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| The Joe Besser Film Festival on June 9, 2013 at the Esquire Theater in St. Louis, Mo. |
Although he himself never received a star nor any award for his solo work, for him, it was an experience he never forgot, especially being reunited with comedian Milton Berle whom he worked numerous times on radio and television and who was one of the guest speakers at the ceremony.
Less than four months after the ceremony, Joe wrote his autobiography with his publicists and longtime friends, Jeff and Greg Lenburg. Titled Not Just a Stooge, it was published in paperback on January 1, 1984 by Excelsior Books, a publishing company formed by the Lenburgs.
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| Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley congratulates Joe on his 70th birthday |
He was proud of having his autobiography published, to be able to share all of his wonderful anecdotes with his fans.
Four years later, his autobiography was retitled as Once a Stooge, Always a Stooge: A Comedian's Sentimental Look at His Life in Comedy and Years With The Three Stooges and published in hardcover on January 1, 1988 by Roundtable Publishing two months before Joe's untimely death.
The publisher wanted the original book retitled because it said a title should not have a negative word in it (i.e. "Not"). The publisher did not understand that this word was a play on Joe's signature catchphrases, “Not so f-a-a-s-t!” and “Not so h-a-a-r-d!”
Joe was disappointed in the new title because he wanted fans to know he was more than just a stooge. But, over time he accepted being mainly remembered as a stooge.
Two years later, on January 1, 1990, the book was published posthumously under the same title in mass market paperback by Knightsbridge Publishing.
Thirty-one years later, the Lenburgs, who knew Joe best, lovingly retooled and published his autobiography by updating and expanding it with over 420 photographs under the title Once a Stooge, Always a Stooge: The Autobiography of Hollywood's Most Prolific Funnyman. Published by Moonwater Press (Jeff Lenburg's publishing company), the book is being sold, for the first time, in multiple formats: paperback, hardcover, Kindle, e-book and audiobook.
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| Joe's autobiography through the years: 1984, 1988, 1990 and 2021 |
The filmography and television sections have been completely revamped and enlarged, chronicling in great detail Besser’s nearly 350 movie and TV appearances, including his most memorable as “Stinky” on The Abbott and Costello Show and Jillson, the building superintendent, on The Joey Bishop Show.
At a whopping 408 pages, this edition is a complete record of Besser’s life and more than 60-year career in show business.
In addition to having his autobiography published, Joe was also proud of his work: radio, movies, television, Stinky, Jillson and The Three Stooges, all of which he was most proud of...Ya, c-r-a-a-a-z-y!
(Joe's updated and enlarged autobiography, Once a Stooge, Always a Stooge, published by Moonwater Press, is available in hardcover, paperback and Kindle editions. His autobiography is also available in audiobook and e-book.)