1. Brideless Groom 1947 Cast
2. The Three Stooges Brideless Groom In Color
3. The Three Stooges Brideless Groom

Emil Sitka (December 22, 1914 – January 16, 1998) was a veteran American actor, who appeared in hundreds of movies, short films, and television shows, and is best known for his numerous appearances with The Three Stooges. He is one of only two actors to have worked with all six Stooges (Shemp Howard, Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Joe Besser, Joe DeRita) on film in the various incarnations of the group (Harold Brauer, a recurring villain who appeared in three 1940s shorts, was the other).

Sitka served the role of a literal 'stooge,' or straight man, to the Three Stooges throughout nearly 40 of their short films, most of which were filmed during Shemp's run as the third stooge. In addition to one single appearance during Curly's run with the trio, and a limited number of appearances during Besser's, Sitka returned as a near-regular character when the trio returned to film and television with DeRita. His frequent appearances with the trio, and his role as stooge to the stooges, have earned him the informal title of being the 'fourth stooge'.

Early life[edit]

Sitka was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in 1914. He was the oldest of five children, born of Slovak immigrant parents. His father, Emil Sitka, a coal miner, died of black lung disease when Sitka was 12 years old, and his mother, Helena Matula Sitka, was hospitalized, unable to take care of the children. His siblings were placed in foster homes, but Sitka went to live in a church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a Catholic priest for the next few years. At this time, he became an altar boy and made plans to enter the priesthood, and had his first acting opportunity in the church's annual Passion Play. At the age of 16, he and one of his brothers traveled across the United States looking for work. After a year, they returned to Pittsburgh, where Sitka found a job working in a factory. He stayed there until the great St. Patrick's Day Pittsburgh Flood of 1936, after which he departed to pursue his dream of acting in Hollywood, California.

Acting career[edit]

Early acting experience[edit]

Three Stooges Shemp Action Figure - Doll - Brideless Groom The Three Stooges Brideless Groom Shemp 8' Action Figure Limited Edition of 500 numbered pieces. Each figure includes an authentic cloth outfit an. From Brideless Groom (one of the four Three Stooges shorts that lapsed into the public domain and thus was distributed freely and widely). In January 1970, Larry Fine suffered a stroke during the filming of Kook's Tour. Plans were in the works for Sitka to replace him as the Middle Stooge in late 1970 and again in 1975, but nothing other than a.

Sitka found inexpensive lodging in a small acting theater, doing handiwork to pay his rent, and gradually acting in small parts in the theater. With time and experience, the parts became larger, and eventually Sitka was directing plays as well. Since the theater did not pay, Emil always kept a job as a civil engineer to pay the bills as well as his acting career at night. By 1946, he had played dozens, if not hundreds of roles; this breadth of experience would help him in his later film career, playing everything from butler to lawyer to businessman to construction worker.

In films[edit]

In 1946, Sitka was leading his own acting troupe when he was spotted by a talent scout for Columbia Pictures. He was told to contact Jules White, head of Columbia Pictures' short film department, and was cast in a short film that White was directing – Hiss and Yell. starring Barbara Jo Allen as her character 'Vera Vague.' Hiss and Yell was nominated for an Academy Award. Several months later, he was cast in his first Three Stooges film – Half-Wits Holiday, where he played the role as Sappington, the first footman. At the time, this episode was also the final starring role of Curly Howard, who suffered a stroke off screen and it marked the end of his career, thus making it one of only two shorts where Emil and Curly appeared together. The other short was Hold that Lion. Nevertheless, Sitka went on to appear in dozens of Three Stooges short films, as well as most of their feature films and the live action segments for The New Three Stooges 1965 cartoon series. He worked in both short films and feature films with others as well, including Lucille Ball, Milton Berle, Red Skelton, Tony Curtis, Alan Hale, Walter Brennan, Dan Blocker, Joey Bishop, Bob Denver, and many others. However, Sitka is best remembered for his association with the Three Stooges, and with one line in particular which he repeated several times: 'Hold hands, you lovebirds!' from Brideless Groom (one of the four Three Stooges shorts that lapsed into the public domain and thus was distributed freely and widely).

In January 1970, Larry Fine suffered a stroke during the filming of Kook's Tour. Plans were in the works for Sitka to replace him as the Middle Stooge in late 1970 and again in 1975, but nothing other than a few promotional pictures were ever made. Sitka was to play Larry's brother, Harry. He later described him as being 'conscientious to the point of ridiculousness.'^[2] Two feature film offers for the Stooges had been considered, but this proposed version of the group would never transpire, due to Moe falling ill and dying shortly after its conception. One of the film offers was Blazing Stewardesses, which would go on to feature the surviving members of the Ritz Brothers.

'Hold hands, you lovebirds'[edit]

In the Three Stooges short Brideless Groom (1947), Shemp Howard must be married before 6:00 p.m. in order to inherit $500,000. After striking out, Shemp finally finds a girl willing to marry him, and they rush off to a justice of the peace (Sitka). As he starts the ceremony, initially telling the couple to 'hold hands, you lovebirds', the other girls that turned down Shemp's proposal burst in, having heard of the inheritance. A free-for-all then ensues, with poor Sitka being struck again and again, attempting to start the ceremony, each time more disheveled and his 'hold hands, you lovebirds' rather weaker.

Because of the widespread distribution of this short (it is one of four Three Stooges shorts that slipped into public domain and was broadcast countless times on local television stations as a result – one station in Richmond, Virginia ran it almost every Sunday afternoon for years in the 1980s), this scene is the one that Sitka has become best known for.

Notably, a clip of this short is featured in Pulp Fiction (1994), for which Sitka's name even appears in the credits as 'Hold Hands You Lovebirds.' Emil also utters the phrase in his cameo as a supermarket customer in the horror film Intruder (1989).

Later years[edit]

Sitka continued with the acting career, more out of love for acting than the need for money, appearing in films as late as 1992. He was in demand at various Three Stooges conventions, and had numerous requests from Three Stooges fans to appear at their wedding to say 'Hold hands, you lovebirds!'

Additionally, Sitka appeared as a contestant on Let's Make a Deal in 1985, bringing along a drawing of silent film star Ben Turpin, which host Monty Hall remarked on when choosing him. After being given $500 by Hall and offered the chance to trade it for an unknown item, Sitka opted to keep the money and avoided a 'zonk' prize of his-and-hers garbage cans.

Personal life[edit]

Sitka and first wife Donna Driscoll married in the 1940s and divorced in the 1960s. He married longtime girlfriend Edith Weber in the 1970s; they were married until her death in 1981.

Sitka had seven children: daughters Elonka and Little-Star; and sons Rudigor, Storm, Tao, Darrow, and Saxon. All children are from the first marriage. Saxon carries on his father's legacy by appearing at Stooge conventions as often as possible.

Death[edit]

Brideless Groom 1947 Cast

While hosting several Stooge fans in his home in June 1997, Sitka suffered a massive stroke and never regained consciousness (one fan was a certified EMT and was able to keep Sitka alive until paramedics arrived). He died on January 16, 1998 in Camarillo, California, less than a month after his 83rd birthday.

He is interred next to his wife Edith at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park in Camarillo. As a tribute to his tenure with the Stooges, Sitka's gravestone reads 'Hold hands, you lovebirds!', as well as 'He danced all the way.'^[3]

Selected filmography[edit]

• One Exciting Week (1946) as Councilman (uncredited)
• Half-Wits Holiday (1947, Short) as Sappington (uncredited)
• Hold That Lion! (1947, Short) as Attorney
• Brideless Groom (1947, Short) as Justice of the Peace J.M. Benton (uncredited)
• All Gummed Up (1947, Short) as Amos Flint
• Joe Palooka in Fighting Mad (1948) as Photographer
• Pardon My Clutch (1948, Short) as Professor Otto Klink (uncredited)
• Blondie's Secret (1948) as Grocery Store Clerk (uncredited)
• Who Done It? (1949, Short) as Mr. John Goodrich
• The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend (1949) as Hoodlum (uncredited)
• Fuelin' Around (1949, Short) as Prof. Sneed
• Blondie Hits the Jackpot (1949) as Swedish Plaster Mixer (uncredited)
• Vagabond Loafers (1949, Short) as Mr. Walter Norfleet
• Feudin' Rhythm (1949) as Comic Actor (uncredited)
• And Baby Makes Three (1949) as Baseball Fan (uncredited)
• Punchy Cowpunchers (1950, Short) as Capt. Daley
• Hugs and Mugs (1950, Short) as Clerk (uncredited)
• The Good Humor Man (1950) as Street Cleaner (uncredited)
• Beware of Blondie (1950) as Trash Collector (uncredited)
• Rock Island Trail (1950) as Railroad Fireman in Bar (uncredited)
• Kill the Umpire (1950) as Irate Baseball Fan (uncredited)
• Texas Dynamo (1950) as Turkey
• Three Hams on Rye (1950, Short) as B.K. Doaks
• The Fuller Brush Girl (1950) as Man Stomping on Hair Folicle (uncredited)
• Slaphappy Sleuths (1950, Short) as Emil, a Customer
• Emergency Wedding (1950) as Man in Department Store (uncredited)
• Gasoline Alley (1951) as Martini (uncredited)
• Bowery Battalion (1951) as Albert - Officers Club Waiter (uncredited)
• Fighting Coast Guard (1951) as Chief Boatswain Mate (uncredited)
• Scrambled Brains (1951, Short) as Doctor Geseundheit
• Let's Go Navy! (1951) as Mailman (uncredited)
• A Millionaire for Christy (1951) as Moving Man (uncredited)
• Merry Mavericks (1951, Short) as Mort (uncredited)
• Corky of Gasoline Alley (1951) as House Painter / Irate Neighbor (uncredited)
• The Well (1951) as Lunch Counter Customer (uncredited)
• The Tooth Will Out (1951, Short) as Italian Chef (uncredited)
• Hula-La-La (1951, Short) as Mr. Baines
• The Sea Hornet (1951) as Waiter
• Pest Man Wins (1951, Short) as Meadows
• Harem Girl (1952) as Abdul's Servant (uncredited)
• Listen, Judge (1952, Short) as The Chef
• Gobs and Gals (1952) as Dressing Man (uncredited)
• Sound Off (1952) as Waiter (uncredited)
• Gents in a Jam (1952, Short) as Uncle Phineas Bowman
• Tropical Heat Wave (1952) as Uniformed Police Officer (uncredited)
• All Ashore (1953) as Bartender (uncredited)
• Loose Loot (1953, Short) as Atty. Poole (uncredited) (stock footage)
• A Perilous Journey (1953) as Drunk (uncredited)
• Gun Belt (1953) as Townsman (uncredited)
• Bubble Trouble (1953, Short) as Amos Flint / Gorilla
• Private Eyes (1953) as Patient in Wheelchair (uncredited)
• Geraldine (1953) as Engineer (uncredited)
• Jungle Gents (1954) as Boat Crewman (uncredited)
• Carolina Cannonball (1955) as Technician
• Timberjack (1955) as Jim (uncredited)
• Three for the Show (1955) as First Taxicab Driver (uncredited)
• Blackboard Jungle (1955) as Father (uncredited)
• Gypped in the Penthouse (1955) as Charlie
• Stone Age Romeos (1955) as B. Bopper
• Jail Busters (1955) as Mug Shot Photographer (uncredited)
• My Sister Eileen (1955) as Bit Welder (uncredited)
• The Spoilers (1955) as Miner (uncredited)
• Husbands Beware (1956) as J.M. Benton - Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
• For Crimin' Out Loud (1956) as Councilman John Goodrich (archive footage)
• Hot Stuff (1956) as Professor Sneed (archive footage)
• Crashing Las Vegas (1956) as Man in Seat 87 (uncredited)
• Thunder Over Arizona (1956) as Man Hit by Pie (uncredited)
• Scheming Schemers (1956) as Mr. Walter Norfleet
• The White Squaw (1956) as Texas Jim (uncredited)
• Commotion on the Ocean (1956) as Smitty
• Affair in Reno (1956) as Cashier (uncredited)
• The Phantom Stagecoach (1957) as Johnson (uncredited)
• The 27th Day (1957) as Newspaper Hawker (uncredited)
• Horsing Around (1957) as Circus Attendant
• Outer Space Jitters (1957) as Professor Jones
• Return to Warbow (1958) as Townsman (uncredited)
• Quiz Whizz (1958) as J.J. Figby
• Pies and Guys (1958) as Sappington
• Flying Saucer Daffy (1958) as Mr. Barton—President of 'Facts and Figures' Magazine
• Who Was That Lady? (1960) as Man with Flower Pot (uncredited)
• The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (1962) as Shepherd / Refreshment Man
• The Three Stooges in Orbit (1962) as Professor Danforth
• 13 Frightened Girls (1963) as Ludwig (uncredited)
• The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze (1963) as Butler at Men's Club (uncredited)
• The Outlaws Is Coming (1965) as Mr. Abernathy / Witch doctor / Cavalry colonel
• Who's Minding the Mint? (1967) as Janitor (uncredited)
• The Mad Room (1969) as Workman (uncredited)
• Watermelon Man (1970) as Delivery Man
• Crimewave (1985) as Colonel Rodgers
• Intruder (1989) as Mr. Abernathy
• The Nutt House (1992) as Geeves (final film role)
• Pulp Fiction (1994) as 'Hold Hands You Love Birds' (archive footage)

References[edit]

1. ^Thomas Jr., Robert McG (January 25, 1998). 'Emil Sitka, Favorite Foil Of 3 Stooges, Dies at 83'. The New York Times. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
2. ^Pete Kelly's Blog (22 September 2010). 'Stooge Stalwarts: Emil Sitka'. petekellysblog.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
3. ^Resting Places

External links[edit]

• Emil Sitka at IMDb
• Emil Sitka at threestooges.net
• Emil Sitka at Find a Grave

“Brideless Groom” (1947) – Moe, Larry, Shemp

Synopsis of Brideless Groom

To inherit a fortune, voice teacher Shemp must marry before six o’clock, but no girl will accept his proposal. Finally one of his repulsive students agrees to marry him, just in the nick of time. When the rest of the prospective brides hear about the inheritance, they show up at the ceremony and a free for all ensues. Shemp marries before the deadline, but wishes he was still a free man. “Hold hands, you lovebirds.”

Review of Brideless Groom

In short, Brideless Groom is one of the funniest of the Shemp era Three Stooges short films — and the short that made Emil Sita famous for the line, “Hold hands, you lovebirds.” Brideless Groom begins with Shemp working as a voice teacher, and Larry as his assistant playing piano, teaching Miss Dinkelmeyer (Dee Green) – a woman as homely as she is tone deaf.

After her session finally ends, Moe enters to let Shemp know that his uncle Caleb has died, and left him $500,000 dollars — a vast fortune in 1947. There is, however, one catch — Shemp must be married within 48 hours of the will’s reading, or he will collect nothing. The homely Shemp begins calling all of the numbers in his little black book (a funny phone booth scene here) and proposing to various women — with no luck.

Shemp even tries proposing to a total stranger (Christine McIntyre) — resulting in a very funny scene where she bounces him about, finally knocking him through a door. Shemp unintentionally proposes to Miss Dinkelmeyer, who gleefully accepts. and the “happy” couple head to the Justice of the Peace, with Moe and Larry as witnesses. However …

A newspaper has gotten hold of the story, and the various women that Shemp has proposed to are trying to chase him down before he can marry anyone else. In the meantime, Moe, Larry, Shemp and Miss Dinkelmeyer have arrived at the Justice of the Peace (Emil Sitka) — where Shemp promptly loses the ring in the Justice’s piano, and destroys the piano while trying to retrieve it. Finally, they’re ready to proceed, when … the other girls arrive!

The short film promptly turns into a slapstick fight, with the women assaulting each other, Moe, Larry, Emil Sitka, and anyone else in sight — but Miss Dinkelmeyer manages (after several attempts) to finally have Emil Sitka perform the wedding ceremony — with Shemp aghast as the prospect!

Brideless Groom is a personal favorite, and highly recommend it. I rate it 4 clowns out of 5.

Funny Quotes from Brideless Groom (1947)

Shemp: That’s enough for today, you might hurt your voice. Ya know, bend it or crack it or break it or something.

Shemp: [Giving instructions to Miss Dinklemeyer] Gargle with old razor blades.

Miss Dinkelmeyer, voice student: All right, professor. I know you wouldn’t want anything to happen to my throat. [exits]
Shemp: [to Larry] Except to have somebody cut it.
Larry: How’d you like to be married to a dame like that?
Shemp: Don’t even say that!

Shemp: [Moe enters and opens the door in Shemps face]
Shemp: [to Moe] I oughta…
Moe: [to Shemp] You oughta what?
Shemp: I oughta be a little more careful.

Moe: Shut up and listen. Do you remember your Uncle Caleb?
Shemp: Do I? Why, that old tightwad! He’d steal flies from a flying spider!
Moe: But, Shemp, he’s…
Shemp: He’s a louse and a weasel!
Moe: Yeah? Well, he just died and left you $500,000 bucks.
Shemp: Just like that old skin flint! [gasps] Shemp: $500,000? [begins to cry] Poor old Uncle Caleb! Like I was sayin’, he was a swell guy, giving me the shirt off his back and throwing the buttons too.

Shemp: [on the phone in phone booth] Hello, is this Ginger Grey? It is? This is your little snookums. Listen, I’m about to do ya a big favor, will ya marry me? [click]

Larry: [to a woman in the hallway] Say, Miss, would you like to get married?
Woman in Hallway: [surprised] What?
Larry: Get married?
Woman in Hallway: Well, I don’t know, but you are kid of cute at that.
Larry: [blushing] Oh, it’s not me, it’s him.
[points to Shemp, whose face is pressed up to the window of the phone booth. He makes an ugly face and has the phone cord in his mouth. The woman screams, then slaps Larry across the face, and walks off]

Miss Hopkins (Christine McIntyre): [to Shemp] How dare you pretend to be my cousin Basil? I’ll teach you a thing or two. You Wolf! Don’t you dare strike me. Taking advantage of a poor defenseless woman.

The Three Stooges Brideless Groom In Color

Justice of the Peace (Emil Sitka): My new piano!
Larry: [shoving the Justice of the Peace out of the way] Shut up!

The Three Stooges Brideless Groom

Justice of the Peace (Emil Sitka): Join hands, you lovebirds!

Larry: [after the phone booth’s walls fall and Moe and Shemp fall out of it]
[to Moe]
Larry: What happened?
Moe: That’s what I want to know.

Moe: Wait a minute. You wouldn’t hit a lady with that.
[grabs an object and hands it to Larry]
Moe: Use this. It’s bigger.