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Stooge props

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Dr. Hugo Gansamacher:
Does anyone know anything about the construction of the props that the Stooges used for doing violence to each other---the crowbars, hammers, saws, chisels, monkey wrenches, pipes, broomsticks, pistols, rifles, and so on that they applied to each other's crania to such hilarious effect? (Just writing out that list of implements makes me laugh at the associated recollections. :D) There is one short in which Moe has hold of a baseball bat that is so obviously made of rubber that he has to hold it in two separate places to keep it from visibly bending, but that seems to me quite exceptional. In the great majority of cases, the various Stooge instruments of violence look to me very like the real thing. I am especially puzzled by the broom and mop handles that often go into Moe's mouth or eye before he retaliates against the perpetrator by rapping him on the forehead with them: I don't understand how a material can have sufficient rigidity for the trick without having enough mass and hardness to hurt the person who gets poked or struck with the instrument.

Boid Brain:

--- Quote from: Hugo Gansamacher on November 19, 2010, 09:35:23 PM ---Does anyone know anything about the construction of the props that the Stooges used for doing violence to each other---the crowbars, hammers, saws, chisels, monkey wrenches, pipes, broomsticks, pistols, rifles, and so on that they applied to each other's crania to such hilarious effect? (Just writing out that list of implements makes me laugh at the associated recollections. :D) There is one short in which Moe has hold of a baseball bat that is so obviously made of rubber that he has to hold it in two separate places to keep it from visibly bending, but that seems to me quite exceptional. In the great majority of cases, the various Stooge instruments of violence look to me very like the real thing. I am especially puzzled by the broom and mop handles that often go into Moe's mouth or eye before he retaliates against the perpetrator by rapping him on the forehead with them: I don't understand how a material can have sufficient rigidity for the trick without having enough mass and hardness to hurt the person who gets poked or struck with the instrument. 
--- End quote ---
This may be a job for the Mythbusters! Actually, I'm surprised that they haven't had some Stooge related tests.

But your guess is as good as mine on your question.

TXShemp:
I am thinking they were mostly made of some very soft material, mesh or some type of rubber. The sound effects brought the Stooges to life. If you have seen them on a live show, there are either no sounds or the sound effects were done by a tech or musician, and not exactly on cue. Its very different than watching a short. The sound of hitting someone on the head with a broom handle would not actually have the sound of two iron skillets clanging together, for example. When you punch someone in the stomach, you shouldn't hear a bass drum either  :D
When you see fights in movies, punches are usually made more realistic with a punching type sound effect. Without this, and the right camera position, you could easily tell the guy taking the punch jerks his head in perfect sync as the other guys fist "almost" makes contact.

TXShemp:
Also, in many Stooge films, when they hit someone with a hammer, you hear a loud bang or "dong." Then when they drop the tool you hear nothing  :D

Boid Brain:
I saw them at the Arena in St. Louis as the closing act of the circus. When Moe slapped, a guy would hit a cymbal! It was horrific....plus, they were old as hell. We told our G Mother it was OK to go and get a jump on the exiting crowd.

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