Groucho Marx Nin, a contributor to various Zodiac forums, years ago put forward an idea that the sender of the Eureka card in 1990 placed two photocopied keys in the communication because the inventor of electrophotography (xeroxing) was named Chester Floyd Carlson, and this was a subtle clue to the identity of Chester Clark Klingel (who lived in Eureka), and whose post office box key number was a match to one of the photocopied keys. But the question remained as to why the Zodiac Killer (if him) would choose a Groucho Marx styled Christmas card. Newspapers in late September and early October 1990 commemorated the 100th anniversary of Groucho Marx's birth, so this may have caught the eye of the Zodiac Killer, bearing in mind he appeared to plagiarize Groucho Marx's version of "The Mikado" on July 26th 1970 in his Little List letter. However, there had to more. Something else that connected Groucho Marx to the photocopied keys and Chester Floyd Carlson.
Produced by Paramount Pictures Corporation at their Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, Animal Crackers (1930) was the Marx Brothers' second feature film, following The Cocoanuts (1929). The production faced significant challenges in adapting the stage musical to early sound cinema. The studio made extensive cuts to musical numbers and restructured the original material. Director Victor Heerman was brought in specifically to manage the disruptive behavior of the Marx Brothers on set. The film was both a critical and commercial success upon its August 1930 release, earning $3.1 million worldwide and establishing several of the Marx Brothers' most famous comedic routines. The studio was originally constructed for Famous Players–Lasky in 1920 to provide the company with a facility close to the Broadway theater district. Many features and short subjects were filmed there between 1920 and 1933. W. C. Fields made his silent features there. The first Sherlock Holmes sound film, The Return of Sherlock Holmes (also 1929), was made at the studio by the British producer Basil Dean. The first two films featuring the Marx Brothers, The Cocoanuts (1929) and Animal Crackers (1930), were shot at the Astoria Studio in Queens. Its location is 35th Avenue, 35th, 36th, and 37th Streets.
Produced by Paramount Pictures Corporation at their Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, Animal Crackers (1930) was the Marx Brothers' second feature film, following The Cocoanuts (1929). The production faced significant challenges in adapting the stage musical to early sound cinema. The studio made extensive cuts to musical numbers and restructured the original material. Director Victor Heerman was brought in specifically to manage the disruptive behavior of the Marx Brothers on set. The film was both a critical and commercial success upon its August 1930 release, earning $3.1 million worldwide and establishing several of the Marx Brothers' most famous comedic routines. The studio was originally constructed for Famous Players–Lasky in 1920 to provide the company with a facility close to the Broadway theater district. Many features and short subjects were filmed there between 1920 and 1933. W. C. Fields made his silent features there. The first Sherlock Holmes sound film, The Return of Sherlock Holmes (also 1929), was made at the studio by the British producer Basil Dean. The first two films featuring the Marx Brothers, The Cocoanuts (1929) and Animal Crackers (1930), were shot at the Astoria Studio in Queens. Its location is 35th Avenue, 35th, 36th, and 37th Streets.
Chester Carlson In 1938, Chester Floyd Carlson needed a convenient location to develop his electrophotography, so he rented the second floor of his mother-in-law's house on 37th Street in Astoria, Queens. On October 22nd 1938 the world's first xerographic image was produced at this location. It read 10.22.38 ASTORIA. The same location that Groucho Marx filmed The Cocoanuts (1929) and Animal Crackers (1930). The first two movies featuring the Marx Brothers were mentioned in virtually every newspaper in September/October 1990, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Groucho Marx, born on October 2nd 1890 (see below).
Therefore, we can link Chester Clark Klingel and Chester Floyd Carlson through the photocopied keys by forename, and link the first photocopied image of "Astoria" to the location of the first two films of Groucho Marx (and the Marx Brothers), whose imagery appeared on the cover of the 1990 Eureka card, where Chester Clark Klingel lived when the keys were traced. Did the Zodiac Killer read newspaper articles like the ones shown below and choose a Christmas card with Groucho Marx, not only because he had an admiration for the actor and singer through such things as "The Mikado", but because his early films were produced at Astoria, which he knew was the home of the first ever photocopied word (location) created by a man named Chester? We know with near certainty that the Zodiac Killer was extremely well read, often plundering material from the late 19th and early 20th century. However, in this instance, the apparent links created could be the perfect example of look long enough and you will always find something. It is likely that none of the above ever crossed the mind of the Eureka card sender.
Therefore, we can link Chester Clark Klingel and Chester Floyd Carlson through the photocopied keys by forename, and link the first photocopied image of "Astoria" to the location of the first two films of Groucho Marx (and the Marx Brothers), whose imagery appeared on the cover of the 1990 Eureka card, where Chester Clark Klingel lived when the keys were traced. Did the Zodiac Killer read newspaper articles like the ones shown below and choose a Christmas card with Groucho Marx, not only because he had an admiration for the actor and singer through such things as "The Mikado", but because his early films were produced at Astoria, which he knew was the home of the first ever photocopied word (location) created by a man named Chester? We know with near certainty that the Zodiac Killer was extremely well read, often plundering material from the late 19th and early 20th century. However, in this instance, the apparent links created could be the perfect example of look long enough and you will always find something. It is likely that none of the above ever crossed the mind of the Eureka card sender.
PUBLISHED IN OCTOBER 1990
PUBLISHED IN OCTOBER 1990
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