Here in this picture, famed comedian and money-raiser Jerry Lewis learns a vital lesson. It's that it's not humanly possible to outmug Harpo Marx. Can't be done, don't even try. One wonders what these guys were saying to each other…discussing the accounting procedures at Paramount? Comparing notes about working with Frank Tashlin? Debating whether Dino was more Italian than Chico? Whatever. Thanks to Earl Kress, who forwarded this photo to me after receiving it from a friend. Just to reward Earl, I'm going to let him eat lunch with me today. I may even use the utensils.
Speaking of photos of silly-looking people: Some time ago, I posted this rare photo of Moe, Curly and Shemp, three brothers who were members of The Three Stooges, though not all at the same time. Today, I received this info on the pic from Stooge expert Brent Seguine…
It was taken during production of Hoi Polloi (1935). Although Shemp was still based on the east coast, doing Vitaphone comedies for Warner Bros. ('33-'37), this was during one of his west coast visits, presumably to visit his brothers and Larry. Specifically, it was taken on Larchmont Ave., where Hoi Polloi did a location shoot in front of the Larchmont Bijou, now the site of Blockbuster Video.
Larchmont Avenue (about two miles east of where I live) has been used in a staggering number of movies and TV shows over the years. It's wide, rarely busy, and close to both Paramount Studios and the old Columbia lot, which is now Sunset-Gower Studios. I wonder if it doesn't hold the record for the most location shoots of any non-landmark part of Los Angeles.
The four best delicatessens in Los Angeles are, in no particular order, Canter's, Langer's, Art's and Junior's. Recently, their proprietors were gathered together to discuss the deli trade. Here's a bit of that discussion.