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American Legends: The Life of Red Skelton

American Legends: The Life of Red Skelton

Editorial review of American Legends: The Life of Red Skelton courtesy of Amazon.com

“I don’t want to be called ‘the greatest’ or ‘one of the greatest’; let other guys claim to be the best. I just want to be known as a clown because to me that’s the height of my profession. It means you can do everything-sing, dance, and above all, make people laugh.” – Red Skelton

“All I want to do is to make people laugh, to take the word ‘heartache’ out of their vocabulary” – Red Skelton

A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history’s most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors’ American Legends series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of America’s most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known.

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Here Comes the Bribe - The Red Skelton Show, season 15, originally aired October 26, 1965

Here Comes the Bribe [Red Skelton Show]

Here Comes the BribeThe Red Skelton Show, season 15, originally aired October 26, 1965 – with Johnny Mathis

Here Comes the Bribe is an episode of The Red Skelton Show, featuring Sheriff Deadeye running for re-election … Unless guest star Johnny Mathis can stop him! It was originally aired shortly before Halloween, so the silent spot is an appropriate parody of Hansel and Gretel, as well as some Halloween jokes in Red’s opening monologue.

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A Taste of Money - originally aired October 19, 1965 - Season 15, episode 6 of The Red Skelton Show

A Taste of Money [Red Skelton Show]

A Taste of MoneyThe Red Skelton Show, Season 15 – originally aired October 19, 1965 – with Harve Presnell

A Taste of Money features Red Skelton as his con man character, San Fernando Red. With guest Harve Presnell, they perform a three-act skit. They also do a funny short routine about rodeo skills, and a hilarious silent spot of pickpocket Red repeatedly trying to escape from jail.

  • As part of his opening monologue, Red Skelton does a pantomime of a doctor in a hospital. Doctor Jekyll, that is …
  • Harve Presnell performs Let It Be Me and Mountain Greenery, aided by the Tom Hansen Dancers and Alan Copeland Singers.
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Smokeless Sunday - The Red Skelton Show, season 1, episode 4, originally aired October 21, 1951

Smokeless Sunday [Red Skelton Show]

Smokeless SundayThe Red Skelton Show, season 1, episode 4, originally aired October 21, 1951

Smokeless Sunday begins with Red Skelton playing checkers with a dog … and losing.

Next is Red’s opening monologue, that leads into Cauliflower McPugg with his million dollar idea. Which involves a human fly climbing 100 feet on a ladder and jumping into a small cup of water. When the fly loses his nerve, Cauliflower takes his place … and regrets it.

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