Mousie Garner: Autobiography of a Vaudeville Stooge

by Paul Garner

Paul "Mousie" Garner's career as a stooge (a "fall guy" or "assistant" to the head clown) began in vaudeville, when he and his partner were firing off jokes and one-liners, as well as leaping over oil-drums. Another part of the act, which could run as often as five times a day, involved Garner's getting smashed over the head with breakable ukeleles. His big break came when he was hired as a replacement stooge by Ted Healy, who had just parted ways with the soon-to-be famous "Three Stooges." In fact, it was Healy who came up with the nickname "Mousie" because Garner was always so jumpy, nervous and quick. The name stuck, and Mousie would go on to form "The Rollicking Mousie Garner Trio," join the "New Stooges," and work steadily in radio, television, theater, clubs and movies.

218 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1998