Not Meant To Be
After Fine’s strike, Moe Howard had every intention of keeping the Stooges going. He cast his longtime friend Emil Sitka (who became known as “the Fourth Stooge” for his frequent cameos in Three Stooges films) as the new third stooge. Sitka was cast as Larry’s older brother Harry. But fate wouldn’t have it that way…
The Ending
In 1974, the Stooges’ film Blazing Stewardesses was set to star Moe, Curly-Joe, and an unreleased Emil Sitka. Publicity stills (up top) were taken after the casting news broke. Unfortunately, Moe Howard was diagnosed with lung cancer shortly before filming began. In an instant, he broke up the Three Stooges, and by March of the following year, he was dead. That was the end of the Three Stooges as a performing group.