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How did Columbia handle the Curly to Shemp change???

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xraffle:
I don't think Columbia had anyone in mind yet, but they definitely didn't want Shemp. They were still deciding. That is why Moe suggested Shemp as the new 3rd stooge.

Pilsner Panther:

--- Quote from: xraffle on June 29, 2005, 08:55:07 PM ---I don't think Columbia had anyone in mind yet, but they definitely didn't want Shemp. They were still deciding. That is why Moe suggested Shemp as the new 3rd stooge.

--- End quote ---

There's an (unconfirmed) story that Buddy Hackett was being considered for the part, but he turned it down because he didn't want to do hard slapstick— he was afraid of getting injured. Too bad, because he would have made a much funnier Third Stooge than either Besser or DeRita did.

But not as funny as Shemp, needless to say.

xraffle:
You're right. I never knew this. It's very interesting. I just found this at IMDB.

In 1952, at the behest of Shemp Howard, Hackett was asked to replace the ailing Curly Howard as a member of The Three Stooges. Hackett initially agreed to the idea, until he saw a Stooges rehearsal and witnessed the boys hitting each other on the head with pipes, wrenches, etc. Hackett backed out of the deal.

kinderscenen:
I thought that was interesting--it makes sense, except for the fact that Hackett would've been so much younger than Moe and Larry. Granted, Joe De Rita was a bit younger, but I'm thinking that Buddy would've been 20 years younger. Of course, I'm pretty sure that whoever was going to be considered would've been employed by Columbia at one time or another.
(Of course, I could just look his age up....but what's the fun in that?!)  ;D

kinderscenen:
Reading Hackett's background, it doesn't sound that much different than De Rita's. It's too bad that the whole idea of "getting another Curly" may have changed things.

I still never understood the story about the whole "hitting with pipes." As a comedian, I would think that Hackett would've known that foam appliances were used, even if he wasn't that familiar with the Stooges.  Now, if he'd seen them on stage....that may have changed his mind--the fact that the slaps were real would be off-putting to most.

Sunday

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