Algebraicity of $L$-values for $\text{GSp}_4 \times \text{GL}_2$ and $\text{GSp}_4 \times \text{GL}_2 \times \text{GL}_2$

We prove algebraicity results for critical $L$-values attached to the group $\text{GSp}_4 \times \text{GL}_2$, and for Gan--Gross--Prasad periods which are conjecturally related to central $L$-values for $\text{GSp}_4 \times \text{GL}_2 \times \text{GL}_2$. Our result for $\text{GSp}_4 \times \text{GL}_2$ gives a new proof (by a very different method) of a recent result of Morimoto, and will be used in a sequel paper to construct a new $p$-adic $L$-function for $\text{GSp}_4 \times \text{GL}_2$. The results for Gross--Prasad periods appear to be new. A key aspect is the computation of certain archimedean zeta integrals, whose $p$-adic counterparts are also studied in this note.