Slipper Madness

Should Thomas plan on doing a follow-up to his ruby slippers articles, here’s a lead. People need more important knowledge like he is providing.

I have Shemp Howard’s original pie plate, used to hit Emit Sitka in the “Dizzy Detectives” short from Columbia.

Although there were rumored to be dozens of these tins, I have Shemp’s personal favorite, used for close-up shots, with his name engraved on the lip. Moe and Larry always took a cavalier attitude toward their pie plates, but Shemp was meticulous about his, taking care to get every last speck of meringue off between shootings.

Fortunately, I was able to obtain employment at the Columbia commissary as a dishwasher, and was able to save Shemp’s tin from the dumpster. I have been trying to contact Debbie Reynolds, in the hope that she will save a berth in the museum for this oh-so-important piece of Hollywood history.

Until then, darlings, rest easy; the tin is on a pedestal with indirect lighting, tucked away in a corner of my safe-deposit box until such time when I deserve to look at it.

MARK S. SCOTT

Seal Beach