Maha? Aha?

One of the Three Stooges' greatest moments! How Vernon Dent , or anyone, could mistake Curly for the Maharaja is quite extraordinary! From "Three Little Pirates" (1946) Curly's penultimate film and his last great performance.

[@Octoberfurst]

In my opinion this was their funniest skit. I especially loved it when Curley said, "Oh shut up I don't have to!" when Moe told him to sit down.

[@SingersDream]

Me too! And then he sits down anyway😂😂😂

[@spiritgover4223]

I laugh because Curly sounded a bit like sissy Joe Besser when he said that :)

[@anthonycimino9941]

I would rewind that part over and over lol

[@mackdog832]

So Moe wrote this skit…..he was copying his mother’s accent when talking ….when they talked in gibberish that’s the way he heard it….so be it …this skit lmao

[@tinygrim]

Yeah I can watch this over and over. Funny one too when in line saluting with the funny stuff and elbowing each other...😂 Others too. But yes, this is a GEM 👍🏼💯

[@robertellis4938]

This was one of Curly's last shorts. A true genius.

[@stephenholloway6893]

This was his last short he completed before his career ending stroke. The next short Half Wits Holidays was in production at the time of his stroke. Though he had minor strokes before they filmed this short.

[@HomebrewStew]

Yeah his woa, woa, woas weren't as fast. I think he was drinking a little bit on set too.

[@elijahvincent985]

2:53 the very last and strong Woo-woo-woo and Nyah-ah-ah just about makes you applaud Curly for giving us one last epic performance!

[@arihoptman7474]

When Moe and Curly are sitting together, they really talk like brothers, even if the words are nonsense. It's actually rather sweet.

[@kimberlyhenderson7604]

Moe and Curly were brothers in real life too not just on the show.

[@AvuncularFeldspar]

@@kimberlyhenderson7604 Yes, I know. Shemp, too.

[@robitaillefan20]

Not nonsense speaking Yiddish

[@maxpowers6738]

@@kimberlyhenderson7604Moe took really good care of Curly in his final years after his retirement.

[@kimberlyhenderson7604]

@@maxpowers6738 yes I know. I googled it and found out.

[@MrPerfesser]

First saw this 62 years ago and it was the funniest thing I had ever seen. Still cracks me up. It never gets old. Maha? Aha?

[@kaisongamr9228]

Same, just not the 62 years ago part

[@AndrewHager02]

“Ranzbanyas yatee benee futchee ah tinney harongha, paraNEEcheema heeha!! I’d like to see some babes, myself!”

[@miked4728]

I'm only 32 but I remeber my late uncle and my father getting drunk and speaking the raja maha ❤ S9me of my most fondest childhood memories

[@ih8momjokes1]

LMAOOO

[@DemonicAdj]

​@AndrewHager02 me too-

[@WalterDWormack214]

No matter how many *"Cultured people"* dismiss the Three Stooges as *lowbrow comedians," their routines like this, *will NEVER get old!*

[@kurtk8926]

It is the other way around ....they are stupid!

[@davidkreider942]

Amen brother!! This is comedy like none other!!

[@scottkaegebein6038]

100 percent. I know I'm young (35). But my parents raised me on old comedy and music. I would prefer the three stooges over "big bang theory...." or any other of these newer shows

[@airwolf3607]

@@scottkaegebein6038 Yep💯

[@trace6402]

Cultured people are like cultured milk. Soured and bad taste.

[@roserandle6392]

This is my favorite Three Stooges short. I laughed until I cried. Curly was my favorite stooge. Such a genius.

[@JohnMagillM]

Can you imagine what the bloooper reels were like with these guys?

[@eyitsmattyyy616]

JohnMagillM these feel like bloopers

[@mtroy0620]

I agree, but at the same time I get the sense that these sets were run very tightly. Very little room for goofs (so to speak).

[@jeshuahayes5364]

Actually if the messed up you did realize because the final product was so good

[@alosim1541]

These guys were used to performing live. I'm sure most of the time they got this stuff right on the first take. Probably very few bloopers but i can't be for certain

[@mtroy0620]

Emil Sitka said in an interview (you can find it on youtube probably) that the sets were not like a circus, more like an operating room. Everything nailed down and precise.

[@SingersDream]

"OH,SHUT UP,I DONT HAVE TO!". *sits down anyway* 😂😂😂😂😂

[@theallamericancowboy2879]

Moe:SIT DOWN!! Curly:OH SHUT UP I DON'T HAVE TO!!! LOL

[@bradhedgehog12]

The All American Cowboy "gibberish" I fall down!

[@johnmagill3072]

I like to think of it as Stoogish..LOL

[@galaxyninjaboy3707]

The All American Cowboy i

[@kevinrichmond6513]

The All American Cowboy funniest line ever

[@CB3474]

Aha! Ah ya ababdidbia de abs pucci de--

[@Xaniker]

There's a LOT of comedic timing and talent with the three stooges

[@stevebaer50]

RIP Curly Howard you are my favorite Stooge 😂😁😎😭😱😰😨😩

[@darylbrunscheen5667]

I've been using that one phrase of Moe's for YEARS. "We shall see what we shall see". Love that!!!

[@5rob791]

Let me ruin that for you. It's "We shall see, but we shall see!"

[@AceripXF]

lol

[@AceripXF]

@@5rob791 hes right

[@lisaowens5070]

Me too!!!

[@ReMeDy_TV]

So this was one of Curly's last full skits!? Wow, talk about cutting it close; we almost missed one of Curly's finest moment!

[@davidkreider942]

“What other rarity does the Raja have for me?” “He had some bubblegum but I think he swallowed it.”

[@mezipe64]

"I fall down", " oh shut up I don't have to", " de where are you" HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@karenstepp669]

I didn't realize until the end when he ran into the wall that he couldn't see because of those crazy things they had on his eyes!! 😂

[@stephenrichardson6890]

I've been looking for this episode for 25 years. all I could remember was maha, aha. Me and my best friend have been yelling this back and forth ever since 1990. thanks for posting.

[@edwardbrault5902]

It's an old vaudeville/burlesque routine. They even used it in the film "The Night They raided Minski's".

[@corgicottage8578]

What is wonderful is when young people think old things are new... I used to be that way, but now I'm old and that happens less and less.

[@kevinmiller6324]

@@edwardbrault5902 The boys also used it in Time Out For Rhythm. Funny how they only use that skit twice. Moe also did the Maharaja skit during one of his appearances on The Mike Douglas Show in 1973.

[@franksnewwave]

Same here! My old boss and I were always "oh maha..." "ah-ha!". LOL

[@jltgp6703]

If it helps the name of this episode is “Three Little Pirates”

[@kwdrm1]

"Ross banyas yadda biddy foochy I fall down!" 100% Curly.

[@kylekeller3398]

🤣

[@richartrod]

The amazing thing about this scene is that Curly suffered a few strokes that seriously affected his acting ability, but he was well enough to give it his best one more time as the Maha (Aha).

[@brianrunyon266]

Oh yeah.

[@Nate-rl6he]

Curly: I like to see some babes myself. Moe: Me too-?! (Slap) Curly: Hit a guy with glasses huh?! (Slap)

[@plawson8577]

Jerry was his old self for the final time.

[@Deutschie]

@@plawson8577 Everyone thought that Curly was finally on the mend after this powerful performance.

[@leighanneslegoproduction353]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@johnnylightning203]

Absolute comedy genius!!! To create this wacky talk AND to never missing a beat, is nothing short of magic!! Nobody better!!

[@tyrant1384]

It's actually Yiddish rambling

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

This was Curley's last full performance and in my eye it was his best ever

[@PracticeBot13]

Second to last before Half-Wits Holiday, where he suffered his career-ending stroke.

[@juliandavidhoffer2022]

I think taking the stand is his best personally. It’s really fast and funny all the way through.

[@lisastundatarpat]

curly was the funniest guy, :)

[@tylerhynes0]

He sure was

[@kevinmiller6324]

@@tylerhynes0 Depends on who you ask. A lot of Stooge fans thought Shemp was the funniest.

[@art_the_king02]

@@kevinmiller6324 to me Curly and Shemp are like tie on who's the funniest stooge lol

[@fraserkemp1830]

@@art_the_king02 it depends on who you grew up with, I know shemp is now a term for comedy spots in Sam raimi movies

[@kaisongamr9228]

He was

[@roberttelarket4934]

Moe: Guaranteed forever. Larry: You should live so long.

[@richardrice8076]

"On your way with winged feet". Curly falls, Moe "Pick up your winged feet and let's go". My favorite line, comedy gold.

[@CaptKundalini]

Dent: "Can we dispense with the formalities and make with the gifts?" Moe: "Oh yes, the gifts. (To Curly): Siddown!"

[@art_the_king02]

"SIT DOWN" "OH SHUT UP I DON'T HAVE TO " 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@catman3552]

One of my favorite episodes of all time. Curly was the best.

[@MARCIA.ZZZZZZ]

I watched this 1000 times in a row

[@kylarokorbor528]

Moe : "The Maha," Curly stands up: -" Aha?! Espanich ah radif uji," Moe : "Sit down, you flat - bush flat - head." Curly : " Aw shut up,I no haf to!" Man,they didn't call them The Three Stooges for nothing! Their acts were hilarious! I do feel a bit sad that Curly died from being hit on the head so many times. I think they said it was a concussion...but I'm not exactly sure.

[@Georgie1954]

He had a bad heart..strokes. RIP Curly.

[@kevinmiller6324]

@@Georgie1954 Curly's copying Ted Healy's drinking was the REAL culprit.

[@xerox3989]

he has suffered 2 strokes here is a video of the sad things about the three stooges : kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZvJeKukgpamjq8

[@lasercatsproductions]

Oh a wolf! This one of my favorite scenes from The Three Stooges

[@mrobertjohnstoneboyce2084]

3:51: Moe: SIT DOWN! Me: SIT DOWN DAMMIT! Curly: Ah Shut Up I don't have to!

[@leighanneslegoproduction353]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@JohnMagillM]

this and curly's swearing in & stand testomony in Disorder In The Court are my fav bits

[@larryk1313]

Put DOWN that hat!!! Raise your right hand :)

[@kevinmiller6324]

Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Curly: Huh? Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Judge: Why don't you answer him? Curly: He's talking Pig Latin; I don't know what he's saying. Judge: He's asking if you'll swear to tell the truth? Curly: Truth is stranger than fiction, Judgie Wudgie. Lol.

[@kevinmiller6324]

@Jethro Tull I thought James C. Morton was the bailiff?

[@krystalharwood6359]

Ah so THATS where my Dad keeps quoting Vici kid from!

[@befdoglover1]

"Doyousolemnlysweartotellthetruthwholetruthandnothingbutthetruth?"

[@speedypete07gnarly]

"Maha!" "Aha!! Rasbanyas Yata Bene Foochie A-teenie-minee Jarongee!"

[@connerp6903]

Speedy Pete that's razbanyas yatee benee futch ah timney herongha (Moe) or razbanyas yatee benee futchi ah timney heronghi padarikmaheeha i wanna c that.

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

I'd like to see some babes myself ....

[@Rgoid]

“Maha.” “Aha?” “Rajah!”

[@edicus1899]

Sit down you flatbush flathead!

[@Skeletondude101]

Edicus 18 “Oh, shut up I don’t have to!”

[@paulp5656]

"got some slick chicks?" "Oh, a wolf!" This skit always makes me laugh. Is this language they are speaking a combination of gibberish and Yiddish? Moe's reaction to Curly's screeching at 2:20 is priceless. Islands of Coney and Long is the icing on the cake. LMAO

[@johnmagill3072]

I like to call this Stoogeish...lol

[@1958Shemp]

Some of this "language" resurfaced in the Stooges short "Studio Stoops" when Moe dictates to Shemp and then Shemp reads it "back."

[@Georgie1954]

Yiddish and pig latin? I thought I read that somewhere lol.

[@karenstepp669]

As I was watching this I was wondering how they kept a straight face ( especially Moe, because Curly is so hilarious 😂 ) I don't know how they got through the conversations without getting tickled and having to do a lot of retakes. I know I couldn't have! 😊

[@charlesgebhart2024]

@@Georgie1954 Well, the Horowitz's were also Lithuanian Jews so they might have interpolated some Russian with the Yiddish and maybe even some broken English and Babble.

[@sophiarieber7558]

My favorite scene of all!!!

[@GalenNight]

Ah, the tusk of a black walrus. Guaranteed forever. You should live so long.

[@CrowTRobot-ni7zu]

No leak, that?

[@AceripXF]

@@CrowTRobot-ni7zu nooo leak dat

[@anthonyvega-fujioka4464]

Ask the Maha.

[@GalenNight]

anthony vega-fujioka Aha!

[@taimak123]

@@GalenNight Sit down

[@chipgriffiths3655]

Amazing, 50 years later from when I first saw this, it still busts me up. One of my fav Stooges' bits.

[@Tornado1994]

Jerry Howard's Final Hurrah. He was Really Up for the last time here. The Following Short, Disaster struck.

[@oWallis]

Definitely one of my favorite scenes. Even the little things like pushing Larry out of the way every time just makes me laugh so much

[@ChuChu353]

"The Ruby de Lollipopskia"

[@bsgambati1]

It's raspberry!

[@WalterDWormack214]

I have been given many jewels. But never have I been given, *"the Raspberry!"*

[@kevinmiller6324]

@@WalterDWormack214 Me: Consider this your first time.

[@monicaramirez6063]

Lol

[@jimfromMaine]

Rasberry!!

[@SommerPopstar]

I love this scene. I can't help but watch it over and over again

[@NevanSlone]

1:58 The way Moe flicks him aside is hilarious

[@randonjack6184]

Raasbanya shatifinifuchi I fall down! 😂😂😂

[@tinygrim]

These men are irreplaceable. 💯💯💯💯

[@Feedersuper]

0 dislikes? Yeah, that's what I thought, haters. This stuff is the work of geniuses. From the writers and the Stooges to the supporting actors. Gold.

[@DrDK144]

R.I.P Curly. You'll always be our favorite stooge. Btw, is it just me, or does Vernon Dent's character kind of look like Ra's Al Ghul from Batman?

[@osvaldorodriguez65]

Yes he does look like Ra Al Ghul

[@kenwattie]

DrDK144 kind of reminds me more, girthwise, of King Tut from the '66 Batman series.

[@krystalharwood1807]

now that u mention it...yeuks! lol

[@Deutschie]

@michael davino This short was the last one he filmed before suffering his massive stroke while filming "Half Wits Holiday". R.I.P. Curly !

[@dakotairvine3495]

Stooge

[@kepler240]

I wonder if they really knew just how funny they were? the plumbing scene made me absolutely cry just looking at what curly did to that bathroom....damn

[@roberttelarket4934]

kepler240: Your genius astronomer relative Johannes Kepler from centuries before has watched this God only knows how many times with the Three Stooges in heaven and laughed themselves to a second death(God is threatening them with expulsion if this goes on!).

[@melsop54]

A Bird In The Head was my favorite as a kid, nowadays I appreciate how hysterical it is when the guy walks in the room and sees wall paper in every direction half way covering the walls, the doors, HVAC vents hahahahaha

[@BenAliGtor]

"....in his domain on the islands of Coney and Long.."

[@mikegrossberg8624]

Having come originally FROM Coney Island, I got a real kick out of this each time I hear it!

[@cfan6716]

@@mikegrossberg8624 XDDD So good with how they worded it

[@beverlystone5571]

CURLY IS SO HILARIOUS

[@Munsterboi1313]

this short make me laugh everytime i see it

[@johndrobcuny]

They also performed another version of this five years earlier, when Curly was in better health, in the 1941 film "Time Out for Rhythm." You can find it on ytube with the title "The Three Stooges maharajah skit from Time out for rythym".

[@karenstepp669]

Thanks for that tip! 👍 😊

[@emjee]

What amazes me is how much Curly (with his head covered and those glasses on) looks like Shemp!

[@arandbee4045]

Not surprising gib wise, Moe, Curly and Shemp were brothers in real life.

[@plawson8577]

That’s because Jerry was their baby brother. In fact his nickname was “Babe”.

[@bibleaday154]

Curly does more things in this skit that Joe picks up on later, than any other skit I've seen.

[@TheDUDERulez1]

Besser or Curly Joe? Nevermind, they're both terrible.

[@CaptKundalini]

"How do you say it, that Frog head...."

[@AceripXF]

that picklepuss lol

[@michaelgill2105]

Here's mine that Penis Nose

[@herronariela7469]

Moe:he had some bubblegum but I think he swallowed it. Curly: I'd like to see a few babes myself. Moe: me too. *smack* LOL favorite lines

[@reserrvoirman]

Hands down these guys are the finest comedians in the whole wide world. Shasta bean fuhji

[@FarnhazenBrep]

That is just too absolutely hilarious! I remember laughing out loud at this when I was a kid, watching it on TV. And now, as an adult, I understand more of the double-talk they were using, and it's even more hilarious! Wow. Note the references to the area they grew up in (New York City), "the islands of Coney and Long."

[@mikegrossberg8624]

Coney Island is a neighborhood in Brooklyn, once the largest amusement area on, at least, the east coast, all the way back to the 1890's

[@anthonyturner8312]

Me and my friend Randy love this one the most out of all the three stooges episodes

[@bsgambati1]

Guaranteed forever! You should live so long! *Bonk*

[@deesplaylists6941]

I love that line. Lmao.

[@ginapereira8948]

This proves genius!! 🤣😅 love it!!

[@SteelTank100]

Moe made a reference to the Islands of Coney & Long, Long Island, NY and Coney Island.

[@2405therow]

also bay meadows and canarsie

[@genericuser77]

And don't forget Flatbush (a section of Brooklyn), you Flatbush flathead!

[@kharbear53]

LOL!!

[@jamiewillkner8742]

Why is it people don't seem to remember or know about the Three Stooges Maha -Rajah sketch. But people know about Abbott and Costello 's Who s on First!

[@brandoninglin7566]

0:10-0:13 0:18-0:19 2:33-2:36 2:53-3:03 3:37-3:40 4:15-4:20 Is my favorite part of the video ever since I was a little kid 🧒‼️💯

[@DrexelGal]

According to one of the many published Stooge biographies, Moe (Howard) dictated this routine, stream of consciousness, to a studio stenographer.

[@rodhanson7112]

The crew behind the camera must have been rolling around on the floor laughing 😂

[@mackdog832]

What’s really funny is that I have actually memorized this skit!!!!😂😂😂😂😂

[@hinder57]

Insane! So glad you put this on here and thank you!😂😂😂

[@bps3013]

"I faw down!" XD

[@anthonyg4289]

Watching in 2020 still funnier than anything on today’s TV!

[@Sigma0283]

This episode is considered Curly’s last hurrah before having his stroke in Half-Wits Holiday.

[@SmashupMashups]

3:17 "You got some slick chicks?" "I'd like to see some babes myself."

[@hunterhowey5393]

Oh a wolf

[@brainscott8198]

omg...every morning before grade school...me and my brothers would get dressed while watching the Stooges...from 1969 to 73...good times! Channel 39 Houston 7-8AM!

[@glowworm2]

This is one of my favorite Stooge shorts solely for this scene which has made me laugh for years. The entire exchange between Moe and Curly in their made up language is a riot. "I'd like to see some babes myself.""Me too." *Slap!*

[@Wixom2200]

This is my ALL-TIME favorite episode. I watched it tonight. This is KRAZEEEE. I love it. Moe is hilarious in this episode!!!!

[@Deutschie]

This episode was Curly's last complete one. The next short the Stooges filmed was "Half Wits Holiday". Curly suffered a massive stroke near the end of filming. His career was effectively ended and the world was a less funny place to be.

[@ouchiegiverjr]

A true master of his craft

[@updfdrakkell143]

I remember he died from to much booze and smokes. I truly think He is what actually made the stooges. Ted Heely (think I spelled it right) brought them to the light but Babe made them a household name to me. (Yes his real name is Babe Howard and he did have curly hair hence his name but he shaved it for the part, I think)

[@updfdrakkell143]

@@roddrickcarter2805 he did have curly hair though, check it

[@updfdrakkell143]

@@roddrickcarter2805 jokingly or real? cuz his hair was how he got it

[@updfdrakkell143]

@@roddrickcarter2805 and i did a biography on him when i was younger so i know the truth to. nuck nuck nuck

[@paulboyden7431]

Timeless.They’ll NEVER die down or go out of style.

[@kenrozmislowicz9456]

This is my favorites three stooges routine that is so funny I crack up laughing every time I watch it, Tumi The three stooges are the greatest comedy team .

[@jeffcharles9344]

Maha Aha. And Niagara Falls, slowly I turned. That brings back some weird memories!

[@Master_Chief_]

Such a great show still!

[@BobbySyGo]

I've always loved this particular routine.

[@CaptKundalini]

"Bay Meadows" was a horse racing track near or in LA.

[@karenstepp669]

This is hilarious!! I had to smile when I read your comment "How .. anyone could mistake Curly for the Maharaja is extraordinary" and I can definitely see your point. I fell madly in love with him when I was about 5 years old ( when I first saw him ) so my perspective on this is probably biased...but I believe Curly could have done almost anything if he decided to do it, no matter what it was 😊 Of course I'm exaggerating a little bit here, but when it came to using his people skills combined with comedy he was absolutely brilliant! He won my heart as a child and he will have it forever. I only recently learned that Curly had already passed away when I was born in 1953 and I'm so glad I was never made aware of it when I was growing up. He is a true hero, and he probably never had any idea how well loved he would become. Thank you so much for posting this!! I didn't remember seeing it before, but it's now one of my special favorites! ☺

[@jaybone2321]

I am from Cordovia, and their accent is impeccable!

[@37Dionysos]

Gazing, splendid, reclined, up at the mystical ceiling of his thoughts, Pasha Curlington

[@cindygonzalez4075]

MAHA AHA LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@off2funnyworld]

I love this skit in every show they do it.

[@KowalskiStyL]

When Curly yells padaneechimagi-ha" ..... Hardest laughter I remember as a child.

[@adamcooper8370]

Masterpiece plus will be enjoyed by many future generations to come, this type of comedy is truly timeless

[@ShitaviousJenkins]

I was 8 when I saw this one and it was the funniest thing I'd ever seen!

[@SteveBrant55]

Maybe the funniest 4 1/2 minutes of film I've ever seen!

[@GeorgegorgeJones]

As a kid in the 80s watching this episode was classic . And still is😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@RitaMBuda-tz6bi]

My absolute favorite episode. 😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄

[@Brian-sf6ew]

My favorite Stooges bit..EVER...

[@Flipnred78]

Still HILARIOUS in 2024😂

[@freshair3451]

Simply the best

[@lloyd9710]

This is one of their best sketches

[@vincentrobinson3078]

Lol , this was my favorite Stooges skit !!!😂😂😂

[@tonyd3974]

In every episode there was one scene or just one line that always made the short. This one is a true classic. These guys can never be replicated!

[@stevekaminski1215]

This has always been one of my favorite scenes. It is rarely ever shown.

[@JonnyTheLeprechaun]

I too remember this from over 60 years ago.

[@davidstroemer8582]

Guaranteed forever! You should live so long!