Talk with The Three Stooges

The Three Stooges was an American vaudeville and comedy team active from the early 1920s until 1970, best known for their 190 short subject films produced by Columbia Pictures that have been regularly airing on television since 1958. Their hallmark was physical farce and slapstick comedy. Although the group originally started with Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Shemp Howard, they are most famously associated with Moe, Larry, and Curly Howard, whose antics and personas have permeated American pop culture.

The Stooges' films involved the characters getting into various predicaments and often working various jobs where their lack of competence and decorum leads to chaos. The humor was broadly and deliberately over-the-top, with an emphasis on absurd slapstick elements, such as eye pokes, face slaps, and exaggerated physical comedy.

Shemp was originally part of the act but left early on. He was replaced by his younger brother Jerome "Curly" Howard, who became a fan favorite. After Curly suffered a debilitating stroke in 1946, Shemp returned to the group until his death in 1955. He was followed by Joe Besser and finally "Curly-Joe" DeRita.

The Three Stooges remain widely popular with audiences due to their timeless humor and have been an influence on many other comedians and comedy acts that followed. Their work continues to be celebrated and enjoyed through television reruns, film compilations, and DVD releases.

The Three Stooges had several line-up changes throughout their career, which were handled with both necessity and opportunity in mind. Initially, the group consisted of Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Shemp Howard. However, Shemp left the act to pursue a solo career and was replaced by his younger brother, Jerome "Curly" Howard, in 1932.

Curly became a fan favorite with his distinct mannerisms and comedic style, but his career with the Stooges was cut short by a series of strokes in 1946. After Curly’s health declined, Shemp returned to the group and remained until his death in 1955.

Following Shemp's death, he was replaced by Joe Besser. Joe was part of the team for a short period until he left in 1958. The Stooges then recruited Joe DeRita (nicknamed "Curly Joe" because of his resemblance to Curly Howard), who continued with the group through the remaining years of their film and television work.

Each transition was occasioned by the personal circumstances of the members involved, such as health issues or career decisions. The Stooges adapted by integrating the new members in a way that maintained the iconic slapstick and dynamic of the group, though each member brought his own unique flavor to the trio. This ability to adapt while maintaining their comedic style helped sustain their popularity across different eras.

World War II had a noticeable impact on The Three Stooges' performances and the content of their films. During the war years, the Stooges made several shorts that directly addressed wartime themes and promoted patriotic sentiments.

In their films, they often portrayed their comedic characters in situations that satirized the enemy and supported the war effort. For example, in the 1940 short "You Nazty Spy!", the Stooges lampooned Nazi Germany with Moe Howard portraying a character that parodied Adolf Hitler. This was one of the first Hollywood productions to openly mock Hitler. They followed this with another anti-Nazi film in 1941 titled "I'll Never Heil Again," further ridiculing the Axis powers.

Moreover, their shorts featured slapstick routines that were intertwined with messages encouraging war bond sales, conservation, and other home front efforts. The Stooges also took part in live performances to boost morale among troops and participated in war bond rallies.

Through these efforts, The Three Stooges not only entertained audiences during a difficult time but also contributed to the broader cultural and patriotic landscape of America during WWII.

The Three Stooges made their television debut in 1949 with the show "Jerks of All Trades." This show was a pilot for a potential series featuring the Stooges, but it wasn't picked up for a full series. Nonetheless, The Three Stooges continued to gain popularity through their film shorts that were broadcast regularly on television starting in the late 1950s.

No, The Three Stooges did not only perform in black and white films. While they are best known for their black and white shorts, they also appeared in several feature films and shorts in color. Their first color film was the 1936 musical feature "Dancing Lady" which featured a brief appearance by the Stooges. Later, they made full color shorts, including "Sappy Bull Fighters" in 1959. In the later years of their careers, particularly in the 1960s, they also starred in and produced full-length color movies such as "The Three Stooges Meet Hercules" (1962) and "The Outlaws Is Coming" (1965).

Discover and learn about people that are similar to The Three Stooges.