Editing Marx Brothers (section)

====Decline and Failure in Vaudeville====
[[File:Marx Brothers 1921.jpg|thumb|''[[Humor Risk]]'' (1921), now long-lost, was the first Marx Brothers' film. Pictured in a photograph the same year, from (left to right), are [[Zeppo Marx|Zeppo]], [[Groucho Marx|Groucho]], [[Harpo Marx|Harpo]], and [[Chico Marx|Chico]].]]

In April 1921, during a break from their touring schedule, the brothers took their first foray into motion pictures, producing a short silent film titled ''[[Humor Risk]]''.  Written by [[Jo Swerling]], the film featured Groucho playing a villain, and Harpo playing a romantic lead named Watson.  Following a poorly received single screening in [[the Bronx]] - reportedly marked by disruptive children and impassive adults - the brothers decided against releasing the film.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Marx |first1=Groucho |title=Bad Days are Good Memories |journal=The Saturday Evening Post |date=29 Aug 1931 |volume=204 |issue=9 |pages=12-83}}</ref> No copies of ''Humor Risk'' are known to survive.{{sfn|Louvish|2000|p=134}}

In the summer of 1922, facing a lack of bookings in the United States, the brothers took their act to the UK, where they performed shows in [[London]], [[Bristol]], and [[Manchester]].{{sfn|Bader|2022|p=433}}  [[E. F. Albee]], who ran the UBO, required that acts that played in UBO theaters get his permission before playing in other venues.  Not having asked Albee before traveling to Britain, the brothers were blacklisted from all UBO-controlled theaters upon their return to the United States.{{sfn|Bader|2022|p=258}}

After their banishment from UBO theaters, the Marx Brothers produced a show called ''The Twentieth Century Revue'' on the smaller [[The Shubert Organization|Shubert]] circuit.  The Shuberts were concurrently engaged in a lawsuit against the brothers' uncle, Al Shean{{sfn|Bader|2022|p=261}}{{sfn|Diamond|2016|p=51}}<ref name="whyaduck/issi-index"/><ref name="marxology/story"/>  The brothers made less money on the Shubert circuit, and their act was padded with other Shubert talent of mixed quality.  The show was a failure: reviews of the Marxes were positive, but the other acts were met with antipathy.  The ''Cincinnati Post'' of February 12, 1923 said "there are other periods where it seems everyone is sparring for time.  This of course is not pleasant."{{sfn|Bader|2022|p=264}} Former cast members of the ''Revue'' sued the brothers, alleging unpaid salaries. Sheriffs seized the ''Revue'''s assets, leading to the show's closure.{{sfn|Bader|2022|p=265}}