New evidence in l'affaire Sitka favors the argument that Emil was about to become the third Stooge in 1972 and again in 1975. Leonard Maltin wrote in his book, Movie Comedy Teams, that Sitka was originally tapped for the project in '72 that fell through. Then in late '74, producer Sam Sherman attempted to engage the Stooges to appear in an exploitation film with the working title of The Jet Set. According to Leonard, the script was originally configured with Moe and Curly Joe participating, but with a scene where Larry would be filmed talking on the phone, which he apparently could have handled at the time. Then Larry died and Moe persuaded Sherman to accept Emil Sitka in his stead. That was the plan until Moe took ill and all the Stooges had to be replaced by the Ritz Brothers. (The film was released — barely — in 1975 under the name, Blazing Stewardesses. The Academy once again proved it has its head up its ass by giving the Best Picture Oscar that year to The Godfather, Part II instead.)
This account sounds right to me and it would explain the conflicting stories about 1971-1972 and 1975. They were both true. Sitka was going to take over for Larry on several occasions that failed to go forward. Unless someone comes up with pretty compelling evidence to the contrary, that's what I intend to believe.