Kook's Tour
Encyclopedia
Kook's Tour is the title of an American short comedy film produced in late 1969 and early 1970. It was the final film to star the Three Stooges and originally intended as part of a television series. However, on January 9, 1970, before filming was completed, Larry Fine suffered a severe stroke
, paralyzing the left side of his body. When it became clear that Fine was not expected to recover fully from the stroke, production of the series was cancelled and the Kook's Tour pilot film was shelved. The film remained unreleased for several years until its director Norman Maurer arranged for it to be released to the Super 8
home movie market in the mid-1970s.
The name is a pun on the term "Cook's Tour", which was popularized by the Thomas Cook
travel company. This was also a vehicle to show off the great variety of Chrysler Corporation vehicles. All the vehicles shown in this movie were produced by Chrysler, Chrysler RV, and Chrysler Marine Division.
At the end of Kook's Tour, Moe stated that the second episode (ultimately never produced) would have taken place in Japan
.
Kook's Tour was the third time the Stooges had tried to create a live-action television series, after their first attempt with Jerks of All Trades
in 1949, and then The Three Stooges Scrapbook
in 1960.
Following Larry's stroke and the cancellation of Kook's Tour, several attempts were made to revive the Stooges (with Emil Sitka
replacing Larry), but no further films were produced before Larry's and Moe's deaths in 1975.
's son-in-law, frequent Three Stooges collaborator Norman Maurer
, as a weekly television series that would have mixed the Stooges' brand of farce comedy with a documentary travelogue
format. The concept of the series was that, after 50 years of comic mayhem, the Stooges (Moe, Larry Fine
and Joe DeRita) have retired and are traveling the world with their dog, Moose, motor home, and motor boat (which is transported from place to place via a cargo plane). The 50-minute pilot film
for the series saw the Stooges exploring the wilderness of the western United States
, including areas of Wyoming
and Idaho
. In the meantime, Larry keeps getting snubbed when trying to catch a fish and getting a picture of a deer. At the end of the pilot film, Larry, in frustration, throws his hat into the water and fish bite on the fishing hooks attached to it. Larry starts to get excited about catching some fish, but Curly-Joe counts the fish and says "One for me, one for Moe, and one for....Moose!"
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
, paralyzing the left side of his body. When it became clear that Fine was not expected to recover fully from the stroke, production of the series was cancelled and the Kook's Tour pilot film was shelved. The film remained unreleased for several years until its director Norman Maurer arranged for it to be released to the Super 8
Super 8 mm film
Super 8 mm film is a motion picture film format released in 1965 by Eastman Kodak as an improvement of the older "Double" or "Regular" 8 mm home movie format....
home movie market in the mid-1970s.
The name is a pun on the term "Cook's Tour", which was popularized by the Thomas Cook
Thomas Cook
Thomas Cook of Melbourne, Derbyshire, England founded the travel agency that is now Thomas Cook Group.- Early days :...
travel company. This was also a vehicle to show off the great variety of Chrysler Corporation vehicles. All the vehicles shown in this movie were produced by Chrysler, Chrysler RV, and Chrysler Marine Division.
At the end of Kook's Tour, Moe stated that the second episode (ultimately never produced) would have taken place in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Kook's Tour was the third time the Stooges had tried to create a live-action television series, after their first attempt with Jerks of All Trades
Jerks of All Trades
Jerks of All Trades is the title of an American television pilot released on October 12, 1949. It was the Three Stooges' first and only pilot made with Shemp Howard in the role of the third stooge. Filmed before a live studio audience, it was a pilot for a planned TV series on ABC, which was never...
in 1949, and then The Three Stooges Scrapbook
The Three Stooges Scrapbook
The Three Stooges Scrapbook was an unaired 1960 television pilot starring The Three Stooges . The pilot featured the slapstick trio getting evicted from a rooming house for cooking in their apartment, looking for a new place to live, finding refuge in the home of a mad inventor , and presenting an...
in 1960.
Following Larry's stroke and the cancellation of Kook's Tour, several attempts were made to revive the Stooges (with Emil Sitka
Emil Sitka
Emil Sitka was a veteran American actor who appeared in hundreds of movies, short films, and television shows, and is best known for his numerous appearances with the Three Stooges—nearly 40...
replacing Larry), but no further films were produced before Larry's and Moe's deaths in 1975.
Summary
Kook's Tour was conceived by Moe HowardMoe Howard
Moses Harry Horwitz , known professionally as Moe Howard, was an American actor and comedian best known as the leader of The Three Stooges, the farce comedy team who starred in motion pictures and television for four decades...
's son-in-law, frequent Three Stooges collaborator Norman Maurer
Norman Maurer
Norman Albert Maurer , a comic book artist and writer, was also a director and producer of films and television shows.-Comic books:...
, as a weekly television series that would have mixed the Stooges' brand of farce comedy with a documentary travelogue
Travel literature
Travel literature is travel writing of literary value. Travel literature typically records the experiences of an author touring a place for the pleasure of travel. An individual work is sometimes called a travelogue or itinerary. Travel literature may be cross-cultural or transnational in focus, or...
format. The concept of the series was that, after 50 years of comic mayhem, the Stooges (Moe, Larry Fine
Larry Fine
Louis Feinberg , known professionally as Larry Fine, was an American comedian and actor, who is best known as a member of the comedy act The Three Stooges.-Early life:...
and Joe DeRita) have retired and are traveling the world with their dog, Moose, motor home, and motor boat (which is transported from place to place via a cargo plane). The 50-minute pilot film
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
for the series saw the Stooges exploring the wilderness of the western United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, including areas of Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
and Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. In the meantime, Larry keeps getting snubbed when trying to catch a fish and getting a picture of a deer. At the end of the pilot film, Larry, in frustration, throws his hat into the water and fish bite on the fishing hooks attached to it. Larry starts to get excited about catching some fish, but Curly-Joe counts the fish and says "One for me, one for Moe, and one for....Moose!"
External links
- Official website description