By Greg Lenburg
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In 1982, my twin brother Jeff and I embarked on an ambitious journey, co-authoring The Three Stooges Scrapbook alongside Moe Howard’s daughter, Joan Howard Maurer. Our aim was nothing short of creating the definitive work on the beloved trio: an official and authorized companion to Moe's acclaimed and bestselling autobiography, Moe Howard and The Three Stooges, published in 1977.
Where Moe's book offered a personal glimpse into his life, Scrapbook stands as the first—and still the only—comprehensive exploration of every aspect of the Stooges’ lives and careers. It features detailed biographies of all six Stooges, an exhaustive team history, and the very first in-depth filmography, which includes release dates, cast lists, synopses, shooting dates, working titles, and trivia when available. It also delves into the Stooges' solo film appearances as well as nostalgic chapters on vintage merchandise and comic books, their television appearances, recordings, impersonators, and the passionate fandom that has kept their legacy alive.
Before our book hit the shelves, there were no online forums, websites, or communities where fans could connect and exchange their knowledge and insights. The only organized group at the time was The Three Stooges Fan Club, founded in 1974 with the permission of Moe Howard and Larry Fine. Led by Larry's brother, Morris "Moe" Feinberg, the club produced simple typed newsletters that kept fans informed.
Fast forward to April 1, 2012—no joke! After 26 years, Jeff, Joan and I finally realized our dream of publishing an updated and expanded edition of Scrapbook.
This new edition required not only our ongoing research but also the invaluable contributions from devoted fans. Thankfully, the landscape had changed dramatically since our first publication. Fans now had two primary platforms to connect and share their discoveries. The first was ThreeStooges.net, which was launched in 1993 as the first dedicated Stooges fan website and included a groundbreaking message board. This message board laid the groundwork for what has evolved into the thriving Moronika forum community today.
The second avenue of connection was through The Three Stooges Fan Club, revitalized and expanded under the leadership of Gary Lassin, who took over from Feinberg in 1986 following his passing. Married to Larry Fine’s niece and Feinberg’s granddaughter, Lassin and his contributors helped unearth new details Scrapbook's filmography.
Without the dedication and passion of fans, accurately helping us with some of the missing pieces for our revamped filmography would have been impossible, especially given that studio records for each of the boys’ 190 films no longer existed.
Like genealogy, the research into the world of the Stooges is a ceaseless endeavor. Undoubtedly, this quest will continue long after my brother and I have departed.
So here’s to the future—may it be filled with new discoveries and revelations. The mission is far from over; it’s just beginning!