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Cauliflower McPugg, Red Skelton's punch drunk boxer who's always hearing the bells and the birds

Cauliflower McPugg – Red Skelton’ punch-drunk boxer

Cauliflower McPugg is one of Red Skelton’s most lovable characters. Unlike several others, he’s not larcenous, nor dishonest. He is an inept boxer, however, who’s clearly been two long in the ring. Although he’s convinced he hasn’t been. He’s known as “the man who hears the bells and the birds” because he’s frequently hearing them — when they’re not there.

Cauliflower McPugg – Red Skelton’ punch-drunk boxer
Stone Walls Do Not a Prison Make: So They Added Iron Bars - The Red Skelton Hour, season 19, with Cesar Romero

Stone Walls Do Not a Prison Make

Stone Walls Do Not a Prison Make: So They Added Iron Bars – The Red Skelton Hour, season 19, with Cesar Romero

In Stone Walls Do Not a Prison Make: So They Added Iron Bars, Inmates Cesar Romero and Bolivar Shagnasty revolt against lousy prison food . Then, the drunken Willie Lump Lump “helps” a young boy with his lemonade stand.

Stone Walls Do Not a Prison Make
Red Skelton, as Willy Lump Lump, in the topsy turvy room in The Red Skelton Scrapbook 66

Willy Lump Lump – Red Skelton’s inebriate character

One of Red Skelton‘s “core” characters is Willy Lump Lump. Willy’s perpetually drunk, much to the chagrin of his suffering wife. How he started drinking varies, depending on the episode. Once, his wife said that it began with rum-filled chocolates that they received as a wedding gift. In another story, it goes back to when she was dating Willy. And she got him liquored up, so that he would propose to her!

Willy Lump Lump – Red Skelton’s inebriate character