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I Stooged to Conquer: The Autobiography of the Leader of the Three Stooges
Telling the full story of the head Stooge, this work reveals the life-long career of a legendary funnyman. Born into a working-class family in Brooklyn, Moe Howard transformed his real-life experiences of getting into mischief with his brother Shemp into the plots that would have millions rolling in the aisles. From childhood, Moe s ambition was to perform whether it was plucking a ukulele on the beach, or playing a halfwit on a Mississippi showboat. But he only found success when he joined with Shemp and Larry Fine to play, as the "New York Times "put it, three of the frowziest numskulls ever assembled. As the brains behind the Three Stooges, he went on to act in hundreds of their movies, introducing his little brother Curly into the act when Shemp departed, and, after Curly s death, partnering with Joe Besser and finally Joe de Rita. This is Moe Howard s self-penned, no-holds-barred story of the ups and downs of his life, ranging from personal family tragedies to tidbits about career mishaps and triumphs. It overflows with the easygoing charm, generosity, and inspired lunacy of the wise guy behind America's most successful comedy trio."
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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310 people want to read
About the author
Moe Howard
14 books9 followersMoses Horwitz was the most active founding member of the Three Stooges comedy team. He began working with Ted Healy in vaudeville with his brother Shemp and the trio later became a foursome when they recruited violinist Larry Fine. They replaced Shemp with brother Curly and ditched Healy when they began making their famous shorts for Columbia. Moe was the driving force behind keeping the Stooges team alive when Curly and later Shemp had health problems that prohibited them from working anymore.
Moe was married to Helen Schonberger until his death and they had two children.
Moe was married to Helen Schonberger until his death and they had two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
August 15, 2020
Many people express surprise when they find out how much I like The Three Stooges. Apparently not many adult women share my appreciation. I don't care - I'm letting my Stooge flag fly. I think they were comedic geniuses.
Part of the reason I think of them fondly is because of my two brothers. Don was born Mar 1953, my birthday is May 1954, and Stan was born July 1955. Being sandwiched between two brothers I'm sure was a big influence on my choice of childhood entertainment.
The Three Stooges film shorts were sold to television stations in the late 1950s. The films were made in the 1930's with the original Curly. The Three Stooges popularity had peaked and the old shorts were being sold cheaply in bundles for children's shows. The Stooges popularity soared again with a new audience - my brothers and I included.
The book has many photographs. Moe Howard's prose is a bit choppy. I don't mind. He was an actor not a writer. It is the behind-the-scenes stories of his career that count for me.
Part of the reason I think of them fondly is because of my two brothers. Don was born Mar 1953, my birthday is May 1954, and Stan was born July 1955. Being sandwiched between two brothers I'm sure was a big influence on my choice of childhood entertainment.
The Three Stooges film shorts were sold to television stations in the late 1950s. The films were made in the 1930's with the original Curly. The Three Stooges popularity had peaked and the old shorts were being sold cheaply in bundles for children's shows. The Stooges popularity soared again with a new audience - my brothers and I included.
The book has many photographs. Moe Howard's prose is a bit choppy. I don't mind. He was an actor not a writer. It is the behind-the-scenes stories of his career that count for me.
January 6, 2015
Synopsis: "Telling the full story of the head Stooge, this work reveals the life-long career of a legendary funnyman. Born into a working-class family in Brooklyn, Moe Howard transformed his real-life experiences of getting into mischief with his brother Shemp into the plots that would have millions rolling in the aisles. From childhood, Moe’s ambition was to perform—whether it was plucking a ukulele on the beach, or playing a halfwit on a Mississippi showboat. But he only found success when he joined with Shemp and Larry Fine to play, as the New York Times put it, “three of the frowziest numskulls ever assembled.” As the brains behind the Three Stooges, he went on to act in hundreds of their movies, introducing his little brother Curly into the act when Shemp departed, and, after Curly’s death, partnering with Joe Besser and finally Joe de Rita. This is Moe Howard’s self-penned, no-holds-barred story of the ups and downs of his life, ranging from personal family tragedies to tidbits about career mishaps and triumphs. It overflows with the easygoing charm, generosity, and inspired lunacy of the “wise guy” behind America’s most successful comedy trio."
This is not a work of literature, but a workable firsthand account of the career of The Three Stooges. I became a fan of the Stooges as a child in the 1960s when their comedies became a staple of after school TV. I enjoyed reading about their exploits along with some behind-the-scenes anecdotes. I'll be better informed as I view my DVD collection of all of their short films.
This is not a work of literature, but a workable firsthand account of the career of The Three Stooges. I became a fan of the Stooges as a child in the 1960s when their comedies became a staple of after school TV. I enjoyed reading about their exploits along with some behind-the-scenes anecdotes. I'll be better informed as I view my DVD collection of all of their short films.
May 8, 2020
I found this book to be surprisingly touching. I mean, who knew that the Stooge with the perpetual scowl wrote poetry to his wife and endured bullying due to his long, curly hair instead of cutting it off just because his mother enjoyed brushing it?! There were a lot of fascinating tidbits and I really learned a lot. A very fun read.
June 8, 2017
A fun read. Brought back great memories and learned a lot about theses icons of my youth.
December 19, 2024
This book was absolutely fantastic and really one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. Moe Howard is and will forever always be my favorite stooge. I learned more than I ever thought I could learn about the three stooges reading this autobiography. So many interesting things to their careers and something’s that might surprise a stooge enthusiast.
January 17, 2024
Loved this! Read it in 2 days because I couldn’t put it down. Lots of fascinating stories from behind the scenes. A must read for all Stooge-a-holics!!
May 9, 2025
Absolutely delightful. My only complaint is it wasn’t longer!
January 22, 2014
Am I a knucklehead for enjoying this book? Soy-tan-lee…NOT! Moe Howard (Moses Horwitz), the head Stooge with the pre-Beatles haircut, completed this autobiography just before he passed away in 1977. It's a loving and informative journey recalling his private life and career that took him from Vaudeville and Broadway to films and unexpected superstardom (yes, it's true fans) when the baby boomer generation went slapstick crazy over the trio when their short films were featured on kid's television shows in the 1950s and '60s.
Moe's story is like watching a restored black and white film about a young boy growing up in Brooklyn, New York in the early 1900's. It's a vivid picture of life at that time - going to school, surviving bullies (his mother refused to cut his hair, so his "Stooge look" was a lot shorter in comparison) and falling in love with performing and show business. Showbiz history fans will enjoy his memories of breaking into the business on small local stages and teaming with his brother Shemp (Samuel) to break into Vaudeville. During their countless small time, cross-country tours they met Larry Fine and played second-fiddles to star Ted Healy. Eventually a money dispute with Healy caused Shemp to go solo and their younger brother Curly (Jerome) took his slot.
But it's not all showbiz since Moe was even more devoted to his wife and two children as he was to making audiences laugh. The laughs are there, but you feel the heartache in his writing when Curly and Shemp (who rejoined the act after Curly's stroke) pass away, followed by the elation of sudden fame from early television. With Joe Besser and then "Curly" Joe DeRita, The Three Stooges moved into feature films and personal appearances with popularity similar to rock stars. In their golden years they continued to work until Larry's stroke brought an end to the act and once again you can feel Moe's loss.
This is a 2013 re-release of his book Moe Howard & The Three Stooges and includes a new introduction by his daughter. No one could deliver a poke in the eye, a slap in the face or throw a pie better than Moe. He also delivered with this book and a firsthand account of why The Three Stooges are still remembered and laughed at all these years later.
Moe's story is like watching a restored black and white film about a young boy growing up in Brooklyn, New York in the early 1900's. It's a vivid picture of life at that time - going to school, surviving bullies (his mother refused to cut his hair, so his "Stooge look" was a lot shorter in comparison) and falling in love with performing and show business. Showbiz history fans will enjoy his memories of breaking into the business on small local stages and teaming with his brother Shemp (Samuel) to break into Vaudeville. During their countless small time, cross-country tours they met Larry Fine and played second-fiddles to star Ted Healy. Eventually a money dispute with Healy caused Shemp to go solo and their younger brother Curly (Jerome) took his slot.
But it's not all showbiz since Moe was even more devoted to his wife and two children as he was to making audiences laugh. The laughs are there, but you feel the heartache in his writing when Curly and Shemp (who rejoined the act after Curly's stroke) pass away, followed by the elation of sudden fame from early television. With Joe Besser and then "Curly" Joe DeRita, The Three Stooges moved into feature films and personal appearances with popularity similar to rock stars. In their golden years they continued to work until Larry's stroke brought an end to the act and once again you can feel Moe's loss.
This is a 2013 re-release of his book Moe Howard & The Three Stooges and includes a new introduction by his daughter. No one could deliver a poke in the eye, a slap in the face or throw a pie better than Moe. He also delivered with this book and a firsthand account of why The Three Stooges are still remembered and laughed at all these years later.
August 21, 2023
I would'a SWORN Moe wasn't my type!
I'm not and never have been a Stooges fan, but I'm giving this book five stars. If you ARE a Stooges fan, not sure where you'll find enough stars, but good luck.
It turns out that the "mean Stooge" was a sweet, intelligent, romantic family man whose only fault was his intense loyalty, even to people who disappointed him. Everyone else in show business might condemn you as hopeless, but Moe Howard always gave people a second chance. And a third chance. And on and on. His soft heart won him friends and admirers, but he paid the price.
His autobiography was written in the mid and late 1970's, when he was elderly, but still receiving tons of fan mail. His excuse for writing it was that postage rates had gone up and he needed a way to answer all the fans' questions at one time. His beloved wife died of cancer and he followed her soon after, but his daughter saw the book through publishing.
It says something about the man that he insisted on the title "I Stooged to Conquer." Publishers worried that few Americans would be familiar with the classic English novel "She Stoops to Conquer" and they were probably correct. Although he had little formal education, Moe was a literate man and insisted on giving his fans credit for intelligence.
If you've read the memoirs of Harpo and Groucho Marx, you'll find much that's similar. Like the Marx brothers, the Horwitz brothers grew up poor in New York City at the beginning of the 1900's in a family of five sons with Jewish immigrant parents. Also like the Marx family, it was the mother who was the hard-driving, ambitious parent. Unlike Minnie Marx, Jennie Horwitz was obsessed with real estate. It was her fourth son Moses (Moe) who led his brothers into show business.
The Marx Brothers started out in vaudeville and worked their way into legitimate theater, then into movies. Moe Howard started in movies, silent flicks cranked out by the Brooklyn Vitagraph Studio. He got onto the lot by offering to work for free, doing anything. Eventually he got parts, playing tragedy, comedy, and everything in between.
It was a chance meeting with a confident Texas boy that led to the creation of the Three Stooges. Now forgotten, Ted Healy became a vaudeville star and he used Moe, then Shemp, then baby brother Curley as his Stooges. They worked their way up to the top of Vaudeville, but Ted Healy was the STAR and the Howard brothers worked for peanuts.
It was years before Moe Howard broke out of Healy's orbit and he blamed Healy's alcoholism for their problems. The truth was that Healy was a taker and Moe lacked the confidence to stand up to him. Even after the Three Stooges started making their famous "shorts" for Columbia Pictures, they got screwed financially. The studio owners then were kings and Harry Cohn of Columbia was the worst of the worst. Eventually, Moe realized that (once again) he'd been talked out of money that should have been his.
Having grown up poor, Moe was happy to be able to support his family and he loved to entertain. They may not have gotten paid as much as they should have from their popular two-reelers, but there was money from personal appearances. While other acts faded into oblivion, the Stooges gained fans in every new generation. Eventually, there was a television cartoon show and related toys to bring in money.
Moe lived well, but never made the fortune he could have if he'd been a tougher person. On the other hand, his personal life was unusually happy for show business, including a long marriage, two children, and (eventually) grandchildren. Like Harpo Marx, Moe Howard was born to be happy, regardless of the circumstances.
The line-up varied from year to year, but Moe was the face of the Stooges. When Shemp went solo, he was replaced with Larry Fine. When Curley died, he was replaced by another Curley, then a Curley Joe. As long as Moe was snarling and poking eyes, the fans were happy.
I loved the stories of the brothers growing up and the insider's look into vaudeville (big-time and small-time) and the beginning of the movie industry. I'll admit I skimmed a bit during the stories and pictures of the various Stooges shorts. If you're a true fan, you'll eat it up.
To me, it's a fascinating story about early American show business and a deeply satisfying book by a kind, lovable man. Unlike many performers, Moe Howard was always aware of what was going on outside of show business. To his eternal credit, he was cancelled in Jacksonville, Florida because he refused to go along with the brutal racism he found there. He cared, even about people who didn't look like him.
I've never before read a book about the Three Stooges and probably never will again, but I'm glad I read this one. It's a fine read and Moe Howard was a great man.
I'm not and never have been a Stooges fan, but I'm giving this book five stars. If you ARE a Stooges fan, not sure where you'll find enough stars, but good luck.
It turns out that the "mean Stooge" was a sweet, intelligent, romantic family man whose only fault was his intense loyalty, even to people who disappointed him. Everyone else in show business might condemn you as hopeless, but Moe Howard always gave people a second chance. And a third chance. And on and on. His soft heart won him friends and admirers, but he paid the price.
His autobiography was written in the mid and late 1970's, when he was elderly, but still receiving tons of fan mail. His excuse for writing it was that postage rates had gone up and he needed a way to answer all the fans' questions at one time. His beloved wife died of cancer and he followed her soon after, but his daughter saw the book through publishing.
It says something about the man that he insisted on the title "I Stooged to Conquer." Publishers worried that few Americans would be familiar with the classic English novel "She Stoops to Conquer" and they were probably correct. Although he had little formal education, Moe was a literate man and insisted on giving his fans credit for intelligence.
If you've read the memoirs of Harpo and Groucho Marx, you'll find much that's similar. Like the Marx brothers, the Horwitz brothers grew up poor in New York City at the beginning of the 1900's in a family of five sons with Jewish immigrant parents. Also like the Marx family, it was the mother who was the hard-driving, ambitious parent. Unlike Minnie Marx, Jennie Horwitz was obsessed with real estate. It was her fourth son Moses (Moe) who led his brothers into show business.
The Marx Brothers started out in vaudeville and worked their way into legitimate theater, then into movies. Moe Howard started in movies, silent flicks cranked out by the Brooklyn Vitagraph Studio. He got onto the lot by offering to work for free, doing anything. Eventually he got parts, playing tragedy, comedy, and everything in between.
It was a chance meeting with a confident Texas boy that led to the creation of the Three Stooges. Now forgotten, Ted Healy became a vaudeville star and he used Moe, then Shemp, then baby brother Curley as his Stooges. They worked their way up to the top of Vaudeville, but Ted Healy was the STAR and the Howard brothers worked for peanuts.
It was years before Moe Howard broke out of Healy's orbit and he blamed Healy's alcoholism for their problems. The truth was that Healy was a taker and Moe lacked the confidence to stand up to him. Even after the Three Stooges started making their famous "shorts" for Columbia Pictures, they got screwed financially. The studio owners then were kings and Harry Cohn of Columbia was the worst of the worst. Eventually, Moe realized that (once again) he'd been talked out of money that should have been his.
Having grown up poor, Moe was happy to be able to support his family and he loved to entertain. They may not have gotten paid as much as they should have from their popular two-reelers, but there was money from personal appearances. While other acts faded into oblivion, the Stooges gained fans in every new generation. Eventually, there was a television cartoon show and related toys to bring in money.
Moe lived well, but never made the fortune he could have if he'd been a tougher person. On the other hand, his personal life was unusually happy for show business, including a long marriage, two children, and (eventually) grandchildren. Like Harpo Marx, Moe Howard was born to be happy, regardless of the circumstances.
The line-up varied from year to year, but Moe was the face of the Stooges. When Shemp went solo, he was replaced with Larry Fine. When Curley died, he was replaced by another Curley, then a Curley Joe. As long as Moe was snarling and poking eyes, the fans were happy.
I loved the stories of the brothers growing up and the insider's look into vaudeville (big-time and small-time) and the beginning of the movie industry. I'll admit I skimmed a bit during the stories and pictures of the various Stooges shorts. If you're a true fan, you'll eat it up.
To me, it's a fascinating story about early American show business and a deeply satisfying book by a kind, lovable man. Unlike many performers, Moe Howard was always aware of what was going on outside of show business. To his eternal credit, he was cancelled in Jacksonville, Florida because he refused to go along with the brutal racism he found there. He cared, even about people who didn't look like him.
I've never before read a book about the Three Stooges and probably never will again, but I'm glad I read this one. It's a fine read and Moe Howard was a great man.
July 29, 2018
Since Im going to start a couple of WWII books scheduled to arrive next week, this weekend I decided Id read something light and non-related to war and politics, so I got to read this ebook which I had downloaded several months ago.
When I was a kid I remember watching the 3 Stooges with my father and brother. A few years later as a pre-teen I spent most of the day alone at home, and one of the most awaited moments of the day was at 5:00 PM when the local channel would show two episodes of the Stooges that I would record on my 4-Head Sanyo VCR. Since I filled a half dozen tapes (recording on the 6 hours EP Format) you may say I was a great fan, even being born 8 years after the last Stooge of my favorite formation (with Curly, not disliking Shemp tho) passed away.
Ive read the much praised Curly biography written by her niece - and Moe s daughter - Joan and liked very much. Then I read some uninspiring reviews about "I stooged to conquer" and I was afraid I wouldnt like it so thats the why it remained "closed" in my tablet and was even deprecated.
I remember one review saying Moe was a "simple" (simplistic?) man; wasnt a brilliant writer; hadnt too many insights. Other said his life was not as "hollywoodian" as Curly's in comparison. Another complain was that he didnt comment too much about his personal life and relationships, apart from his childhood. I think those reviews, if not completely wrong, missed some important points:
1- Moe was from a different era where common people wanted to know about his favorite actors CAREERS and history, not like today when people craves gossips about the famous people sexual life, drug addictions, family feuds, ailures.
2- In the preface, Moe let it clear that the objective of his biography is to answer most of his fan questions, and he had fans of all ages (this book is suited to kids too).
3- There was no internet or wikipedia at the time, not even too much bibliographic market for comedy, so his biography was the more accessible and reliable source of facts about his life and his career with the Stooges.
4- Moe was really simple, objective and straightforward on his views, and this far from being a handicap on his biography, makes it flow more natural than todays biographies which are meticulously planned by a team of marketeers to sell the most possible being polemical or to portrait the author as a flawless human being.
That said, I had a lot of fun reading I stooged to conquer. I would say that I liked it even better than Curlys one because Moe book is more focused on the Stooges history, and has brilliant anedoctes. I was delighted to find out that those bizarre high society dinners which ended in battles with food and pies throwing staged in many Stooges films in fact were based in real life events. Moe also tells about injuries and accident during the films that make it even more special to watch.
There are some sad moments also, with the deaths of the other Stooges, in special Larry, that even not being his blood gave me the impression that affected Moe more than the others, for some reasons you can find by yourself on the book. Even the last photos showing an ageing Moe gave me a strange feeling.
The book has also lots of nice photographies of Moe and the Stooges that are enjoyable even on the ebook version. Its a nice read, and absolutely recomended to any Stooges fan. Moe was a comedy genius and a breed of man much different from todays pussy generation, maybe thats why his book received some unfair criticisms.
Give this book a try, the worst thing that may happen is that you will spend the night looking for Stooges episodes at youtube, full of nostalgia.
When I was a kid I remember watching the 3 Stooges with my father and brother. A few years later as a pre-teen I spent most of the day alone at home, and one of the most awaited moments of the day was at 5:00 PM when the local channel would show two episodes of the Stooges that I would record on my 4-Head Sanyo VCR. Since I filled a half dozen tapes (recording on the 6 hours EP Format) you may say I was a great fan, even being born 8 years after the last Stooge of my favorite formation (with Curly, not disliking Shemp tho) passed away.
Ive read the much praised Curly biography written by her niece - and Moe s daughter - Joan and liked very much. Then I read some uninspiring reviews about "I stooged to conquer" and I was afraid I wouldnt like it so thats the why it remained "closed" in my tablet and was even deprecated.
I remember one review saying Moe was a "simple" (simplistic?) man; wasnt a brilliant writer; hadnt too many insights. Other said his life was not as "hollywoodian" as Curly's in comparison. Another complain was that he didnt comment too much about his personal life and relationships, apart from his childhood. I think those reviews, if not completely wrong, missed some important points:
1- Moe was from a different era where common people wanted to know about his favorite actors CAREERS and history, not like today when people craves gossips about the famous people sexual life, drug addictions, family feuds, ailures.
2- In the preface, Moe let it clear that the objective of his biography is to answer most of his fan questions, and he had fans of all ages (this book is suited to kids too).
3- There was no internet or wikipedia at the time, not even too much bibliographic market for comedy, so his biography was the more accessible and reliable source of facts about his life and his career with the Stooges.
4- Moe was really simple, objective and straightforward on his views, and this far from being a handicap on his biography, makes it flow more natural than todays biographies which are meticulously planned by a team of marketeers to sell the most possible being polemical or to portrait the author as a flawless human being.
That said, I had a lot of fun reading I stooged to conquer. I would say that I liked it even better than Curlys one because Moe book is more focused on the Stooges history, and has brilliant anedoctes. I was delighted to find out that those bizarre high society dinners which ended in battles with food and pies throwing staged in many Stooges films in fact were based in real life events. Moe also tells about injuries and accident during the films that make it even more special to watch.
There are some sad moments also, with the deaths of the other Stooges, in special Larry, that even not being his blood gave me the impression that affected Moe more than the others, for some reasons you can find by yourself on the book. Even the last photos showing an ageing Moe gave me a strange feeling.
The book has also lots of nice photographies of Moe and the Stooges that are enjoyable even on the ebook version. Its a nice read, and absolutely recomended to any Stooges fan. Moe was a comedy genius and a breed of man much different from todays pussy generation, maybe thats why his book received some unfair criticisms.
Give this book a try, the worst thing that may happen is that you will spend the night looking for Stooges episodes at youtube, full of nostalgia.
January 27, 2024
This was an interesting book. It reminded me strongly of Notes on a Cowardly Lion, the memoirs of Burt Lahr, partly because both came from a strong Jewish Vaudeville background in NYC, and partly because both men had similar problems expressing grief in the restrictive confines of their cultures/upbringings/show business/etc.
Moe Howard is a reflective man with a good memory, and my favorite parts of the book are his memories of his childhood - especially his parents, who he clearly loved very much. His discovery of theater and acting, his eventual partnership with Ted Healy and formation of the Stooges, and his love of performing with his brothers Jerome (Curly) and Samuel (Shemp), were also highlights.
But the book is hamstrung a bit by Moe's refusal to dig in to some of the frayed corners that he describes - he tends to gloss over things that are very upsetting or disturbing or that hurt him in some way. Ted Healy's crippling alcoholism, and his repeated betrayal of Moe and the Stooges, is hand-waved away and forgiven more quickly than was quite believable. The most sincere section, I thought, was his description of visiting Larry in the Actor's Home in the wake of Larry's strokes. Moe is barely able to face Larry and accept his friend and partner has been so reduced by illness - yet he continues visiting, week after week, in his loyalty and friendship. It was very moving.
More to the point, it's obvious that Moe was devastated by the deaths of Curly and Shemp - he describes being nearly catatonic for weeks after both deaths - but he clearly doesn't want to explore that any deeper than he has to, which is a shame, because I think it would have really helped the reader understand the complex, tremendously affectionate, respectful, highly nuanced relationship he had with each brother. I really felt for Moe during those moments, but I got the distinct sense that he didn't really allow himself to feel the grief fully - I couldn't tell whether it was his upbringing, the culture of the 40s/50s, "the show must go on" mentality, or what, exactly.
The weakest part of the book is his catalog of the Stooges shorts, and especially the final years with Joe Besser and Joe DeRita. I had absolutely no idea how he felt about either "replacement" Stooge - based on what I read here, they were merely physical types who could pull off some aspect of the Curly persona, enough that they could continue filming and doing live performances. How did Moe feel about reincarnating Curly's role like that? Did he *like* either Besser or DeRita? No answers to be found here.
All said, this was a really fascinating look into the mind of a master physical comedian who I grew up watching and adoring. He's a much more interesting, complex person than I gave him credit for. Worth reading for any fan of the Three Stooges, or the early NYC Vaudeville scene of the 1910s/1920s/1930s.
Moe Howard is a reflective man with a good memory, and my favorite parts of the book are his memories of his childhood - especially his parents, who he clearly loved very much. His discovery of theater and acting, his eventual partnership with Ted Healy and formation of the Stooges, and his love of performing with his brothers Jerome (Curly) and Samuel (Shemp), were also highlights.
But the book is hamstrung a bit by Moe's refusal to dig in to some of the frayed corners that he describes - he tends to gloss over things that are very upsetting or disturbing or that hurt him in some way. Ted Healy's crippling alcoholism, and his repeated betrayal of Moe and the Stooges, is hand-waved away and forgiven more quickly than was quite believable. The most sincere section, I thought, was his description of visiting Larry in the Actor's Home in the wake of Larry's strokes. Moe is barely able to face Larry and accept his friend and partner has been so reduced by illness - yet he continues visiting, week after week, in his loyalty and friendship. It was very moving.
More to the point, it's obvious that Moe was devastated by the deaths of Curly and Shemp - he describes being nearly catatonic for weeks after both deaths - but he clearly doesn't want to explore that any deeper than he has to, which is a shame, because I think it would have really helped the reader understand the complex, tremendously affectionate, respectful, highly nuanced relationship he had with each brother. I really felt for Moe during those moments, but I got the distinct sense that he didn't really allow himself to feel the grief fully - I couldn't tell whether it was his upbringing, the culture of the 40s/50s, "the show must go on" mentality, or what, exactly.
The weakest part of the book is his catalog of the Stooges shorts, and especially the final years with Joe Besser and Joe DeRita. I had absolutely no idea how he felt about either "replacement" Stooge - based on what I read here, they were merely physical types who could pull off some aspect of the Curly persona, enough that they could continue filming and doing live performances. How did Moe feel about reincarnating Curly's role like that? Did he *like* either Besser or DeRita? No answers to be found here.
All said, this was a really fascinating look into the mind of a master physical comedian who I grew up watching and adoring. He's a much more interesting, complex person than I gave him credit for. Worth reading for any fan of the Three Stooges, or the early NYC Vaudeville scene of the 1910s/1920s/1930s.
April 23, 2021
Moe Howard's autobiography about his famous role as leader of The Three Stooges is both entertaining and heartwarming. This book includes countless black and white pics of the legendary comedy trio and their many movies and live theatre performances.
Larry Fine and Moe H. consistently played their roles in this comedy team from 1934 to 1970. During that time, "Curly" was actually played by 4 different actors (Shemp Howard, Curly Howard, Joe Besser, and Joe DeRita). Actually, make that 5 actors if you count Joe Palma (a.k.a., "fake Shemp") who temporarily filled in for Shemp after his sudden passing to complete 4 short films that were under contract.
Before The Three Stooges formed, Moe and his comedy team cut their teeth doing Vaudeville acts and eventually joined forces with Moe's childhood friend, Ted Healy, to make several popular movies. When Ted and the boys (a.k.a., "Ted Healy and His Stooges") finally parted ways in 1934, The Three Stooges comedy team was officially born and they enjoyed great success in the movies and doing personal appearances until 1958 when Joe Besser left the trio to care for his ailing wife.
Sadly, 2 of the actors playing Curly suffered career-ending strokes and another died of a heart attack. Whenever one of the Stooges was confined to a hospital following one of many injuries from their famous slapstick routines or following a stroke, Moe visited them often to keep their spirits up and encourage their recovery. As described in this book, Moe was also a devoted hubby and family man and took time out of his busy schedule to entertain U.S. troops.
One surprising thing that I learned about The Three Stooges was that they enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in the early 1960s when children first discovered their old films being aired on TV. Thereafter, The Three Stooges' movie career took off again until Larry and the last actor playing Curly suffered strokes.
For me, this book brought back many wonderful childhood memories of laughing hysterically at re-runs of The Three Stooges on Saturday mornings. Their silly nature and physical humor was one-of-a-kind and will never be duplicated.
Larry Fine and Moe H. consistently played their roles in this comedy team from 1934 to 1970. During that time, "Curly" was actually played by 4 different actors (Shemp Howard, Curly Howard, Joe Besser, and Joe DeRita). Actually, make that 5 actors if you count Joe Palma (a.k.a., "fake Shemp") who temporarily filled in for Shemp after his sudden passing to complete 4 short films that were under contract.
Before The Three Stooges formed, Moe and his comedy team cut their teeth doing Vaudeville acts and eventually joined forces with Moe's childhood friend, Ted Healy, to make several popular movies. When Ted and the boys (a.k.a., "Ted Healy and His Stooges") finally parted ways in 1934, The Three Stooges comedy team was officially born and they enjoyed great success in the movies and doing personal appearances until 1958 when Joe Besser left the trio to care for his ailing wife.
Sadly, 2 of the actors playing Curly suffered career-ending strokes and another died of a heart attack. Whenever one of the Stooges was confined to a hospital following one of many injuries from their famous slapstick routines or following a stroke, Moe visited them often to keep their spirits up and encourage their recovery. As described in this book, Moe was also a devoted hubby and family man and took time out of his busy schedule to entertain U.S. troops.
One surprising thing that I learned about The Three Stooges was that they enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in the early 1960s when children first discovered their old films being aired on TV. Thereafter, The Three Stooges' movie career took off again until Larry and the last actor playing Curly suffered strokes.
For me, this book brought back many wonderful childhood memories of laughing hysterically at re-runs of The Three Stooges on Saturday mornings. Their silly nature and physical humor was one-of-a-kind and will never be duplicated.
July 3, 2022
A riveting page-turner to say the least. Bullied, blinded, brothers, and more, filled the early years of Moe's life. Later years found sorrows and successes abound and the deaths of fellow stooges as sorrowful beyond measure. Moe's final years found him speaking to packed out auditoriums in universities, sometimes leaving hundreds within the flanks of 'standing room only'. If one enjoys and treasures the days of vaudeville, early theater and film, and, especially, personal details and multitudes of photographs, this autobiography will not let you down... And the detail concerning rats nibbling the bottom corners of pre-popped 'popcorn' reminded me of observing the same thing in a movie theater storage room a number of years ago. I have only purchased fresh popped-before-my-eyes popcorn since that day - not simply heated in a glass display at the movie theater concession counter.
Other works of interest:
-Clown My Life In Tatters And Smiles -Autobiography of Emmett Kelly
-Harpo Speaks! -by Harpo Marx
-Notes on a Cowardly Lion: the Biography of Bert Lahr by John Lahr
-My Autobiography by Charles Chaplin
-Confessions of a Showman: My Life in the Circus -by Gerry Cottle
-Behind the Big Top -by David Lewis
-From the Greek Mimes to Marcel Marceau and Beyond: Mimes, Actors, Pierrots and Clowns: A Chronicle of the Many Visages of Mime in the Theatre -by Annette Bercut Lust
-How to Enter Vaudeville: A Complete Illustrated Course of Instruction -by Frederic La Delle
-Vaudeville Ventriloquism: A Practical Treatise, on the Art of Ventriloquism -by David J Lustig
Other works of interest:
-Clown My Life In Tatters And Smiles -Autobiography of Emmett Kelly
-Harpo Speaks! -by Harpo Marx
-Notes on a Cowardly Lion: the Biography of Bert Lahr by John Lahr
-My Autobiography by Charles Chaplin
-Confessions of a Showman: My Life in the Circus -by Gerry Cottle
-Behind the Big Top -by David Lewis
-From the Greek Mimes to Marcel Marceau and Beyond: Mimes, Actors, Pierrots and Clowns: A Chronicle of the Many Visages of Mime in the Theatre -by Annette Bercut Lust
-How to Enter Vaudeville: A Complete Illustrated Course of Instruction -by Frederic La Delle
-Vaudeville Ventriloquism: A Practical Treatise, on the Art of Ventriloquism -by David J Lustig
September 7, 2023
I have fond memories of watching the Three Stooges when I was growing up. I was happy to see that Moe Howard wrote a memoir in the 1970s. I found it of interest to read of his childhood growing up in New York with his brothers. He was not much of student so he skipped school and went to NYC and got cast in some silent movies in tiny roles with out his family knowing. He eventually ended up on stage. he brought is older brother Shemp into entertaining on stage. and within years he was joined by Larry fine and then his younger brother jerome who ended up being known as Curly. they were soon known as the "three Stooges" and the rest is history. His book is generous with lots of pictures of his movie shorts and his experiences filming the the many Three Stooges films. He shares happy and tragic moments of his life. like losing he younger brother Curly at the young age of 49. His brother Shemp a few years later. he writes how the Three stooges films became popular again after kids saw shorts they made on television. this is a fun read by one of the Stooges.
May 4, 2017
Before reading this book, I've always known Moses 'Moe' Howard as the meanie of the Three Stooges, the one who punched, slapped, poked and kicked more than the other two. But now, I get to see the other side of him, the real him, the one who refuse to cut his curls (yes, can you imagine? He is the curly one, not 'Curly') and went down fighting with other children because he saw that curling his hair was his mother's favorite activity, the one who faked a photo in order to get a job in a boathouse, the one who was troubled by a friend who was wrecked with alcoholism, there are so much of him I've never know before I came to read this book. Overall, this is a rather fast paced autobiography, with lots of pictures of the Three Stooges in it. I don't know to whom I could recommend it.
March 3, 2019
Loved this book. As a raving Three Stooges fan it was great to read about the behind the scenes workings and how ideas began. From Moe's childhood up to his last TV appearances; Moe tells it like it is in his own words. The book is a fairly quick read and just gets to what the reader needs to know and moves on. Books like this are great to read - especially biographies - because they just give the reader the main details about what they want to read and don't trail off. The only issue is I wish there was more on Ted Healey, but what was written was sufficient enough. Easily for fans of one of the greatest comedy groups ever filmed from the man himself that led them.
December 8, 2020
I love stories of old Hollywood and I love the Stooges, so this was right up my alley. Moe was no author really, so it reads a bit like disconnected notes, but it's fascinating for what it is. I'd like to know more about what went on on-set. This is mostly about Moe's life with his career and the Stooge's success as a framing narrative, but for me there isn't enough about their rise and how they got there other what really reads like a timeline of bullet points. It's like the book takes your from them being in vaudeville to them being wildly successful in a way that left me unsure of when it actually happened.
January 15, 2018
This book is about one-third a picture book, but the remaining is all a personal account of the life of Moe Howard (Moses Horowitz). I found the book a fascinating read, even though I was only a passing fan of the show when I was a younger boy. I find that stories that show that anyone, even delinquent dropouts, can rise to fame are worth the time to read. I couldn't have imagined facing the trials that they had in order to get to stardom.
I pretty much read this in a day. If the subjects interest you, give it a quick read. Thanks.
I pretty much read this in a day. If the subjects interest you, give it a quick read. Thanks.
November 25, 2017
A fun read. Head stooge Moe Howard fills this book with many pictures of his past and his life in front of the camera, written with simple down to earth prose. Overall, it strikes you that Howard was a pretty humble guy from Brooklyn with a good family life and proud of raising a family and creating a body of work with the Stooges. Definitely recommended for any Stooge fan as it shows the man behind the mask.
June 12, 2024
Moe's autobiography is a fairly quick read (not overly detailed about a lot of stuff, plus there are a lot of photos) but it is delightful. It begins with his childhood and ends in the mid 1970s with his final appearance on "The Mike Douglas Show" (not long before his death). When I read the account in his childhood of the family picnic that turned into a free-for-all, it was obvious that he was destined to be a Stooge from an early age, as were his brothers Shemp and Curly.
November 7, 2024
This was an easy and enjoyable read. Moe didn't have much trouble breaking into show business, but did have issues with getting paid appropriately a few times. He had a good life, but unfortunately his comedy partners kept dying on him, first his baby brother Curly, then his older brother Shemp, and eventually his good friend Larry. I think I'll try to show my son some of the old Stooges shorts.
March 13, 2020
Pretty informative, with a lot of information I didn't know. Especially interesting to see what Moe was like as a real person and not as a character. Some chapters seemed a bit too short, and I would have liked it if he had gone in more depth about some of the stories. Definitely recommend reading if you're a fan of the Three Stooges.
January 22, 2021
More pictures than text. While a very personal and sometimes very moving, there is little to nothing about the technical aspects of their work, nothing about why or how some films or shots were made. I was very interested in their WWII propaganda work, but it isn't even mentioned. Still worth reading if you're a Stooges fan.
April 6, 2023
Written mostly by Moe Howard this book was compiled by his daughter, Joan, after his death. As a life long stooge I found this book fascinating. It make Moe Howard the kind of person you'd want to know. Instead of bossy and abusive he was talented, big hearted and extremely kind, especially to his friends and family. Highly recommended.
April 16, 2024
The Three Stones - Comedy Legends
The Three Stooges are American royalty. I enjoyed this book and Moe's honesty both about the good times and bad times. It seemed that Moe glossed over some of the making of the shorts and more on their work in the1960s. Otherwise, an enjoyable book. Always loved the Three Stooges and always will.
The Three Stooges are American royalty. I enjoyed this book and Moe's honesty both about the good times and bad times. It seemed that Moe glossed over some of the making of the shorts and more on their work in the1960s. Otherwise, an enjoyable book. Always loved the Three Stooges and always will.
February 12, 2025
fun
Some fun stories of his life and long career as a member of the comedy trio. Their accomplishments make for a pretty amazing career. Full disclosure, I am more of a Marx Brother fan than a stooges, but this book did leave me with a new appreciation for their comedic talents.
Some fun stories of his life and long career as a member of the comedy trio. Their accomplishments make for a pretty amazing career. Full disclosure, I am more of a Marx Brother fan than a stooges, but this book did leave me with a new appreciation for their comedic talents.
January 9, 2019
As a lifelong Three Stooges fan, it was really an eye-opener to get a look behind the curtain to see what really went on in those old days of Hollywood. Full of behind-the-scenes trivia and lots of pictures, definitely a must read for the Stooges fan.
July 31, 2019
Interesting read, especially for Stooges fans. The writing is simplistic, but, as Moe never finished high school, that's to be expected. Interesting insights on the entertainment biz of his day, especially vaudeville.
April 27, 2020
I just love autobiography's. My favorite kind of book. This was interesting to see how these three men changed their lives with silliness. Some of the hits were well (by mistake) and injuries happened to them all. All they ever wanted to do was make people laugh.
October 7, 2023
Stooge lover!
My family have always loved the 3Stooges and this memoir from Moe was a wonderful read, sharing all their success, failures and history.
A great behind the scenes review.
My family have always loved the 3Stooges and this memoir from Moe was a wonderful read, sharing all their success, failures and history.
A great behind the scenes review.
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