The ‘ONE’ Stooges – solo work by members of the comedy team

The Three Stooges are, without a doubt, one of the greatest comedy teams in motion picture history.  Don’t argue with me on this, or I’ll gouge your eyes out, porcupine.

But what would happen if you took a Stooge out of the team – and put him in his own short film?

And you say, “Nah, that’s never happened.  It’s always been Moe, Larry and (Curly / Shemp / Joe / Curly-Joe) for as long as I can remember.”

And I direct you to the evidence below.  Enjoy.

MOE HOWARD

Here’s an early clip of Moe Howard, working with comedian Jimmy Durante, in this NRA promotional film, “Give a Man a Job.” Moe shows up – with a slicked-back normal haircut – at about 1:15 of this clip.

SHEMP HOWARD

Shemp Howard had the most prolific solo career of all the Stooges. He played the role of trainer “Knobby” Walsh in a series of Joe Palooka short films for Vitaphone, and he had his own Columbia Pictures short subject contract. Here’s arguably his best solo short, a film called “Mr. Noisy.” It’s in two parts, so watch the top part first.

CURLY HOWARD

Before the Stooges signed with Columbia Pictures, Curly Howard actually performed with a team of his own – well, I wouldn’t call them Stooges, and nobody else should, either. The film, “Roast Beef and Movies,” features Curly in Technicolor! Again, it’s in two parts.

CURLY-JOE DERITA

Burlesque comedian Joe DeRita was a “Stooge” during the 1960’s, at the time when the Stooges were able to make full-length feature films and break out of the Columbia two-reelers. But before he joined the Stooges, DeRita made his own collection of two-reelers, including this film, “Slappily Married.” Note the hairstyle on DeRita; thinking maybe the studios wanted another Shemp Howard in the mix?