How informative is the new Stooges two-disc DVD, put out by Makinac? I'll have some money to play with after I sell my books back, and is it worth getting? The radio interviews with Moe and Larry are especially enticing. I'd hope a decent amount of info on the DVDs are not readily avail in the Stooge books out as is.
The Mackinac package is
excellent, don't miss it! It's based on the documentary that was done for A&E in 1994, but it's been greatly expanded and enhanced, with spiffy new graphics, too. As to being informative, how much closer can you get to the Stooges than Larry's sister? The late Lyla Fine Budnick is featured in extensive interviews, as is her husband Nate, who worked as a sound man with the boys. Ted Healy Jr. also appears (and he comes off as rather defensive about his father's treatment of the Stooges). Mousie Garner also talks about what it was like to work as a Healy Stooge.
Documentary material aside, my favorite thing in the set is the complete Ed Wynn Show with Moe, Larry, and Shemp as guest stars. Coming from the same vaudeville background and all being veteran performers by the 1950's, Wynn and the Stooges work seamlessly together, and watching them makes you wish that they'd teamed up more often.
"Oh do you remember,
When you wore a tulip,
And I wore a big red rose..."
