Red Skelton (playing a variation on himself, as opposed to one of his many characters) and plays with his son Richie’s chemistry set. He inadvertently discovers a cure for smog, with the aid of his butler Reggie! And the Smog Czar is offering $10 million dollars for a cure to the smog problem! But a gangster, Mr. Lasagna (George Raft) wants the information, and is willing to get rough in order to get it …
The Smog Czar, starring George Raft – The Red Skelton Show season 4, broadcast January 4, 1955
The Smog Czar begins innocently enough, with butler Reggie (Reginald Denny) bringing Red Skelton his morning glass of stale sauerkraut juice – doctor’s orders! And discovers that Red has “borrowed” his son Ritchie’s chemistry set to play with. And the duo start playing around with the chemicals. I love Red’s “Pet Milk” robe — “I don’t have to wear it — I’m just proud!”
Red Skelton goes to City Hall to collect the reward for curing smog — but the smog czar and his panel are less than interested!
Gangster Mr. Lasagna (George Raft) wants Red’s smog cure! And he’s willing to get rough in order to get it!
Mr. Lasagna thinks he has Red’s formula, so he rushes to collect the $10,000,000 reward from the Smog Czar …
Cast of characters
- Red Skelton … Self – Host
- Georgine Darcy (Rear Window) … Reporter
- David Rose and His Orchestra … Themselves
- Reginald Denny (Batman – The Movie; Cat Ballou) … Reggie the Butler
- Rex Evans (Merry Andrew; Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man) … Cecil (Lasagna’s butler, and Reginald’s brother)
- James Gonzalez (The Lucy Show) … Minor Role
- Ray Kellogg (The Red Skelton Hour) … Lasagna’s Hoodlum
- Bob LeMond … Self – Announcer (voice)
- Vici Raaf (He Ran All the Way) … Choo Choo the Mobster Moll
- George Raft (Scarface) … Mr. Lasagna
- The Redettes … Themselves
- Thayer Roberts (This Is Not a Test) … The Smog Czar
- Michael Ross (D.O.A.; Attack of the 50 Foot Woman) … Louie