Wellingborough and Gummo Marx: Difference between pages

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{{Infobox UK place |
{{Infobox Actor
|country = England
|name = Gummo Marx
|official_name= Wellingborough
|image =
|birthname = Milton Marx
|latitude= 52.29396
|birthdate = {{birth date|1892|10|23}}
|longitude= -0.69645
|birthplace = [[New York City]], [[New York]]
|civil_parish=
|deathdate = {{death date and age|1977|04|21|1892|10|23}}
|population = 46,959
|deathplace = [[Palm Springs, California]]
([[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]])
|occupation = [[Actor]], [[Theatrical agent]]
|shire_district= [[Wellingborough (borough)|Wellingborough]]
|spouse = Helen von Tilzer (1929-1977)
|shire_county= [[Northamptonshire]]
|children = Bob Marx
|region= East Midlands
|parents = [[Minnie Marx|Minnie Schoenberg]]<br/>[[Sam Marx|Sam "Frenchie" Marx]]
|constituency_westminster= [[Wellingborough (UK Parliament constituency)|Wellingborough]]
|relatives = [[Al Shean]], [[Chico Marx]], [[Harpo Marx]], [[Groucho Marx]], [[Zeppo Marx]]
|post_town= WELLINGBOROUGH
|postcode_district = NN8
|postcode_area= NN
|dial_code= 01933
|os_grid_reference= SP8967
|london_distance= 69.8&nbsp;mi
|Twin towns= {{flagicon|France}} [[Niort]], [[France]]
{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Wittlich]], [[Germany]]
}}
}}
'''Milton Marx''' ([[October 23]], [[1892]] - [[April 21]], [[1977]]), known as '''Gummo''', was one of [[the Marx Brothers]]. Born in [[New York City]], he worked with his brothers on the [[vaudeville]] circuit, but left acting when he was drafted into the [[U.S. Army]] during [[World War I]]; he was the only Marx Brother to have served in the military.


==Biography==
'''Wellingborough''' is a [[town]] in [[Northamptonshire]], [[England]] situated some eleven miles from the county town of [[Northampton]] and eight miles south of [[Kettering]]. It has a [[population]] of 46,959 (2001 [[census]]).
His military service began shortly before the [[Armistice]] and he was therefore never sent overseas.


After leaving the army, Gummo went into the [[dressmaking]] business. Later he joined with his brother [[Zeppo Marx]] and operated a [[talent agency|theatrical agency]]. After that collaboration ended, Gummo represented his brother [[Groucho Marx]] and worked on the television show ''[[The Life of Riley]]'', which he helped develop. He also represented other on-screen talent and a number of writers.
It is situated on the north side of the [[River Nene]] with most of the older town being sited on the flanks of the hills above the river's [[flood plain]].


Gummo was well respected as a businessman. He rarely had contracts with those he represented, his philosophy being that, if they liked his work, they would continue to use him, and if not, they would seek representation elsewhere. Unlike his brothers, his social life involved primarily business people.
It is twinned with [[Niort]], [[France]] and [[Wittlich]], [[Germany]].
Recently there has been talk of a new twinning with Mont Sillia in Italy and the population await further developments.


[[Image:gummomarxgrave.jpg|thumb|right|Gravesite of Gummo Marx]]
Wellingborough dates from the [[6th century]]. It is mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]] under the name of ''Wendelburie'', and was granted a market [[Royal charter|charter]] in [[1201]].
Gummo was given his [[nickname]] because he had a tendency to be sneaky backstage, and creep up on others without them knowing (like a [[gumshoe]]). Another explanation cited by biographers and family members is that Milton, being the sickliest of the brothers, often wore [[Galosh|rubber overshoes]], also called "gumshoes," to protect himself from taking sick in inclement weather. Three of his brothers ([[Groucho Marx|Groucho]], [[Chico Marx|Chico]], and [[Harpo Marx|Harpo]]) were given their nicknames during a card game at the Orpheum Theatre in [[Galesburg, Illinois]], and the names stuck for their entire lives.


Gummo died on [[April 21]], [[1977]], in [[Palm Springs, California]]<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Gummo Marx, Managed Comedians. |url= |quote=[[Palm Springs, California]], [[April 21]], [[1977]] ([[Reuters]]) Gummo Marks, an original member of the Marx brothers' comedy team, died here today. He was 84 years old. |publisher=[[New York Times]] |date= |accessdate=2007-08-21 }}</ref> His death was not reported to Groucho, who by that time had become so ill and weak that it was thought the news would be of further detriment to his health. Groucho would die four months later.
== History ==
The town was founded in the early [[Anglo-Saxons|Saxon]] period. The name is formed from elements which translate, roughly, as "the town of the people of Waendel", or Waendel-ingas-burgh. Many newcomers to the town mistakenly think that the name comes from the 5 wells that are found around the town (Red Well, Buck Well, Stanwell, Lady's Well, Whyte Well), which appear on its coat of arms.


His grandsons are actor [[Gregg Marx]] and [[Chris Marx]].
The medieval history of Wellingborough had no features that stand out from any other small town in the country. It housed a modest [[monastic grange]] &ndash; now the [[Jacobean]] [[Croyland Abbey, Wellingborough|Croyland 'Abbey']] &ndash; which was an offshoot of the much larger and better known monastery of [[Croyland Abbey]], near [[Peterborough]], some 30 miles down-river. This part of the town is known these days as 'Croyland'.


==Legacy==
In Elizabethan times the [[Lord of the Manor]], Sir [[Christopher Hatton]] was a sponsor of [[Sir Francis Drake]]'s expeditions, which is why Drake renamed one of his ships the ''[[Golden Hind]]''. A modern connection with this is that the main hotel in the centre of town is still named the Hind Hotel<ref>[http://www.thehind.co.uk/ Hind Hotel]</ref>.
*In the [[Jasper Fforde]] novel ''The Fourth Bear'', there is a brief reference to GummoWorld, an [[amusement park]] dedicated to Gummo Marx.
*In the [[Woody Allen]] film ''[[Stardust Memories]]'', a woman at a film festival is referred to as having written the definitive filmography of Gummo Marx. Another enthusiast then observes, "Interestingly, he's the one Marx brother that never made any movies."
*The 1997 [[Harmony Korine]] film ''[[Gummo]]'' was named after Gummo Marx, and there is one reference to his comedic style in a scene of the film.


==References==
In the [[English Civil War|Civil War]] there was little of note (the largest substantial battle in the area was [[Battle of Naseby|Naseby]] in 1645), although a minor skirmish in the town resulted in killing of a Parliamentarian officer Captain John Sawyer. Severe reprisals followed which included the carrying off to Northampton of the parish priest, Thomas Jones, and 40 prisoners by a group of [[Roundheads]]. However, after the [[English Civil War|Civil War]] Wellingborough was home to a substantial colony of [[Diggers]]. Little information about this period is available, which causes some local historians to suspect deliberate suppression.
{{reflist}}


{{Marx Brothers}}
The twentieth century Church of St Mary is a masterpiece of [[Sir John Ninian Comper|Ninian Comper]].<ref>[http://users.quista.net/jjpdesatge/comper/page3.html Page Title<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


{{DEFAULTSORT:Marx, Gummo}}
More recent history has been undistinguished save by economic changes, many of which are more widely shared with the eastern end of the county of Northamptonshire.


[[Category:1892 births]]
From 1920-1950 Wellingborough grew into an attractive rural market town and by the late 1950s boasted all the amenities a small town could wish for including several dance halls and four cinemas.
[[Category:1977 deaths]]
[[Category:American comedians]]
[[Category:American Jews]]
[[Category:American military personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:German-American Jews]]
[[Category:Jewish comedians]]
[[Category:People from New York City]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:Vaudeville performers]]


Wellingborough originally had two railway stations, the current Midland Mainline, and another on London Road. The London Road station linked to the Midland Mainline and went on to Peterborough as the [[Nene Valley Railway]]. The other side of the station the line carried on to Northampton.
[[Wellingborough London Road railway station]] closed in 1964/66


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== Cinema ==
[[es:Gummo Marx]]
At one time, the town had four cinemas in the town centre, possibly the largest number of screens per head of population in the country. The Palace (converted from a theatre), The Regal (same management as The Palace), The Silver Cinema and The Lyric (latterly the ABC). The oldest is now a kebab shop, although it still has distinctive pre-war cinema architecture on the first and second floors, and the newest of the three became a supermarket before being demolished in the 1990s to make space for a taxi rank. The Art Deco Lyric was demolished to make way for an Arndale Shopping Centre. The town no longer has a cinema, with the longest lasting one being The Palace, which has now been made into a new Bar named 'The Cutting Room'.
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[[fr:Gummo Marx]]
Local redevelopment plans have recently ruled out the building of a new cinema due to "the population being too small to support a multiplex", despite many other smaller towns in the area having them.
[[it:Gummo Marx]]

[[nl:Gummo Marx]]
[[Image:Victoria Mill.jpg|thumb|right|Victoria Mills and its jetty at Wellingborough]]
[[ja:ガンモ・マルクス]]

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== Theatre ==
[[fi:Gummo Marx]]
[[The Castle Theatre]] was opened in 1995 on the site of Wellingborough's old Cattle Market. It brings not only a theatre to the area but other facilities for local people. Most rooms are used on a daily basis by the local community, users include the Castle Youth Theatre, Youth Dance, Youth Music and the Castle Youth Company and Broadway School of Performing Arts - a Saturday Musical Theatre School (now based at The Masque Theatre, Barton Seagrave.)
[[sv:Gummo Marx]]

== Museums and libraries ==
Wellingborough has a library located in the corner of the market ground.<ref>[http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/Leisure/Libraries/Public/welllib.htm library]</ref>

The Wellingborough Museum has exhibitions which show the past of Wellingborough and the surrounding villages. Accompanying the exhibitions and articles is a souvenir shop.<ref> [http://www.wellingboroughmuseum.org.uk Wellingborough Museum]</ref>

== Ethnic diversity ==
Following the post war arrival of immigrants from the commonwealth group of nations into Britain, Wellingborough was seen as an attractive location for many who chose to work in the many local industries, most of which are now extinct. A sizeable Black Caribbean and Indian/Pakistani community grew up in this small market town, and now represents well over 10% of the total town population.

More recent arrivals include a significant number of Polish immigrants, who are often found working in the low paid service sector jobs. It is likely that this is disproportionate compared with the rest of the UK because the town has had a small, vibrant, and well integrated Polish community since the second world war. They are now estimated to represent as much as 4% of the population in Wellingborough.

== Economy ==
Agrarian hinterland.

Boot & Shoe industry.
Iron & Steel smelting (1920s - 1990s).

Light manufacturing: a chemical plant <ref>[http://www.scottbader.com/pub.nsf Scott Bader]</ref> and a former [[British Leyland]] plant at the foot of Sidegate Lane.

== Transport and communication links ==
[[Image:Wellingboroughstnbldg.jpg|right|thumb|Wellingborough station building]]
Wellingborough enjoys excellent communication links, with the A45 dual carrageway skirting to the south, linking the town with the [[A14 road|A14]] and [[M1]]; which allows links not just north and south, but also to the east and west of the country. The main county town of [[Northampton]] is located 9 miles to the west of the town.

The town has a good local bus network, with nearly all provided by Stagecoach Northants, with buses departing every 10 mins for Northampton during the day. A half hourly X4 service also links the town with [[Milton Keynes]], [[Kettering]], [[Corby]] and [[Peterborough]].
Local buses W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, W6, W7 & W8 called [[Connect Wellingborough]] are provided by [[Stagecoach Group]] and [[FirstGroup|First]].

[[East Midlands Trains]] operate direct trains to [[London St Pancras|London St Pancras International]] from [[Wellingborough railway station]], departing every 30 mins, and an average train time of 55 mins, although these times are to be cut at the end of 2008. The railway line also connects Wellingborough with [[Bedford]], [[Luton]], [[Kettering]], [[Leicester]], [[Nottingham]], [[Derby]], [[Sheffield]] and [[Leeds]]. St Pancras also became the home of [[Eurostar]] international services in November 2007.

Several major UK airports are only within 2 hours' drive of the town, including Luton, East Midlands, [[Birmingham]] and [[Stansted]]. Luton can reached directly and Stansted can be reached easily by train with one change at Leicester. [[East Midlands Parkway railway station|East Midlands Parkway station]] will make East Midlands more accessible by train also, and Birmingham is two changes away.

== Shopping ==
As a small town, Wellingborough boasts few major high street chains, with most located in the town centre and its main shopping centre called the Swansgate Shopping Centre<ref>[http://www.swansgateshoppingcentre.com/showPage.aspx?fldPageID=14 Swansgate Shopping Centre]</ref> which was built in the 1960/70's. The town has a local market twice a week.

Much of the town centre was developed during the 1970s, when the town grew dramatically, based on London "overspill". In recent years this has started to look a little tired and weary and plans are currently on display and being discussed for future regeneration of the centre of Wellingborough. With the town seeing a large influx of Polish immigrants in recent years, a number of specialist stores have opened to cater for these markets.

To supplement the town centre shops they are several out-of-town retail parks and large supermarkets including [[Sainsbury's]], [[Tesco's]], [[Morrisons]], and [[Aldi]].

== Schools ==
*[[Wellingborough School]] - a public day school, was founded in [[1595]] and is one of the oldest schools in the country. It has five boys' houses: Garne's, Fryer's, Parker-Steyne's, Cripps and Platts and three girls' houses: Nevill, Weymouth and Marsh.
''Secondary Schools''
*[[Hatton School (Wellingborough)|Sir Christopher Hatton School]]<ref>[http://www.hattonschool.org.uk/internet/homepage1/homepage%20files/homepage.html Sir Christopher Hatton School website]</ref> a [[co-educational]] [[comprehensive school]].
*Weavers School <ref>[http://www.weaversschool.co.uk Weavers School]</ref> on Weavers Road and adjoining Weavers Sports Centre where it shares facilities.
*St. Columbus' School
*Wrenn School<ref>[http://www.wrennschool.org.uk Wrenn School]</ref> which was formerly the Wellingborough Grammer School.<ref>[http://wellingboroughgrammarschool.co.uk Wellingborough Grammar School]</ref>
''Primary Schools''
*Park Junior School <ref>[http://www.park-jun.northants.sch.uk Park Junior School]</ref> on Great Park Street. Park Junior was founded in 1873,and the infants school was founded 1903.
*The Avenue Infants School on the Avenue.
*Our Lady's Infant and Primary School - Located on Henshaw road
*Oakway Junior and Primary School
*Victoria Infants
*Redwell Infants and Primary School - the junior school is used as the site for Gleneagles Church, the sister church to All Hallows church in Wellingborough town centre.
*Warwick primary school
*Croyland School
*Freemans Junior School
''Existing Schools''
*The John Lea School was closed before 1998 and was demolished in 2001 is now a housing estate.<ref>[http://www.johnleaschool.com John Lea School, Wellingborough<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

== Notable Wellingburians ==
*Sir [[Christopher Hatton]].
*Dr [[Frederic Henry Gravely]].
*[[Mick Mannock]], a [[World War I]] [[flying ace]] from (IIRC) the Mill Road area.
*[[Thom Yorke]], singer for [[Radiohead]].
*[[Peter Ebdon]], former world champion snooker player.
*[[Peter John Murphy|Peter Murphy]], singer for [[Bauhaus (band)|Bauhaus]] lived a large portion of his early life in Wellingborough.
*Sir [[David Frost]] broadcaster, attended Wellingborough Grammar School.<ref>[http://wellingboroughgrammarschool.co.uk/ Wellingborough Grammar School]</ref>
*[[Rory McLeod (snooker player)|Rory McLeod]] a snooker player currently ranking 48 and has reached the last 32 of the World Championship 3 times
*[[Perry Lawson]], basketball player

== 999 services ==
Wellingborough relies on Kettering General Hospital for Accident and Emergency, mental health and surgical issues, although Isebrook Hospital in the East side of town, on Ithlingborough Road, caters for some more advanced procedures that GP surgeries are not equipped for (e.g. large X-Rays and neurological investigations), and some care for those suffering from age or long-term illness related infirmities.

The Fire station is close by and there is a large Police station on Midland Road, with a smaller out-of-hours station maintained in the town centre, near the social gathering areas.

== Geology ==
The geology of the area has had only relatively minor influences on the development of Wellingborough. As noted above, the town is sited on the hills adjoining the flood plain of the River Nene. In the predominantly agrarian medieval period, this combination of access to fertile, if flood-prone, valley bottom soils and drier (but heavier and more clay-rich) hillside/ hilltop soils seems to have been good for a mixed agricultural base.

The clay-rich hilltop soils are primarily a consequence of blanketing of the area with [[Till|boulder clay]] or glacial [[till]] during the recent glaciations. On the valley sides and valley floor however, these deposits have been largely washed away in the late glacial period, and in the valley bottom extensive deposits of gravels were laid down, which have largely been exploited for building aggregate in the last century. While important for the environment of the area, in economic and employment terms, this industry was pretty minor.

=== Iron ore ===
Undoubtedly though the most economically important aspect of the geology of the area is the [[Northampton sand]]s [[ironstone]] formation. This is a marine sand of [[Jurassic]] age ([[Bajocian]] stage), deposited as part of an estuary sequence and overlain by a sequence of limestones and mudrocks.

Significant amounts of the sand have been replaced or displaced by iron minerals giving an average ore grade of around 25% wt/wt iron. To the west the iron ores have been moderately exploited for a very long time, but their high phosphorus content made them difficult to smelt and produced iron of poor quality until the development of the [[Bessemer process|Bessemer]] steel making process and the "[[basic slag]]" smelting chemistry, which combine to make high quality steelmaking possible from these unprepossessing ores.

The Northampton Sands were a strategic resource for the UK in the run-up to [[World War II]], being the best developed bulk iron producing processes wholly free from dependence on imported materials. However, because the Northampton Sands share in the regional [[dip]] of all the sediments of this part of Britain to the east-south-east, they become increasingly difficult to work as one progresses east across the county.

Around Wellingborough it was possible to extract the ore by systematically stripping the [[overburden]] of mudrocks and limestone off the ore bed, then removing the ore, and finally replacing the overburden (often the cleaner limestone was removed to make the lime for the "basic slag" process) in the exposed cavity. This left distinctive arcuate quarries across much of the landscape around Wellingborough and north-north-east towards [[Corby]] (visit the Irchester Country Park <ref>[http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/Leisure/Countryside/cparks/Irchester.htm Irchester Country Park]</ref> to see a much overgrown abandoned quarry redeveloped as a leisure site). Further east, around [[Finedon]], [[Raunds]] and [[Chelveston]], quarrying was carried out during the Second World War by underground "pillar and stall" mining. These mines were abandoned and sealed in the 1950s, and the number of people who even know of their existence is rapidly decreasing.

This regional [[dip]] spelt the ultimate death knell of the iron and steel industry in the area - ultimately it was going to become uneconomic to extract such ores. For a time the Corby smelters continued using ore imported through Humberside, but they finally closed in the late-1980s.

You can still find pieces of iron ore on the Ladywell allotments.

== Twin towns ==
Wellingborough is [[town twinning|twinned]] with:
*{{flagicon|France}} [[Niort]], [[France]] (1977)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Wittlich]], [[Germany]]

== References ==
<references/>

== External links ==
*[http://www.wellingborough.gov.uk Borough Council of Wellingborough]
*[http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk Northamptonshire County Council]
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wellingboroughfreecycle Wellingborough Freecycle Group] Give an item a new home
*[http://www.wellingboroughschool.org Wellingborough School]
*[http://www.wellingborough-gardeners.com Wellingborough and District Horticultural Society]
*[http://www.wellingboroughcameraclub.org.uk Wellingborough and District Camera Club]
*[http://www.gpsmethodist.org.uk Great Park Street Methodist Church]

[[Category:Towns in Northamptonshire]]
[[Category:Settlements established in the 6th century]]

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Revision as of 15:59, 10 October 2008

Gummo Marx
Born
Milton Marx
Occupation(s)Actor, Theatrical agent
SpouseHelen von Tilzer (1929-1977)
ChildrenBob Marx
Parent(s)Minnie Schoenberg
Sam "Frenchie" Marx
RelativesAl Shean, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Groucho Marx, Zeppo Marx

Milton Marx (October 23, 1892 - April 21, 1977), known as Gummo, was one of the Marx Brothers. Born in New York City, he worked with his brothers on the vaudeville circuit, but left acting when he was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War I; he was the only Marx Brother to have served in the military.

Biography

His military service began shortly before the Armistice and he was therefore never sent overseas.

After leaving the army, Gummo went into the dressmaking business. Later he joined with his brother Zeppo Marx and operated a theatrical agency. After that collaboration ended, Gummo represented his brother Groucho Marx and worked on the television show The Life of Riley, which he helped develop. He also represented other on-screen talent and a number of writers.

Gummo was well respected as a businessman. He rarely had contracts with those he represented, his philosophy being that, if they liked his work, they would continue to use him, and if not, they would seek representation elsewhere. Unlike his brothers, his social life involved primarily business people.

Gravesite of Gummo Marx

Gummo was given his nickname because he had a tendency to be sneaky backstage, and creep up on others without them knowing (like a gumshoe). Another explanation cited by biographers and family members is that Milton, being the sickliest of the brothers, often wore rubber overshoes, also called "gumshoes," to protect himself from taking sick in inclement weather. Three of his brothers (Groucho, Chico, and Harpo) were given their nicknames during a card game at the Orpheum Theatre in Galesburg, Illinois, and the names stuck for their entire lives.

Gummo died on April 21, 1977, in Palm Springs, California[1] His death was not reported to Groucho, who by that time had become so ill and weak that it was thought the news would be of further detriment to his health. Groucho would die four months later.

His grandsons are actor Gregg Marx and Chris Marx.

Legacy

  • In the Jasper Fforde novel The Fourth Bear, there is a brief reference to GummoWorld, an amusement park dedicated to Gummo Marx.
  • In the Woody Allen film Stardust Memories, a woman at a film festival is referred to as having written the definitive filmography of Gummo Marx. Another enthusiast then observes, "Interestingly, he's the one Marx brother that never made any movies."
  • The 1997 Harmony Korine film Gummo was named after Gummo Marx, and there is one reference to his comedic style in a scene of the film.

References

  1. ^ "Gummo Marx, Managed Comedians". New York Times. Palm Springs, California, April 21, 1977 (Reuters) Gummo Marks, an original member of the Marx brothers' comedy team, died here today. He was 84 years old. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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