As Long as They're Laughing: Groucho Marx and You Bet Your Life

Mr. Dwan's book is entertaining and captivating on many levels, just as its subject, "You Bet Your Life" First, and most importantly, it's deeply hilarious. The book is loaded with quotes from Groucho's interviews, filled with puns, mock insults, and feigned misunderstandings. But these passages, with commentary from Mr. Dwan, are also an insight into the workings of Groucho's genius comedy mind. Mr. Dwan, who served as director throughout the show's run, analyzes why the jokes are funny, and how the humor was maximized through preparation and editing. The author frames all of this in the context of the 50's, and gives the reader an excellent feel for the social attitudes of the time. That's another reason the show and book are fascinating: we see ordinary Americans from that time, talking about their lives. Mr. Dwan is remarkably candid and honest in discussing the blacklisting events of the 50's, and its regrettable impact on the show. Adding to all of this is a wonderful collection of pictures related to the program. A unique look at behind the scenes, this book is finally something new for fans of Groucho Marx. And it's really funny.

I enjoyed every page and story. It was great to read the inside story about how the show started and evolved. I enjoyed watching the show as a child and did not realize until I read this book how inovative the show was. I appreciated reading a few of Groucho's best jokes.

Back in the Golden Days of Television, two game shows stood out: What's My Line? and You Bet Your Life. Neither offered money as its hook, but rather good intelligent conversation. That neither show can be duplicated today is just another sign of the times in which we live. Both shows had a mystique about them that made them special and made people tune in.Robert Dwan does a wonderful job of explaining the mystique behind You Bet Your Life, and though most of it is rightfully due to the talents of Groucho Marx, Dwan explains just how the show was put tigether each week and the behind the scenes and politics that shaped it during its run as America's most popular quiz show.Dwan also offers a history of the show, from its beginnings on radio and how Groucho, who had already failed numerous times in radio, was convinced to take the job as emcee of a "lowly" quiz show. Dwan tells his story in the manner of a gentle reminiscence that pulls the reader along while providing a few laughs, and surprises, along the way. (One surprise is that for all Groucho's leering and suggestiveness, he abhorred "working dirty," and considered it the cheapest way to get a laugh. Many times on the show an innocent line became a memorable one in the imagination of the audience, who were expecting Groucho to come right out and say what they were thinking.)With the recent surge in published books on the Marx Brothers, this gentle tome from a small press might well be forgotten in the shuffle. Instead, to those who read it, it will become one of the fondest and best remembered books on the subject.One thing I would like to see is the reprint of The Secret Word is Groucho, by Groucho himself and Hector Arce. as a previous reviewer perceptibly noted, the two make an excellent boxed set. But as that book is out of print, you can't go wrong with the Dwan book.

Those who have read "The Secret Word is Groucho" by Groucho Marx and Hector Arce (now, unfortunately, out of print) learned a good deal about Groucho's enormously popular quiz show, "You Bet Your Life." This new book approaches the subject from a different angle and does so quite successfully.In the former book, Marx and Arce concentrated on what made the show work and the politics behind getting it on the air. In "As Long As They're Laughing: Groucho Marx and You Bet Your Life" Robert Dwan (director of the program on radio and television during its entire run) concentrates on the personalities involved and in details about his relationship with Groucho over the years. Dwan's perspective is refreshing.Among the gems in this book are discussions of the process of recording an episode and preparing it for air. Unusual for the time period, You Bet Your Life was recorded and heavily edited for radio/television broadcast. (Since the objective of the program leaned more toward humor than the actual quiz show, it was important that the pace remained quick.) Included in this section are a number of bits that wound up "on the cutting room floor" because they were deemed too racy for broadcast.This book is an important addition to the growing number of books on Groucho, and it offers some insight into his complex personality which, though abrasive and often abusive, endeared him to fans all over the world. Particularly touching is Dwan's description of his trip with Groucho and his daughter to Groucho's Mother's birthplace, Dornum, Germany, and the events that made this trip memorable and magical for all involved.Though a fairly quick read, "As Long As They're Laughing: Groucho Marx and You Bet Your Life" is recommended for anyone interested in Groucho and one of his many careers -- this time as one of the most popular, successful, and award-winning quizmasters in the history of the genre.