MOE HOWARD
Small b/w publicity photo of Curly Joe, Moe and Larry in tuxes and with surprised looks on their faces, signed "To Our Very Good Friend" by Moe in blue ink
Inscribed photograph signed "To Our Very Good Friend/Ellsworth" in blue ink. B/w, 6¾x5 overall, 6½x4¾ image, one surface, printed on cardstock. With facsimile signatures: "Best Wishes/to a Fellow Stooge" in black ink and "Curly/Joe", "Moe" and "Larry", all in white ink. The Three Stooges went through many changes in their lineup. This is their final lineup for the Stooges, with Curly Joe DeRita replacing Joe Besser in 1959. Howard (1897-1975, born in Brooklyn, New York) and his younger brother Shemp (1895-1955, born in Brooklyn, New York) were the original Stooges and played second banana to vaudevillian Ted Healy in an act billed as "Ted Healy and His Stooges". In 1928, the two brothers were joined by Larry Fine (1911-1974, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). Following their success in vaudeville, The Three Stooges appeared in several Broadway revues and in 1930, supported Ted Healy in the film Soup to Nuts. Shortly after, Shemp left the act and went out on his own with roles in many films including The Bank Dick with W.C. Fields, Buck Privates with Abbott and Costello and Helzapoppin' with Olsen and Johnson. He was replaced by his younger brother, Curly Howard (Jerome Horowitz). In 1934, The Three Stooges began the longest-running series of two-reel comedies in the history of sound films, with over 200 produced by Columbia between 1934 and 1958. When Curly suffered a stroke in 1946, Shemp took his place. Shemp died in 1955 and was replaced by Joe Besser, who was replaced by Joe DeRita in 1959 when The Three Stooges ventured into feature films. When Moe Howard died in 1975, the act ended. Lightly toned. Light scratches on image. Otherwise in fine condition.