Library to host program about Stooges
The Dover Public Library will host Carl Quatraro in a virtual program titled “The Four Stooges: Larry, Curly, Moe and Shemp.”
The Dover Public Library will host Carl Quatraro in a virtual program titled “The Four Stooges: Larry, Curly, Moe and Shemp” on Monday, May 10 at 6:30 p.m. Quatraro will share the tale of this comedy team whose popularity has not faded over the decades.
“Healy and His Stooges” began performing as a team in 1922. Healy’s attempts to sing and tell jokes was constantly interrupted by the zany antics of Moe, Larry and Shemp. In 1930 the foursome made several movies including “Soup to Nuts.”
In 1932 Shemp left the group, and his brother Jerome stepped in. By 1934 Moe, Larry and Curly left Healy and went out on their own. They signed a contract with Columbia Pictures and appeared in several feature films.
From 1934-46, “The Three Stooges” (Moe, Larry and Curly) produced numerous short-subject films for Columbia. Every American recognized their haircuts: Moe had a bowl cut, Larry had curly hair and Curly had no hair at all. It was during this period the three were at their peak popularity.
In 1946 Shemp rejoined the team in order to replace his brother Curly, who had suffered a stroke. Curly died in 1952 and Shemp in 1955. Columbia hired Joe Besser and “Curly” Joe DeRita in an attempt to keep the team intact, but no combination of actors was able to maintain the success enjoyed by the original Stooges.
Even though few new movies were made, television made it possible for Stooges to regain momentum. This rebirth was short-lived because Larry died in January 1975 and Moe in May of the same year.
The era that began in 1922 as a vaudevillian act had come to an end. Even so, “The Three Stooges” left a legacy as one of the most memorable and enduring comedy teams in the United States. Generations of Americans remember their style of slapstick comedy.
Quatraro has spent his whole life in the Akron area. He graduated from Walsh Jesuit High School and the University of Akron and lives in Fairlawn. Quatraro retired from Liberty Mutual Insurance and now stays involved in his community by delivering presentations to local libraries, senior and professional associations, and retirement centers. He credits this new chapter in his retirement to the speaking skills he learned in his 15-year membership with Toastmasters International.
Go to www.doverlibrary.org/register or email Sherrel Rieger at srieger@doverlibrary.org in order to receive a Zoom invitation. For more information call the library at 330-343-6123.