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Tornado Deadeye

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Tornado Deadeye - where the tornado lands them on a South Seas island!

Tornado DeadeyeThe Red Skelton Show season 1, originally aired June 1, 1952

Tornado Deadeye is a very funny episode of The Red Skelton Show. It’s a nonstop series of slapstick, jokes and zany humor!

Tornado Deadeye – waiting for Deadeye to show up

Tornado Deadeye begins at the saloon, where Cactus (Benny Rubin) and Lucille Knoch are waiting for Deadeye to appear. While they’re waiting, they “suggest” that Cactus demonstrates his dancing skills. Suggesting with bullets, that is. So, under duress, Cactus does – doing an entertaining tap dance number while sitting in a chair!

Nobody walks over Deadeye! Or do they?

Deadeye finally arrives, and it’s a very funny, slapstick affair! He comes in, and tells two cowboys to hold the saloon doors open. But then he tells everyone to raise their hands, it’s a stick up! So they let go the door, and it swings shut, knocking Deadeye back outside! He comes back in, insisting that nobody walk over Deadeye! Until the sheriff walks in looking for Deadeye, and the doors knock him down, and the sheriff literally walks all over him! Deadeye flirts with a pretty saloon gal, does the endless drink routine (and exposes Sam’s help), and does a funny “bullet through a garden hose” routine. Then, it’s time for the Tide commercial. And Benny Rubin flubs the line!

Tornado time!

Finally, the tornado warning comes! Which Deadeye and Cactus use as an excuse to get everyone out of the saloon …. So they can rob the safe! No sooner do they finish, then the tornado arrives, and reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz takes the entire saloon and safely deposits on …. A South Sea island! Complete with hula dancer!

Cast of characters

  • Red Skelton … Self – Host / Deadeye / Gertrude and Heathcliffe
  • David Rose and His Orchestra … Themselves
  • Lucy Knoch … Blonde Saloon Gal in Tornado Sketch
  • Bob LeMond … Self – Announcer (voice)
  • Pat McGeehan … Self – Announcer
  • Shirley Mitchell (I Love Lucy) … Brunette Saloon Gal in Tornado Sketch
  • Leonard Rose … Self – LA County Supervisor
  • Benny Rubin (Space Ship Sappy) … Cactus in Tornado Skit