October 22
Jerome Lester Horwitz's Birthday

Moses and Jerome Horwitz and Larry Fine

Jerome (Curly) Horwitz was one of the three Horwitz brothers who, along with Larry Fine (Levi Feinberg), became the slapstick comedy icons The Three Stooges, best known for their numerous short subject films. Since Jewish names were generally avoided by film actors, they changed their surname to Howard.

The original members of the trio were Moses (Moe) Horowitz, his brother Samuel (Shemp), and their friend Larry Fine . Shemp was later replaced by brother Curly. Curly made more than 100 film appearances with the team before a massive stroke on the set of Half-Wits Holiday (1947) after which Shemp rejoined the act in 1946,.

Curly was best known for his expressions "nyuk-nyuk-nyuk!" and "woo-woo-woo!" which become a part of American pop culture. Larry Fine once recalled, "Personally, I thought Curly was the greatest, because he was a natural comedian who had no formal training. Whatever he did, he made up on the spur of the moment. When we lost Curly, we took a hit.."

Curly recovered slightly from his stroke and made a brief cameo appearance in Hold That Lion ! (1937), the third film after Shemp returned to the trio, It was the only film that featured Larry Fine and all three Howard brothers, Moe, Shemp and Curly, simultaneously; director Jules White later said that he spontaneously staged the bit during Curly's impromptu visit to the soundstage:

“ It was a spur of the moment idea. Curly was visiting the set; this was sometime after his stroke. Apparently he came in on his own, since I didn't see a nurse with him. He was sitting around, reading a newspaper. As I walked in, the newspaper, which he had in front of his face, came down and he waved hello to me. I thought it would be funny, to have him do a bit in the picture and he was happy to do it."

However, another series of strokes deteriorated his health until he died at age 48.

Curly's other nickname was "Babe," because his mother always called him "My Baby." His brothers shortened it to "Babe" and used it to constantly tease him. The nickname stuck to him all his life.

Stooges' fans are the primary collectors of The Official Three Stooges Cookbook by Robert Kurson which includes 75 zany recipes "inspired" by the Stooges. So one of the recipes from the book may be the most appropriate was to celebrate Curly's birthday. We suggest that yuu enjoy this "woo-woo-woo!" culinary tribute to Curley while watching him in a double feature, first with him being portrayed by Will Sasso in The Three Stooges (2012), and second, the classic Hold That Lion ! which was the Stooges/100th film.

Three Stooges Baked Chicken

Ingredients

1 4-5 lb. chicken
1 cup melted butter
1 cup Pepperidge Farm stuffing .

1 cup uncooked popcorn
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° F.
Brush chicken well with melted butter salt, and pepper.
Fill cavity with stuffing and popcorn.
Place in baking pan with the neck end toward the back of the oven.
Listen for the popping sounds. When the chicken's butt blows the oven door open
and the chicken flies across the room, it's done