a more heroic age?

March 24, 2008 at 11:58 am | Posted in music, writing | 20 Comments
Tags: Harpo Marx, hemingway's shotgun, The Algonquin Round Table

I went to visit the new Hemingway’s Shotgun site thinking Scot is cool, it will be cool and it is. The first post surprised me cos it was preBeat. Now one of my alltime heroes is Harpo Marx, his autobigraphy is ironically long. He was a member of The Algonquin Round Table, a bunch of writers who hung out together and talked a lot and were famous for various types of talking about different stuff and Harpo was a part of the magic that resulted. A man famous for not talking was requisite it seems.

Harpo was one of the first classical clowns to realise that it was important to play to the camera like it was your favourite audience member and he would play live straight into it so that the reponse when looking through it at him is not to the clownish gesture but to the compassionate, passionate spirit beneath. He was also a mean croquet player, a skill which meant more than knocking balls through hoops at that time.

There are so many quotes available and you know me, I could go on and on, but eventually my schlepping and grammer will breakdown,

20 Comments »

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I’d almost forgotten that Harpo was a member of the Algonquin Round Table. Well, at my age you remember something new every day.

Comment by Rodger Jacobs — March 24, 2008 #
That bit around 2 mins where it turns into Scott Joplin and then back into classical piano sends magic shivers up my spine and then his look of chidlish amazement at the end as though it wasn’t him playing, that he is just listening like i am, it is a work of art,

Comment by Paul — March 24, 2008 #
Another man who didn’t speak…….

Fabulous clip, almost surreal. I am going to click the links.

Comment by johemmant — March 24, 2008 #
way more to take in here than i can do during a 2 a.m. visit. will be back for more though. thanks for visiting my blog and leaving an affirming comment.

Comment by rick mobbs — March 24, 2008 #
Harpo who?

Kidding!!! I sorta… vaguely,,, know who you’re talking about. He was kinda like the negative space in art, huh? Subtly critical.

Comment by Lakota — March 24, 2008 #
oh, go on…in going on ,that is. And Harpo was a master of his craft.

Comment by enigma — March 24, 2008 #
ragtime harp–unreal–cool

Comment by Scot — March 24, 2008 #
Harpo is one of my favorites also. I raised my children watching the Marx brothers often. Now as teens, they appreciate him too.

Comment by Tina Trivett — March 24, 2008 #
The Marx brothers were the greatest ever… EVER! They were inteligent, sublime, increadably creative… always my favorites. No one came close.

Comment by ozymandiaz — March 24, 2008 #
The last second of the tape is just great! The look on his face is classic! Harpo was one of a kind…

Comment by Bob — March 25, 2008 #
“His remains were reportedly sprinkled into the sand trap off the seventh fairway of his favorite golf course.”

thanks for the reminder of what a truly masterful entertainer he was…

Comment by Chico — March 25, 2008 #
Cool, many Harpo fans. His autobiography is a wonderful book, “Harpo Speaks”. It really captures the spirit of the age. Chico, you play poker? Hahaha, where’s Zeppo?

Comment by Paul — March 25, 2008 #
I think it would be fun to be part of a modern day Algonquin Round Table.

I’d claim Dorothy Parker’s seat if I had the tongue for it.

Comment by amuirin — March 25, 2008 #
Talent was abundant in the Marx clan.

Glad to see you still around. I think the ‘self-indulgent’ poem will lead to more ideas. Any way you can make a living as an artist, you should take it.

I’d love to have the same option.

Run with it and keep the smoke signals rising.

Comment by Anonymous — March 25, 2008 #
That was me up above.

Just sayin!

Peace out.

Comment by Eric1313 — March 25, 2008 #
actually got the nickname “chico” from some elementary school chums cuz i was always reciting marx brothers lines… (plus they thought i looked a little like him, i guess)… raise you five hundred…

Comment by Chico Mahalo — March 25, 2008 #
Five hundred! I fold, oh and Eric, that’s one of the main reasons i wanna do it, not just for my ease of lifestyle but to prove that it is still possible and leave a trail, a career path, if you like, everyone here above is a really good writer or artist, as good as writers and artists as most professionals, it’s just that the world where commerce and art intersect, publishing, the movies, all those old avenues are dying commercially for various reasons and pushed to produce lowest common denonimator crap to make a profit because, partially, of the internet. I want to figure out a career path using the internet as a medium that doesnt involve working for pornographers or spammers,

Comment by Paul — March 25, 2008 #
Hey paul, as someone who works in an industry that promotes the lowest common denonimator crap to make a profit ,(and the porfit is huge) and worse still, makes a bloody god that they worship of it, I will suport you in any way i can.

Comment by enigma — March 25, 2008 #
Cool, the hole is more than the sum of its planets. Rage on, radiate,

Comment by Paul — March 25, 2008 #
In NYC for a conference, my friend and I had drinks at the Algonquin just a couple days ago. I felt history in the atmosphere and was inspired to check out James Gaines’s book Wit’s End. BTW, Matilda the cat is quite personable.
Paul Alan
http://www.wordsalad.wordpress.com

Comment by paul — March 31, 2008 #