For some time now, there's been a noble campaign afoot to designate 179 East 93rd Street -- the childhood home of the Marx Brothers -- as an official New York City landmark. This would protect the building (which is still a private home) from unscrupulous developers who would like to obliterate all vestiges of our city's glorious past and replace them with condominiums, sports clubs, and Starbucks. In addition to seeking landmark status for the building, the Ninety-third Street Beautification Association has been trying to persuade the city to officially name that block Marx Brothers Place.Tonight -- Monday, July 19 -- the Association will be making its case to Community Board 8's Landmarks Committee. The meeting is open to the public, and all New York area Marxists should be there. I wish I could be there myself, but unfortunately I'm out of town this week. For the details, visit the Save Marx Brothers Place blog.
See also this 2008 New York Times article about the fight for Marx Brothers Place, as well as a letter of support from Woody Allen Himself. You can also become a friend of Save Marx Brothers Place on Facebook.
When I'm back in town, I'll write about this subject with more of the scintillating wit and poetry you've come to expect, but for now, I urge you to attend the meeting and help remind people that there was once a time when Marx Brothers roamed the earth.
