTC))

It has nothing to do with "viewpoints". The Marx family, in various media (such as Harpo's autobiography) always said that Harpo's name came strictly from his skill at playing the harp. There is no evidence they ever said anything different. I've pointed this out several times, and you ignore it, despite your own admission that you know nothing about Harpo Marx. Just because some blog writer or columnist makes the connection doesn't mean there's anything to it. You could add that info to the article if you say "coincidentally". To try to assert that it actually came from that Egyptian god's name is verifiably a falsehood. Wahkeenah 12:27, 23 February 2007 (UTC)

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[edit] How many Nightingales?

From the Groucho Marx article: They were billing themselves as 'The Four Nightingales', Julius, Milton (Gummo Marx), Adolph (Harpo Marx) (later changed to Arthur), and another boy singer, Lou Levy...

From this article: In January 1910, Harpo joined two of his brothers, Julius (later "Groucho") and Milton, to form "The Three Nightingales". —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.8.236.175 (talk) 19:53, 11 February 2008 (UTC)