Whistle Stop – The Red Skelton Show season 2, originally aired November 2, 1952
Whistle Stop is a funny Red Skelton episode, with skits by San Fernando Red, Clem Kadiddlehopper, and John Q. American (voting skit)
Monologue
- Oh, I gotta explain why my hair looks like this. I’m in a picture now called “The Clown“, and I can’t get a haircut until the picture’s over, you see. Of course, it’s rather embarrassing. I walk up the street and barbers say, “Hey, give you an estimate.”
- You’d be surprised by the number of people that almost get to success, but they never quite get there. Now, you take my brother — I wish you would — he started, he tried 1 up, 2 up, 3 up, 4 up, 5 up, 6 up … and then he quit.
- I’ve got a duck story tonight. These two ducks are flying to Florida for the winter, and one of them says, “Herman?” The other one says, “Yeah, Pete?” “Just look down at that pond down there, there’s a pretty little bird. What do you say we go down there and get acquainted?” “Not a bad idea, we’re going down just for kicks.” So they swoop down and just as they hit the water, a guy blasts away with a shotgun! “Come on, let’s get out of here!” Half their feathers are missing, one turns to the other and says, “Herman, wouldn’t it just be our luck to run into one with a jealous husband!”
Whistle Stop
Crooked politician San Fernando Red debates his opponent, Phineas T. Cuckamonga, with the help of Benny Rubin. A very funny segment, ranging from San Fernando stealing cigars from Benny only to give them back to him, to a water pitcher joke, to mocking his opponent behind his back, etc.
Gooney Gardener
Clem Kadiddlehopper stars as an incompetent gardener. His girlfriend Daisy June comes by, as does a fast-talking salesman (Benny Rubin) who tries to sell him a money tree! But Clem actually outwits him! And then Daisy June wants to wash Clem’s dirty gardener’s glove, leading into the Tide commercial.
Secret Ballot
John Q. American (who seems like a prototype for George Appleby) and his wife are going to vote. The episode aired a week before a national election in the U.S.A. His wife forgot her sample ballot, so she goes back home to get it. While he’s waiting, he takes a nap, and dreams of three different people promoting their candidate – A Republicrat, a Democan, and (Benny Rubin) as a Joseph Stalin supporting Communist! In the dream, he goes to vote, and it’s got a lot of prop humor. Eventually, his wife returns, and they go in to actually vote. But wait! He’s been so busy complaining about politics, he forgot to register!
Cast of characters in Whistle Stop
- Red Skelton … Self – Host / San Fernando Red / Clem Kadiddlehopper / John Q. American / Gertrude and Heathcliffe
- Joseph Crehan (Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome) … Man Wearing ‘Harry’ Campaign Button
- David Rose and His Orchestra … Themselves
- Harry Hayden (Two Sisters from Boston) … Man Wearing ‘Dick’ Campaign Button
- Lucy Knoch (Executive Suite) … Mrs. John Q. American
- Bob LeMond … Announcer
- Shirley Mitchell (I Love Lucy – Lucy’s Club Dance) … Daisy June-Gardener Sketch
- Gil Perkins (Batman – The Movie) … Man Wearing ‘Tom’ Campaign Button
- Buddy Piper (Weepy Talks Turkey) … Man Delivering Water-Whistle Stop Skit
- Vici Raaf … Poll Worker-Secret Ballot Skit (as Vicki Raaf)
- Benny Rubin (Space Ship Sappy) … Fast-Talking Salesman-Gardener Sketch / Moderator-Whitsle Stop Sketch / Man Wearing ‘I Like Joe or Else’ Campaign Button