Shuffle the Curlys

One of the reasons that the 1959 Three Stooges cards from Fleer are so rare and so valuable is the fact that most of the cards that were produced were off center. Since it was 1959 and these were not thought of as worth anything more than the five cents they charged for the cards, Fleer paid no mind to this flaw. As a result, finding a pristine set with all of the cards center is worth more to collectors than any other non-sports cards in the world. That being said, here is the next "double pack" of 12 cards. Enjoy!

3 Stooges 1959 Trading Cards Pack 6

No Curly Edges on These Cards!

Another double pack of Stooges cards and some more info on them as well. According to most collectors, the hardest card to find in flawless form is the Curly single (#1). This card makes no reference to the fact that Curly died in 1952 and had been replaced prior to his death by Shemp Howard. The card has been referred to as "the Holy Grail" of the set. This card is also often found off-center. Of the 166 Curlys graded, there has yet to be a PSA GEM MT 10 example and there is just one PSA 9. A PSA NM-MT+ 8.5 sold for $9,334.20 in a Memory Lane auction in May 2008. That's a lot of money for one card! That's a lot of money for one anything! Anyway, here at the World of Wonder, we provide you with these much sought after cards for the low, low price of FREE! Enjoy!

3 Stooges 1959 Trading Cards Pack 5

More Cards to "Spread Out"

Here's the next "double pack" of Stooges cards as put out by Fleer in 1959. Here's some more interesting facts about these cards. There are a number of color variations on them. In some instances, the objects in the pictures change color from card to card. A lot of this has to do with the backs of the cards. They were produced with three different colored backs: white, cream and gray. White is the most sought-after due to the front of the cards being crisp and sharp in color. The gray backs are just the opposite. The quality of the paper they were printed on is poor thus giving the colors a much different look. Here at the World of Wonder we offer you the highest quality cards with the white backs. Enjoy!

3 Stooges 1959 Trading Cards Pack 4

Some Moe Stooge Cards!

Here are another 12 cards in random order to add to your collection of Three Stooges cards so far. I actually was able to find out a bit more about this set of cards last night. They were originally released in conjunction with the Stooges' shorts premiering on TV. They originally cost five cents a pack and in the original run, each pack contained six cards and a piece of gum. Since my packs contain 12 cards, you can view them as double packs. And here is the latest "double pack" for your collection. Enjoy!

3 Stooges 1959 Trading Cards Pack 3

A Pack of Stooges

Here's the next pack of 12 cards in the 1959 Fleer Three Stooges trading card set. Keep on the lookout for those highly sought after portrait cards. Obviously the "virtual" versions have no value at all but you can always say you have them to get points with all of the cool kids! Enjoy!

3 Stooges 1959 Trading Cards Pack 2

They Stooge To Chew Bubblegum

Since the Buck Rogers cards were such a hit a little while ago, I thought I would keep the trend going. This time I offer you the rare and much sought after 1959 Fleer Cards collection of The 3 Stooges! These cards are always up on e-bay but are never complete. The most valuable cards in the set are the first three which are individual portraits of the boys. Of course, here at the World of Wonder, if you play your cards right (get it?!?!?!) you'll be able to collect all three of those as well as the rest of the 94 cards in the set. I'm not sure exactly how many cards were in each individual pack as I wasn't even thought of in 1959 and I can't seem to find any info on it here on the old world wide web. As a result, I decided to put the cards into packs of 12 and spread them out over the next 8 posts, concluding with the final post exactly one week from today on (what else?!) April Fools Day! The big difference between these and the way I posted the Buck Rogers cards is that these will not be posted in order. Just like buying the cards at the local five and dime (if you remember what those were), you will get 12 random cards that are not in order. Unlike that time honored tradition, you will only get each card once and won't have endless amounts of doubles. Anyway, here is the first pack and keep checking back for the rest! Enjoy!

3 Stooges 1959 Trading Cards Pack 1

Van Halen Gets Kissed

It's no secret that Gene Simmons discovered Van Halen. However, the details of when and how it happened are a bit sketchy. Different sources have different dates and different places as to when and where Gene first caught the band. The most logical one comes from Michael White. At the time, he was the vocalist for a band called "Boyz" which included future Dokken members George Lynch and Mick Brown. According to Michael, the "Boyz" were playing a Halloween show at Gazzarris on the Sunset Strip. The club was packed and most of the kids who came to the show that night were dressed up in KISS makeup. At the club were Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. Gene said that their label, Casablanca, was looking to sign some new bands. He asked where they were playing next so he could bring the record company big wigs out to see them. As luck would have it, the band had a gig the following week at the Starwood, another infamous club in Hollywood. They would be sharing the bill with another band called Van Halen. Gene showed up with the record company, but "Boyz" had an off night and weren't as good as they usually were. On the other hand, Van Halen had a great set. They impressed Gene so much that he flew them to NY to record some demos. Casablanca didn't sign Van Halen, but it wasn't long afterwards that some execs from Warner Bros saw the band (supposedly at the same club that Gene had seen them) and the rest is history. And from those early beginnings until their groundbreaking release, "1984", they were, quite simply, one of the greatest rock bands in the history of music. They were an unstoppable powerhouse. It's a true American success story. (I personally don't care for any of the material they did after 1984 - but that's just my humble opinion). Here is that demo produced and backed by Gene Simmons back in 1976. Here is "Van Halen Zero". Enjoy!

Van Halen-Zero

Classic Television Episode of The Month: The A-Team

I present to you an episode from Season 2 of The A-Team featuring special guests, Tracy Scoggins and her nipples. (you'll understand when you watch) Enjoy!

Singles Collection Episode 61: The Frogman Cometh

Clarence "Frogman" Henry is best known for his trademark croak. If you are scratching your head wondering what that is, maybe you've never seen "The Lost Boys". There is a scene in that classic flick where Corey Haim is shampooing his hair in the bath tub and singing along to Clarence's biggest hit, "Ain't Got No Home". In the song, Clarence sings like a frog, a girl and himself (the lonely boy). In addition to this gigantic hit. Clarence is also known as The Beatles' opening act during their 1964 tour of the US and Canada. He's been inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Here is that ginormous hit that gave Clarence his nick name and his career. Here is "Ain't Go No Home". Enjoy!

Clarence "Frogman" Henry - Ain't Got No Home

The Best of The World of Wonder: The Monkees Come Alive

A few years back, Rhino Handmade released a box set of all of the Monkees concerts that were recorded during their 1967 tour. Sadly, I missed out on the collection but I was able to gain a copy of a bootleg of their 8/12/67 concert in Mobile, Alabama as a birthday gift from my brother-in-law! I have no idea if there is a difference between the bootleg recording and the one featured in the box set. I do know that this boot rocks! Although the balance between the lead vocal and the back up band is at times almost non-existent (with the vocals being up front while the band sounds like they're in another auditorium) it still provides a look at what my cousin has referred to as "the first punk band" playing their hearts out to screaming kids and their parents at a Monkees concert in 1967. Enjoy!

The Monkees - Mobile, Alabama - 8/12/67 (part 1)
The Monkees - Mobile, Alabama - 8/12/67 (part 2)

Podcast #17 Is Here!!!!

Finally, a new podcast! This one features a lot of interesting stuff including selections from Tiny Tim, Visqueen, Kim Shattuck, Mad Magazine, Creamed Corn, Perry Como, The Shiny Lapel Trio, DADA, Jerry Colonna and more!!! Be on the listen for some interesting Voice Mail messages. Enjoy!

Dartman's Wacky Podcast #17

The Lost Member of The A-Team

I just recently started re-watching season one of the A-Team (one of my all time favs) and realized that I had a celebrity album on deck for quite some time. The reason I thought of it was the connection to the famed television series. You see, at the end of the fourth season of the A-Team, the powers that be thought that adding a new member to the team would boost ratings (yep, the cousin Oliver scenario!). The final episode featured the lovely Tia Carrere being added to the team. However, when the show returned for it's fifth and final (and worst) season, there was no Tia and no explanation as to her whereabouts. The first episode of the fifth season is pretty cool but from there it goes downhill. One can only wonder what might have been if Tia had been kept on.(truth be told, Tia was a cast member on General Hospital and they wouldn't relieve her of her contract to work on The A-Team) Anyway, Tia has shown up in a lot of places since then, from acting in films like True Lies, Wayne's World, High School High, Harley Davidson and The Marlboro Man and Lilo & Stitch to working in numerous television shows, most recently in the great HBO series, Curb Your Enthusiasm. In addition, she has a very prosperous singing career. In 1993, her first solo album, Dream, was released, and went platinum in the Philippines. That same year, she was featured on the soundtrack of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, performing the ending theme, "I Never Even Told You". She won a Grammy Award in 2009 for her third album 'Ikena, and took home yet another one in 2011 for her album "Huana Ke Aloha." Not bad for a girl who was kicked off of "Star Search" on her first appearance! Here is her debut album from 1993. Here is Tia Carrere and Dream. Enjoy!

Tia Carrere-Dream

Monkee-ing Around The US

6/3/2011 Chastain Park Amphitheatre Atlanta, GA
6/4/2011 Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater, FL
6/5/2011 Pompano Beach Amphitheatre Pompano Beach, FL
6/6/2011 Florida Theatre Jacksonville, FL
6/8/2011 Innsbrook Pavilion Glen Allen, VA
6/9/2011 The Community Theatre At Mayo Center For The Performing Arts
Morristown, NJ
6/10/2011 Mohegan Sun Arena Uncasville, CT
6/11/2011 Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort Niagara Falls, ON
6/12/2011 Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort Niagara Falls, ON
6/15/2011 Lowell Memorial Auditorium Lowell, MA
6/16/2011 Beacon Theatre New York, NY
6/17/2011 NYCB Theatre At Westbury Westbury, NY
6/18/2011 Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa / Event Ctr. Atlantic City, NJ
6/19/2011 Filene Center At Wolf Trap Vienna, VA
6/20/2011 Hershey Theatre Hershey, PA
6/22/2011 Stage AE Pittsburgh, PA
6/23/2011 Fox Theatre Detroit, MI
6/24/2011 Lifestyle Communities Pavilion Columbus, OH
6/25/2011 Aronoff Center For The Arts Cincinnati, OH
6/26/2011 Murat Theatre Indianapolis, IN
6/29/2011 Genesee Theatre Waukegan, IL
6/30/2011 Star Plaza Theatre Merrillville, IN
7/1/2011 Minneapolis Zoo Minneapolis, MN
7/2/2011 Minneapolis Zoo Minneapolis, MN
7/5/2011 Paramount Theatre Denver, CO
7/8/2011 Pantages Theater Tacoma, WA
7/9/2011 Sleep Country Amphitheater Ridgefield, WA
7/10/2011 The Mountain Winery Saratoga, CA
7/13/2011 Majestic Fox Theater Bakersfield, CA
7/14/2011 Chumash Casino Santa Ynez, CA
7/15/2011 Morongo Casino Resort & Spa Cabazon, CA
7/16/2011 Greek Theatre Los Angeles, CA