The Autographs of Moe HowardMoe Howard (Moses Horwitz) was born on June 19, 1897, in Bensonhurst, New York, the fourth eldest of the five Howard brothers. Moe was very intelligent, but as his love for the theater grew stronger, he began to neglect the rest of his studies. He never graduated high school. He enrolled in trade school, but he quickly found out that he wasn't cut out to be an electrician. Moe Howard Finds Show BusinessIn 1909, to get closer to the stage, Moe began working at the Vitagraph Studios in Brooklyn as an errand runner. It wasn't long before he began doing small parts in silent pictures. Also in 1909, Moe met Ted Healy and they became close friends. Three years later, Moe and Healy joined Annette Kellerman's aquatic act as diving "girls." After a summer of that, Moe and Healy went their separate ways. Moe then joined up with brother Shemp to form a singing act. They even toured the country in blackface. Ted Healy and His StoogesLate in 1922, Ted Healy asked Moe and Shemp to join his act. The partnership lasted ten years. In 1925, Healy recruited a vaudeville violinist, Larry Fine, to join the group. The act was originally called "Ted Healy and His Racketeers," but after awhile became "Ted Healy and His Stooges." Moe Howard married Helen Schonberger, a cousin of magician Harry Houdini, on June 7, 1925. The next year, Moe left Healy to spend more time with Helen who was expecting his child. Moe tried several ordinary jobs, but his heart wasn't in them. He soon joined up again with Ted Healy. In 1930, Ted Healy and his Stooges made their first movie, "Soup to Nuts" - featuring Ted Healy and his four Stooges, Moe, Shemp, Larry, and Fred Sanborn. This would be Sanborn's only film appearance as a Stooge. The Three StoogesIn 1934, Ted Healy and his Stooges separated because Healy wanted to pursue a solo career. The Stooges began making short films for Columbia Pictures as The Three Stooges. (By this time Curly had replaced Shemp as the third Stooge). Later that year, Larry, Moe and Curly starred in their first Three Stooges movie, "Woman Haters." One of their early shorts, "Men in Black," was nominated for an Academy Award. In the 1940's, The Three Stooges made several politically themed anti-Nazi movies, including "You Natzy Spy," (Moe's favorite Three Stooges film), "I'll Never Heil Again," and "They Stooge to Conga." Moe did a Hitler imitation in all three movies. All of the Stooges were Jewish, so it must have been gratifying to mock those who irrationally hated them. The act stayed with Columbia until 1957, making a total of 190 films. Moe's character assumed the role of the aggressive, short tempered leader of the Stooges who was quick to use physical violence against the other two Stooges. This was the direct opposite of the real Moe Howard, who was a generous and kind person, always loyal to friends and family. Moe's acting career slowed down dramatically after The Three Stooges. He did some minor movie roles, including "Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title" and "Dr. Death: Seeker of Souls" His final Three Stooges film was "Kook's Tour" in 1969, featuring Larry, Moe and Curly Joe out of character, touring the country and meeting fans. Moe Howard died of lung cancer on May 4, 1975 in Los Angeles, California. The Autographs of Moe HowardA Moe Howard signed photo is worth in the $400 - $500 range. Signed photos of Moe alone in the prime of his acting career are uncommon. A signature will bring $250 and up. Some of Moe's bank checks are on the market. With a little time spent, a Moe Howard bank check could be found for a couple hundred dollars. In retirement, Moe was very responsive to fan mail, and he wrote lengthy letters answering about anything a fan would ask. These letters sell for several hundred dollars each, value depending on content. Return to The Three Stooges Page
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