Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho's House [Hardcover]

Steve Stoliar (Author), Dick Cavett (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1996

Stoliar was not a journalist sent to do a story or a relative who'd grown up taking the Hollywood lifestyle for granted. Consequently, this book is a unique view of that colorful world, with scores of previously unpublished Grouchoisms, anecdotes and photos, providing a revealing look at the funny and sad final years in the life of this Hollywood immortal. Photos.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

TV writer Stoliar, a lifelong Groucho Marx fan(atic), first came to the comedian's attention while a student at UCLA, where he spearheaded an attempt to win the rerelease of the 1930 Marx Brothers' film Animal Crackers. When the campaign succeeded, he was hired by Groucho's companion, Erin Fleming, as a combination personal secretary and archivist; he began the job in 1974 and held it beyond Groucho's death in 1977. The book is essentially an account of the declining years of a great talent who, even after two-or perhaps three-strokes still showed flashes of the wit that brought him stardom. Looming large in this reminiscence is Fleming, a mercurial woman who ran the household and its head, tried to alienate Groucho from his children and fired most of the nurses and servants who threatened to get close to him. That she may have drugged him on occasion or appropriated some of his money is, Stoliar suggests, at least a possibility. Eventually she was ousted and this branch of the Marx family was reunited. The memoir could be depressing were it not for the author's upbeat tone and Groucho's snappy repartee, which enlivens many pages. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

An always devoted, sometimes naive fan attains his fondest wish and gets to work for his hero, Sovereign Wit of the Age, Groucho Marx Himself. Here he presents the quotidian details. Stoliar, now a television writer, joined a foundering household as Groucho's secretary and gofer for the last three years of the failing master's life. When he started, he was 19, Groucho was 83. It was a case of a puerile youth and a sad old pantaloon. Always honored by whatever notice the comic paid him, Stoliar took note of every snappy quip the old man could mutter. While much of it is less than significant, devotees will savor the passing references to the great, nearly forgotten songs and tag lines of the Marx canon. Not surprisingly, the author shares the limelight with Groucho, though lots of others appear from the wings chez Marx. There's son Arthur Marx and George Burns, for example. There's Marvin Hamlisch and Mae West, Nat Perrin and Nunnally Johnson, Ryskind and Perelman. There's Dick Cavett (to whom the author toadies a bit and who, it happens, has supplied the introduction to his text). The most singular character, not excepting Groucho, is the notorious Erin Flemming, the mercurial woman who, it was apparent to all who saw her in action, stole Groucho's very soul. Because it deals with a particular period in the life and death of the famous man, the book is, perforce, a unique addition to the Marxist athenaeum. Still, it is two parts a below-stairs, I-was-there, tell-all gossip piece and one part Sunset Boulevard, with Groucho Marx in the Swanson role. The net effect is simply melancholy. If Groucho had had the chance to read this, he'd have surely fired off a nasty, nifty letter, probably on the letterhead of Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel. (b&w photos, not seen) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: General Publishing Group; First Edition edition (January 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1881649733
• ISBN-13: 978-1881649731
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #823,079 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Steve Stoliar has been a professional writer for more than twenty-five years, providing material for Dick Cavett as well as penning episodes of such television series as "Murder, She Wrote," "Simon & Simon," "The New WKRP in Cincinnati" and "Sliders." He has been a consultant on a number of books and documentaries about Groucho and his various siblings. He has also written and produced documentaries on such diverse personages as John Lennon, The Marx Brothers, Elvis Presley, Shemp Howard and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Additionally, he has provided voices for various animated specials including "Frosty Returns," "The Oz Kids" and "Snoopy's Reunion." Born in St. Louis, he now makes his home in Studio City, California. In 1996, Mr. Stoliar first published his memoir, "Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho's House." The book was reissued with a new Afterword in 2011. Mr. Stoliar hopes to see "Raised Eyebrows" made into a motion picture, major or otherwise.

Here's more info about "RAISED EYEBROWS: MY YEARS INSIDE GROUCHO'S HOUSE":

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
"Raised Eyebrows" is the bittersweet story of the last years in the life of Groucho Marx, told by a young Marx Brothers fan who was fortunate enough to work for Groucho as his personal secretary and archivist, right inside Marx's Beverly Hills home. In addition to getting to know his hero, the author was able to spend quality time with Zeppo, Gummo, Mae West, George Burns, Bob Hope, Jack Lemmon, SJ Perelman, Steve Allen, and scores of other luminaries of stage, screen, TV and literature. The downside of this dream-come-true was getting close to his idol as the curtain was coming down, and dealing with Erin Fleming - the mercurial woman in charge of Groucho's personal and professional life. "Raised Eyebrows" is filled with never-before-seen photos from the author's collection and never-before-heard anecdotes, with an introduction by DICK CAVETT.

The author has written a new Afterword chapter for this edition, detailing events and experiences that have taken place in the 15 years since the book was originally published, and there is a terrific new cover drawing by America's premiere caricaturist, DREW FRIEDMAN.

"A real page-turner that is by turns startling, shocking and as engrossing as a good novel. What a splendid book it is." -- DICK CAVETT



"It's one of the best books about a show-business icon I've ever read...It makes Groucho live so much more than the conventional bios."
 -- WOODY ALLEN

"Raised Eyebrows is an intimate account of one of our national treasures - Groucho Marx. It's written by a young man who was fortunate enough to live with and work for Groucho, and if he doesn't know what he's talking about, who would? It has a unique insider's 
point of view and is a fascinating study of a man who was one of the kings of comedy."
-- JACK LEMMON



"In this delightful report, Mr. Stoliar brings the real Groucho alive with wit, tears and all."
-- STEVE ALLEN

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW
"TV writer Stoliar, a lifelong Groucho Marx fan(atic), first came to the comedian's attention while a student at UCLA, where he spearheaded an attempt to win the rerelease of the 1930 Marx Brothers' film 'Animal Crackers.' When the campaign succeeded, he was hired by Groucho's companion, Erin Fleming, as a combination personal secretary and archivist; he began the job in 1974 and held it beyond Groucho's death in 1977. The book is essentially an account of the declining years of a great talent who, even after two-or perhaps three-strokes still showed flashes of the wit that brought him stardom. Looming large in this reminiscence is Fleming, a mercurial woman who ran the household and its head, tried to alienate Groucho from his children and fired most of the nurses and servants who threatened to get close to him. That she may have drugged him on occasion or appropriated some of his money is, Stoliar suggests, at least a possibility. Eventually she was ousted and this branch of the Marx family was reunited. The memoir could be depressing were it not for the author's upbeat tone and Groucho's snappy repartee, which enlivens many pages."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, Compelling, Poignant &...oh yeah, Funny!, August 7, 1999

By 

E. Fagan (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho's House (Hardcover)

Just snapped this book up recently at a specialty bookstore & highly recommend it for anyone who is a Marx Brothers fan. Or an Algonquin Round table fan. Or an "Old Hollywood" fan. Anecdotes abound. But woven into the story is that of a diehard Groucho Marx buff who inhabits the tight, peculiar, often sad world of his last few years. Stoliar comes off as a decent guy with his heart in the right place, a relief since Groucho was surrounded by more than a couple of people with selfish ulterior motives towards him in the end. Erin Fleming, Groucho's companion in his last years, is intriguingly revealed as a complex, disturbing madwoman. Painfully sad read, but with the saving graces of humor & insight. Much of this was actually covered in Arthur Marx's book, but check out the different slant! I'm glad I read & own this book. I'll be back at it again.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Story -- And I Lived Through It!, May 21, 1999

By 

D. Ziccardi - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho's House (Hardcover)

When Steve called and told me that he was finally writing a book about his years with Groucho, I wished him luck and helped with dates and places. I even let him borrow his old letters to me during our college years for specifics. Even though I remember my years with Steve as clearly as if they were yesterday, I must say that the book is riveting -- I just couldn't put it down until I turned the last page. Steve put his heart and soul into this book and I highly recommend it for Marx Brothers fans -- or for anyone who ever had an impossible dream.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Facinating On Many Levels, April 29, 2008

By 

Christopher S. Davis (Clayton NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho's House (Hardcover)

For Steve Stoliar, life as an insider at the home of Groucho Marx must have seemed like a dream. But unfortunately, it may have just as often have seemed like a nightmare.

Stoliar has provided Marx fans with a very rare point of view of what Groucho's last years were like. True, there are other written accounts but few that provide the honesty and sincerity that Stoliar does.

I have read this book twice simply because I enjoyed it so much. Stoliar is a very enthusiastic Groucho fan. I got the very real sense that he wants his readers to enjoy the experience of being around the great comic as much as he did. Stoliar's descriptions are so vivid that you can almost picture yourself seated at Groucho's lunch table, listening to his many stories of life in show business.

And of course, the final dark days of Groucho's life are also told with great detail. Stoliar was there and witnessed it for himself. I personally admire his honesty in telling the reader of everything that happened.

Raised Eyebrows is an interesting and fun read. I would recommend it very highly to any Marx fan. I am proud to have an autographed copy in my home library.