Groucho Marx look-alikes gathered in downtown El Cajon in an attempt to set a Guinness record last night. More than 1,000 were counted, but it could be months before the official tally is announced.
Posted on 05/19/2005 2:29:11 PM PDT by martin_fierro
Group of Grouchos tries to set record
Silly gathering at car show is no joke
By Liz Neely
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
May 19, 2005
EL CAJON – From beauty queens in sparkling crowns to police officers on horseback, more than 1,000 people donned a pair of Groucho Marx-style glasses last night to help break a world record.
The costumed attempt helped jump-start the opening night of downtown El Cajon's weekly summer car show, Cajon Classic Cruise.
Dressing as Marx wasn't enough for Carl Atkinson of Crest. He disguised his 1938 Chevrolet as the actor and comedian.
Atkinson's blue-and-white custom car wore glasses fashioned from plastic plumbing fittings, with the hair, eyebrows and mustache made from black shag carpeting. A nose was cut from plastic foam, and Atkinson hooked the eyebrows to fishing wire so they could be moved up and down. A fake cigar attached to the bumper was rigged to light up, he said.
Atkinson, 78, isn't a big Marx fan, but he is a car enthusiast. He just couldn't help getting into the spirit of the evening.
"It sounded like a good idea, something different," Atkinson said.
More than 10,000 people gathered in downtown El Cajon yesterday for the car show. Organizers thought it would be fun to try to enter the Guinness Book of Records for the "Most People Wearing Groucho Marx Glasses" in one place.
When it was time to take the official photo, 9-year-old John Sjoquist stood in front, his arms raised in the air.
"I begged my dad if I could be in this," John said afterward. The young car buff admits he doesn't know much about Marx, but "I wanted to get in the picture so I could show my friends."
John's dad, Richard, said the two drive from Pine Valley every week in the summer to check out the cars. They thought it would be cool to help break a world record.
"I told him, 20 years from now, if it makes it, you can show people the picture and say, 'I was there,' " Richard Sjoquist said.
That's what persuaded Kerrie Stone and her family to take part.
"If we make it, then we can look back in history and say, 'I was part of something,' " said Stone, an El Cajon resident.
"It's not Woodstock," she joked, "but it's close."
Some people milled among the brightly colored hot rods and custom cars before the official photo. Even two police officers on horseback were spotted wearing the Marx-style glasses.
The record-breaking attempt was sponsored by the El Cajon Community Development Corp., which sponsors the car show and other downtown events. Jane Moore, promotion director for the nonprofit, said at least 1,017 people wore the glasses, which would beat the record of 937, held by East Lansing High School in Michigan. Moore said it could be months before Guinness officials make an official ruling.
Groucho Marx look-alikes gathered in downtown El Cajon in an attempt to set a Guinness record last night. More than 1,000 were counted, but it could be months before the official tally is announced.
 |
FReeper Cigar Aficionado  |
| "Never mess with a man willing to suck on a raging trash fire." -- Tijeras_Slim Send FReepmail if you want on/off FCAP list |
|
| The List of Ping Lists | |
"I would never belong to any club that would have me as a member."
-- Groucho Marx
bump
Marx Bros. ping
I thought you said GROUCHES. Here, I was ready to sign up!
I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.
Too funny!
Good for you.
Have a cigar.
Great pic - Groucho glasses for the house!
Horay for Capt. Spaulding!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.