“Influence of the Marx Brothers” will be the theme of this year’s Freedonia Marxonia the annual celebration of the connection between the Village of Fredonia and “Freedonia,” the setting of the 1933 Marx Brothers’ movie “Duck Soup” that opens on Thursday, Oct. 4.
The two-day celebration begins in Reed Library at 3 p.m. with brief opening remarks, the singing of “Hail Freedonia” by members of the Student Opera Theatre Association and Fredonia’s chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, cake in honor of the 128th anniversary of Groucho Marx’s birth and a group photo of attendees wearing complimentary Groucho glasses.
The Marx Brothers were comedic stars of vaudeville, Broadway, movies, radio and television in the first part of the 20th century. Their 1933 movie “Duck Soup” takes place in the fictional country of "Freedonia." In 1987, Freedonia Marxonia: Marx Brothers Film Festival and Symposium was created by Fredonia student Doug Canham to commemorate this connection.
The Marx Brothers’ 1932 film, “Horse Feathers,” will be screened at the Opera House on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The movie takes place in the world of higher education. Groucho plays Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff, the president of fictional Huxley College, with Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo adding to the mayhem. There will also be prizes.
In an interview format on Friday, Oct. 5, at noon in the Garden area at Reed Library, Journey Gunderson, executive director of the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, will talk about this destination in Chautauqua County. Pizza will be provided.
There will be a screening of “Duck Soup” on Friday at 2 p.m. Immediately following, at 3:15 p.m., Matthew Hahn will lead a discussion of his 2017 book “The Animated Marx Brothers.” Both activities will be held in the Library Classroom.
On Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House, internationally acclaimed performer Frank Ferrante will present his show, “An Evening with Groucho,” as a pay-what-you-will benefit for the opera house.
Everyone, regardless of age or skill level, is invited to participate in the Freedonia Marxonia Art Contest. Using any medium (including items found around the house or in nature), creative renditions of one or more of the Marx Brothers are welcome. Artwork can be realistic, stylized, caricatured, etc. It can be drawn, painted, sculpted, constructed or formed in any original way. Entries will be displayed as part of the Freedonia Marxonia exhibit, which opens Oct. 4 and continues through Oct. 21, in Reed Library. Those submitting entries will also be eligible for cash prizes: $100 first prize; $75 second; and $50 third. Artwork, which is due by Oct. 1, can be submitted to Cindy Yochym in Reed Library.
All activities are open to the public. Mr. Ferrante’s performance is a pay-what-you-will benefit, but all other activities are free. Freedonia Marxonia is supported by the Hahn Family Freedonia Marxonia Fund of the Fredonia College Foundation. The National Comedy Center interview is also supported by Reed Library.
