How many people can actually say they saw the three stooges live. I did at the Paramount movie theater in San Francisco when I was 10. The movie was The Three Stooges Meet Hercules and they came on stage. They were pretty old but no one cared we all cheered and they told us not to do things like eye poking and showed us how they actually poked themselves above the eyes. Curly was played by Joe DiRita. I have a special place in my heart for the three stooges. I am grateful they where part of my childhood. May they rest in peace.