Bob Roberts Reporting
CHICAGO (WBBM) - More than 20,000 people turned out for Tuesday night's showing of the Marx Brothers' classic "Duck Soup" in Grant Park.
Now, the Mayor's Office of Special Events is trying to determine if they set a record for people at one event in "Groucho Glasses."
WBBM's Bob Roberts reports from Grant Park:
The plastic glasses, with a plastic nose attached, honor the late comedian Groucho Marx, widely considered to have been one of the nation's funniest comedians ever, and long credited as an inspiration for three successive generations of comics.
The existing record of 4,077 was set by those attending a fundraiser in Springfield, Mo., two years ago.
"It's the most fabulous thing in the world to be sitting here with these incredible glasses on, surrounded by others who want to feel ridiculous as well," said Patrick Snyder.
Some mugged in their glasses for family portraits. Others took pictures of boyfriends, girlfriends and complete strangers.
The Goodman Theatre brought the idea to the Mayor's Office of Special Events after an intern thought it up. The Goodman will be performing another Marx Brothers classic, "Animal Crackers," which runs Sept. 18-Oct. 25.
Special Events personnel were game. Spokesman Cindy Gatziolis said the city shelled out 33 cents apiece for 7,000 pair of Groucho Glasses, and few were left when the movie began.
The Goodman's Joshua Davis dressed in full Groucho garb, complete with a cigar thicker than some small trees.
"It's an honor, beyond belief, to do something like this," Davis said, and then turned on the Groucho humor. "I've had a perfectly wonderful time. Unfortunately, it wasn't now so hello, I must be going."
How does one certify such a record?
People don't just show up and wear Groucho Glasses. All of those taking a pair had to print and sign forms that will be turned in to Guinness Book of World Records personnel for certification. But there seemed little doubt the record was broken.
As the four Marx Brothers' farce in the fictional 1930s country of Freedonia unfolded, the laughs were genuine -- not bad for a movie filmed 76 years ago.
"They're timeless," said north sider Nolan Donnellan. "It bridges the gap in time. You can still watch it today and laugh. I don't know if all the comics today will be able to hold up that long. That's a long time."
Donnellan brought his wife and two daughters, who even "practiced" wearing the Groucho Glasses ahead of time so they wouldn't fall off.
"You gotta work those ears to keep those glasses on," said Donellan's wife Jennifer to daughters Molly and Maive, who giggled wildly.
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