# Curly or Shemp? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 18, 2014, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-or-shemp/681576 "2014-02-18T01:26:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-or-shemp/681576/61 "2014-02-19T22:49:59Z")
> [@Melchior](#): > > Take _Punch Drunks_, for instance (1934). > > [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xydwe\_three-stooges-punch-drunks-1\_shortfilms](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xydwe_three-stooges-punch-drunks-1_shortfilms) > > Curly was in his early 30s in 1934 (born 1903). Shemp was in his 50s in 1947 (born 1895). But that ‘golden age’ of Stooge shorts was very brief indeed. _Punch Drunks_ and _Men in Black_ have a choreography to them that was given over to sloppy slapstick even by, say, 1937. ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-or-shemp/681576/62 "2014-02-19T23:03:07Z")
> [@bup](#): > > But that ‘golden age’ of Stooge shorts was very brief indeed. _Punch Drunks_ and _Men in Black_ have a choreography to them that was given over to sloppy slapstick even by, say, 1937. It depended to some extent on the director’s choices. Del Lord and Jules White were the principal directors. I forget which one I prefer. Later, Edward Bernds did some as well. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-or-shemp/681576/63 "2014-02-20T03:11:04Z")
There needs to be a formal poll. I know I’m in the minority by preferring Shemp and that Curly would win, but it would be interesting to see the spread, ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-or-shemp/681576/64 "2014-02-20T03:42:53Z")
They completely reshot some of Curly’s early shorts with Shemp in the late 40’s. There was one with A Plumbing We Will Go. Curly connects all these pipes that takes over the shower. It’s interesting seeing Shemp doing the same scene years later in Vagabond Loafers . ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-or-shemp/681576/65 "2014-02-20T03:53:27Z")
Curly trapped in the pipes at 10:04 [![](https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/389796889-c8463db8625598077b319909fc7c5e29e377cd0e46a1b56f514a7cfbdab20a75-d "The Three Stooges - ") ](https://vimeo.com/12390592) Shemp same scene [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDtPsrCUbhY) ---
**Author:** ![woodwork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@woodwork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodwork)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-or-shemp/681576/66 "2014-02-22T03:50:45Z")
The two stooges were part of Abbott and Costello for a while? What happened to the third stooge while that went on? ---
**Author:** ![1010dst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/838e76/32.png) [@1010dst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010dst)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-or-shemp/681576/67 "2014-03-01T07:13:00Z")
Curly ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-or-shemp/681576/68 "2014-03-01T08:09:07Z")
> [@woodwork](#): > > The two stooges were part of Abbott and Costello for a while? So that made four stooges. Incidentally, just to mention, the wife and I stopped by and had a bite at [Jon’s Bar & Grille](http://www.jonsbarandgrille.com/aboutlarry.htm) on the corner of South Street and South Third in Philly a couple of years ago. It used to be the house where Larry Fine was born and raised. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-or-shemp/681576.md?page=3)