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Shemp Howard (1944-1947)

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_Shemp began his career on stage as one of the 3 Stooges, and that is how he ended his career...but in between the bonks on the head, the poke to the eyes, and the endless slaps across the face, he was one of Hollywood's busiest character actors. He appeared in his own series of two-reelers for Warner Brothers in the early 1930's and was seen in countless features, including several at Universal with W.C. Fields and Abbott and Costello.

Shemp came to Columbia in 1938 for the Buck Jones feature HOLLYWOOD ROUND UP, and soon found himself supporting Andy Clyde in a handful of shorts, as well co-starring in some "Glove Slingers" entries. One of these films, FARMER FOR A DAY (Andy Clyde) is often mistaken in filmography listings as having Shemp included in the cast. He does not appear in this short.

In 1944, Shemp was paired with comedian El Brendel in the short PICK A PECK OF PLUMBERS, and was then offered his own starring series, in which he is sometimes aided by fellow comedian Tom Kennedy. In 1947, Shemp rejoined the 3 Stooges replacing his ailing younger brother Curly. His solo shorts for Columbia are well worth a look.

A handful of titles were syndicated by Screen Gems Television in 1959.



PLEASE NOTE: Available titles will be in ITALICS and UNDERLINED

If a title is not in ITALICS and UNDERLINED....I do not have it in my collection.


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PICK A PECK OF PLUMBERS (7/23/44) D: Jules White. John Tyrrell, Al Thompson, Kathryn Keys, Willa Pearl Curtis, Beatrice Blinn, Frank Billy Mitchell, Jean Murray, Brian OHara, Judy Malcolm, Charles Heine Conklin, Joe Palma. Vagrants El and Shemp become plumbers assistants; on their first assignment, they reduce a house to shambles while searching for a lost ring. TRIVIA: Stock shot of waterlogged ceiling taken from ANDY CLYDE GETS SPRING CHICKEN (1939). A remake of Sidney and Murray's PLUMBING FOR GOLD (1934) and a reworking of the Three Stooges A-PLUMBING WE WILL GO (1940). Later remade with the Three Stooges as VAGABOND LOAFERS (1949) and SCHEMING SCHEMERS (1956).

OPEN SEASON FOR SAPS (10/27/44) D: Jules White. Christine McIntyre, George Lewis, Early Cantreen, Jack Tiny Lipson, Harry Barris, Al Morino. Shemp is more concerned about his lodge meetings than he is about his marriage. TRIVIA: A remake of Charley Chase's THE GRAND HOOTER (1937).

OFF AGAIN, ON AGAIN (2/16/45) D: Jules White. Christine McIntyre, Dick Curtis, Grace Lenard, Russell Trent, Joe Palma, John Tyrrell, Judy Malcolm, Charles Willey, Frances Haynes, Charles Heine Conklin, Al Thompson. Despondent over breaking up with his fiancée, Shemp hires a gangster to kill him.TRIVIA: A remake, with stock footage, of Charley Chase's TIME OUT FOR TROUBLE (1938). Reissued theatrically in January, 1959.

WHERE THE PEST BEGINS (10/4/45) D: Harry Edwards. Tom Kennedy, Christine McIntyre, Rebel Randall, Harry Tenbrook. Shemp antagonizes his new next door neighbor.

A HIT WITH A MISS (12/13/45) D: Jules White. Charles Rogers, Robert Williams, Marilyn Johnson, Joe Palma, Charles Heine Conklin, John Tyrrell, Wall Rose, Arthur Houseman, Blackie Whiteford, George Gray. Shemp, a mild-mannered waiter, goes berserk every time he hears the tune Pop Goes the Weasel. TRIVIA: A remake, with stock footage, of the Three Stooges PUNCH DRUNKS (1934). The Three Stooges (Howard, Fine, and Howard) receive story credit during the opening titles, and footage of Larry Fine (lifted from PUNCH DRUNKS) can be seen.

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_MR. NOISY (3/22/46) D: Edward Bernds, Matt Willis, Vernon Dent, Brian O'Hara, Walter Soderling, Daniel Kerry, Wally Rose, John Ince, Claire James, Marilyn Johnson, Don Gordon, Bess Flowers, Tom Coleman, Victor Travers, Fran Conner. Shemp is an obnoxious spectator at a baseball game. TRIVIA: A remake, with stock footage, of Charley Chase's THE HECKLER (1940). Not only a remake of Chase's THE HECKLER, but also a remake of the 1930 Mack Sennett short THE LOUDMOUTH.

JIGGERS, MY WIFE (4/11/46) D: Jules White. Christine McIntyre, Symona Boniface, Tom Kennedy, Early Cantreen, Cy Schindell. Shemp's suspicious wife thinks he's seeing another woman. NOTE: Although Tom Kennedy shares above-the-title billing with Shemp, this really isn't a team effort like what follows in SOCIETY MUGS.

SOCIETY MUGS (9/19/46) D: Edward Bernds. Tom Kennedy, Christine McIntyre, Rebel Randall, Vernon Dent, Charles Williams, Etta McDaniel, Bess Flowers, Gene Roth, Snub Pollard, Helen Benda Exterminators Shemp and Tom are mistaken for professional escorts. TRIVIA: A remake of the Three Stooges TERMITES OF 1938 (1938). Tom Kennedy shares above-the-title billing.

BRIDE AND GLOOM (3/27/47) D: Edward Bernds. Christine McIntyre, Jean Donahue, Dick Curtis, Vernon Dent, Emil Sitka. Shemp's fiancée leaves him when she seems him with a pretty blonde. TRIVIA: Reissued theatrically in December, 1960.





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Shemp's paystub
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