All Six of the Three Stooges: June 2026

Studio: Universal. Runtime: 65 minutes. Production Number F8. Release Date: December 4, 1933. Director: Al Boasberg. Screenplay: Beatrice Banyard. Producers: Eddie Foy Jr., Bryan Foy. Executive Producer: Carl Laemmle. Cast: Myrtle Vail (Myrt Spear), Donna Damerel (Marge Minter), Eddie Foy Jr. (Eddie Hanley), Ted Healy (Mullins), Jerry "Curly" Howard, Larry Fine, Moe Howard (Themselves), Bonnie Bonnell (Suzannah), Ray Hedges (Clarence Tiffingtuffer), Thomas E. Jackson (Mr. Jackson), Grace Hayes (Grace), Jimmy Conlin (Comedian), J. Farrell MacDonald (Mr. Grady), Trixie Friganza (Mrs. Minter), Bo-Ling, Bo-Ching (Themselves), The Colenette Ballet (Dancers), Peter Lind Hayes (OGOK Announcer). Cinematographer: Joseph Valentine. Editor: Arthur Hilton. Art Director: Merrill Pye. Choreographer: Jack Haskell. Musical Director: Paul Van Loan. Songwriters: M. K. Jerome (music), Joan Jasmyn (lyrics).

Though nearly forgotten today the Myrt and Marge radio show was very popular in its day. First airing on November 2, 1931, the show was created by one of its stars Myrtle Vail (Born January 7, 1888, in Joliet, Illinois; passed away September 18, 1978, in Kansas City, Missouri), who also wrote many of the episodes. Myrtle had been a former vaudevillian and thought a radio show based on her life in vaudeville might be successful. The plot of the show had the older and more experienced Myrt (Myrtle) taking a younger vaudevillian Marge under her wing. To play the younger vaudevillian Myrtle chose her own daughter, Donna Damerel (born July 8, 1912, in Chicago, Illinois; passed away February 15, 1941, in Englewood, New Jersey). The show became one of radio's most popular soap operas and ran into 1942. However, tragedy struck in 1941 when Donna Damerel died giving birth to her third son. She was only 28. There was storyline in which Myrt had to hide out in the hills until a murder could be resolved, which would allow the character of Marge to be briefly written out. By the time this storyline was over Helen Mack (Born November 13, 1913, in Rock Island, Illinois; passed away August 13, 1986, in Beverly Hills, California) had been given the role of Marge. Helen Mack is best remembered today for her roles in the classic films His Girl Friday (1940) and Son of Kong (1933). Comedy fans might also know her for her role in the Harold Lloyd talkie, The Milky Way (1936). Even with Mack as the replacement the show would only last a few more months. However, in 1946 the series had a short revival, with new episodes starring Myrtle Vail and Helen Mack. Myrtle Vail would find a later career as a character actress. She is best remembered for the beloved low-budget horror films, A Bucket of Blood (1959) and The Little Shop of Horrors (1960), both of which were written by her grandson Charles B. Griffith (Born September 23, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois; passed away September 28, 2007, in San Diego, California).

With the success of this radio show, Universal decided to make a feature film version. In this film, Myrt (Myrtle Vail) knows she has a hit Broadway revue on her hands, yet she lacks the money to fund it. Selfish and predatory producer Mr. Jackson (Thomas E. Jackson) agrees to fund the show. However, what he is really interested in is the young actress, Marge (Donna Damerel).

This movie is quite entertaining despite its storyline. The basic storyline is pure soap opera nonsense. Despite being named Myrt and Marge, the title characters are the blandest part of this film. The storyline revolving around their romances and backstage drama are difficult to become invested in. These characters are bland and unable to inject any emotional connection in with this cliché-ridden story. The dialogue they are given is too sappy and melodramatic to be taken seriously.

Yet what makes this movie with watching are the comedy and musical numbers. Despite this being so early in their movie careers, Ted Healy and the Stooges get quite a bit of screen time here. They completely steal the show. Many of their scenes here are pure classic Stooges. I found myself constantly chuckling when they were onscreen. Bonnie Bonnell and Ray Hedges also supply some good laughs here. While the musical numbers may not be especially memorable, they are fun. The songs are very pleasant and enjoyable to listen to. All the performers do a great job with each of these songs, bring even more fun to them. Eddie Foy, Jr. is especially fun to watch, and it is easy to tell that he descended from vaudeville royalty. The final musical number is definitely a highlight with its Busby Berkley inspired visuals.

This movie also has a very charming ending, where the stars briefly step out of character to say goodbye to the audience.

Director Al Boasberg (born December 5, 1892, in Buffalo, New York; passed away June 18, 1937, in Los Angeles, California) had worked on some real comedy classics, mostly as a writer. For instance, he was a writer on Buster Keaton's silent masterpiece The General (1927), Harold Lloyd's Speedy (1928), Wheeler and Woosley's Cracked Nuts (1931) and The Marx Brothers' A Night at the Opera (1935). As well as his career on films he also worked with Jack Benny, Bob Hope and Burns and Allen on radio.

This is a rare major role for actor Thomas E. Johnson (born July 4, 1886, in New York City; passed away in Hollywood), who mostly played supporting character roles during his prolific movie career. Though he was rarely in leading roles Johnson had been in such beloved Hollywood classics as Little Caesar (1931), The Thin Man (1934), The Call of the Wild (1935), Angels With Dirty Faces (1938); Beau Geste (1939) and The Woman in the Window (1944).

J. Farrell MacDonald (born April 14, 1875, in Waterbury, Connecticut; passed away August 2, 1952, in Hollywood) was another actor with a very distinguished career, though mostly in supporting roles. His filmography includes such classics as The Iron Horse (1924), Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927), The Cat's-Paw (1934), Topper (1937), Meet John Doe (1941), Sullivan's Travels (1941), The Palm Beach Story (1942), My Darling Clementine (1946), It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and Superman and the Mole Men (1951).

Bo Ling (born November 15, 1908, in Alameda County, California; passed away March 18, 1999, in Granada Hills, California) and Bo Ching (born April 21, 1911, in Alameda County, California) were sisters born Berenice Park (Bo Ling) and Winnie Park (Bo Ching). The sisters had a stage act with performer Helen Wong Jean. The act was described as a "three-gal act, singing, dancing, and playing piano and accordion." Despite not being the same age, the sisters sometimes performed together on stage credited as "The Chinese Twins." They were the daughters of actors Edward and Florence Park, who both can be seen in some of the Charlie Chan films. These parents encouraged their daughters to sing, dance and play piano at an early age. They can be seen in such films as Golden Stairs (1929) and the madcap comedy masterpiece International House (1933). Bo-Ching would much later appear in the Star Terk the Next Generation episode, Violations (1992).

Universal Weekly, 1933

Here is a 1936 article from Radio Stars magazine about the Myrt and Marge radio show. If you have trouble reading it, click on the pages below and use your touch screen to zoom in.

Ray Hedges, who acts in this film, was also a regular on the radio show. Here is a 1935 article from Radio Mirror magazine that talks about him and the role he was known for. If you have trouble reading, click on the pages below and use your touch screen to zoom in.