Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk! Three Stooges Festival coming to Pittsburgh in September

Moe, Larry, Shemp, and Curly are coming to Pittsburgh. On film at least.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announced Friday that a Three Stooges Festival will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Harris Theater.

The Three Stooges consisted of the Howard brothers, Moe, Shemp and Curly, and Larry Fine. When Shemp left to pursue a solo career, younger brother Jerome “Curly” Howard replaced him.

They made 190 short films for Columbia Pictures. The Harris is planning to show six of what are considered to be their best: “Pop Goes the Easel,” “Grips Grunts and Groan,” “Three Little Pigskins,” “Brideless Groom,” “Fright Night,” and “Sing a Song of Sixpants.”

Each admission ticket includes a kazoo, which audience members are encouraged to use throughout the festival.

The event will be hosted by movie critic and stand-up comedian Sean Collier, a Three Stooges devotee.

“I can’t tell you how honored I was that (the Harris Theater) thought of me. If anyone is thinking I’m the guy to host the Stooges festival, I’ve done something right,” Collier said. “I couldn’t be more excited.”

Known primarily for their very physical, slapstick brand of comedy, the Three Stooges began performing in 1922. So, what keeps audiences coming back for more 100 years later?

“I think they’re living cartoon characters,” Collier said. “The way those shorts are set up and paced and presented isn’t really any different from a classic Looney Tunes short except that there are real people going through all of that mayhem. I think that’s what draws people in.

“When you go a step further, you really see what great comedic performers they all are. And they’re all a little different. It’s not three of the same kind of routine. They are all playing a different role and they’re all funny in a different way.”

Collier said to keep everyone happy, three of the films will include Shemp and three will feature Curly.