Moe Howard’s Garage: A Hidden Treasure Trove Unveiled

For decades, Moe Howard’s garage at his Hollywood Hills home on 9061 Thrasher Avenue remained a sealed mystery, untouched since his death on May 4, 1975. Moe, born Moses Harry Horwitz in 1897, was the iconic leader of The Three Stooges, known for his bowl cut and slapstick humor that defined Hollywood’s golden age.

After retiring in the mid-1970s, he lived quietly with his wife Helen, who passed away months after him in October 1975. Their garage, rumored to be sealed by Moe’s request or Helen’s decision, became a time capsule, untouched even as the property changed hands.

Recently, it was finally opened, revealing astonishing relics that stunned fans and collectors alike.

Inside the mid-century garage, preserved by a stable, dry environment, were two vintage Cadillacs: a 1952 Series 62 Sedan, a symbol of post-war luxury with a 190-horsepower V8 engine, and a 1967 Sedan DeVille, Moe’s everyday car in later years, featuring modern design and leather interiors.

Both, covered in dust but remarkably intact, reflected Moe’s preference for understated elegance over flash, offering a glimpse into his off-screen persona. Beyond the cars, rows of sealed boxes and crates hinted at deeper treasures, meticulously organized as if to safeguard his legacy.

These containers likely held memorabilia from Moe’s career with The Three Stooges, a trio underpaid by Columbia Pictures despite their cultural impact. Earning about $2,500 per short film in the 1930s (roughly $20,000 annually per Stooge) with no residuals, Moe relied on real estate for financial stability.

The garage’s contents, protected from theft and media, included items akin to past auctioned artifacts: a 1942 Columbia Pictures ID card sold for $11,858, a handwritten outline for *Punch Drunks* fetched $9,799, and a 1971 signed check with a photo of Moe, Larry, and Curly garnered significant attention.

Other finds included a 1974 Screen Actors Guild card with Moe’s signature, vintage posters like *Uncivil Warriors* (valued at $30,000), personal letters to Helen and daughter Joan, and autographed displays, each piece a fragment of Hollywood history.

The garage’s sealing, whether intentional to preserve dignity or accidental due to family transitions, resonates with fans who lament the Stooges’ studio exploitation.

On Reddit, many view it as a vault of Moe’s identity, not mere collectibles, reflecting his modest life despite fame. The discovery, alongside events like the 2025 Howard family reunion near Los Angeles and the Stoogeum museum in Ambler, Pennsylvania, with over 100,000 artifacts, underscores Moe’s enduring legacy.

More than a comedian, Moe was a symbol of resilience and laughter, whose journey from Brooklyn vaudeville to comedy icon continues to inspire. The garage’s treasures—cars, documents, and mementos—offer an intimate look into a private man behind public hilarity, sparking debate on whether they were meant to remain hidden or shared to honor his memory.