Mousie Garner: Autobiography of a Vaudeville Stooge

Overview

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 getting smashed over the head with plastic ukuleles.

Garner's big break came when, across town, funnyman Ted Healy parted ways with his sidekicks, who went on to greater fame as The Three Stooges. Garner was then hired as a replacement stooge—and soon learned that Healy, unlike other slapstick comedians, actually slapped his partners in the face instead of just pretending. Thus was Garner given his first real lesson in the fine arts of stooging, which demanded quick reflexes and perfect timing. In fact, it was Healy who came up with the nickname "Mousie" because Garner was always so jumpy, nervous and quick. Needless to say the name stuck; and Mousie Garner would go on to form "The Rollicking Mousie Garner Trio," join the touring "New Stooges," and work steadily in radio, television, theater, clubs and movies.

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