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Stan and Babe

Another theme in our growing up was the relentless repeating of Laurel and Hardy comedies on KVOS. Here we see the boys driving their boss, the Inspector of Police, on his investigation of the theft of Norma Shearer's jewels in this thinly constructed comedy. This colourized frame was obviously made by a neophyte; a Model T was available only in black, black or black.

Now here's a challenge. Whatever kind of grumpy mood you are in listen to this music and try not to break into a grin! You can actually listen to the boys on this great website here.

If you need a dose of Laurel and Hardy go here. This item is a charity film from 1931. The studios and actors and actresses have donated their facilities and time for a film to benefit the t.b. effort. Theatres then showed it on the same basis to raise funds. It is strange to us today to see lung health promoted by a cigarette company but here it is, Chesterfield is a big sponsor.

The film is full of the big name stars of the day. Edward G. Robinson and George Raft make an early appearance, together. Shortly after, Stan Laurel touches what he should not touch on the dashboard of the boys' car and the Model T falls apart...again.

Remember the plot of Blotto? If so, enjoy again the finale complete with disintegrating Model "T" at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q63uf4xxh2M .

You were the pros, masters of timing. Thanks, boys, for all those childhood laughs.

[Audio: Nice mess.]

Howard, Fein and Howard.

Hello, hello, hello!

As television receivers spread across the continent in the 'fifties, mummies and daddies gave down the opinion that television was bad for the eyes of their children. The Three Stooges delighted children in broadcast markets everywhere and Moe Howard proved that television was bad for the eyes!

Four Stooges? There's something about that fourth Stooge.

[Cabin job.]

No mention of KVOS' after school presentations would be complete without a mention of the family Horowitz or Howard and Larry Fein. Scholarly analysis has been made of the appeal of the Stooges. Among other things, apparently they find little audience among women.

[Medicine]

[Too young.]

The New York Times recognized their quality when they were on Broadway before the Columbia years: "...frowsiest numbskulls...". High praise indeed from a journal of record!

["I'm trying to think but nothing happens!"]

All of the Stooges had had their first exposure to performance in Vaudeville, small wonder. They began stooging in films in the early 'thirties and continued, with substitutions for Larry and Curley, to 1960! The act saw some hard times and very nearly disappeared. Then came television and its insatiable appetite for material of whatever, ahhh, quality. The Stooges surfed the wave and the act continued.

Anyone wishing to apply high brows to North American culture must first account for what is believed to be the longest film contract for any comedy group. Columbia Pictures had a contract with the Stooges for about a quarter of a century! Though the contract had ended a few years earlier, Columbia used material in the can and issued Stooge shorts into 1960. Don't be snooty about Canadian culture. In our year of 1963, the Three Stooges' live act drew 35,000 at the C.N.E!

Fein may be the least appreciated Stooge. He had been a pugilist. He was a serious musician who continued teaching during his Stooge years. He was also a philanthropist. He ended up broke in an old folks' home after a series of strokes, a placement arranged by Moe.

Moe Howard was the brains of the act both on and off the set. He had been on the stage since 1909 doing about all there was to do there including, of course, vaudeville, the all gags of which he had stored in his vast memory. He had a reputation as a real gentleman and an asset to his community. Have a look at this chap's well done site for some first hand experience of the man.

Here is an excellent site that considers the Stooges more, ahh, broadly.

Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk (fx: boink) Ohhh!

Scholars of Stooge history are invited to identify for us the rarely seen fourth Stooge in the photograph of the four academics hitchhiking, above. It's not Shemp, Joe or Curley Joe so who is it? Judging by the youth of the faces, it was made before the war. If the white hair on the fourth stooge is natural, then he was older even then than the brothers and Larry.

It soitainly is a mystery. Advise your webmaster if you solve it.

Woob, woob, woob!

Theme.

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