Joe Besser/Larry Fine

[Melanie]

In Joe Besser's _Once a Stooge, Always a Stooge_ Besser describes working on the Jack Benny Show and how much he enjoyed it. I found
it of interest, too, that when Joe describes Larry Fine he mentions that,
due to an accident [Larry's father accidentally spilled acid on Larry's
left arm], Larry learned to play the violin to strengthen his arm.

One night he was spotted playing by Moe who suggested to Ted Healy
that perhaps Besser could replace Shemp (who was leaving the act) as a Stooge. "In making his offer, Ted supposedly told Larry, 'I'll pay you $100 a week to be my stooge; that's $90 a week and and extra $10 a week if you'll throw that fiddle away.'" Rather Bennyesque, no?

[Melanie]

Sorry-messed the story up-hit send too soon
LARRY was replacing Shemp at that time.