According to family lore, my stepfather is somehow related to Harry Ruby. Of course, I am proud of this, being an inveterate Marx Brothers fan. With Bert Kalmar, Ruby composed some of the funniest and most enduring songs in the Marxes’ best films, including “Hooray for Captain Spaulding” (from “Animal Crackers,” later Groucho’s signature tune), “I’m Against It,” “I Always Get My Man,” and “Everyone Says I Love You” (from “Horse Feathers”), and “Hail, Hail Freedonia” (from “Duck Soup”). Kalmar & Ruby also received writing credits. (“Animal Crackers” was based on one of their Broadway shows.) Not composed for the films, but nevertheless beloved by Groucho, who continued to sing them throughout his career, were Ruby’s “Show Me a Rose” (again, with Kalmar) and this gem, for Father’s Day.

BONUS: From “Horse Feathers,” Groucho as the college president and Zeppo as his son:

A Marx Brothers Dads & Grads special!