The Stooges were featured in 174 shorts produced at Columbia between the years 1934 and 1958 (the longest running series in Hollywood history). Except for the first few films (when the Stooges were getting settled in their new home) and the last year of shorts with Curly (when Curly had suffered a series of strokes and could hardly function in his role) the shorts were remarkably well made.

Those who dislike the Stooges tend to dismiss these shorts as low quality, but they are wrong. Despite low budgets and a lackadaisical attitude toward short subjects on the part of Columbia executives, the films were fast paced and funny, and rank with the best of Hollywoods two-reel comedies of that era. The generally high quality of these shorts (especially those produced in the late 30s and early 40s) can be attributed to the presence of so many seasoned comedy veterans on the Columbia production staff, and the experience and professionalism of the Stooges themselves