Written by Moe Howard
SUMMARY:
Moe Howard’s posthumous memoir was first published in 1977 by Citadel Press as “Moe Howard & the 3 Stooges.” This updated 241-page edition was released by Chicago Review Press in 2013. Besides the sly title change (to one Moe evidently preferred), this update swaps out and/or shrinks several photos from the first book. As before, all photos are in black-and-white. Also, Moe’s daughter, Joan Howard Maurer, provides a foreword, as she had helped complete the manuscript following his death in mid-1975.
Moe recounts his immigrant family’s humble life in turn-of-the-century Brooklyn, including anecdotes of his and older brother Shemp’s shared penchant for troublemaking. In addition to revealing why he first got his trademark bowl cut, Moe discusses his stints as a child film actor and working professionally onstage in his teens.
From starting in vaudeville with Shemp to working for childhood friend Ted Healy, Moe describes the Stooges’ evolution from Healy’s low-paid sidekicks to achieving their own stardom at Columbia Pictures for a quarter-century and beyond. With gradual changes in the trio’s line-up (including why younger brother Jerome, aka ‘Curly,’ replaced Shemp and later vice-versa), Moe’s narrative continues through to early 1975, including his activities in retirement.
REVIEW:
It’s an undemanding read for those who prefer a loose overview vs. detailed accounts. Moe shares several terrific anecdotes, but there’s scant details re: his fellow Stooges outside of work.
Other than briefly explaining why the trio twice broke up with Healy, Moe rarely dishes dirt, so to speak. Presumably, this classy gesture is meant to guard his family and friends’ privacy, so other biographical sources are necessary for a fuller account of the Stooges’ show biz history – for instance, The Three Stooges Scrapbook (co-authored by Moe’s daughter) would be an ideal supplement. Still, Moe’s humble memoir proves a fun and endearing experience for Stooge fans, preferably for ages 12+.
Parental Notes: Young readers might need clarification of some vaudeville terminology – specifically, the difference between ‘whiteface’ and ‘blackface’ acts. Also, the ‘n-word’ twice appears in an early 1930’s racist incident Moe describes. Specifically, Moe is quoting a Jacksonville, FL theater manager, who angrily fires them for Moe’s friendly interaction with an African-American passerby.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
From the Stooges’ films, stage work, promos, and Moe’s home life, there’s innumerable photos. Joan Howard Maurer’s insightful and poignant foreword expresses more of her dad’s sentimentality than he himself was willing to admit. She also acknowledges that a few details in the book’s original text are incorrect. For instance, she specifies the year (1928, not 1925) and location re: when Ted Healy first recruited Larry Fine into the act at a Chicago nightclub.
Like its previous version, the book includes an afterword acknowledging Moe’s passing before his memoir was completed. There’s also a full Stooges filmography and an index.
Note: Moe’s text claims that, he, too, was present when first meeting Larry, but other reliable sources (i.e. The Three Stooges Scrapbook) state that Shemp was there with Healy (without Moe).
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
