The Tragic True-Life Story of The Three Stooges

TLDRThe Three Stooges, Moe, Larry, and Curly, rose to fame but faced tragic setbacks. Moe's leadership, Larry's talent, and Curly's humor made them legends. They endured injuries, contract disputes, and disrespect from Columbia Pictures. Their comedy was influenced by Yiddish archetypes. The Stooges imitated Hitler and influenced American political satire. Curly's health declined, Shemp replaced him, and Larry faced personal tragedies. After Columbia closed their shorts department, they found success on TV. The Stooges' legacy lives on, despite their untimely deaths.

Key insights

🌟The Three Stooges, Moe, Larry, and Curly, endured setbacks and paved the way for physical comedy.

💔Columbia Pictures showed disrespect and mistreated the Stooges, contributing to their hardships.

🤡Curly's silly personality endeared him to audiences, but his health issues cut his career short.

🎭The Three Stooges' brand of comedy was influenced by Yiddish archetypes and Jewish comedic traditions.

📺The Stooges found success on TV syndication, gaining new fans and cementing their status as comedy legends.

Q&A

What were the challenges faced by The Three Stooges?

—The Stooges faced injuries, contract disputes, mistreatment by Columbia Pictures, and personal tragedies.

How did The Three Stooges influence comedy?

—Their physical comedy style, imitations of Hitler, and pioneering of American political satire left a lasting impact.

What happened to Curly and Shemp?

—Curly suffered health issues and was replaced by Shemp. Shemp later died, leading to Joe Besser and Curly Joe DeRita joining the Stooges.

What was the significance of the Yiddish influence in their comedy?

—The Stooges' comedy was inspired by Yiddish archetypes and Jewish comedic traditions, although it was not explicitly highlighted in their act.

How did The Three Stooges continue their success after Columbia Pictures?

—They found success through TV syndication, merchandising, and continuing their comedy career with new Stooge members.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Moe, Larry, and Curly faced challenges despite their success.

03:36Shemp fills in for Curly and becomes a beloved Stooge.

06:24Curly suffers a stroke, leading to declining health.

07:57Columbia mistreats the Stooges and closes their shorts department.

08:51Larry faces personal tragedies, including the death of his son and wife.

09:39Moe strives to keep the Stooges alive after Larry's death.

09:54Columbia lays off the Stooges without appreciation or tribute.

10:02The Stooges' legacy lives on through syndication and merchandise.

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