[Editor’s note: Frogs is recited to the cadence of Boots, a famous poem by Rudyard Kipling]
Frogs. Frogs. Frogs, they are everywhere.
Frogs. Frogs. Frogs croaking fill the air.
Louder. Louder. Louder is their blasting blare
and there’s no silence in the night.
This is taken from The Thanksgiving Turkey, an episode of The Red Skelton Show where Red Skelton plays his Clem Kadiddlehopper at the first Thanksgiving. At the very end of the episode, Red Skelton addresses the audience and says:
Red Skelton’s Thanksgiving
This is taken from “Christmas with the Skeltons,” an episode of “The Red Skelton Show” where various characters played by Red Skelton drop in at the Skelton residence to wish them a Merry Christmas. At the very end of the episode, Red Skelton addresses the audience and says:Red Skelton’s Christmas Wish
Clem Kadiddlehopper was one of Red Skelton’s most popular characters, portrayed on radio and television for decades. He was a country bumpkin, slow-witted and big-hearted. Although never intentionally hurtful, he would often cause clownish harm. Often to his long-suffering father. (“When the stork brought you, Clem, I should’ve shot it on sight!” )
Clem Kadiddlehopper, Red Skelton’s country bumpkin
Red Skelton, one of America’s great clowns, talks about an American tradition – the home of the men of mirth. The Circus is an ode he wrote, and recited on his television show. Actually, the poem, The Circus, is a tribute to Red’s father, a clown, whom Skelton never knew, since his father died two months before Red was born. But the love of clowning, the love of mime and of the Big Top with all its magic for everyone, is an innate thing with Skelton
Red Skelton’s poem, The Circus
As a schoolboy, one of Red Skelton’s teachers explained the words and meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance to his class. Skelton later wrote down, and eventually recorded, his recollection of this lecture. It is followed by an observation of his own.
The time has come to say good night,
My how time does fly.
We ve had a laugh, perhaps a tear,
and now we hear good-bye.
I really hate to say good night,
for times like these are few.
I wish Red Skelton’s Farewell
Biography of Red Skelton (July 18, 1913 – September 17, 1997) If some day you’re not feeling well, you should remember some little thing I have said or done and if it brings a smile… Biography of Red Skelton
A note that I saw on groups.yahoo.com in the Caring_clowns group, and wanted to pass on:
Come celebrate Red Skelton’s Birthday