#harry ruby

Animal Crackers premiered in Chicago, IL on 20 August 1930.

Based on the 1928 musical of the same name (written by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, with songs by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby), with most of the cast appearing in the film version. It was the last stage production for the Marx Brothers, as they turned their attention to movies.

“Oh! The Last Rose of Summer” (was the sweetest Rose of all) As introduced by Eddie Cantor in “The Ziegfeld Follies of 1919″ 

Artwork: Albert Wilfred Barbelle

“Horse Feathers” (1932)  an appreciation post (02 of 03) Frame grabs from Groucho's "Dance of the Deans". I love this sequence. In the "boom" time of the 1920's going to College became a realization for thousands who may not of otherwise gone a generation earlier. By the time of the great depression however, that dream seemed rife for lampooning. The beardie-weirdie professors in their mortarboard cap & gowns make it seem like a cartoon college. (This scene is so surreal & seems almost like a 1930s’ Peter Arno cartoon from the New Yorker that has "come-to-life!) Beyond that; the number seems to have spiritual overtones & Groucho saving the college from financial ruin seems to be welcomed in manner that would suggest the "second coming"! This “Hallelujah chorus” number (”I Always Get My Man”) was written by Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby who also wrote Groucho’s “Hooray! For Captain Spaulding” in “Animal Crackers”.