This paper traces the interest by academic popular culture scholars in the films of the American slapstick comedy group of the 1930s and 1940s, "The Three Stooges." Noting that between 1990 and 1995 at least 17 scholarly articles have been presented at various popular culture association meetings, the paper touches upon the universal and particular themes that "Stooge scholars" have discussed in their works--especially those focusing on the Stooges' debt to Italian "Commedia dell' Arte" and to the satirical genre, as well as discussions of the Stooges contribution to World War II propaganda films. The paper cites as areas of major academic research on "The Three Stooges": (1) philosophical approaches to the Stooges; (2) analyses of the Stooges' contributions to film propaganda; (3) examination of the roles of Blacks and women in Stooge comedies; and (4) study of the Stooges' role in providing a morale booster for Americans during the "Great Depression." The paper also cites other miscellaneous studies of "The Three Stooges" and calls for suggestions to expand the interest area within the Popular Culture Association. (NKA)