During filming of Half-Wits Holiday on May 6, 1946, Curly suffered a severe stroke while sitting in director Jules White's chair, waiting to film the last scene of the day. When Curly was called by the assistant director to take the stage, he did not answer. Moe went looking for his brother: he found Curly with his head dropped to his chest. Moe later recalled that his mouth was distorted and he was unable to speak, only cry. Moe quietly alerted White to all this, leading the latter to rework the scene quickly, dividing the action between Moe and Larry while Curly was rushed to the hospital, where Moe joined him after the filming. Curly spent several weeks at the Motion Picture and Television County House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California before returning home for further recuperation.
Still not fully recovered from his stroke, Curly met Valerie Newman and married her on July 31, 1947. A friend, Irma Leveton, later recalled, "Valerie was the only decent thing that happened to Curly and the only one that really cared about him." Although his health continued to decline after the marriage, Valerie gave birth to a daughter, Janie, in 1948.
Later that year Curly suffered a second massive stroke, which left him partially paralyzed. He used a wheelchair by 1950 and was fed boiled rice and apples as part of his diet to reduce his weight (and blood pressure). Valerie admitted him into the Motion Picture Country House and Hospital on August 29, 1950. He was released after several months of treatment and medical tests, although he would return periodically until his death.
In February 1951, he was placed in a nursing home, where he suffered another stroke a month later. In April, he went to live at the North Hollywood Hospital and Sanitarium.
In December 1951, the North Hollywood Hospital and Sanitarium supervisor advised the Howard family that Curly was becoming a problem to the nursing staff at the facility because of his mental deterioration. They admitted they could no longer care for him and suggested he be placed in a mental hospital. Moe refused and relocated him to the Baldy View Sanitarium in San Gabriel, California.
On January 7, 1952, Moe was contacted on the Columbia set while filming He Cooked His Goose to help move Curly for what would be the last time. Eleven days later, on January 18, Curly died at age 48. He was given a Jewish funeral and laid to rest at Home of Peace Cemetery in East Los Angeles.
A tough act to follow
Several months after Curly's sudden retirement, his older brother Shemp took over in the role as the third stooge.
This lasted until Shemp's untimely death on November 22, 1955 from a massive heart attack in the back of taxi in New York City.
To finish up the production of shorts, Joe Besser was then chosen.
Finally, Joe DeRita joined the trio for the Three Stooges full length feature film career.
Legacy
Curly's daughter Janie was four years old when her father died. Just ten short years later, her mother, Curly's fourth wife Valerie Newman, also passed away, leaving Janie in the care of Valerie's sister. Janie was sheltered from her famous lineage until Moe Howard's daughter Joan wrote a book about Curly. Joan was instrumental in arranging a meeting with Janie and her half sister Marilyn (Curly's daughter from one of his previous marriages), who up until then (the 1980s) had never met before. Both Janie and Marilyn then became ambassadors for the Three Stooges, appearing together at fan conventions.
It's amazing that the Stooges popularity really took off with the advent of television. The almost 200 shorts they created were perfect for commercial television, and television was where I was first introduced to them. Now with the Internet and Facebook, fan groups have sprouted up all over the place. I even see Curly's grandson with a Facebook page.
The ultimate honor for the Three Stooges happened on August 30, 1983, when they received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Curly and Shemp of course were long gone. Moe and Larry had died eight years previously. Joe Besser and Curly Joe DeRita were the only surviving stooges to experience that event.
THE CACHE IS NOT AT THE POSTED COORDINATES.
Just play a simple game of "Who said it?" and fill in the values below to come up with the coordinates for the final.
The cache is located at N41 4A.BCD, W088 0E.FGH.
Determine A thru H as follows:
A:
From the Curly Clip in The Three Troubledoers, who said "They never count deputies"?
Moe (Use 5)
Larry (Use 4)
Curly (Use 3)
Someone else (Use 9)
B:
From the Curly Clip in Monkey Businessmen, who said "I ain't freezin'"?
Moe (Use 9)
Larry (Use 0)
Curly (Use 5)
Someone else (Use 7)
C:
From the Curly Clip in Three Loan Wolves, who said "These two bullies were attacking me with poison gas"?
Moe (Use 6)
Larry (Use 7)
Curly (Use 8)
Someone else (Use 9)
D:
From the Curly Clip in G.I. Wanna Home, who said "Now for a good night’s sleep"?
Moe (Use 3)
Larry (Use 5)
Curly (Use 7)
Someone else (Use 1)
E:
From the Curly Clip in Rhythm And Weep, who said "This guy won’t let me take his clothes off"?
Moe (Use 7)
Larry (Use 8)
Curly (Use 6)
Someone else (Use 2)
F:
From the Curly Clip in Three Little Pirates, who said "I’d like to see some babes myself!"?
Moe (Use 2)
Larry (Use 1)
Curly (Use 0)
Someone else (Use 7)
G:
From the Curly Clip in Half-Wits Holiday, who said "Professor Quackenbush: Have no qualms or trepidations"?
Moe (Use 3)
Larry (Use 5)
Curly (Use 7)
Someone else (Use 9)
H:
From the Curly Clip in Hold That Lion!, who said "What is that, a cocker spaniel?"?
Moe (Use 3)
Larry (Use 4)
Curly (Use 5)
Someone else (Use 6)