Bob Walker's Letter to the Times Picayune
TV Focus on the Three Stooges
and Morgus hand puppet picture
printed Sunday June 11, 2000

Note: This picture was taken in 1981 and a few people were still
trying to look like Tony Orlando. Yes, I still have the puppet!

Text of letter printed in TV Focus:

"The 3 Stooges were scheduled to appear at the Shrine Circus in Municipal Auditorium
at Thanksgiving in 1963, and I believe they did. But everything was overshadowed by the
assassination of President Kennedy and unfortunately no advertising was done since the
country was in mourning, so most people were not even aware of their last appearance here.

(Note: the Stooges did indeed appear at the Shrine Circus in November 1963.)

However, earlier in 1963, around March, they were to appear on the WDSU-TV
"Midday" show to promote a new movie, their upcoming appearance at the Shrine Circus,
and to promote a book that Moe was writing at the time called "We Stooge To Conquer,"
which never was completed to my knowledge.

Being a young autograph hound of 16, I staked out in the Channel 6 courtyard
on Royal Street and met the Stooges as they emerged from a taxi.
There they were...Moe, Larry and Curly Joe DiRita all to myself for a moment.
They were most courteous as I introduced myself and they all shook my hand.

My first impression was how short they all were...regular Munchkins,
all three were about 5 and a half feet tall.

They graciously signed my autograph book,then I asked them if I could take
their picture. Moe immediately snapped into a hammy pose...shoulders back,
head high and a big smile. Curly Joe posed similarly. Larry just mustered up
a weak smile. I flashed my Kodak camera, and as I thanked them
Larry grumbled how "that damned thing almost blinded me!"

Unbeknownst to Larry, I snapped a second picture
as he walked away, still grumbling.

Those photographs are posted on my website at
STOOGES & ME
for anyone who would like to see what the Stooges looked like as older men
in 1963 on their second-to-last visit to New Orleans....an unforgettable day in my life."

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