The Untold Truth Of The Three Stooges

April 2024 ยท 2 minute read

As detailed by Mark and Ellen Scordato in "The Three Stooges," Samuel "Shemp" Horwitz and younger brother Moses "Moe" Horwitz got their start on the stage as a comedy duo called Howard and Howard in 1915. Initially, the brothers were unsuccessful, and the act broke up when Shemp was drafted into the Army. Shemp's military service, however, was short-lived, and he was soon back on stage with Moe.

In 1922, Shemp and Moe joined comedian Ted Healy's act. Healy, already a successful performer, was a purveyor of broad, bawdy humor. Brought on as foils for Healy's physical comedy, Moe and Shemp were big hits with Healy's audiences.

Healy brought comedian-musician Louis Feinberg into his act in 1925. Feinberg, better known by his stage name Larry Fine, completed the original lineup. Ted Healy and His Stooges broke into film in 1930 in the 20th Century Fox comedy, "Soup to Nuts." The now-Howard brothers and Fine made such an impression that they were offered a movie deal of their own. Healy, fearing the end of his career, convinced Fox to rescind The Stooges' contract. When the trio found out about Healy's actions, they angrily struck out on their own.

The Stooges briefly rejoined Healy, but, in 1932, Shemp bowed out after a financial dispute. Moe brought in younger brother Jerome "Curly" Horwitz as his replacement, cementing the classic Stooges lineup. After appearing in several MGM films, The Three Stooges left Healy for good in 1934 when they signed with Columbia Pictures.

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