Marx Brothers since he did not join the act until Gummo had departed. As with Groucho, three explanations exist for Herbert's name "Zeppo": Maxine Marx reported in "The Unknown Marx Brothers" that the brothers listed their "real" names (Julius, Leonard, Adolph, Milton, and Herbert) on playbills and in programs, and only used the nicknames behind the scenes, until Alexander Woollcott overheard them calling one another by the nicknames. He asked them why they used their real names publicly when they had such wonderful nicknames, and they replied, "That wouldn't be dignified." Woollcott answered with a belly laugh. Woollcott did not meet the
The Time of Their Lives onscreen partnership was reportedly due to personal problems and tensions that briefly broke up their act in 1945.) The film is also noted for having a somewhat darker and more serious tone than most films featuring the duo. Abbott learned to drive a car for this film. According to his son, Bud Abbott, Jr., this was the only time in his life he ever drove an automobile. A few weeks into filming, Costello wanted to switch roles with Abbott. He refused to work, but director Charles Barton waited him out. Costello eventually returned to work and said nothing more about