As Red Skelton used to say, there were these two seagulls named Gertrude and Heathcliff:
The Red Skelton Show was on the air for 20 years, the longest-running primetime network comedy variety series on television. It was a top 10 series for nine years–an accomplishment surpassed only by Gunsmoke and Home Improvement. The series has a few unimpressive achievements too, such as becoming the first top 10 series to be cancelled by a network.
Here is the history of The Red Skelton Show, beginning with its debut in 1951 and its great initial success. It was one of the top five television series that year, and Skelton and his show were nominated for Emmys. The author then details the show’s decline in popularity; its move from CBS to NBC in 1953 and its slow rise back to the top; its glory days of the 1960s, when it became an hour long show and finished at number two for two different years; CBS’s surprise cancellation of the show in 1970 despite its place in the top 10; and the failed last season back with NBC. There are three appendices: Appendix A lists cast and crew credits for the show, Appendix B lists special guests by season, and Appendix C offers information on the post-Red Skelton lives of many of the shows principal players.
Read More »A Critical History of Television’s The Red Skelton Show, 1951-1971
Red Skelton: Well, Rod, you look good tonight – I like your suit.
Rod O’Connor: Herringbone.Read More »Herringbone suit
This doctor starts examining my eyes, now you’ve got to hear some of the conversation that went on. I said, “The eye’s making me dizzy.”
He said, “Well, let’s not blame it on the eye.”Read More »Red Skelton’s eye exam
Song lyrics to Madam, I Love Your Crepes Suzette, Music by Burton Lane, lyrics by Lew Brown and Ralph Freed (1943)
Sung by Red Skelton with Tommy Dorsey & his Orchestra (film soundtrack)
also recorded by Danny Kaye
No thank you,
No thank you,
No thank you, no!
I don’t mean to be rude,
But I’m not in the mood for food.
It’s lovely, it’s tempting, fit for a king, I know!
Your cooking’s a work of art,
But when you’re with me, why be so a la carte?Read More »Madam, I Love Your Crepes Suzette
Red Skelton had a recurring role in the Dr. Kildare movie series, providing comedy relief as orderly Vernon Briggs. In Dr. Kildare’s Wedding Day, he has three memorable comedy routines — as well as a serious moment that we’ll address later:
Read More »Dr. Kildare’s Wedding Day
I have to admit, I’m very excited by The Red Skelton Show: The Early Years (1951-1955) — unlike so many of his contemporaries, Red’s great TV series is rarely rerun on television, so that we can only watch it via DVD or online video. Because of that, many of his early years haven’t been seen for decades — but that’s about to change, thankfully. Red’s first 5 years are soon to be available on DVD (currently on pre-order at Amazon.com)Read More »The Red Skelton Show: The Early Years – 1951 – 1955
I originally watched Flight Command because it was one of Red Skelton‘s earliest movie roles — which is technically true; Red’s in the film as part of the Hellcats squadron, acting as the class clown, but he’s definitely a secondary character. Flight Command is primarily about a brash young pilot, Alan Drake (played by Robert Taylor) who’s recruited straight out of college to join the premier squad of Navy Hellcats.
Ann Sothern stars as Maisie Ravier in Maisie Gets Her Man. This is the seventh entry in the “Maisie” series. Here, vaudeville performer Maisie has to leave the knife-throwing act when her partner, “Professor Orco” is jilted by his girlfriend, and decides to take his revenge out on all women … starting with Maisie, the target of his knives! Orco throwing knives at her is a very funny scene, that ends Maisie running away from the mad Orco, only end up to knocking him silly … and leaving herself unemployed once again.