Once a Stooge, Always a Stooge: The Autobiography of Hollywood's Most Prolific Funnyman
About this ebook
For more than six decades, Joe Besser brought gales of laughter to millions—in vaudeville, on Broadway, on radio, in motion pictures, and on television. From his days working as a bumbling assistant to the world-famous Thurston the Magician, he carved out success with his own act—that of a childlike sissy who brandished his foils with a flick of the wrist and such hilarious verbal assaults as “Ooh, you crazy you!” and “Not so f-a-s-t!” From stage to film and television screens, the famed roly-poly comedian left an indelible mark–from starring in his own feature films and short-subject series for Columbia Pictures, to dishing out huge laughs on scores of popular programs of the day, most notably as the malevolent brat “Stinky” on The Abbott and Costello Show, to stepping in to replace Shemp Howard after his death as a member of Three Stooges comedy team. Followed by countless more laugh out-loud performances in movies and on television, from playing the frustrated superintendent, Jillson, on The Joey Bishop Show to voicing Saturday morning cartoons, his legacy still lives on today, thanks to reruns of his classic work. Illustrating a passing age of American humor, ONCE A STOOGE, ALWAYS A STOOGE tells the whole story. Jam-packed with timeless remembrances, Besser vividly recounts it all–the personal ups and downs, the classic skits and routines that became his hallmark, and behind-the-scenes stories of show business icons who enriched his life and career, including Abbott and Costello, Fred Allen, Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Sammy Davis, Jr., Jerry Lewis, Olsen and Johnson, and many others. Previously unpublished anecdotes incorporated throughout, plus hundreds of new, many rare and one-of-a-kind illustrations and extensive appendices of the legendary funnyman’s stage, film, radio and TV appearances, round out this charming and thoughtfully written memoir.
PRAISE FOR THE ORIGINAL EDITION:
“An affectionate, thoroughly enjoyable remembrance of a lifetime spent on the road and on the screen.” -- LOS ANGELES TIMES
“A fascinating look at the development of American entertainment from a person who managed to experience it all . . .” --PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
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About the author
JOE BESSER was in show business for more than 65 years. He worked in every aspect of show business: vaudeville and Broadway, radio, motion pictures and television. As Joe once said, “I’ve done everything except radar!” Joe’s long list of credits include 28 motion picture roles, among them three starring feature films and his own short-subject series for Columbia Pictures, fifty-six known radio show appearances, including his years as a regular on Milton Berle’s Let Yourself Go (1945), Tonight on Broadway (1946) and The Vaughn Monroe Show (1946-1947), and more than 290 television appearances, including animated cartoons. His most noted television characters were the malevolent brat “Stinky” on The Abbott and Costello Show and Mr. Jillson, the superintendent, on The Joey Bishop Show, and is best remembered, worldwide, for his association with the Three Stooges.
JEFF LENBURG, besides being a foremost authority on the Three Stooges comedy team, is the author of 35 books, both fiction and non-fiction, including The Three Stooges Scrapbook, more than 18 celebrity memoirs and biographies, and seven books on the history of animated cartoons, including acclaimed “cartoon Bible,” The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons, now in its third edition. He and his twin brother Greg were lifelong friends of the comedian and served as his press agents.
GREG LENBURG is co-author with Jeff of the authorize, definitive history, The Three Stooges Scrapbook and biography of comedian Steve Martin, Steve Martin: The Unauthorized Biography. A former radio newscaster and journalist, he has also authored and/or published under Abby Books, which he founded, a line of more than 70 handsomely illustrated movie poster books.
