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Presentation on Three Stooges at Dover Library

DOVER – Carl Quatraro will present “The Four Stooges: Larry, Curly, Moe and Shemp” at 6:30 p.m. May 10 via Zoom through the Dover Public Library. 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 were 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, better known as Curly. 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 to 1946, The Three Stooges of Moe, Larry and Curly produced numerous short subject films for Columbia. Every American recognized their unique haircuts: Moe had a “bowl” cut, Larry had frizzy curly hair and Curly actually had no hair at all. It was during this period that 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 January1975  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 with fondness the unique style of slapstick comedy of The Three Stooges.    

Quatraro has spent his life in the Akron area. He graduated from Walsh Jesuit High School and the University of Akron. He lives in Fairlawn. Quatraro retired from Liberty Mutual Insurance and now stays involved in they community by delivering entertaining and informative 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.

Carl Quatraro

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