Groucho Marx had three children, a boy and girl from his first marriage (the boy, author Arthur Marx, wrote two books and two plays about Groucho) and one girl, Melinda, from his second marriage to Kay Gorcey, ex-wife of ‘Bowery Boy’ Leo Gorcey. (Now there’s an odd case of indirect male genital contact…if that’s your idea of a good time). As often happens with later-in-life children–Groucho was fifty-five when Melinda was born–father Groucho lavished a level of attention and affection on daughter Melinda that he’d rather conspicuously withheld from his older kids. Melinda appeared frequently on ‘You Bet Your Life’, the first time at age 8 as a surprise contestant. She and Groucho sang a Gilbert and Sullivan duet from ‘The Mikado’ on a later episode and on yet another episode Melinda and Candice Bergen (then a teenager) won $1000 for the ‘Girl Scouts of the USA’. On her fourth appearance in 1961 she sang and danced with Bobby Van to ‘Put On A Happy Face’. Six years later, father and daughter shared a Father’s Day installment of ‘The Dating Game’.
No doubt encouraged by her doting father, Melinda began a career as a musician, both singing and playing mandolin. She actually had a couple of records that charted and on June 12th, 1965 she appeared on ‘Shivaree’ (a syndicated pop variety show that I wrote about last week) singing ‘It Happens In The Same Old Way.’ She’s got a nice voice and a provocative (if somewhat spooky) Wednesday Addams kind of vibe. She retired from active performing in the 1970s and I’m happy to say she still walks amongst us, though she seems to keep an awfully low profile. I’m sure growing up as one of Groucho’s children had both considerable benefits and drawbacks, one of the latter being that it must get a little old hearing yourself constantly introduced as ‘Groucho Marx’s Son/Daughter’. Nonetheless: “Ladies and Gentleman, please welcome Groucho Marx’s daughter Melinda Marx!”
3 Responses
Interesting that they chose to sweeten the song occasionally with girls screaming — makes sense for the Beatles, or even Sinatra — but, in retrospect, a little bold for its time having girls screaming for a woman singer.
I’d like to contact Malinda Marks. Does anyone know how to reach her agent or anything?
My father met her on a train when they were children.. 8-10ish probably. They were having a good time, and she invited him back to her car. He said, I don’t think my dad will let me go in another car. She said, I’ll get my dad to talk to yours, and it will be OK. Then she went away. Came back several minutes later w/ Groucho Marks! My dad was too young to appreciate that, but his dad was quite impressed. But next, my dad expects to go into the next public train car over… Nope, they walk to the back of the train into their own private train car. Said it was like a nice home inside. They hang out for a couple days until they get to California. At a stop, they disconnect the Marx’s car and they go their separate ways.
It’s doubtful she’d remember, as my father had 4 train trips in his childhood. She probably had countless. But it would be so cool to be able to write her and ask if she remembers.