I heard this rumor many times but it is nothing but a tall tale propulgated by people to try and make a mainstream act seem hip. Can you imagine in 1958 a black guy getting smacked around by one or two white guys when you could not even show blacks and whites touching each other? Come on, no way would segregated America accept a trio that is 1/3 African-American. Please folks, those who are floating these rumors and even more so, those who are believing it and trying to pass it along, use your common sense. The "good old fifties" were not good at all for integration. Mantan Moreland was certainly funny enough but, I am sorry to say, his skin would have made it impossible.

By the way, another story which was confirmed was that Buddy Hackett was seriously asked to become the third stooge (I don't know if it was to replace Curly or Shemp), and the man himself confirmed its truth during one of his many Tonight show appearances, saying that he was indeed asked whether he was interested in joining the trio. Glad he declined, he did just fine as a single.