# How did the Marx Bros. and 3 Stooges express their Jewishness? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 11, 2006, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427 "2006-01-11T02:43:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/21 "2006-01-11T22:03:45Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > “schnorrer” is originally a German and Yiddish word meaning beggar. In English, apparently it means something more like a con man. Nah, it’s more like a “sponger.” Remember house-guest Spaulding’s line in “Hello, I Must be Going:” “I’ll stay a week or two…I’ll stay the summer throooooooo…” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/22 "2006-01-11T23:18:18Z")
Ahh, that’s a better translation. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![sneezy5660](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@sneezy5660](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sneezy5660)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/23 "2006-01-12T04:14:00Z")
**Marley** , they have it at [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com). I have it myself, bought it at a library booksale in my hometown. The librarian said I might as well buy it, because I was the only one who ever checked it out! That’s depressing, but not suprising. Get it now, It’s awesome! ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/24 "2006-01-12T04:48:50Z")
Interesting thread. Jack Benny, one of my favorite old comedians, was also Jewish. (His wife, Mary Livingstone, nee Sadie Marks, was actually a relative of the Marx Brothers.) But I have never found any hint of Judaism in his routines; in fact, his show did a Christmas special every year, and often an Easter special as well. The only hint of Judaism I remember from his career was his role in “To Be or Not To Be,” and even that was pretty neutral. But such was the way of the world back then. I’m sure Dinah Shore sang Christmas songs too. It’s interesting how some of the best art can result from these cross-cultural mixings. Most of the composers of the Great American Songbook were Jewish; Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote about very non-Jewish characters in “Oklahoma!” and “Carousel;” Irving Berlin wrote “White Christmas” and “Easter Parade.” Cole Porter, the only gentile among the top tier of the old composers, was said to have been the one who wrote the most “Jewish” music (which I guess means borrowing from klezmer music and specific uses of the minor key). The opening verse of “My Heart Belongs To Daddy” has been cited as an example of this. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/25 "2006-01-12T05:24:50Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > Interesting thread. Jack Benny, one of my favorite old comedians, was also Jewish. (His wife, Mary Livingstone, nee Sadie Marks, was actually a relative of the Marx Brothers.) But I have never found any hint of Judaism in his routines . . . Well . . . he play off the miser thing a whole lot . . . ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/26 "2006-01-12T05:42:45Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > I sure hope there are not any skeletons lurking about in Bob Newhart’s closet! :eek: He was an ACCOUTANT! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/27 "2006-01-12T06:30:31Z")
Groucho said he danced on Hitler’s grave, once. That count for anything? ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/28 "2006-01-12T06:51:38Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Well . . . he play off the miser thing a whole lot . . . Oh yeaaaahhh…hmm. But somehow the way he did it it never seemed like a rip on the Jewish stereotype; there were some jokes about him being Scottish, but never any about him being Jewish. (There was an occassional character on the show, Mr. Kitzel, who was supposed to be a Jewish character – he used a lot of Yiddishisms, etc. But he always contrasted very sharply with Jack’s all-American mid-Western-ness.) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/29 "2006-01-12T13:16:06Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > Groucho said he danced on Hitler’s grave, once. That count for anything? Groucho must have done that metaphorically. Wasn’t Hitler’s body burned in a ditch and only a piece of skull recovered by the Russians who took Moscow? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/30 "2006-01-12T13:36:44Z")
Harpo did change his real name from Adolph to Arthur. It’s said that a hotel clerk once told (Irish Catholic) George Cohan that “this hotel doesn’t allow Jews.” Cohan supposedly replied “You thought I was Jewish and I thought you were a gentleman. We were both mistaken.” ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/31 "2006-01-12T15:05:31Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > I sure hope there are not any skeletons lurking about in Bob Newhart’s closet! :eek: He lived at home until age 35, which would definitely put him in the “troubled loner” category today. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/32 "2006-01-12T15:26:55Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > I’m not Jewish but I remember reading about the Marx Bros, Groucho in particular, had some run-ins with anti-semtism. The most famous incident where he wasn’t allowed to enter a country club because he was jewish, so he asked if his son, being half jewish, could wade into the pool up to his waist. Barry Goldwater, denied entry to the golf course of an “exclusive” country club, protested, “But I’m only half Jewish! Can’t I play nine holes?” ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/33 "2006-01-12T16:30:38Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > Groucho said he danced on Hitler’s grave, once. That count for anything? Well, he also danced before Napoleon…or maybe Napoleon danced before him. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/34 "2006-01-12T19:26:45Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Well . . . he play off the miser thing a whole lot . . . The miser stereotype isn’t only Jewish – you might remember Ebenezer Scrooge and Silas Marner, for instance. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/35 "2006-01-12T19:48:28Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > Well, he also danced before Napoleon…or maybe Napoleon danced before him. On behalf of both of us who caught this allusion, I thank you. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/36 "2006-01-12T21:05:30Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > Well, he also danced before Napoleon…or maybe Napoleon danced before him. That’s a good one boss! ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/37 "2006-01-12T23:00:34Z")
Honk! ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/38 "2006-01-12T23:49:13Z")
> [@Ukulele Ike](#): > > Honk! Make that three hard boiled eggs. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/39 "2006-01-13T05:43:07Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Groucho must have done that metaphorically. > Wasn’t Hitler’s body burned in a ditch and only a piece of skull recovered by the Russians who took Moscow? The Russians recovered his (charred) body, and carted it around East German KGB bases for a few years (I think it was buried in a former auto garage repair pit, for awhile), until finally destroying what was left in the 70s. They _do_ keep a chunk o’ skull and part of his jaw in Moscow, to this day, though. And I did a little checking…according to [this account](http://keywords.oxus.net/archives/2005/01/29/you-bet-your-life/), Groucho danced on the ruins of the Führerbunker, though not Hitler’s grave itself. (Though I imagine there were at least some _bits_ of Hitler’s dead body under where Groucho danced—splattered fluids, ash, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427/40 "2006-01-13T06:16:30Z")
Had to go to Penn State for a Stooges Jewish reference: [http://www3.la.psu.edu/jst/default.aspx?pageid=12§ionid=7](http://www3.la.psu.edu/jst/default.aspx?pageid=12§ionid=7) > [@](#): > > From the New York Times, 9.28.2005: > > Most children watching “The Three Stooges” didn’t realize it, but an understanding of Yiddish was required to get a lot of the jokes. In one episode, when Larry hears that Moe is heading to a hockshop, he says, “While you’re there, hock me a tshaynik.” What must have sounded like pure nonsense to most viewers was a Yiddish pun, one that Michael Wex, in his wise, witty and altogether wonderful “Born to Kvetch,” lays on the table for analysis. > > A “tshaynik” is a teakettle. “Hak,” or “huk,” comes from a verb meaning “to knock.” What’s the connection? Imagine a boiling teakettle. The more it boils, the emptier it gets, and the louder and more annoyingly the lid bangs. The very popular phrase “Hak mir nisht ken tshaynik” literally means “Don’t knock me a teakettle.” Figuratively, as Mr. Wex translates it, it means “you don’t have to shut up completely, but I’d really appreciate it if you’d stop rattling on about the same damned thing all the time.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-marx-bros-and-3-stooges-express-their-jewishness/339427.md?page=3)