Mousie Garner: Autobiography of a Vaudeville Stooge [Hardcover]

Paul Garner (Author), Sharon Kissane (Author), Steve Allen (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1999 | ISBN-10: 0786405813 | ISBN-13: 978-0786405817

Paul "Mousie" Garner's career as a stooge (a "fall guy" or "assistant" to the head clown) began in vaudeville, when he and his partner were firing off jokes and one-liners, as well as leaping over oil-drums. Another part of the act, which could run as often as five times a day, involved Garner's getting smashed over the head with breakable ukeleles. His big break came when he was hired as a replacement stooge by Ted Healy, who had just parted ways with the soon-to-be famous "Three Stooges." In fact, it was Healy who came up with the nickname "Mousie" because Garner was always so jumpy, nervous and quick. The name stuck, and Mousie would go on to form "The Rollicking Mousie Garner Trio," join the "New Stooges," and work steadily in radio, television, theater, clubs and movies.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Steve Allen's foreword crisply sets up a pretty fine book about a rather obscure but engaging showbiz personality. That Garner is somewhat unremembered now does not obviate the value of his book for collections emphasizing pop culture. Highly detailed and nicely indexed...useful bibliography.... Old-fashioned fun and informative, too" -- Booklist/RBB

"has some interesting things to say about Healy, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Spike Jones, and others. ...welcome" -- Classic Images

"wonderful reading...a lively funny book clearly written by someone who knows how to entertain. ...essential reading for Stooge fans" -- Big Reel

About the Author

Paul "Mousie" Garner is now residing in Las Vegas. Sharon F. Kissane, who holds a Ph.D. from Loyola University, resides in South Barrington, Illinois.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 218 pages
• Publisher: Mcfarland & Co Inc Pub (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786405813
• ISBN-13: 978-0786405817
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,278,091 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very well-written vaudeville memoirs, February 21, 1999

By 

Bill Cappello "Bill" (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mousie Garner: Autobiography of a Vaudeville Stooge (Hardcover)

This long-awaited book is a must-have for fans and researchers of vaudeville-style comedy. Mousie worked with all the greats, in particular Ted Healy, the man who started The Three Stooges, and with Spike Jones, the master of musical mayhem. Mousie tells all about his own years in show-biz, with many funny and interesting anecdotes about the people he's known and worked with. Highly recommended!

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book, November 9, 2001

By 

Stephen Garner (Glen Burnie, Md. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mousie Garner: Autobiography of a Vaudeville Stooge (Hardcover)

This book explains about the "lost Stooges that very few know about. Great!

5.0 out of 5 stars The book is incredible reading about one of the Stooges, December 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Mousie Garner: Autobiography of a Vaudeville Stooge (Hardcover)

This book tells the life story about one of the unknown Stooges. This book is about the good, the bad and the stupid. The guy is 89 years old and is the last remaining member of Ted Healey's Stooges. This book literally was years in the making and is a very thorough account of what his incredible life as a veteran comedian was like in the early years of this century. He has appeared in several T.V. shows such as Surfside Six,77 Sunset Strip and others as well as a regular on the Spike Jones Show. Good luck Mousie.