Rare Three Stooges One Sheet to be Auctioned!

Dallas, Texas: Icons of screen comedy, The Three Stooges got their start as part of Ted Healy's vaudeville act in 1930. Moe Howard and brother Sam (better known as Shemp) were joined by bristle-haired Larry Fine as part of "Ted Healy and his Stooges," one of the most popular vaudeville acts of the day. In addition to their stage work, the group made a handful of films with Healy, including Soup to Nuts for 20th Century Fox and several films for Metro Goldwyn Meyer.

The team proved so popular in Healy's films that Columbia offered them a contract to make their own short comedies in 1934. Shemp, who decided to stay with Healy and who went on to a solid film career as a solo artist before returning to the Stooges in 1947, was replaced by Jerome "Curly" Howard, Moe's younger brother. It was this classic cast of Moe, Larry and Curly that made the first Three Stooges film, 1934's Woman Haters.

"By 1938, the Stooges were at the top of their game," said Grey Smith, Director of Vintage Movie Poster Auctions for Heritage, "marking this as a period many consider to be the very peak of this remarkable team's output. By this time, the Stooges had honed their act to perfection, and were some of Hollywood's most bankable stars."

"The one sheet that we're offering," Smith continued, "is from the short Mutts to You, the trio's last film of 1938, and shows all three Stooges as they careen down the street, out of control as usual. Stooge material is always in heavy demand among collectors, with the very rare pre-1940 one sheets being particularly desirable. Heritage has only offered a few pieces of vintage Stooge memorabilia in the last few years, so this poster is sure to attract some spirited bidding."

This rare and outstanding one sheet will be auctioned in Heritage's upcoming Movie Poster Signature Auction, to be held March 25 & 26 in Dallas, Texas. It carries a pre-auction estimate of $25,000 - $30,000 each.

• Three Stooges Mutts to You one sheet

For more information about Heritage's auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HeritageAuctions.com.

Prospective consignors and sellers of vintage movie posters and related material should contact Grey Smith at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 367, or 214-252-4367, or email GreySm@HeritageAuctions.com.

To reserve your copy of any Heritage auction catalog, please contact Nicole Jewell at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 272, or visit www.HeritageAuctions.com to order by email.