Great Old TV Episodes...from The Three Stooges

 

THREE SAPPY PEOPLE, from 1939, is one of my favorites from the slapstick comedy team of the Three Stooges: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly Howard (later replaced by his brother Shemp).  During the 1930s, 40s and 50s they made many short films, originally shown in theaters before full-length movies but then easily adapted to television...which is how I watched them. I was always a big Three Stooges fan, but for some reason remember in particular watching them regularly in late 1975, weekday afternoons at 3 on Miami's Channel 6/WCIX-TV when they'd show an hour of their antics.  Among the many episodes I saw was this gem, which features the boys, working as phone company repairmen, intercepting a desperate call to three psychiatrists to visit a wealthy mansion where the husband is concerned for his impulsive wife's mental stability.  Assuming their identity, Moe, Larry and Curly arrive on the scene crashing their three-seat tandem bicycle and spilling out onto the curb in front of everyone...immediately endearing themselves to the fun-loving wife.  My favorite scene in it is pictured above: while sitting with many other stuffy, wealthy people around the large dinner table, a snobbish young woman next to Curly starts powdering her face...seeing this, he whips out his electric razor and starts shaving!  The gags follow in rapid succession until one of the great pie fight scenes on record ensues.  Although Shemp Howard was the "third Stooge" during in the act's early vaudeville years, his brother Curly replaced him for most of their movies, eventually leaving from declining health with Shemp returning for the later shorts.  After Shemp passed on in the late 1950s veteran comedian Joe Besser filled out the Stooges' lineup for their final few short films.  Later on the act would be revived for feature films using "Curly Joe" DeRita.  But for me I'm partial to the original Curly and the incredible comedic timing between him, Moe, and Larry.  By the way, I'll always believe that Moe had the original "Beatles haircut"...