Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho's House

Rating:
Summary: Inside the home of Hollywood comedy legend Groucho Marx
Review: "One morning I shot an elephant in my pyjamas. How he got in my pyjamas I don't know". (Groucho Marx).

"Raised Eyebrows" is a fascinating account of life inside the home of Groucho Marx. There are many fine books available about Groucho Marx but this one is different as it deals with Groucho's later years and is written by Steve Stoliar who was a big Marx Brothers fan and by an extraordinary set of circumstances was lucky enough to land a job working for Groucho as his personal secretary and archivist. Even more remarkable was that Stoliar ended up actually living inside Groucho's Beverly Hills home. His main task was to deal with Groucho's fan mail and organise his memorabilia. This gave him the opportunity to study Groucho at close quarters and be present at all the parties, dinners, and other events at the house. He met many of Groucho's celebrity friends including Bob Hope, George Burns, Jack Lemmon, Milton Berle, Mae West, Red Buttons etc. He writes how most of them accepted him and were quite friendly (some might even have thought he was Groucho's grandson!) but just occasionally he was completely ignored by the celebrity guest (read the book to find out more!).

"If I hold you any closer I'll be in back of you!". (Groucho Marx).

How Stoliar came to have the job at Groucho's house makes very fascinating reading. He was just a 19 year old college student at UCLA and a big fan of the Marx Brothers when he had the idea to start a campaign to get their 1930 movie "Animal Crackers" re-released. This came to the attention of Groucho's companion and secretary Erin Fleming who phoned Stoliar for more information. A local showing of the film was arranged in Westwood with Groucho in attendance. Fleming kept in touch with Stoliar and eventually the movie was re-released nationwide with enormous success and created renewed interest in the Marx Brothers. Due to his efforts on the campaign and because of his knowledge and enthusiasm for Marx Brothers movies Fleming contacted Stoliar to offer him a job dealing with Groucho's fan mail and correspondence. He immediately accepted but expected to be working in some office building and was overwhelmed when he discovered he would be right there in Groucho's Beverly Hills home. He eventually lived in staying there for over three years.

"I never forget a face but in your case I'll make an exception!". (Groucho Marx).

One of the most interesting sections in the book for me was when Stoliar outlined the sometimes stormy relationship between Groucho and Erin Fleming which Stoliar was able to witness first hand. Fleming did a lot for Groucho but was not liked by the family (apart from Zeppo) and she was involved in a long drawn out court battle with Groucho's son Arthur Marx as to who should be declared Groucho's conservator to oversee his money matters. (This was before Groucho's death but when he was very fragile and confined to a wheelchair). The newspapers got onto the story and the headlines came fast and furious with many of Groucho's friends being called to the court to give evidence in favour of Arthur. However, Erin had her supporters too including Groucho's brother Zeppo who testified in court for her. He said that if Erin was taken away from Groucho "it would kill him" and that Erin was "the finest woman in the world". He had nothing but glowing things to say about Erin and her relationship with Groucho. He thought that Erin was good for Groucho and had prolonged his life. However, another side of the story came to light when a parade of former employees from Groucho's house took the stand. Evidence was given that Erin had treated Groucho badly, had screamed at him using filthy language and had even threatened him physically. Eventually, a compromise was reached with a new conservator being appointed.

"Will you marry me? Did he leave you any money? Answer the second question first". (Groucho Marx).

A very entertaining book about an insider's personal look at a Hollywood comedy legend. It is rare to find a book such as this where the author is in such close contact with his subject. It is really quite amazing that an ordinary fan like Steve Stoliar whose only ambition was to meet Groucho Marx and perhaps shake his hand and have a photo taken should spend over three years working and living in Groucho's Beverly Hills home. It certainly gives Stoliar credibility that he was present "on the inside" and therefore able to build up valuable and useful information over a long period of time which has now come to fruition with this book.

Rating:
Summary: Inside the home of Hollywood comedy legend Groucho Marx
Review: "One morning I shot an elephant in my pyjamas. How he got in my pyjamas I don't know". (Groucho Marx).

"Raised Eyebrows" is a fascinating account of life inside the home of Groucho Marx. There are many fine books available about Groucho Marx but this one is different as it deals with Groucho's later years and is written by Steve Stoliar who was a big Marx Brothers fan and by an extraordinary set of circumstances was lucky enough to land a job working for Groucho as his personal secretary and archivist. Even more remarkable was that Stoliar ended up actually living inside Groucho's Beverly Hills home. His main task was to deal with Groucho's fan mail and organise his memorabilia. This gave him the opportunity to study Groucho at close quarters and be present at all the parties, dinners, and other events at the house. He met many of Groucho's celebrity friends including Bob Hope, George Burns, Jack Lemmon, Milton Berle, Mae West, Red Buttons etc. He writes how most of them accepted him and were quite friendly (some might even have thought he was Groucho's grandson!) but just occasionally he was completely ignored by the celebrity guest (read the book to find out more!).

"If I hold you any closer I'll be in back of you!". (Groucho Marx).

How Stoliar came to have the job at Groucho's house makes very fascinating reading. He was just a 19 year old college student at UCLA and a big fan of the Marx Brothers when he had the idea to start a campaign to get their 1930 movie "Animal Crackers" re-released. This came to the attention of Groucho's companion and secretary Erin Fleming who phoned Stoliar for more information. A local showing of the film was arranged in Westwood with Groucho in attendance. Fleming kept in touch with Stoliar and eventually the movie was re-released nationwide with enormous success and created renewed interest in the Marx Brothers. Due to his efforts on the campaign and because of his knowledge and enthusiasm for Marx Brothers movies Fleming contacted Stoliar to offer him a job dealing with Groucho's fan mail and correspondence. He immediately accepted but expected to be working in some office building and was overwhelmed when he discovered he would be right there in Groucho's Beverly Hills home. He eventually lived in staying there for over three years.

"I never forget a face but in your case I'll make an exception!". (Groucho Marx).

One of the most interesting sections in the book for me was when Stoliar outlined the sometimes stormy relationship between Groucho and Erin Fleming which Stoliar was able to witness first hand. Fleming did a lot for Groucho but was not liked by the family (apart from Zeppo) and she was involved in a long drawn out court battle with Groucho's son Arthur Marx as to who should be declared Groucho's conservator to oversee his money matters. (This was before Groucho's death but when he was very fragile and confined to a wheelchair). The newspapers got onto the story and the headlines came fast and furious with many of Groucho's friends being called to the court to give evidence in favour of Arthur. However, Erin had her supporters too including Groucho's brother Zeppo who testified in court for her. He said that if Erin was taken away from Groucho "it would kill him" and that Erin was "the finest woman in the world". He had nothing but glowing things to say about Erin and her relationship with Groucho. He thought that Erin was good for Groucho and had prolonged his life. However, another side of the story came to light when a parade of former employees from Groucho's house took the stand. Evidence was given that Erin had treated Groucho badly, had screamed at him using filthy language and had even threatened him physically. Eventually, a compromise was reached with a new conservator being appointed.

"Will you marry me? Did he leave you any money? Answer the second question first". (Groucho Marx).

A very entertaining book about an insider's personal look at a Hollywood comedy legend. It is rare to find a book such as this where the author is in such close contact with his subject. It is really quite amazing that an ordinary fan like Steve Stoliar whose only ambition was to meet Groucho Marx and perhaps shake his hand and have a photo taken should spend over three years working and living in Groucho's Beverly Hills home. It certainly gives Stoliar credibility that he was present "on the inside" and therefore able to build up valuable and useful information over a long period of time which has now come to fruition with this book.

Rating:
Summary: Steve & Groucho
Review: A great book and different than any other Marx Brothers book. Steve Stoliar was a college student who was lucky enough to spend the last couple years of Groucho's life with him. What makes this book so fascinating is Steve could have been anybody. He was just in the right place at the right time. Steve's sincerity shines throughout. A unique look at a legend who remained in the limelight until the end.

Rating:
Summary: Steve Stoliar presents a facinating look at Groucho's world
Review: I loved this book! I am a fan , but not fanatic, of the Marx Bros. More so I am a fan of "classic" Hollywood and comedians in particular. I remember very well seeing old Groucho on a few talk shows in the mid 70's and was greatly saddend by his death in 1977. I was cognicent of what went on in the media before and after his demise, but was unaware of what was really going on within that household. This book lovingly and accuratly details what Groucho's world was like in his waning years. It is sometimes hard to take, but, as in life, there are so many wonderful moments that Steve Stoliar was able to put down on paper. I recommend this book to all who are interested in comediens, The Marx Bros., Groucho or just old Hollywood. You won't be dissapointed!

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, Compelling, Poignant &...oh yeah, Funny!
Review: Just snapped this book up recently at a specialty bookstore & highly recommend it for anyone who is a Marx Brothers fan. Or an Algonquin Round table fan. Or an "Old Hollywood" fan. Anecdotes abound. But woven into the story is that of a diehard Groucho Marx buff who inhabits the tight, peculiar, often sad world of his last few years. Stoliar comes off as a decent guy with his heart in the right place, a relief since Groucho was surrounded by more than a couple of people with selfish ulterior motives towards him in the end. Erin Fleming, Groucho's companion in his last years, is intriguingly revealed as a complex, disturbing madwoman. Painfully sad read, but with the saving graces of humor & insight. Much of this was actually covered in Arthur Marx's book, but check out the different slant! I'm glad I read & own this book. I'll be back at it again.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, Compelling, Poignant &...oh yeah, Funny!
Review: Just snapped this book up recently at a specialty bookstore & highly recommend it for anyone who is a Marx Brothers fan. Or an Algonquin Round table fan. Or an "Old Hollywood" fan. Anecdotes abound. But woven into the story is that of a diehard Groucho Marx buff who inhabits the tight, peculiar, often sad world of his last few years. Stoliar comes off as a decent guy with his heart in the right place, a relief since Groucho was surrounded by more than a couple of people with selfish ulterior motives towards him in the end. Erin Fleming, Groucho's companion in his last years, is intriguingly revealed as a complex, disturbing madwoman. Painfully sad read, but with the saving graces of humor & insight. Much of this was actually covered in Arthur Marx's book, but check out the different slant! I'm glad I read & own this book. I'll be back at it again.

Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL
Review: Obviously I'm not alone in my high regard for this book. It was one of the last books about Groucho I read because I have an inherit distrust of former employees "tell-all" books. I was just very pleasantly surprised, because this was a labor of love by Steve Soliar. He is an excellent writer, giving you the feeling you are having a conversation with a friend. It is so refreshing to find someone who is part of the Hollywood "Paradise with a Labotomy" who is clearly a very down to earth fellow and treats even the worst of those he encountered with respect and decency. If you loved the Marx brothers and especially Groucho this is a book you will want for your library. Thanks Steve, Groucho would have been very proud of you.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Story -- And I Lived Through It!
Review: When Steve called and told me that he was finally writing a book about his years with Groucho, I wished him luck and helped with dates and places. I even let him borrow his old letters to me during our college years for specifics. Even though I remember my years with Steve as clearly as if they were yesterday, I must say that the book is riveting -- I just couldn't put it down until I turned the last page. Steve put his heart and soul into this book and I highly recommend it for Marx Brothers fans -- or for anyone who ever had an impossible dream.