(All photo are from the E-Bay webstore of Hollywoodland!)
This hat was purchased on April 8, 2008 on E-Bay. It was part of the estate of "The Grand Old Man of Vaudeville," Paul "Mousie" Garner (...at least, that's what was claimed on E-Bay, and why would anyone make up such an esoteric thing?). This website contains a little history of Mousie's connection with The Three Stooges.
Quoting from the E-Bay page: "This great collector’s item was actually owned and proudly worn by the late MOUSIE GARNER (aka: The Grand Old Man of Vaudeville) – an hilarious comedian and musician, and former member of Ted Healy’s vaudeville-era Three Stooges comedy ensemble in the 1920s and 1930s, The Gentlemaniacs in the 1930s and 1940s, and the Spike Jones’ City Slickers Orchestra in the 1950s. Many younger fans of Mousie Garner may recognize him from MTV music videos, but have no idea that he holds the prestigious title of being the very first comedian ever to appear on television! Mousie made his debut appearance on television in 1928, when he appeared with his cousin Jack Wolf on an experimental TV program broadcast from RCA's original NBC studios in Schenectady, New York. This special live production was one of the first TV broadcasts in history, making Garner the first comedian ever to appear on television – over one year before Milton Berle’s supposed 'pioneer' broadcast in 1929!"
A quote from Moe's book: "After Larry's stroke, I knew the Three Stooges had come to an end as an act. Joe DeRita requested, and received, permission to do personal appearances with an act called 'The New Three Stooges' with character actor Paul 'Mousie' Garner and acrobatic comedian Frank Mitchell... The act, unfortunately, never clicked and was booked into only a few engagements." (page 180)
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Some quotes from The Scrapbook: "... Fox was tremendously impressed with the Stooges and studio executives offered them a seven-year contract to star in features. Up until then, Moe, Larry and Shemp answered to Healy..." (page 57)
"... Healy paid each Stooge $150 per week to star in the Fox film. When Healy learned of the studio's offer of an exclusive contract to the Stooges, he stormed into the office of Fox's studio head, William Sheehan... Moe, Larry and Shemp soon caught wind of Healy's latest double-dealing and left the act immediately to form one of their own under the name of Howard, fine and Howard and billed as the 'Three Lost Souls.' the trio performed on the West Coast and worked their way back to New York. In 1931, the Stooges hired Jack Walsh as their straight man..." (pages 59 and 60)
"[Ted Healy] filed a legal suit against the team... But a U.S. District Court ruled in favor of the Stooges, claiming that Healy had no rights to the material. ...Shemp continued to fear Healy... Moe, trying to entice Shemp to stay, agreed that he and Larry would raise his salary and pay him more than they were making. According to Moe, Shemp took 36 percent of the team's salary while he and Larry retained 32 percent apiece. The trio then divided, using new formula, the lucrative salary of $900 a week." (page 61)
"In desperation, Ted hired three novice comics as his Stooges - Paul 'Mousie' Garner, Dick Haskins and Jack Wolf, who with Healy floundered about in Billy Rose's new musical, Crazy Quilt. ...Ted came to the realization that his new act was not working and begged Moe, Larry and Shemp to forgive and forget. ...So Moe gave Ted an ultimatum: If he wanted a deal, with all three of them returning as his Stooges, he had to stop drinking. Ted vowed never to take another drink, and in 1932 the Stooges made the deal official." (page 62)
"... in 1938... Garner, Wolf and Hakins filled a law suit against the trio, claiming that the had stolen the name 'Three Stooges' from them... research and a legal document signed by Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard has proven that the name 'Three Stooges' was first conceived by the original Stooges, Moe, Larry and Curly." (page 62)
Return to Bob Gardner's webpage.
Last revised February 7, 2010.