Loco Boy Makes Good
Encyclopedia
Loco Boy Makes Good is the 60th short subject
starring American slapstick
comedy team the Three Stooges
. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures
between 1934 and 1959.
) because they are eight months behind on their rent
. Sitting on the curb of a sidewalk, they discover a headline in a newspaper that describes how a man who slipped on a bar of soap got money when he sued the owner of the building. The Stooges decide that this is how they will get the money to pay off their rent. As they go back into the apartments, the owner shows up at the door, so the Stooges run away. As they are running away, Curly discovers a bar of soap, and immediately take it somewhere so that they can get money, like how the man in the newspaper headline did. The Stooges decide to go into a hotel to slip on the soap. After several unsuccessful attempts to slip on the soap, the Stooges discover that the hotel is in serious trouble money wise. The Stooges decide to help out, after they discover that a man, Mr. Scroggins, is threatening to take over the hotel unless they pay what they owe. In the process, Curly recovers $52 that the owner gave to Mr. Scroggins, and his watch. The money's enough so that the Stooges can refurnish the hotel.
The Stooges then attempt to completely redo the hotel. Several antics the trio use are hammering a nail in a wall by using the back of Curly's head and breaking a board by slamming it onto Curly's back. The Stooges then get ready to lay down linoleum
for the floor. This proves to be a problem, because whenever the Stooges attempt to roll one part of the linoleum to the opposing wall, the other end of the roll of linoleum follows the Stooges until they collide with the Stooges' legs. To fix the problem, Larry lays across all three rolls of linoleum while Curly and Moe roll the three rolls to the opposing wall. However, the ends of linoleum which Larry is laying on roll up anyway, and they decide to paint the floor and pitch the linoleum.
The Stooges then plan a dinner party in the main lobby of the hotel. Billed as "Nill, Null and Void", they are the entertainment for evening which is planned to be dinner, entertainment, and dancing. One of the leading hotel reviewers, Waldo Twitchell (John Tyrrell
) is coming into the hotel with his wife (Dorothy Appleby
) and believes the Stooges' act to be "screwy enough to be good". The Stooges vow to make it a good night for the hotel.
The show starts out badly, however, with a few lame remarks by Moe and a musical piece, which features Larry playing the piano, Moe singing, and Curly playing the wife cooking. However, a heckler
(Eddie Laughton
) throws a tomato
at Curly, and he storms off to the dressing room to clean up. While in the dressing room, he meets up with Balbo the Magician (Vernon Dent
). Balbo tells Curly that he is going to amaze the crowd with his magic. However, when Balbo leaves the room, he accidentally takes Curly's coat. Moe then explains to Curly that they need to overcome this bad start. Curly then leaves with Balbo's "magical" coat. This twist of fate is what would make the night successful.
Some things that caused mayhem in Balbo's coat were a squirting flower that was worn in the coat's breast pocket, and various animals, such as a rabbit, bird, mice, and a skunk. Curly also displays his humorous display of dancing on the dance floor. Curly is already a hit with the crowd when he takes out a matchbox
in his pocket that contains mice. This creates havoc in the hotel as the mice ran and climbed up people's pant legs. The film cuts out when Curly discovers the skunk in his coat. Overall, the hotel reviewer was more than impressed with the hotel and the show, and the hotel was saved from demise.
Short subject
A short film is any film not long enough to be considered a feature film. No consensus exists as to where that boundary is drawn: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes or less, including all...
starring American slapstick
Slapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
comedy team the Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
between 1934 and 1959.
Plot
The Stooges are evicted by the owner of an apartment complex (Bud JamisonBud Jamison
Bud Jamison was an American film actor. He appeared in 450 films between 1915 and 1944.-Career:...
) because they are eight months behind on their rent
Renting
Renting is an agreement where a payment is made for the temporary use of a good, service or property owned by another. A gross lease is when the tenant pays a flat rental amount and the landlord pays for all property charges regularly incurred by the ownership from landowners...
. Sitting on the curb of a sidewalk, they discover a headline in a newspaper that describes how a man who slipped on a bar of soap got money when he sued the owner of the building. The Stooges decide that this is how they will get the money to pay off their rent. As they go back into the apartments, the owner shows up at the door, so the Stooges run away. As they are running away, Curly discovers a bar of soap, and immediately take it somewhere so that they can get money, like how the man in the newspaper headline did. The Stooges decide to go into a hotel to slip on the soap. After several unsuccessful attempts to slip on the soap, the Stooges discover that the hotel is in serious trouble money wise. The Stooges decide to help out, after they discover that a man, Mr. Scroggins, is threatening to take over the hotel unless they pay what they owe. In the process, Curly recovers $52 that the owner gave to Mr. Scroggins, and his watch. The money's enough so that the Stooges can refurnish the hotel.
The Stooges then attempt to completely redo the hotel. Several antics the trio use are hammering a nail in a wall by using the back of Curly's head and breaking a board by slamming it onto Curly's back. The Stooges then get ready to lay down linoleum
Linoleum
Linoleum is a floor covering made from renewable materials such as solidified linseed oil , pine rosin, ground cork dust, wood flour, and mineral fillers such as calcium carbonate, most commonly on a burlap or canvas backing; pigments are often added to the materials.The finest linoleum floors,...
for the floor. This proves to be a problem, because whenever the Stooges attempt to roll one part of the linoleum to the opposing wall, the other end of the roll of linoleum follows the Stooges until they collide with the Stooges' legs. To fix the problem, Larry lays across all three rolls of linoleum while Curly and Moe roll the three rolls to the opposing wall. However, the ends of linoleum which Larry is laying on roll up anyway, and they decide to paint the floor and pitch the linoleum.
The Stooges then plan a dinner party in the main lobby of the hotel. Billed as "Nill, Null and Void", they are the entertainment for evening which is planned to be dinner, entertainment, and dancing. One of the leading hotel reviewers, Waldo Twitchell (John Tyrrell
John Tyrrell (actor)
John Tyrrell was an American film actor. He appeared in over 250 films between 1935 and 1947.-Career:Tyrrell is best known for his prolific work with Columbia Pictures in the Three Stooges short subjects. Like many actors in the Stooge comedies, Tyrrell was a salaried contract player...
) is coming into the hotel with his wife (Dorothy Appleby
Dorothy Appleby
Dorothy Appleby was an American film actress. She appeared in over 50 films between 1931 and 1943.-Career:...
) and believes the Stooges' act to be "screwy enough to be good". The Stooges vow to make it a good night for the hotel.
The show starts out badly, however, with a few lame remarks by Moe and a musical piece, which features Larry playing the piano, Moe singing, and Curly playing the wife cooking. However, a heckler
Heckler
A heckler is a person who harass and try to disconcert others with questions, challenges, or gibes.Hecklers are often known to shout disparaging comments at a performance or event, or interrupts set-piece speeches, for example at a political meeting, with intent to disturb its performers or...
(Eddie Laughton
Eddie Laughton
Eddie Laughton was a British-born American film actor. Born in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, Laughton appeared in over 200 films between 1935 and 1952.-Career:...
) throws a tomato
Tomato
The word "tomato" may refer to the plant or the edible, typically red, fruit which it bears. Originating in South America, the tomato was spread around the world following the Spanish colonization of the Americas, and its many varieties are now widely grown, often in greenhouses in cooler...
at Curly, and he storms off to the dressing room to clean up. While in the dressing room, he meets up with Balbo the Magician (Vernon Dent
Vernon Dent
Vernon Bruce Dent was a comic actor who appeared in over 400 films in his career. He co-starred in many short films for Columbia Pictures, frequently as the foil to the Three Stooges.-Early career:...
). Balbo tells Curly that he is going to amaze the crowd with his magic. However, when Balbo leaves the room, he accidentally takes Curly's coat. Moe then explains to Curly that they need to overcome this bad start. Curly then leaves with Balbo's "magical" coat. This twist of fate is what would make the night successful.
Some things that caused mayhem in Balbo's coat were a squirting flower that was worn in the coat's breast pocket, and various animals, such as a rabbit, bird, mice, and a skunk. Curly also displays his humorous display of dancing on the dance floor. Curly is already a hit with the crowd when he takes out a matchbox
Matchbox
A matchbox is a box made of cardboard or thin wood designed to hold matches. It usually has a coarse striking surface on one edge for lighting the matches contained inside....
in his pocket that contains mice. This creates havoc in the hotel as the mice ran and climbed up people's pant legs. The film cuts out when Curly discovers the skunk in his coat. Overall, the hotel reviewer was more than impressed with the hotel and the show, and the hotel was saved from demise.
Quotes:
- Curly: (storming to the dressing room) "How do ya like that?! Hittin' me with a tomato!"
- Balbo: (chuckles) "A tomato?"
- Curly: "Yeah, a cowardly tomato, one that hits you and runs!"