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MARX BROTHERS, THE - A Day at the Horse Opera

Air Date/Released Monday, February 14, 1966
Station/Studio Filmation Studios
Featuring Joe Besser (Solo)

A Filmation Productions animated pilot, the first (and only) of 156 planned but unsold/unproduced 7-minute cartoons.

Groucho, Chico and Harpo are medicine show peddlers in the old west. Only one thing will prevent a war between the U.S. and all the tribes led by the Great Indian Chief... the marriage of the Chief's fat daughter to the Great Stone Face god. Isn't it convenient that Groucho is the spitting image of the deity?


A syndicated newspaper article by TV columnist Harold Stern, which ran in early December 1965, discusses this proposed animation series with Filmation Producer Norm Prescott. He reports that Groucho would be involved as a consultant, and would appear in the pilot cartoon in live-action and as a narrator/commentator. Filmation Producer Lou Scheimer revealed in his 2012 biography that Groucho bowed out of the voice job, and personally recommended Pat Harrington Jr. to take his place.

This cartoon pilot was first advertised in the Feb. 14, 1966 issue of "Broadcasting Magazine." That date has been assigned as "air date" for purposes of this filmography listing.

Filmation producer Lou Scheimer rediscovered the film in an archive, and made it available for screening at the 2012 Comic Con in San Diego, CA.

Voice Cast: Pat Harrington Jr. (Groucho), Ted Knight (Chico, other voices), Joe Besser (Great Indian Chief)

Crew: Groucho Marx (Techical Advisor), Hal Sutherland (Director), Norm Prescott, Lou Scheimer (Producers), John J. Cole (Executive Producer), Jay Burton, Mort Goode, Michael Maltese (Writers), Lou Scheimer (Character Designs, Layouts)
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