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Red Skelton
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Red Skelton insisted on getting his television skits done on the first take, even if it meant ad-libbing around blown lines and failed props. In one famous incident on live television, he managed to ad-lib while a cow defecated on stage ("Not only does she give milk, but also Pet-Ritz pies!").
"All men make mistakes, but married men find out about them sooner." Red Skelton
Richard Bernard 'Red' Skelton
18 July 1913 - 17 September 1997
Vincennes, Indiana, USA
The son of a former circus clown turned grocer and a cleaning woman, Red Skelton was introduced to showbiz at the age of seven by Ed Wynn, at a vaudeville show in Vincennes. At 10, he left home to travel with a medicine show through the Midwest, and joined the vaudeville circuit at 15. At 17 he married Edna Marie Stilwell, an usher who became his vaudeville partner and later his chief writer and manager. He debuted on Broadway and radio in 1937 and on film in 1938. His ex-wife/ manager negotiated a seven-year Hollywood contract for him in 1951, the same year "The Red Skelton Show" (1951) premiered on NBC. For two decades, until 1971, his show consistently stayed in the top twenty, both on NBC and CBS. His numerous characters, including Clem Kaddiddlehopper, George Appleby, and the seagulls Gertrude and Heathcliffe delighted audiences for decades. First and foremost, he considered himself a clown, although not the greatest, and his paintings of clowns brought in a fortune after he left television. His home life wasn't completely happy--two divorces and a son Richard who died of leukemia at age nine-- and he didn't hang around with other comedians. He continued performing live until illness, and he was a longtime supporter of children's charities.
Used his "Guzzlers Gin" comedy sketch as his successful 1940 screen test for MGM. It was later filmed in Ziegfeld Follies (1946).
Clowns were his lifelong trademark. His clown paintings have sold for upwards of $80,000.
Skelton earned over $2.5 million annually at one time as an artist, after the cancellation of his variety show.
His first wife, a former usher, negotiated his 1951 $5 million, seven-year Hollywood contract.
His father used to be a circus clown.
In 1986, as Clem Kaddiddlehopper, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Foolology from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
Inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame in 1989.
Inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1994.
He was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity.
Served in the U.S. Army during World War Two (1944-1945).
Star of "The Red Skelton Show" on NBC Radio (1941-1949) and CBS Radio (1949-1953).
Was the 1961 recipient of the prestigious Connor Award given by the brothers of the Phi Alpha Tau fraternity based out of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. He is also an honorary brother of the fraternity.
A bridge was built and named after him that spans the Wabash River separating Indiana and Illinois on US 50, just outside his hometown of Vincennes, Indiana. Vincennes University is also building a Performing Arts Center in his memory.
He often made reference to his second wife, Georgia, as "Little Red."
In 1971, following a successful 30 year run on CBS (often placing among the top ten shows) his ratings finally slipped and he was quickly canceled by the network. He never forgave them. Television historians have long suspected that he was a victim of the 1971 television purge that took place after the success of All in the Family wherein CBS rid itself of all "nice shows" in favor of shows with edgier subject matter.
His daughter Valentina was born in May, 1947. His son, Richard Freeman, was born in May, 1948.
He was extremely offended by "blue humor" and publicly made note of any comedian who used it because he felt that it cheapened the art of comedy. He very closely observed every skit that went on his show to make sure that it could not be twisted into a double double entendre.
One of Red's writers filled in for him one night when he took at serious fall injuring himself. That writer's name was Johnny Carson
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If by chance some day you're not feeling well and you should remember some silly thing I've said or done and it brings back a smile to your face or a chuckle to your heart, then my purpose as your clown has been fulfilled.
~*~ Red Skelton
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