Editing Curly Howard (section)

==Legacy==
Curly Howard is considered by many fans and critics alike to be their favorite member of the Three Stooges.<ref name="Fleming"/> In a 1972 interview; Larry Fine recalled, "Personally, I thought Curly was the greatest because he was a natural comedian who had no formal training. Whatever he did, he made up on the spur of the moment. When we lost Curly, we took a hit."<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005B1WV ''The Three Stooges Story'', (2001)] ''www.amazon.com'', accessed 22 February 2021</ref> Curly's mannerisms, behavior, and personality along with his catchphrases have become a part of American popular culture. [[Steve Allen]] called him one of the "few true but seldom recognized comedy geniuses."<ref name="SAllen"/>

The [[Ted Okuda]] and Edward Watz's book ''The Columbia Comedy Shorts'' puts Howard's appeal and legacy in critical perspective:
{{blockquote|Few comics have come close to equaling the pure energy and genuine sense of fun Curly was able to project. He was merriment personified, a creature of frantic action whose only concern was to satisfy his immediate cravings. Allowing his emotions to dominate, and making no attempt whatsoever to hide his true feelings, he would chuckle self-indulgently at his own cleverness. When confronted with a problem, he would grunt, slap his face, and tackle the obstacle with all the tenacity of a six-year-old child.<ref name="Okuda 1986 63"/>}}