Free Republic

Emboldened by Hitler’s rise to power in Germany in 1933, and fueled by the Great Depression, anti-Semitism increased throughout the United States, and over 100 anti-Semitic organizations sprung up across the country. They had names like the Friends of the New Germany (Nazi Bund), the Silver Shirts, Defenders of the Christian Faith, the Christian Front, and the Knights of the White Camellia, among others. Protected by the constitution’s First Amendment, they held public rallies, paraded through the streets in their uniforms carrying Nazi flags, published scurrilous magazines, and openly flaunted their hatred for Jews. American Jews were intimidated and frightened....

Here's one for you. Imagine that the gravel-voiced, 1930s-era screen star Wallace Beery and one of New York mobster Lucky Luciano's top henchmen beat and stomped to death one of the country's most famous comedians outside a Hollywood nightclub in 1937. Imagine that a participant in the fighting and eyewitness to the murder was the man who later would go on to produce the James Bond movies. Now imagine that the famous victim was the man who founded the Three Stooges, and that the Stooges -- particularly Shemp Howard, brother of Moe and Curly -- knew who committed the murder...