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How did Joe DeRita's stepsons end up "controlling" the Three Stooges?

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QuinceHead:
Hey everyone,

I'm probably not wording it correctly, but after reading the newly-revised Three Stooges Scrapbook, I was curious to know how Joe DeRita's two stepsons ended up being the ones who oversee the Three Stooges brand/rights and so on?

I realize this could be a controversial topic and I'm not looking to cause any flame wars or what have you, but I was curious.

For duty and humanity,
JohnH aka QuinceHead

Mark The Shark:
It had something to do with a lawsuit brought by Joe DeRita and the estate of Larry Fine against the Maurers over non-payment of royalties. I don't remember all the exact specifics, but the gist of it as I remember was that supposedly, Moe, Larry and Joe DeRita had formed a legal corporation late in the Stooges' career and everything was supposed to be a three-way split. Moe handled the finances and gave the other two their shares. After Moe died, it was alleged that his family did not continue making payments to the other two, hence the lawsuit. The result was the (re) establishment of Comedy III, which ended up being operated by the Benjamins. I seem to recall the Maurers received a share of the profits but forfeited any involvement in the business. But this is just from memory. Also, of course I don't know what really went down and who did or didn't get their fair share of whatever, but that's what was reported at the time.

archiezappa:
It's a wonder that the original short subjects didn't end up in copyright hell, like many other shows that I like (i.e. Batman).

sandmountainslim:
The C3 Website says Moe, Larry and Curly Joe formed C3 back in 1959. 
If this is true why did Normandy Productions seem to be running the show?

Mark The Shark:

--- Quote from: sandmountainslim on December 23, 2012, 05:49:49 PM ---The C3 Website says Moe, Larry and Curly Joe formed C3 back in 1959. 
If this is true why did Normandy Productions seem to be running the show?

--- End quote ---

I don't know, but...I do remember seeing the phrase "Distributed by TV III" on some (not all) of the New 3 Stooges cartoons. Others said "Distributed by Heritage." I noticed that on the Rhino DVDs (authorized by Comedy III) in the closing credits, there is a splice where the distributor name is edited out, and the audio is out of sync for the remainder of the closing credits (which isn't much). Whether "TV III" had anything to do with "Comedy III," I have no idea. But it wouldn't surprise me.

I believe there was some confusion (or dispute) over who owned the trademark of the Three Stooges name for a good number of years. I have seen merchandise with Columbia Pictures' name on it, and other times Norman Maurer Productions (including the mini-posters offered through Post cereals in the late 1970s, which were stills from Columbia shorts).

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