LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Larry Fine: Violin
built 200 days ago
In the original script, it was "Stars and Stripes Forever" that drove Curly Howard crazy, but it was changed when it was decided that Larry Fine would play the tune on the violin. Larry himself chose "Pop-Goes-the-Weasel" because the other song didn't sound right when played on the violin.
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Music now in his blood, Larry played on the bill of local theatre amatuer nights, taking top prizes in most of these contests. Which didn't suprise his peers, since he was certainly good at his craft. During this period he interspersed his musical talents with pugilistic skills, earning money as a lightweight boxer, fighting over 40 bouts. By age fifteen, he started singing along with movie slides at Philadelphia theatres- the Keystone, Alhambra, Broadway, Nixon's Grand, and the Allegheny-where he received two dollars for each performance. All of this was still accomplished while he was still a student at Central High School. In later years, he would go on to develop an act in which he would do a Russian dance while playing the violin.
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In his teens, Larry had aspirations of becoming a comedian - even a star. He enjoyed putting on shows for anyone who would watch him. As a result, he gained valuable experience. Larry's skill as a violinist became so impressive that he was asked to play professionally. At age ten, as a student at Southwalk Grammar School, he soloed at a children's concert at the Roseland Dance Hall in Philadelphia. Backed by Howard Lanin's orchestra, he played "Humoresque" on his violin.
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As part of his therapy, Larry was given violin lessons to strengthen his arm and he became an accomplished musician. He ... took up boxing during his formative years, primarily to strengthen his arm.
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