Curly, Shemp, Joe or Curly Joe?

Question

I just loved Curly!!!!

Of course Moe and Larry were great, I asked the question in that way because Curly was replaced by the others.

Answer 1

Surely you jest. Curly was, and is, the only legitimate third stooge. So, there.

Answer 2

Curly

Answer 3

Curly

Answer 4

I personally think Curly was the best third stooge too. : )

The Three Stooges got their name and their start from a vaudeville act called Ted Healy and His Stooges (originally called "Ted Healy and His Southern Gentlemen"), which was founded in 1922. Brothers Harry Moses Howard (Moe) and Samuel Howard (Shemp) (original last name Horwitz) were later joined by violinist Larry Fine (born Louis Feinberg). Shemp acquired his name from his mother's attempts to pronounce his name, "Sam", in spite of her thick accent. By 1930, Ted Healy and His Stooges were appearing in Hollywood feature films, such as Soup to Nuts. Shemp left the act in 1931 for a career in feature films, notably as trainer Knobby Walsh in the Joe Palooka films, and in The Bank Dick with W.C. Fields.

When Shemp left the act, Ted and the two remaining stooges (Moe and Larry) needed a third stooge, so Moe offered his youngest brother, Jerome. Ted took one look at Jerome and with his long black locks and facial hair, stated he was not a character like Moe and Larry, so Jerome left the room and returned moments later with a shaved head and face; thus, Curly was born. (There are varying accounts as to how Curly actually came about. There are publications that Moe, Larry, Ted Healy, and even Shemp actually came up with the concept of shaving Jerome's head and dubbing him 'Curly'.) According to Moe Howard in his autobiography, Moe Howard and the Three Stooges, the Stooges split with Ted Healy in 1934 once and for all because of his alcoholism and abrasiveness.

Curly suffered a stroke on May 6, 1946, during the filming of Half-Wits Holiday, curtailing his output at 97 shorts. Brother Shemp reluctantly rejoined the act to take Curly's place. Shemp was hesitant to rejoin the Stooges, as he had a successful solo career going at the time of Curly's untimely illness. However, he realized that Moe and Larry's careers would be finished without the Stooge act. Shemp wanted some kind of assurance that his rejoining was indeed temporary, and that he could leave the Stooges once Curly recovered. Unfortunately, Curly's condition grew worse: he died in January 1952.

Answer 5

Moe, Larry, Curly

Answer 6

Curly & Shemp. Never Joe or Curly Joe!

Answer 7

Yeah, well, Curly was the original stooge. But Shemp was pretty good for having to fill Curly's shoes. Guess I'll go with Shemp.

Answer 8

It's a toss-up between Curly and Shemp.
I loved Curly's child-like persona and his physical humor was outstanding.
After Curly's stroke his brother, Shemp, joined the team. He never tried to imitate Curly but created a tougher, more aggressive character.
Both comedians had their moments but if I were forced to choose it would have to be Curly.
I never liked Curly Joe.
D

Answer 9

Curly is the man. It saddens me that Shemp was voted the funniest stooge.

Answer 10

There never was and never will be a suitable replacement for our dear Curly. He was the original and the best. All hail Curly!!!!

Answer 11

Gotta go Curly.