Off the Beat: The Stoogeum Re-Opens in Ambler, PA

My son once told me that I am the only “girl” he knows who loves the Three Stooges. Maybe that’s true. Nevertheless, I still think, “Do you prefer Curly or Shemp?” is a great bar pick-up line - and an argument for the ages.

One may get some insight into this deep philosophical question in Ambler, PA (near Philadelphia) at The Stoogeum – a 10,000 square foot, 3-story museum devoted entirely to all things related to the comic trio. Props from the films, costumes, actors’ personal effects, interactive displays - it’s all there in a less than three hour drive from Binghamton.

About five years ago I talked with Stoogeum creator and curator Gary Lassin for an online article about the place. He told me then that he has been a fan since childhood, but that he did not become a Stooges memorabilia collector until he met his wife. He said he had been collecting baseball cards, “but they were, truthfully, pretty boring…there’s only two pictures: a guy batting and a guy pitching.” So when Gary met and married Robin, grandniece of Stooge Larry Fine (who was born in Philadelphia), he realized, “Wow, with the Stooges there are toys, there’s games, there’s props, photographs, artwork - there’s a whole world.” And so, The Stoogeum opened in 2004.

When I found Stooge Moe’s real-life son, Paul Howard, and asked him about The Stoogeum, he said - with an enthusiasm equal to Curly eating a bowl of oyster soup that is snapping back, “Nothing on the planet can compare to it.”

The museum recently took a month off to undergo some improvements, so I was eager to catch up with Gary again and find out what’s up. He told me it was time to freshen things up, and that the museum has acquired many new pieces and has taken some things out that had gotten a little tired. “That’s the way it works with collecting,” he says. “You put your best things out there, but sometimes you come up with even better things that nobody else has.” That would be things, for example, from the Rebel Randall Collection: memorabilia that a wackily glamorous co-star in a couple of Stooges films donated to the Stoogeum.

I love the fact that Gary makes up words from verbal equations like: “Stoogeum,” “Stoogedom,” and “Stoogeabilia.” Gary’s personal favorite among the Stoogeabilia remains, surprisingly, an item that is not flamboyant, highly noticeable, nor even very pleasant. But hey, it is unique: It’s Shemp’s discharge paper from the army in 1918. “It’s the oldest document I’ve got in Stoogedom.” Shemp was discharged for “nocturnal enuresis.” Look that up if you care to (told you it wasn’t very pleasant - nyuk-nyuk-nyuk).

The Stoogeum also contains a state-of-the-art research library and a gift shop featuring merchandise that includes one-of-a-kind and vintage items (along with the obligatory shot glasses and t-shirts). The museum acts as headquarters for the Three Stooges Fan Club, consisting of about 2,000 worldwide members who are chosen by application. “It’s not a kids’ club,” Gary explains. “It’s more for serious scholars that want to learn about their history, and the supporting players, and the stuff that’s not been written about very much.”

There is also a film vault and an 85-seat theater. “That’s a place to sit down and get away from the worries of the world for a few minutes, and leave laughing. There’s a lot to get away from and the Stooges are an easy escape. You don’t have to think too hard and it’s probably better if you don’t.” That’s good advice, but Gary had me from his opening words in our conversation: “Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo.”

The Stoogeum reopens March 2nd. For hours, admission, directions, and other details, visit stoogeum.com or call (267) 468-0810. Please note before you go, so that no one is disappointed, no photography is permitted in the building.