Red Skelton Show 1952 -70

The Red Skelton Show is an American variety show that was a television 
staple for two decades, from 1951 to 1971. It was second to Gunsmoke 
(1955–1975) and third to The Ed Sullivan Show (1948–1971) in the ratings 
during that time. The host of the show, Richard Bernard "Red" Skelton, 
who had previously been a radio star, had appeared in several motion 
pictures as well. Although his television series is largely associated 
with CBS, where it appeared for more than fifteen years, it actually began 
and ended on NBC. During its run, the program received three Emmy Awards, 
for Skelton as best comedian and the program as best comedy show during
its initial season, and an award for comedy writing in 1961.

Opening monologue

Skelton opened with a monologue. The monologue often lapsed into character
humor, with two of the recurring bits being "George Appleby", a perennially 
henpecked husband into whom Red transformed by donning heavy black-rimmed 
spectacles and a misshapen derby hat, and "Gertrude and Heathcliff, the 
Two Seagulls", which he performed by crossing his eyes and sticking his thumbs 
into his armpits for "wings". (Johnny Carson, who was a writer on this program 
for a period, reminisced about writing for this spot.)

Comedy sketches

The sketches were usually built around one of Red's many characters, including 
"Deadeye", an incredibly inept sheriff in the Old West; "San Fernando Red", 
a shady real estate agent (named for the San Fernando Valley, which was still a 
largely rural area well outside Los Angeles at the time that the show began); 
"Cauliflower McPugg", a punchdrunk boxer, Clem Kadiddlehopper, a hick who 
was identified in at least one sketch as being from Cornpone County, Tennessee, 
and "Freddie the Freeloader". Freddie was a bum with a heart of gold, who was 
played by Skelton (and in one episode in 1961, by Ed Sullivan) in clown makeup 
reminiscent of Emmett Kelly but somehow not as sad. Freddie could be either a 
speaking character or totally pantomimed. While many of Skelton's other characters 
originated on his radio shows, Freddie was created for television in 1952.

We have 58 Great Episodes in this collection. Most are from early broadcast film.
 

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