An Ache in Every Stake

In the Three Stooges next short film, August 1941's "An Ache in Every Stake," their 57th in the series, they take a cue from Laurel and Hardy's Oscar winning movie 1932's "The Music Box" by climbing a set of lengthy outdoor steps up a hillside to deliver blocks of ice to a household at the top. The Del Lord-directed Stooges' film also has parallels to Lord's earlier 1926 Bill Bevan's silent comedy, 'Ice Cold Cocos,' which used the same staircase used by Stan and Ollie located in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles. The Three Stooges, who operate an ice delivery wagon, struggle (especially Curly) to deliver their blocks of ice up the 147-step incline. The flight of stairs at the end of a cul-de-sac seen in the Stooges film currently exists two miles away from the more famous Laurel and Hardy one in a nearby Silver Lake neighborhood, only difference is the number of trees shading the steps.

"An Ache in Every Stake" also contains the rare dual appearance of the Stooges' most popular supporting actors, Vernon Dent, as Mr. Poindexter Lawrence, and Bud Jamison as the baker who cooks the elaborate birthday cakes for Mr. Lawrence. Twice the frustrated birthday boy Dent is foiled by the Stooges in his attempts to bring home his cake to the house the three icemen are coincidentally delivering. While the Stooges are in the kitchen with their ice blocks, they upset the cook preparing for the Lawrence's birthday party, so much so he leaves in a huff. The Stooges convince Mrs. Lawrence they can cook, setting up the classic scene showing Curly stuffing the turkey with the ingredients listed in the cookbook, but without shucking the oyster shells, not taking the peas out of its can, along with other items inside the cavity. Similar to Shemp Howard's 1934 'A Peach of a Pair,' the results are hilarious as the party guests chomp away at the solid materials in the turkey dressing. This short has everything in a Stooges' classic, including Curly again hampered by a backside coiled spring while dancing, reprised in a couple of their earlier shorts. I'm.

"An Ache in Every Stake" is from 1941 and runs 18 minutes. Starring Moe, Larry, and Curly as Ice Men, Cooks, and Waiters, this delightful romp features 56 year old Vernon Dent as Poindexter Lawrence, Bess Flowers as Mrs Lawrence, Gino Currado as the Cook, Bud Jamison as the Baker, Blanche Payson as the Maid, and Wilson Benge as the Butler. Located in the Silverlake district of Los Angeles, the steps we see The Stooges trying to traverse are located between 2257 and 2258 Fairoak View Terrace, whereas, The Music Box, the first film to win the Academy Award for Best Comedy Short in 1932, was located between 923 and 937 Vendome Street, at the intersection of Vendome and Del Monte Street in the Silverlake area of LA. I won't give away the ending, but if you're a Fan of the Three Stooges, you certainly deserve to watch this classic masterpiece!

This short begins hilariously, and builds to the riotous ending. It contains several well-known scenes, including the "ice-block down the stairs" piece, and Curly shaving the ice with great patter included. These stairs were also used in a wonderful Laurel and Hardy short involving a piano, and, as usual, Vernon Dent is hilarious as a pompous judge.

Larry, Curly, and Moe are chuckleheads delivering ice and coal. They have difficulty carrying ice up a steep hill. They get into a fight with a chef and end up taking his place in preparing for a high class birthday party.

The change from delivering ice to cooking is rather random. This is basically two different stories. They should split this into two shorts. The first half has the fun carrying ice up that staircase. It could have extended it and made it into something special. The second half's best bit is probably Curly dancing with the spring. That's been done before. The second half is a Stooges standard story.

This comment should put to rest the controversy of the "Ache in Every Stake" steps and the "Music Box" steps. The hilly area of Silver Lake, where both films were made contains a group of these staircases all around town. All of them are publicly owned, although there are private homes that can only be accessed by the stairs. The "Ache in Every Stake" steps are located between 2257 and 2258 Fair Oak View Terrace. About a mile away on the other side of the hill are the "Music Box" stairs. They are located between 923 and 937 Vendome Street. Both houses in both films are not at the top of each respective staircase. They are both studio sets. In addition, both films have different plots. The Stooge film moves faster, while the L&H is more surreal.