Appleby’s Soul, or Ah, Sweet Misery of Wife – The Red Skelton Hour – where George Appleby can’t take any more abuse from his wife Clara (Shirley Mitchell) & sells his soul to the Devil (Raymond Burr) to be a bachelor again!
Appleby’s Soul or Ah, Sweet Misery of Wife, broadcast March 30, 1965 – The Red Skelton Hour season 14 – starring George Appleby, Raymond Burr, Shirley Mitchell
Sweet Misery of Wife – Act I
Sweet Misery of Wife begins with an ordinary day in George Appleby’s household, with his wife Clara bossing him around as he’s working like a dog. Building the the barbecue with a massive load of bricks that he’s carrying. Why did he leave a gaping hole in the wall? To look at the pretty neighbor, of course! Followed by Clara’s physical abuse. Soon enough, George can’t take anymore, and says that he’d sell his soul to the Devil to be a bachelor again! On cue, Satan, played by Raymond Burr, arrives!
Sweet Misery of Wife – Act II
George Appleby makes a deal with a devil, leading to the running gag of “Abracadabra”! Every time George asks, the devil casts a spell on Clara, to humorous effect. Eventually, George sells the remaining half of his soul for — a single day with Cleopatra? And gets gypped!
Act III
Finally, it’s time to pay the piper! And the devil takes him to Hell, to begin his eternity of torment.
And it’s time for his torture! But after Clara’s abuse, it doesn’t bother him. So, they plan to send him back to Clara! But he refuses, so they bring Clara down there!
Silent Spot – a Day to Remember
In the Silent Spot, Red mimes the role of a self-indulgent millionaire searching a mansion he just purchased for some hidden treasure.
Songs
- England’s The Kinks sing ‘Got Love If You Want It.’
- The singers and dancers perform David Rose’s “Holiday for Strings”
Cast of characters
- Red Skelton … Self – Host/Self – George Appleby
- Raymond Burr (Perry Mason; Bride of the Gorilla) … The Devil
- David Rose and His Orchestra … Themselves
- Art Gilmore … Announcer
- The Kinks … The Kinks
- Shirley Mitchell … Clara Appleby
- Bonnie Evans … Dancer(uncredited)
- Garrett Lewis … Dancer(uncredited)
- Currie Pederson … Dancer(uncredited)