Zeppo’s Birthday Party at the Algonquin!

Meself and author Robert Bader

Great fun at the Zeppo Marx birthday at the Algonquin Hotel last night, sponsored by the Al Hirschfeld Foundation, all in celebration of Robert Bader’s new biography Zeppo: The Reluctant Marx Brother! I didn’t catch ALL the bold face names who were there but I caught many! Among those not pictured are the divine Julie Halston; Frank Santopadre of Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast; Paul Wesolowski of Freedonia Gazette fame ; Matthew Hahn, author of The Animated Marx Brothers; illustrator Emma Leavitt; Brett Leveridge of Cladrite Radio; and Katherine Eastman of the Hirschfeld Foundation, who gave such a terrific presentation at Marxfest last May. There too:

Dick Cavett and me

The one and only Jackie Hoffman with Charlie Kochman of Abrams Books, Bill Zeffiro on piano. Mr. Cavett in rear with his wife Martha Rogers in red.

Bob Marx, son of Zeppo (he’s the son of Barbara, adopted by Zeppo, and thus also the stepson of Frank Sinatra).

David Leopold of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation, the lovely Carolyn Raship and the indefatigable Noah Diamond.

Kathy Biehl and Leopold

Chris Chappel and Emily from Applause Books

Zeppo Cakes! They’re sweeping the nation! And isn’t Zeppo just like dessert? Comes last in the line-up and often skipped! (But I kid. Mr. Bader’s book is full of revelations that add up to a portrait that is far from boring. Zeppo’s story may be the spiciest of them all!)

To get your copy of Zeppo: The Reluctant Marx Brother, go here.