Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel: The Marx Brothers' Lost Radio Show [Paperback]

Michael Barson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 22, 1988

This is a collection of radio scripts of the comedy series starring Groucho, Waldorf and Chico Marx which ran for six months from November 1932. They have recently been discovered and are published here for the first time.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 330 pages
• Publisher: Pantheon; 1st edition (October 22, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679720367
• ISBN-13: 978-0679720362
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,736,447 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential!, February 23, 2001

By 

B. Black "bblack17" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel: The Marx Brothers' Lost Radio Show (Paperback)

Reading this book is just like watching a classic Marx Brothers movie. There are the same hilarious jokes, the same wacky conversations between Goucho and Chico. In fact, some pieces of dialogue in this book made it to the movies! As you read, you will be amazed at these comic geniuses and their perfect sense of comedic timing. A definite must for all Marx Brothers and comedy fans.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hello, We must be going!, January 15, 2001

By 

Marco Zero (Sao Paulo, Brazil) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel: The Marx Brothers' Lost Radio Show (Paperback)

My proposal for a better world: make a package of this book together with Gideons'Bible and stick it onto hotel drawers everywhere in the planet! No wonder this is the surviving marxism, the ideology and enchantment of insulting boredom and its favorite characters. The book's a gem, a nugget. No wonder, too, it is rare and shaped to match the conoisseurs. Waldorf Tecumseh Flywheel and Emmanuel Ravelli are but the finest profiles of the western finest comedy tradition, navigating from naïve and deliciously childish circumstances up to blasting chaotic humor inferno. This is a book to taste like the best wines: one entire case at the time and with no hang overs...never ever! Groucho and Ravelli are stowaways as the ship arrives in New York. They were caught by the Captain but are confounded with a famous adventurer, Sir Roderick by an unaware airheaded socialite (they've had stollen Roderick's luggage and his name was printed on the tags). As the captain wanted to apologyse he says:

Cap - Pardon me.... Groucho - Now what are you going to beef about, captain? Cap - I want to apologyze, sir. I had no idea you were Sir Roderick Mortimer, the explorer. Groucho - Well, it came as a surprise to me, too.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sure to Bring Laughs, February 12, 2007

By 

K.A.Goldberg (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel: The Marx Brothers' Lost Radio Show (Paperback)

This remarkable set of radio scripts from 1932-1933 almost brings the fast-talking Marx Brothers back to life. It seems that these scripts could only be performed by Groucho and Chico Marx in their hilarious and fast-insulting style. The scripts bring many laughs as the detectives go forth to flirt with women, uphold justice, and insult the stuffed shirts. These scripts bring many smiles, but are also a little depressing as no known tapes exist of these long-forgotten radio broadcasts from the pre-television era.