Leonard Marx, known as Chico and Arthur Marx (previously Adolph Marx), popularly known as Harpo Marx were two of the Marx Brothers.
Groucho Marx one time said that Chico never practiced the pieces he played. Before performances he would soak his fingers in hot water before going on instead.
He was known for “shooting” the keys of the piano. As part of the act he would play passages with his thumb up and index finger straight — like a gun (he appears in the film “A Year to Remember” (1948) playing an extraordinary “shooting” version of the famous Australian song ”Waltzing Matilda” to a group of Australian soldiers).
Another charming example of his keyboard flamboyance is found in the film ”A Night at the Opera”.
/patrick
