Gummo Marx a number of writers, and was well respected as a businessman. He rarely required contracts, believing that if the people he represented liked his work, they would stay with him; and if not, would seek representation elsewhere. Around the time he left his brothers' Vaudeville act, Marx applied for a patent for a clothes packing rack. On October 28, 1919, Marx was granted patent US1320335A. Gummo may have received his nickname because he had a tendency to be sneaky backstage, creeping up on others like a "gumshoe" (detective). Another explanation cited by biographers and family members is that Milton, the
Arthur Marx comedy "The Good Guys" and four episodes of the ill-fated "Life with Lucy". Marx was also co-creator of the TV series "Mickey" starring Mickey Rooney. Marx wrote both fiction (often humorous) and non-fiction (often show-biz related) pieces for magazines throughout his career. Along with Fisher, he co-authored the play "The Impossible Years", which ran for three seasons on Broadway and starred Alan King, and "Minnie's Boys", a musical about the Marx Brothers' vaudeville years that starred Shelley Winters. They also wrote "My Daughter's Rated X", which won the Straw Hat award for best new comedy on the summer stock circuit,