Speak to me, kid, say a few syllables! Paging Moe Howard of the Three Stooges

Caricaturist Paul Howard, youngest child of Three Stooges ringleader Moe Howard, examines his late father’s life beyond the archetypal Columbia comedy shorts in an exclusive interview. Look out, Moe! Here Curly Joe and Larry try their carpentry skills with very dangerous results on the May 1961 cover of their Gold Key comic book. Image Credit: DreamWorks Classics / C3 Entertainment / My Comic Shop

The Three Stooges will never win an armload of awards from the critical elite. So then why does the trio’s brilliantly timed comedy routines continue to age like vintage red wine and seduce millenials? Moe Howard, with his jet black hair styled downward in a ghastly bowl cut, was the take-charge, no bullshit, often naive leader. Younger brother Curly Howard possessed improvisational genius and uttered numerous catchphrases with abandon (e.g. “Nyuk, nyuk” and “I’m a victim of coicumstance!”). The frizzy-haired Larry Fine was caught somewhere in-between, often receiving the brunt of Moe’s slaps and eye pokes.

In a six-decade career finally extinguished by Larry’s first massive stroke in January 1970, the team ultimately transcended the Marx Brothers, Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, and Martin and Lewis.

The Three Stooges were intrinsically funny and honed their craft in vaudeville. Directors — e.g. Edward Bernds and Jules White-pre 1952 — and writers — Felix Adler and Elwood Ullman — with little affinity for extraneous scenes ensured fast-paced, quality shorts. Although parents criticized their violent tendencies — usually instigated by Moe — the boys never did it maliciously. All would be forgotten and forgiven within a few frames.