Horwitz or Howard?

[R. W. Wastier]

Did Harry Moses legally change his name? And what of Jerry and Sam? Howard or
Horwitz? Also what are the names of books by the stooges children (Moe Curly
Shemp And Louis Fine's)
Thanks Roger

[D. Kirkpatrick]

In article <19990805084758...@ng-fl1.news.cs.com>,

The family name of Moe, Jerry (Curly) and Shemp (Sam?) was Horwitz
(Horowitz?) which they changed to Howard for stage purposes. That was
common in those days.

Larry was Fineberg I believe, again shortened for stage usage.

As to next generations...

[lst...@webtv.net]

In Russia, the name of Moe, Shemp and Curly's parents was Gorowitz. {Sol
and Jennie}. Upon arriving in New York, the customs official had trouble
understanding Jennie's thick accent and recorded "Horwitz" as the family
name. Of the five Howard brothers only oldest son Irving kept the name
Horwitz. Jack, Shemp[Samuel], Moe[Harry Moses], and Curly[Jerome], all
changed their name to Howard.
The Books I know of written by Stooge relatives include the one about
Larry by Louis Feinberg, who is his brother, not his son.
Moe's daughter, Joan Howard Maurer, wrote one about Moe as well as one
about her Uncle Curly. And I believe Shemp's wife Babe wrote a book as
well.

[G.S.]

Gentlemen (who came in?):

First, Joan Howard Maurer was not the most scholarly source when it came to
Russian-Jewish geneology. The common Jewish name "Horowitz" is spelled
"Gorowitz" in Cyrillic characters because the letter "G" does duty for the
letter "H." It had nothing to do with anyone's accent or a custom
official's misunderstanding thereof. There are thousands of Horwitzs (or
Horowitzs) in the U.S., and not one Gorowitz as far as I know.

As for the legality of the name change:

Curly's gravestone has the Yiddish inscription indicating his name as
"Horowitz." (Jewish trivia: on the gravestone is also the spread-finger
sign indicating descent from the priestly Cohanic caste. Some Stooge fans
misinterpret this sign as the sign of the eye-poke.)

I can't remember offhand what Curly's gravestone says in English, but if I
had to bet, I think it says "Horowitz."

Moe was buried as Moe Howard, albeit in a Jewish cemetary. I don't know
what's on Shemp's gravestone (actually, Shemp is buried in a crypt). Larry
is also buried in a crypt, and the plaque says "Larry Fine," not Louis
Feinberg.

Hope this helps.

Gregg Stevens (also not my orignal name)

[Jim Neibaur]

> The Books I know of written by Stooge relatives include the one about
> Larry by Louis Feinberg, who is his brother, not his son.
> Moe's daughter, Joan Howard Maurer, wrote one about Moe as well as one
> about her Uncle Curly. And I believe Shemp's wife Babe wrote a book as
> well.

-------------

Larry's book is by his brother Morris (not Louis -- Louis was Larry's name).
Joan never wrote a book about Moe, but did write one about Curly. Shemp's wife
never wrote a book, but was interviewed extensively by Jefferey Forrester for
his book The Stooge Chronicles.

JN

visit my Favorite Movies web page:
http://hometown.aol.com/jimneibr/myhomepage/movies.html

[Smithcnstr]

>Joan never wrote a book about Moe, but did write one about Curly. Shemp's
>wife
>never wrote a book, but was interviewed extensively by Jefferey Forrester for
>his book The Stooge Chronicles.

"Moe Howard & the Three Stooges" was an autobiography started by Moe, but was
finished by Joan after Moe passed away in '75. The book was published in 1977.
Joan also co-authored "The Three Stooges Scrapbook" with the Lenburg's in
1982.

[Jim Neibaur]

>"Moe Howard & the Three Stooges" was an autobiography started by Moe, but >was
finished by Joan after Moe passed away in '75. The book was published in
>1977.

Kinda sorta. Moe had finished the book before he died (originally titled I
Stooged To Conquer). Joan just made sure it got published, she didn't write
anything. However it has been said she did edit out most of what Moe had
written about the Shemp years because she and Babe Howard had been on the outs
for some years (when I spoke with her by phone long ago, she admitted the feud
with Babe Howard and admitted editing portions of Moe's book, but did not admit
to specifics).

>Joan also co-authored "The Three Stooges Scrapbook" with the Lenburg's in
>1982.

Well.....let's just say her name is on it.

[Ethedral]

Here is what I found on the boys grave sites:

Curly
Buried in Home of Peace Memorial Park Los Angeles
Tombstone reads (English Part)
Beloved Husband Father & Brother
Jerome Howard
Oct 22, 1903--Jan18,1952

Shemp
Buried in Home of Peace Memorial Park Mausoleum
Los Angeles
Plaque reads:
Shemp Howard
Beloved Husband and Father
1895--1955

Moe
Buried in Hillside Memorial Park Mausoleum Culver City
Plaque reads
Moe Howard
date of birth and death too dark to read

Larry
Buried in Forest Lawn Freedom Mausoleum Glendale
Plaque reads
Larry Fine
1902--1975

[G.S.]

Reading this thread made me go back and take a look at pix I have of the boys'
graves. I must be getting senile, because the "spread finger" sign I mentioned
is not on Curly's gravestone. HOWEVER, I am permitted this error in
recollection because, in Hebrew, it makes reference to the fact that he is a
Levite, which is one of the castes on whose graves the sign usually appears..
Here's what it says in Hebrew, if anyone is interested:

"Yehudah Leib, son of Solomon Nathan the Levite"

Gregg Stevens