TLS, signed in pencil, “Groucho,” two pages, 8.5 x 11, Hotel Elysée, New York letterhead, no date [1934]. Groucho writes to his wife [“Svensk”] and children, Arthur and Miriam. In part: “Max’s new show opened in Philly last night and he called me up after it and told me, it was a great success, took twenty curtain calls, and the audience loved it. I am glad for his sake, if this one is a hit he will be out of hock and in a fair way to make some important money. He certainly is deserving of it. He has worked hard, never lost his enthusiasm, and now if the fates are kind, he will sprint far ahead of the sheriff. Heard [George S.] Kaufman and [Marc] Connelly on the air Sunday night, and though the stuff was good, it didn’t click with me. They were terribly nervous, and their voices cracked like little boys who are leaving adolescence for manhood. Perhaps this was what was the matter with them. It’s just the difference between professional actors and amateurs. I purposely stayed home from the hockey games to hear them, and I realize now it was a mistake. Our audition [evidently for the radio show “Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel”] has now been postponed from Tuesday until Thursday and unless they keep on pushing it off, I soon ought to known something definite. I received your nice wire, and was going to talk to you on the phone, but decided to wait until I got some news about the broadcast, and then I can tell you all about it…. I would like you to call up or go down and see Lloyd Wright about my will…. You had best ask him … whether there is a provision in there whereby you would get some immediate money on my death…. There is a taxi strike on in New York [dating the letter to 1934] and most people are doing their travelling now by walking. It is dangerous to taxi, as the strikers line the streets, and demolish the cab, and the passengers, of any strikebreakers…. I am all with the drivers, and hope they hold out until they get a living wage. Something that they are now not getting…. How about the gorillas writing me a letter?” Marx has added a handful of pencil corrections to his numerous typing mistakes. A few mild wrinkles and tiny edge separations at folds, otherwise fine, clean condition. R&R COA.
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