Winslow Leach
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- Feb 22, 2007
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I agree, Gatsby is a wonderful book, but I enjoy all of Scott Fitzgerald's work.Two '20s items I can think of is the book The Great Gatsby (absolutely wonderful book) and the 1929 Marx Brothers film The Cocoanuts, which is as funny today as it was then. Plus it's one of the first talkies, but it still gives you an idea of what the '20s were like (just before they were about to end).
The Cocoanuts was based on the Marx Brothers' 1925 Broadway hit of the same name...the movie was filmed at Paramount's Astoria Studios on Long Island during the day, while the brothers performed Animal Crackers on Broadway at night (which was of course their second feature).
If you notice, the newspapers in the film are soaking wet; that's because of the early microphones used, which were so sensitive, they would pick up the rustling of the paper.
And Zeppo rocks! I'm a big fan of Zeppo!
Groucho said in later years that Zeppo was actually the funniest of all the brothers, but he obviously never had a chance to show his funny side, as he was always cast either as Groucho's underling, or as the romantic lead.
Apparently during the run of Animal Crackers, Groucho had to miss a few performances. So Zeppo put on the greasepaint mustache, and played Captain Spaulding. The audience was none the wiser, assuming they were watching Groucho!