Next to comics, trading cards are a favorite collectible - both due to their relatively low cost, and general availability. Also like the comics, several different and distinct series of trading cards have been produced.
Next to comics, trading cards are a favorite collectible - both
due to their relatively low cost, and general availability. Also
like the comics, several different and distinct series of trading
cards have been produced.
The first set
of trading cards were produced in 1959 by the F.H. Fleer company.
The series was made up of 96 cards all featuring colorized scenes
from many of their Columbia shorts. Underneath each picture was a
one-liner representative of the scene being depicted. On the back
sides were short pieces of Stooge trivia or comical quotes -
penned by Elwood Ullman an already seasoned writer for the
Stooges. Cards number 1,2 and 3 feature head shots of Curly, Moe
and Larry, and are the most sought after cards in the series.
Also particularly popular were specially printed cards with
checklists on the reverse side.
Six years later
in 1965, the F.H Fleer company released their second series of
bubble gum cards. This series, far less successful then the
first, was a promotional series featuring their movie "The
Outlaws Is Coming". The cards have black and white pictures
of the boys, with dialogs below. The backs of the entire 66 card
series join together to form a giant poster photo from the movie.
Here is an un-oppened pack of the 1965
series cards. Sure wish they could be had for the 5 cent price
depicted here!!
It was a long,
twenty year dry spell before the boys would be seen in the local
candy store. In 1985, the FTCC company produced a fine 60 card
series. The fronts depicted black and white scenes of many of
their more memorable shorts. Like the 1959 series, the first
three cards are bust shots of Larry, Curly and Moe.
The backs of the 1985 set features
Stooge trivia. Ranging from bits and pieces of their personal
lives and careers, to perhaps little know tidbits about some of
their short subjects. Can you get this one? Q:"What short
was responsible for getting the Three Stooges nominated for an
Academy Award"? (Answer below)
Pictured here
is an unopened pack of the 1985 series, as well as an un-opened
box. And for the trivia question listed above - A:"Men in
Black - 1934".
FTCC would
again produce a series of stooges cards four years later in 1989.
Another 60 card black and white series. All of the cards depict
scenes from their shorts, and again feature the images of Curly,
Moe and Larry on their leading three cards - though this time a
more conservative professional look. Like the 1965 series from
Fleer, the backs of these cards joined to form a giant picture of
xxxxxx. Two variations of this set were produced - one with a
blue picture on the back, and the second with a red picture.
This is a card
I came across at a Stooges convention. It appears to have been
produced with the WTE company in 1991. It features a rendition of
the one sheet from the short "Violent Is The Word For
Curly". On the back it has the title of the short, the year
(1938), and on the bottom "For Promotial Purposes".
E-Mail me if you have any info on this series.
Here's a sneak preview of the
new Three Stooges cards soon to be release from DuoCards. The
promo reads - "Yuk it up with these knuckleheads in this
24pt, foil-stamped 72-card series from Duocards featuring film,
television and behind-the-scenes shots of Moe, Larry and Curly
(and Shemp too). Plus look for 3 bonus die-cut cards and a 3-card
'Antics' chromium subset. Coming Spring '97." As soon as
they are release, I'll get some actual card shots here.
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