Postcard photo of The w:Three Stooges. From left: w:Larry Fine, w:Moe Howard, and w:Joe DeRita. w:Curly Howard, one of the original Stooges, suffered a debilitating stroke while filming in 1946 and died in 1952. After Curly was unable to work, w:Shemp Howard rejoined the act, hoping that his brother would be well enough to eventually return, staying with the team until he died suddenly in 1955.

After Shemp's death, Howard and Fine approached w:Joe Besser, who appeared as a Stooge from 1956 to 1957, when the comedy trio was let go by Columbia. In early 1958, Columbia's television outlet, Screen Gems, released a package of the old Stooges movie shorts for airing on television. Many local markets bought the package and used them as part of their childrens' programming on weekday afternoons. The airing of the old films on television revived the Stooges' careers, but due to family health issues, Joe Besser declined their invitation to rejoin the trio. Fine and Howard then turned to Joe DeRita for the third man of their act. He accepted, becoming Curly Joe because of his resemblance to Curly Howard. DeRita eventually shaved his head as Curly Howard had done.