Stooges Run Wild

This morning, TCM featured a rather obscure film from the famed Three Stooges comedy trio who have enormous appeal among 7 year-old boys. The film was titled Rockin' In the Rockies. The film had some notable points:

1. It featured the original Three Stooges. Several of their films were made after the passing of Curly.

2. The film was set in Reno, Nevada, which isn't a Rocky Mountain state. The title is a bit of a mystery.

3. Musical entertainment was provided by Spade Cooley, The King of Western Swing. If you've never heard of him (either), watching this movie will give you a good clue as to why.

4. Moe Howard does not wear his trademark "moe cut."

Larry and Curly did use their own names in this one, but Moe played a character by a different name. That is a point of interest that didn't occur again in any of their later films, to the best of my knowledge.

Of more interest to me was the evident attempt to use this film as a star vehicle for Spade Cooley. He had a rather lengthy filmography, although mostly in uncredited roles or in B-films at best. Evidently the title of "King of Western Swing" didn't translate to beng a big box office draw. And once he abdicated the throne, there were apparently no willing heirs or successors. So if anyone out there wishes to claim the title of "King of Western Swing," the office appears to be vacant! Just don't expect a lot of perks with the position. I suspect it carries all the honors attendant to, say, President of the Sylvester Stallone Fan Club.