I've noticed discussion on the Board here about Conventions (one I read was back in '91) and then annual Fan Club Meetings. Are both a yearly thing, semi-yearly, occasional, etc.? I was always curious.. I'd love to attend one sometime.
I assume you are familiar with
The Three Stooges Journal? If not, it's a fan club publication, edited by Gary Lassin (aka GaryStooge). Gary's wife is the grand-niece of Larry Fine. Her grandfather was Larry's brother, Morris Feinberg. Morris was the editer of
The Three Stooges Journal before Gary. I became a subscriber and club member shortly before Morris (aka Moe) died. My first two issues were during his tenure. Then Gary took over. This was during the late-1980s.
As time went on, I began reading about a planned Three Stooges Convention. It was held in Philidelphia. It was a great success by all accounts. The conventions became a yearly event. I attended the one in 1991, which, I believe, was the third one. Gary can correct me, and fill in the gaps, but by the late-1990s, they stopped being called conventions, and became known as Fan Club Meetings. While I've yet to attend a meeting, what I've read about them has me thinking that they are pretty much the same as a convention, just using a different name. I think C3 had something to do with these events no longer being called conventions, but again, I defer to Gary, or anyone with better knowledge on the subject. The Fan Club Meetings happen once a year.
As for other conventions around the country, I only know of two. A club member named Joe Jerrier hosted one in Maine back in the early-1990s. He was later kicked out of the club for selling phony Stooges memorabilia. C3 hosted a convention in Burbank, CA back in 1998. Highlights of this event were included on the DVD
All-Time Favorites, which also includes the home movies,
Jerks of All Trade and
Kook's Tour.