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Three Stooges

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The most familiar and popular Three Stooges lineup: (L to R) Moe, Curly, and Larry.
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The most familiar and popular Three Stooges lineup: (L to R) Moe, Curly, and Larry.

The Three Stooges were an American comedy act in the 20th century. Commonly known by their first names, Larry, Moe, & Curly (sometimes spelled "Curley"); Larry, Moe & Shemp; and other lineups became famous for their work in movies and starred in many short features that consisted of masterful ways of showcasing their extremely physical and sometimes controversial brand of slapstick comedy.

Contents

History

The boys with Ted Healy in the 1933 film, Dancing Lady. Joan Crawford looks on.
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The boys with Ted Healy in the 1933 film, Dancing Lady. Joan Crawford looks on.

Ted Healy and His Stooges

The Three Stooges got their name and their start from a vaudeville act called Ted Healy and His Stooges (originally called "Ted Healy and His Southern Gentlemen"), which was founded in 1922. Brothers Harry Moses Howard (Moe) and Samuel Howard (Shemp) (original last name Horwitz) were later joined by violinist Larry Fine (born Louis Feinberg). Shemp acquired his name from his mother's attempts to pronounce his name, "Sam", in spite of her thick accent. By 1930, Ted Healy and His Stooges were appearing in Hollywood feature films, such as Soup to Nuts. Shemp left the act in 1931 for a career in feature films, notably as trainer Knobby Walsh in the Joe Palooka films, and in The Bank Dick with W.C. Fields.

When Shemp left the act, Ted and the two remaining stooges (Moe and Larry) needed a third stooge, so Moe offered his baby brother, Jerome. Ted took one look at Jerome and with his long black locks and facial hair, stated he was not a character like Moe and Larry, so Jerome left the room and returned moments later with a shaved head and face; thus, Curly was born. According to Moe Howard in his autobiography, Moe Howard and the Three Stooges, the Stooges split with Ted Healy in 1934 once and for all because of his alcoholism and abrasiveness.

Columbia Short Subjects, 1934-1959

The same year, the Three Stooges (as the Howard brothers and Fine renamed their act) signed on to appear in two-reel comedy short subjects for Columbia Pictures at just a few hundred dollars a week. The Stooges went on to star in 190 film short subjects over the next twenty-three years, the longest such series in history. Del Lord directed more than three dozen of the Three Stooges shorts. Jules White directed many others, and his brother Jack White directed several under the pseudonym "Preston Black".

According to a published report,[Newspaper article about the anti-fascist short You Nazty Spy] Moe, Larry, and director Jules White considered their best film to be You Nazty Spy (1940). This 18-minute short subject starring Moe as a Hitler-like character satirized the Nazis in a period when America was still neutral and isolationist about WWII. You Nazty Spy was the first Hollywood film to spoof Hitler, and was released nine months before the more famous Charlie Chaplin film The Great Dictator.

The Stooges, Mark I, with Curly on board. Promotional photo from 1938's Wee Wee Monseiur.
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The Stooges, Mark I, with Curly on board. Promotional photo from 1938's Wee Wee Monseiur.

Curly suffered a stroke on May 6, 1946, during the filming of Half-Wits Holiday, curtailing his output at 97 shorts. Brother Shemp reluctantly rejoined the act to take Curly's place. Curly did make one brief cameo appearance (doing his dog barking routine) in the third film after Shemp returned to the trio, Hold That Lion!, in an effort to boost his morale. It was the only film that contained all three Howard brothers simultaneously (Curly's cameo appearance was recycled in the 1953 remake Booty and the Beast).

Curly snoring it up during his cameo in Hold That Lion!.
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Curly snoring it up during his cameo in Hold That Lion!.

Shemp Howard was hesitant to rejoin the Stooges, as he had a successful solo career going at the time of Curly's untimely illness. However, he realized that Moe and Larry's careers would be finished without the Stooge act. Shemp wanted some kind of assurance that his rejoining was indeed temporary, and that he could leave the Stooges once Curly recovered. Unfortunately, Curly's condition grew worse: he died in January 1952.

With Shemp on board, the Stooges went on to appear in 77 more shorts and a mediocre feature entitled Gold Raiders (1951). During this period, Moe, Larry, and Shemp also made a pilot for a Three Stooges television show called Jerks of All Trades in 1949. The series was never picked up, although the pilot is today in the public domain and is available on home video, as is an early TV appearance from around the same time on a vaudeville-style comedy series starring Ed Wynn.

The Three Stooges, Mark II, during the Shemp years (1947-1956). Shemp takes it like a man in A Snitch In Time (1950).
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The Three Stooges, Mark II, during the Shemp years (1947-1956). Shemp takes it like a man in A Snitch In Time (1950).

The quality of the Stooge shorts took a nosedive in 1952 when director Edward Bernds was fired from Columbia Pictures. Bernds took producer Hugh McCollum with him, and Columbia Short Subjects head Jules White was left to both produce and direct the remainder of the Stooge shorts. Remakes of earlier Shemp shorts occurred on a regular basis as a cost-saving tactic.

To add insult to injury, death paid the Stooges another visit just three years after Curly's demise. Shemp Howard died of a sudden heart attack at age 60 on November 22, 1955. Archived footage of Shemp, combined with new footage of his stand-in, Joe Palma (filmed from behind or with his face hidden), were used to finish the last four films on Shemp's contract.

Joe Besser replaced Shemp in 1956 and 1957, appearing in 16 shorts. Besser had a clause in his contract specifically prohibiting him from being hit too hard, though this restriction was lifted as Besser's tenure continued (ironically, Besser was the only "third" stooge that dared to hit Moe back, Larry Fine was also known to hit Moe on occasion, but always with serious repercussions). Unfortunately, the market for short subjects had all but dried up by the time Besser joined the trio. Television was the new popular medium, and the Stooges were practically dinosaurs. Columbia Pictures, the last studio still producing shorts, unceremoniously fired the trio in 1957 at the end of production of their final short, Flying Saucer Daffy. Because of a production backlog, the final Stooges short, Sappy Bullfighters, did not reach theatres until June 4, 1959.

The Stooges, Mark III, with Joe Besser on board. Moe takes some abuse in 1957's Guns A-Poppin.
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The Stooges, Mark III, with Joe Besser on board. Moe takes some abuse in 1957's Guns A-Poppin'.

See also List of Three Stooges shorts

Rebirth

In 1959, Columbia syndicated the entire Stooges film library to television (through its TV subsidiary, Screen Gems), and the Stooges were rediscovered by the baby boomers. A "Stooge fandom" quickly developed, and Howard and Fine found themselves back in demand again with the public. Besser's wife had had a heart attack, however, and he withdrew from the act. Moe quickly signed Joe DeRita as his replacement; DeRita shaved his head and became "Curly-Joe" because of his resemblance to the original Curly Howard.

This version of the Three Stooges went on to make a series of moderately popular full-length films during the late 1950s and through the 1960s. The trio also filmed 39 short comedy skits that were broadcast as introductions and closings for a 1965 animated television series based upon the comedy team. Throughout the 1960's, The Three Stooges were one of the most popular, and highest paid live acts in the country.

The Three Stooges, Mark IV, with "Curly-Joe" DeRita filling the role of the third stooge. From 1961's feature film flop Snow White and the Three Stooges.
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The Three Stooges, Mark IV, with "Curly-Joe" DeRita filling the role of the third stooge. From 1961's feature film flop Snow White and the Three Stooges.

In 1969, the Three Stooges filmed a pilot episode for a new TV series entitled Kook's Tour which would have been a combination travelogue and sitcom that would have seen the "retired" Stooges travelling around the world, with the episodes filmed on location. During production of the pilot, Larry suffered a paralyzing stroke, ending his acting career, as well as future plans for the TV series. A 50-minute version of Kook's Tour was edited together from usable material and initially only made available for the home movie market (years before the popularity of home video); it has subsequently been released to DVD, though unrestored.

Later years

Larry Fine suffered another stroke in December 1974. The following month, he suffered a more serious stroke, and slipped into a coma. Fine died on January 24, 1975, aged 72. Devastated by his comrade's passing, Moe decided that long-time Stooge supporting actor Emil Sitka would replace Larry, and be dubbed "The Middle Stooge".

Several movie ideas were considered, including one called Blazing Stewardesses according to Leonard Maltin, who also uncovered a pre-production photo (the film was ultimately made with the last surviving Ritz Brothers). However, life-long smoker Moe had fallen ill with lung cancer, and died on May 4, 1975. With Moe gone, it was inconceivable that the Three Stooges continue without a Howard, although Curly-Joe did do some live performances with a new group of Stooges in the early 1970s. It is interesting to note that in 1975, the world not only lost both Larry and Moe, but also Moe's wife of 50 years, Helen.

Joe Besser died on March 1, 1988, followed by Curly-Joe on July 3, 1993, making him the last Stooge to die. Curly-Joe often stated that his time with the Three Stooges were the 'best years of his life.'

Post-history

Throughout their career, Moe was the heart and soul of the troupe, acting as both their main creative force and business manager. Comedy III Productions, Inc., formed by Moe, Larry and Curly-Joe DeRita in 1959, is today the owner of all of the Three Stooges' trademarks and merchandising (the company is currently operated by DeRita's two stepsons).

In Spring of 2000, long time stooge fan Mel Gibson produced a TV-movie about the life and careers of the Stooges. It was produced for and broadcast on ABC. This movie was based on Michael Fleming's authorized biography on the Stooges, The Three Stooges: From Amalgamated Morons to American Icons. The film regularly runs on the AMC (American Movie Classics) channel.

Spike TV currently airs selected Three Stooges shorts in their Stooges Slap-Happy Hour.

Members

Moe Howard
Real Name: Harry Moses Horwitz
Born: June 19, 1897
Died: May 4, 1975
Stooge years: 1922, 1926, 1929-1975

Larry Fine
Real Name: Louis Feinberg
Born: October 5, 1902
Died: January 24, 1975
Stooge years: 1925-1926, 1929-1971

Curly Howard
Real Name: Jerome Lester Horwitz
Born: October 22, 1903
Died: January 18, 1952
Stooge years: 1934-1946

Shemp Howard
Real Name: Samuel Horwitz
Born: March 4, 1895
Died: November 22, 1955
Stooge years: 1922-1925, 1929-1932, 1947-1955

Joe Besser
Born: August 12, 1907
Died: March 1, 1988
Stooge years: 1957-1959

Curly-Joe DeRita
Real Name: Joseph Wardell
Born: July 12, 1909
Died: July 3, 1993
Stooge years: 1959-1975

Emil Sitka
Born: December 22, 1914
Died: January 16, 1998
Stooge years: c.1971-1975

Catchphrases

Although The Three Stooges are best known for their physical comedy, the group's dialogue is also highly quotable, with many of their lines (or signature nonverbal vocalizations) having become popular catchphrases. Here are some examples:

Slapstick

Slapstick was a mainstay of Stooge humor. The key was that, no matter how hard anyone was poked, slapped, punched or prodded, the pain immediately went away, and no one was ever really hurt by it. Even Moe dragging a handsaw across Curly's head would result only in a momentary "OH! OH! OH!" and then a "Oh, LOOK!" as they gazed at the bent and/or dulled teeth of the now completely useless saw. Moe would inevetibly blame Curly for the damage... "You and that iron head o' yours. You've ruined the saw!"

Examples of archetypical Stooge slapstick:

One pokes the other in the eyes with the first and second fingers of one hand. After a while, the other Stooge catches on and holds his palm perpendicular to the edge of his nose to block this. The first Stooge then uses the index finger of each hand to jab both eyes at once.
Here is an example: or: There were many variants to this classic move, one over the phone, and it being done in two episodes... in 3-D, giving you a Stooge's POV of Moe dishing out the two-finger eyepoke!

One stooge, usually Moe, strikes his own outstretched fist with his other fist. After being struck, the hand revolves downward, back and onto another Stooge's head. This move is known as the "Around-The-World Bop".

Moe: See that?
Larry: (jeering) Ahhh.
(Larry slaps Moe's hand, which flies up and knocks Larry's head.)
Sound effect: *BONK!*
Larry: (in pain) Ow!
In a variant of this maneuver, one Stooge strikes his own outstretched fist with his other fist; usually, it is either Curly or Larry who is the one that does this, except after being struck, the clever trick backfires as the hand revolves downward, back and onto Curly's or Larry's own head.
Curly: See that?
Moe: (jeering) Ahhh!
(Moe slaps Curly's hand, which flies up and knocks himself on the head.)
Sound effect: *BONK!*
Curly: (in pain) Owowow!
The triple slap: a straight man slaps the faces of all three Stooges in one energetic sweep.
Sound effect: *SLAD-DA-DAP!!*
One Stooge, typically Moe, grasps another Stooge's nose then vertically strikes the grasping fist, making the sound of a honking horn-like device.
Sound effect: *HONK!*
Other side-aching classics include:

(Three Stooges are cops)

Moe: Next time you handle a gun, shoot yourself in the head.
Curly: (Pulling out a pen and pad of paper) I'll make a note of it. How do you spell head?
Moe: B-O-N-E Head.
(He hits Curly on the head with the gun)
Curly: (Painfully) Ow! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh... look!
(The butt of the gun is smashed)
(Three Stooges are in a shop. They manage to tick off Moe as always)

Moe: (Laughs with the humor)
Curly/Larry: (Both laugh too)
(Moe slowly puts his hands on their shouders, then claps their heads together)
Sound effect: BONK!
(While building a room, Curly as assigned, takes an electric saw and cuts a piece of wood by six inches, but cuts it on the table Moe is standing on while measuring the ceiling base line)

Moe: Give it to me.
(Takes one step towards the end of the table, and the whole thing collapses, with him crashing on his back. He gets up as though nothing happened, and walks to the left end of Curly and Larry)
Curly: What happened?
Moe: Nothin.
(Slaps them both)
Sound effect: LOUD SLAP!
(He grabs a 2x4 and chases after them, but cannot get through an unfinished door with the 2x4 in his hand, so he tosses it to the floor)
Moe: Shut that door!
(Curly does so, but it collapses on Moe)
Curly: (With Moe yelling angrily) Where is he?
Larry: (Pointing to door on ground) In there!
Moe: Get me outta here!
(Carelessly, Curly stands on the door)
Moe: Ow! Get the door open!
(Curly gets off, tries to open it, but it's locked)
Curly: I can't, it's locked! I ain't even got a key!
Moe: Get the saw!
(Again, Curly does so, and cuts a body hole in the door, barely missing Moe, but cuts a hole in the floor as well. Larry gives the hole piece a few taps, and Moe falls through the floor and on to the bottom next one.
Moe: (Screaming as he falls to the bottom floor)
Sound effect: CRASH!
(They look as Moe pushes the wood and rubble off of him down below)
Curly: What're ya doin' down there?
Moe: (Gesturing them with his index finger to come down there) C'mere...
Curly: (To Lary) I think he wants ya.
Moe: Both of ya!
(After they reach the bottom floor)
Curly: (Helping Moe up) Hey Moe! It was an accident! It'll never happen again, we couldn't help it!
(Moe punches them both in the stomach, and with them both bent forward from the punch, he hits them in the forehead)
Sound effect: BOUNCE... BONK!
Larry: Hey, you only fell 14 feet! Why are ya gettin sore?!
Moe: (Pretending to be surprised) Is that all it was?
Larry: Yeah!
Moe: (Now pretending to be sorry) Aw, well I'm sorry fellas, (chuckles)
(He puts his hands on their shoulders as though he's making amends, but then claps Larry's and Curly's heads together)
Sound effect: BONK!
In some brief scenes for certain episodes, Moe would be seen with his hair standing straight in fright as he yelled in terror. This was done with an air hose off-camera (usually below as it takes an extreme close-up of him) blowing his hair upward as he yells. His voice was later dubbed in.

Other bizarre events frequently occurred, including a scene in which Moe sits in a chair that has a bear trap set in it, which immediately clamps down on Moe's butt. He runs around the room with the trap on screaming, "Larry! Larry! An octopus has got me!"

See [Three Stooges Online's Slapshtick] for more examples.

Sound effects

The use of clever sound effects was important to the overall effect of the action. A good example would be Moe whacking one of his fellow Stooges on the head with a hammer. Typically, the sound of a hammer striking an anvil or a block of wood was used, suggesting the characters were "hard-headed" in more ways than one. A blow to a kettle drum accompanied blows to the stomach, and for pokes to the eye, a plucked violin string made the sound, or sometimes a high pitched piano sound. When appendages such as fingers, noses, toes, etc. were pinched, crunched, vice gripped, etc. a noise like a cracking nut generally accompanied.

For some reason, sound effects were not used in the Jerks of All Trades (1949) television pilot. Some believe that this is the main reason their pilot failed to sell. The silly sound effects made the hitting, poking and punching come across as a joke. Without the clever sound it came across as just violent.

Music

Several instrumental tunes were played over the opening credits at different times in the production of their short features. The most commonly used themes were: The Columbia short subject “Woman Haters” (1934) was done completely in song. It was sixth in a “Musical Novelties” short subject series, and appropriated its musical score from the first five films. The memorable “My Life, My Love, My All,” was originally “At Last!” from the film “Um-Pa.”

“Swinging the Alphabet” (B-A-bay, B-E-be, B-I-bicky-bi…) from the 1938 “Violent is the Word for Curly” is perhaps the best-known original song performed by the Stooges on film.

The “Lucia Sextet” (Chi mi frena in tal momento?), from the opera Lucia di Lammermoor by Gaetano Donizetti (announced by Larry as “the sextet from Lucy”), is played on a record player and lip-synched by the stooges in “Micro-phonies” (1945). The same melody re-appears in “Square Heads of the Round Table” (1948) as the tune of “Oh, Elaine, can you come out tonight?”

“Micro-phonies” also includes the Johann Strauss Jr. waltz “Voices of Spring” (Frühlingsstimmen) Op. 410

The Moe-Larry-Curly Joe version of the Three Stooges recorded several musical record albums in the early 1960s. Most of their songs were adaptations of nursery rhymes. Among their more popular recordings were "Making a Record" (a surreal trip to a recording studio built around the song "Go Tell Aunt Mary"), "Three Little Fishes", and "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas".

Feature motion pictures

The Three Stooges also made appearances in many feature length movies in the course of their careers:

Shorts

see List of Three Stooges shorts

Television

In addition to the unsuccessful television series pilots, Jerks of All Trades (1949) and Kook's Tour (1970), the Stooges appeared in a short-lived television show called The New Three Stooges which ran from 1965 to 1966. This series featured a mix of thirty-nine live action segments which were used as wrap-arounds to 156 animated Stooges shorts.

An episode of Hanna-Barbera's The New Scooby-Doo Movies aired in the early 1970's featuring animated Stooges as guest-stars. Due to this guest appearance there was a short-lived animated series, also produced by Hanna-Barbera, entitled The Robonic Stooges featuring Moe, Larry, and Curly as bionic cartoon superheroes with extendable limbs, similar to the later Inspector Gadget.

In John Badham's movie Short Circuit, Johnny 5, while watching T.V., sees the original Three Stooges in their first short for Columbia Pictures, Woman Haters, made in 1934 at Stephanie's (Ally Sheedy) house. He later reprograms three of the Nova Robots into a breed of the Three Stooges, almost in their likeness.

Tributes

Trivia

Further reading

References

External links

Public domain shorts

There are four Three Stooges shorts that are in the public domain, and which can be downloaded at no charge from the Prelinger Archive:

 

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