Gummo Marx

Milton "Gummo" Marx (October 23, 1892 – April 21, 1977) was an American vaudeville performer and theatrical agent, recognized as the fourth of the five Marx Brothers who rose to fame in comedy acts. Unlike his siblings, he participated only in the early stages of the family's vaudeville career and did not appear in their later Broadway or film productions.

Born in New York City as Milton Marx, he was the fifth son of Sam Marx, a tailor, and Minnie Schönberg Marx, who managed the family's entertainment endeavors. Gummo joined his brothers—Leonard (Chico), Adolph (Harpo), Julius (Groucho), and Herbert (Zeppo)—in the act around 1912, nicknamed "Gummo" for his habit of wearing rubber-soled shoes or galoshes. His role involved singing and dancing in sketches, but he departed the troupe in 1918 to join the U.S. Army during World War I.

Gummo's initial exposure to the performing arts came through informal home gatherings orchestrated by his mother Minnie, who drew on her own family's theatrical background—her mother was a yodeling harpist and her father a ventriloquist—to encourage musical and comedic skits among the children. These family performances, often held in their cramped living quarters, showcased the brothers' budding talents on piano, singing, and improvisation, fostering a creative atmosphere despite the household's economic hardships. The Marx family's Jewish heritage, stemming from German and Alsatian roots, infused these early experiences with cultural traditions that subtly influenced their later work, though the home remained focused on survival and simple entertainment.