Joe DeRita (1946-1948)
Christine McIntyre co-stars as Joe's wife in his best two-reeler SLAPPILY MARRIED
Joe DeRita was a very popular Burlesque
comedian who was offered a 4 picture deal with Columbia in 1946. The
idea has always been that DeRita was being groomed by Jules White to
become a member of The 3 Stooges, which he would take the place of Shemp
Howard (Shemp had replaced ailing brother Curly). However, DeRita was
still a good 12 years from becoming more famous as "Curly-Joe", the role
he would be known as until his death in 1993.
All four DeRita solo shorts are available for review through our archives.
All four DeRita solo shorts are available for review through our archives.
SLAPPILY MARRIED (11/7/46) D: Edward Bernds. Christine McIntyre, Dorothy Granger, Dick Wessel, Jean Donahue, Florence Auer, Symona Boniface. Joes wife thinks that he has been flirting with another woman and moves out on him. TRIVIA: A remake of Andy Clyde's A MAID MADE MAD (1943).
THE GOOD BAD EGG (3/20/47) D: Jules White. Dorothy Granger, Norman Ollestead, Al Thompson, Frank Mills, Robert Bobby Burns, Vernon Dent, Charles Phillips, Lew Davis, Symona Boniface, Victor Travers. Joes stepson ruins his plans to demonstrate his new invention. TRIVIA: A remake, with stock footage, of Andy Clydes KNEE ACTION (1937).
WEDLOCK DEADLOCK (12/18/47) D. Edward Bernds. Christine McIntyre, Patsy Moran, Esther Howard, Charles Williams, Dorothy Granger, William Newell. Just as Joe and his bride are getting settled into their new home, her family comes to visit. TRIVIA: A remake of Monty Collins UNRELATED RELATIONS (1936).
JITTER BUGHOUSE (4/29/48) D: Jules White. The Nov-Elites (Joe Mayer, Art Terrry, Frankie Carr), Christine McIntyre, Emil Sitka, Patsy Moran,. Joe and the Nov-Elites cure mental disorders with music. TRIVIA: A remake of The Radio Rogues DO YOUR STUFF (1935). The original working title was NOTES TO YOU. The musical-comedy act of "The Nov-Elites" would also appear in the Columbia feature I SURRENDER DEAR, also released in 1948.