Larry Fine
Larry Fine was born under the name Louis Feinberg on Oct. 5, 1902 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was born to owners of a jewelry and watch repair shop.
Larry was the oldest of four children. Their names were Morris, Phillip, and Lyla. When Larry was just a young boy he went to drink a bottle of acid his father luckily caught this and smacked the bottle out of his hand. The acid splashed all over Larry’s arm, he was immediately rushed to the hospital. He required a skin graft, and violin lessons for therapeutic reasons. The doctors said that the deed of drawing the bow over the strings would help strengthen the badly deteriorated muscles.
As Larry he realized more and more that the violin was going to be a big part of his life. He was so good he was asked to play professionally, he even soloed at Roseland Dance Hall! Larry played on the score of local theatres on novice night. He always took first prize.
Over the years he had many odd jobs to pay the rent he was a lightweight boxer fight almost fifty bouts. He also sang along with movie slides he received two dollars every appearance. In 1921 he was hired for a part in the Gus Edward’s Newsboy Sextette, he played his violin and told jokes in a Jewish idiom. Later he, Mabel Haney (future wife) and Loretta Haney made a trio called the Haney sisters and Fine, they did vaudeville acts until 1925.
In Chicago 1925 he was asked to join the stooge act. They offered him $90 a week plus an extra $10 if he where to throw away his fiddle. He accepted this offer with open arms.
At one time Larry wanted to open a fast food restaurant called Mi Patio. In this restaurant they were to sell stooge burgers, which would be given out in plastic baskets with the stooges heads printed on the side. After a few months, their partners left town leaving Moe and Larry with the restaurant.
Larry had two Children a son Johnny who died in a car accident on November 17, 1961 and a daughter Phyllis. His wife died May 30, 1967. Larry died on January 24, 1975.
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