Mousie Garner: Autobiography of a Vaudeville StoogePaul "Mousie" Garner's career as a stooge (a "fall guy" or "assistant" to the head clown) began in vaudeville, when he and his partner were firing off jokes and one-liners, as well as leaping over oil-drums. Another part of the act, which could run as often as five times a day, involved Garner getting smashed over the head with plastic ukuleles. Garner's big break came when, across town, funnyman Ted Healy parted ways with his sidekicks, who went on to greater fame as The Three Stooges. Garner was then hired as a replacement stooge-and soon learned that Healy, unlike other slapstick comedians, actually slapped his partners in the face instead of just pretending. Thus was Garner given his first real lesson in the fine arts of stooging, which demanded quick reflexes and perfect timing. In fact, it was Healy who came up with the nickname "Mousie" because Garner was always so jumpy, nervous and quick. Needless to say the name stuck; and Mousie Garner would go on to form "The Rollicking Mousie Garner Trio," join the touring "New Stooges," and work steadily in radio, television, theater, clubs and movies. |
Contents
Foreword by Steve Allen | 1 |
Stooging | 27 |
Ted Healy The Last Act | 55 |
Cheers and Tears | 68 |
Hold That Dial | 82 |
My Numbers Up | 90 |
Mousing Around | 118 |
TV and Me | 125 |
Lights Camera Distraction | 152 |
Nightclubbing | 173 |
Off the Bench | 183 |
The Stooge Convention | 193 |
207 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
actor appeared asked audience band Ben Blue Bill Billy Billy Barty Billy Rose boys Broadway brother called Club comedian comedy comic Curly dance Dick Hakins emcee entertainment face Fanny Brice film Frank Frasier Fred funny gags gave Gentlemaniacs girls Hakins hand head Hollywood humor Jack Pepper Jack Wolf Jimmy jokes knew Larry laugh looked loved Mayfair Milton Berle mother Mousie Garner movie Music Hall never night nightclub onstage orchestra Paul Paul Garner performance Phil Baker piano picture played radio remember revue routine sang scene show business Sid Caesar singer singing skit slap song Spike Jones stage stars started Steve story talent talk Ted Healy Ted told Ted's television tell Theater thing Three Stooges took vaudeville Vegas waiter walk wanted wife wrote York