Get Thee to the Cannery – The Red Skelton Show season 13, with Ethel Merman and Billy Barty, broadcast October 29, 1963
In Get Thee to the Cannery, food tycoon Mother Hughes Stews’ (Ethel Merman) is desperate for a new dish! To the point of stealing the secret ingredient to Freddie the Freeloader‘s Mulligan stew! Then, a hilarious silent spot between cat and mouse Red Skelton and Billy Barty!
Act I – Get Thee to a Cannery
Get Thee to a Cannery begins with Freddie the Freeloader making a batch of his delicious mulligan stew. And the grocer chasing Freddie, since he keeps stealing the ingredients! it’s a funny bit, as Freddie starts stalking him from behind, mocking him to the other hoboes!
Get Thee to a Cannery – Act II
Act III – Get Thee to a Cannery
Finally, Freddie (and his hobo pals) get their revenge on Mother Hewes — since the cans of stew have a ‘your money back’ guarantee. And they’ve collected thousands of cans from the dump!
The Silent Spot
Red and Billy Barty don animal outfits to play a hungry cat and a clever mouse. It’s a hilariously funny skit! It’s like a live action Tom and Jerry cartoon!
Songs
- Ethel Merman sings:
- “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,”
- “A Lot of Livin’ to Do,”
- “Speak Low,”
- “Molly Malone“
- “Brahms’ Lullaby“
Cast
- Red Skelton – Self – Host/Self – Freddie the Freeloader, Cat in the Silent Spot
- Billy Barty (VHS; Willow; The Undead) – Mouse/Silent Spot
- David Rose and His Orchestra … Themselves
- Art Gilmore … Announcer
- Ethel Merman (It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World) … Mother Hughes
- Doug Fowley (Singin’ in the Rain) … Mugsy
- George N. Neise (The Three Stooges Meet Hercules) … Mr. Carrington – one of Mother Hughes’ yes men
- Olan Soule (The Shaggy D.A.) … Mr. Sturges – the other yes man