Moe Howard Sent My Mother a Postcard from Iran
by Todd Michael Nodine
(Garrett IN 46738 USA)
My grandfather's sister married a man in California that came to know many celebrities. The Three Stooges stand out due to the fact that they seemed to care greatly for their fans, almost as families care for each other.
My grandfather was dieing of cancer and Moe Howard would write letters to my mother, asking how she and her older sisters and my grandmother were doing and to let them know that he was thinking of them. One such correspondence my mother gave to me a few years back was a postcard from Mr. Howard addressed to her while he was vacationing in the Middle East. I will try to transcribe the text from the card.
"Dear Friends,
Hope that you are all enjoying good health. Mrs. Howard & I are fine and having a wonderful time. The Orient and the Middle East are really fascinating. We go on to Israel on May 4, Jerusalem, Greece, and 5 of the Iron Curtain countries. The weather was hot in Bangkok and Singapore and is very nice here in Tehran.
My best to Donna, Linda, and mother.
Sincerely, Moe.
The postcard is addressed to Miss Mary Jane Jones, 512 S. Franklin Garrett, Indiana USA. Attached to it are Iranian stamps, but I cannot make out the exact date. My mother was born in 1954 and was around 12 to 13 years old when she received this letter. So approximately 1966. I will try to take a picture of this and send it at a later date.
I am not interested in selling this item, but am still curious to the possible value.
She also gave me some comic books, signed by the Three Stooges. The Stooges also sent my grandfather a sort of comical gag golf putter equipped with a level wind gauge and horn, while he was in the hospital. I'm not sure which relative of ours has that.
But it is still pretty cool to think that someone famous like the Three Stooges would spend the time corresponding and giving gifts to people they barely knew.
