The Skeltons at Christmas – The Red Skelton Show season 3 – Red’s various characters send presents to the Skeltons at Christmastime. And an extended Christmas visit with Freddie the Freeloader.
Christmas presents from various characters:
- Gertrude & Heathcliffe: An egg.
- San Fernando Red: extra ballots for the next election.
- Deadeye: a Christmas you-all log (yule log)
- From Willy Lump Lump‘s wife – which she had trouble getting away from Willy — a bottle of alcohol, with Willy’s teeth attached!
- Freddie the Freeloader – a pawn ticket so Red can get back the watch that Freddie stole!
- Clem Kadiddlehopper – a fly swatter, with a year’s supply of flies!
- George Appleby – a comedy prop where hands come up and tap Red’s face
- Cauliflower McPugg – another prop box, where a hand in a boxing glove punches Red!
The Skeltons at Christmas
Duckoo clock routine
Red tells the story of how Richard dreamed about a lion on his bed, so he cut off the tail with a pocket knife. And a moment later, Richard brings out the tail! After Red comments that he’s glad that Valentina didn’t dream of an elephant — she brings out its tusk! Then, Red nearly electrocutes himself plugging in the Christmas tree. After, the boys choir stops by sing a madly of Christmas carols. Then the story segues to Freddie the Freeloader, and how he’s celebrating Christmas.
Freddie’s hobo pal, Cedric, drops in for a Christmas visit — but Freddie has no food to share with him. So, he tries to make some eggnog, with oil from a lamp and two eggs that Freddie found — but they hatch! Then, a kindly police officer comes in, bringing a “spare” Christmas turkey for them! But somebody’s got to kill it!
Cedric: Aren’t you the chap that knocked off three gangsters at the bank last week?
Police officer: Yeah, but I didn’t have to eat ’em.
Eventually, Freddie takes the bird out back with a hatchet — and leaves them there so the turkey can commit suicide! After a failed bit of larceny, Cedric leaves. Freddie puts on a Santa Claus beard, goes down his chimney, and leaves a present in the Christmas stocking for himself! Pretending to fall asleep, Freddie wakes up and is “surprised” by the present – a box of his favorite cigar buts!
Back at the Skeltons, the boys choir finish with some Christmas classics – “God and sinner reconciled” — the true meaning of Christmas. Red, with his family in the living room, ends by singing “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” to them.
Cast of characters
- Red Skelton … Self – Host / Freddie the Freeloader
- Hy Averback (Cry Danger; M*A*S*H) … Cedric – Freddy’s hobo friend
- David Rose and His Orchestra … Themselves
- Ray Kellogg (The Red Skelton Hour) … Police Officer
- Bob LeMond … Announcer
- Georgia Skelton … Self / Mrs. Red Skelton
- Richard Freeman Skelton … Self
- Valentina Marie Skelton … Self
- The Mitchell Boys Choir
Songs
- Deck the Halls
- Hark the Herald Angels Sing
- It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
- Jingle Bells
- O Come All Ye Faithful
- Silent Night