Welcome. This page is a tribute to one of the most wonderful men to ever live,
Red Skelton
Biography
Red Skelton was born into a circus family on July 18, 1913. Sadly, it was a family
without a father...Red's father died but two months before he was born. Much later
in life, Red wrote a poem about his father and his life as a clown titled The
Circus. In May of 1923, at only 10 years old,he joined the Doc Lewis traveling
medicine show. From then on, Red charmed the world, performing from sawdust rings
to Carnegie Hall. His comedy acts have been a part of tent shows, minstrels,
circuses, burlesques, Mississippi showboats, movies, radio, and even Vaudeville.
Over the years, Red has performed before the Queen at Royal Albert Hall, entertained
8 United States Presidents, and put on private shows for 3 popes. Red made 48
motion pictures in 28 years, spent 20 consecutive years on television never leaving
the country's top ten, did 15 years on radio, composed 8,000 songs, 64 symphonies,
wrote 5 books, 22 motion pictures, and kept the whole world laughing. Red was a very
special man, wanting only make people happy with good, clean comedy. Few have had
guts or the talent to follow suit, and none have ever been half as good. Red Skelton's
amazing life-long career as clown, comedian, pantomime, actor, writer, painter,
photographer, and performer ended on September 17, 1997 at the age of 84. The
news of his death brought sadness to nations all over. No one had made such an
impact with a simple smile and a pure heart. His passing was and is mourned by
the world. He was one of a kind and no one can ever fill his shoes. Red, you
will be greatly missed for all time.
Careers
Red Skelton touched out hearts and souls with his beautiful words. But he had to
start at the bottom just like everyone else. He made his radio debut in 1936 on
"The Rudy Valee Program," then starred in his own NBC show in 1938. In 1939, he
was a star of the New Year's Eve vaudeville bill that also included such personalities
as Frank Sinatra, Burt Lancaster, Jo Stafford, and Harry James and his orchestra.
The owner of the theater was mystified by the business. He simply could not figure
put why it was so good when the motion picture on the bill had been a dud. His
career simply climbed from there. It has been said that when you're at the top,
the only way to go is down. But Red never went down. He stayed at the top from
the late 1930's through the late 1990's - sixty years of unparalleled greatness.
Little Known Facts
Red was an extraordinary man, no doubt, but there were many things about him that
the majority of the public never knew. Here are a few of them.
Red was an expert at Bonsai gardening, the oriental form of shaping and dwarfing
trees and plants.
He was a 33rd degree Mason, the highest degree available.
Although Red was seen with a cigar in his mouth or hand much of the time, he never
smoked.
He wrote 5 books, titled A Red Skelton In Your Closet, Gertrude and Heathcliff,
The Great Lazarus, The Ventriloquist, and Old Whitey.
His characters included the unforgetable Freddie the Freeloader, Clem Kadiddlehopper,
Junior, the Mean Widdle Kid, Willie Lump Lump, Mickey the Rat, Bolivar Shagnasty,
Sheriff Deadeye, San Fernando Red, Cauliflower McPugg, George Appleby, Gertrude,
and Heathcliff.
The songs he wrote were played and recorded by the likes of Arthur Fiedler, Van
Cliburn, David Rose, the London Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, the Las Vegas
Symphony, Anthony Movella,Thomas Mancini, and the Palm Springs Desert Symphony
Orchestra.
He was a doctor through an honorary degree of Doctor of Literature from Emerson
College in Boston as well as a Doctor of Human Letters from Vincennes University,
and a Doctor of Theater Arts from Indiana State University. He also received a
Doctorate from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
He wrote an interpretation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Many thought the interpretation,
first recited on his show, would bring the audience down since it was to be the
opening of the comedy program itself. But Red insisted, and it was done at the
opening of the show. It was a huge hit. Television stations across the country
were swamped with phone calls and letters poured in. Columbia Records released
a single record of it and it hit the best-selling charts. It was read into the
Congressional Record by several legislators and delivered by Red himself on
July 4th at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Senators and Congressmen wrotehim
letters of commendation. He received 42 awards for it including on fron the City
Coucil of Los Angeles, which presented him with a resolution praising Red as "The
man who, in these troubled times, with dignity, humility, and simplicity, reminded
all Americans that our country is one nation under God, with liberty and justice
for all..."
Awards
Red received many awards for all his wonderful actions throughout the years. Here
are but a few.
Cecil B. DeMille Award - for outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry.
Command Performance - for the Queen at Royal Albert Hall in London, England.
Mark of Acheivement Award.
Western Heritage Award Gold Medal - from the Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Lifetime Achievement Award.
American Comedy Award (many).
Member of Television Academy Hall of Fame.
Governor's Award - presented by Lucille Ball.
Gourgas Medal - top Scottish Rite honor.
Screen Actor's Guild - highest award for humanitarian service to the industry.
"Footprints in the Sands of Time" Award - one of the highest honors the art world
can bestow upon an artist.
More Information
For more information about Red Skelton, and especially his artwork, call the
3 Ring Circus in Branson, Missouri at 1-800-654-4725. They offer prints of his
work as well as a cassette featuring Red reciting "The Pledge of Allegiance," his
poem "The Circus," and the story "The Little Christmas Tree." The store also has
contact with Mrs. Skelton.
For Red
Red Skelton was my hero and he still is. Some people think it's strange to have
a clown for a hero, but not a clown like Red. He taught me more things than I
can write, but most importantly, he taught me how to laugh. He was always funny,
he hid wisdom in his comedy, used a smile to hide his tragedy, said it was okay
to laugh at the world, and cry because of it, too. He brought light to the darkness,
hope to the hopeless, and laughter to the grieving. He was an angel of a man. No one
can read this page, all his life and laughter and love, and still doubt that Red
was and is a great hero. Red took his talent and did what few have ever been able
to do...he changed the world, for the better. May God bless you and keep you.
Rest in peace. Good-bye, old friend.
"If someday you're not feeling well, and you should remember some silly little thing
I've said or done, and if it brings a smile to your face or a chuckle to your heart,
then my purpose has been fulfilled."
The time has come to say goodnight,
My how time does fly.
We've had a laugh, perhaps a tear,
And now we hear good-bye.
I really hate to say goodnight,
For times like these are few.
I wish you love and happiness,
In everything you do.
The time has come to say goodnight,
I hope I've made a friend...
And so we'll say, "May God bless you,
Until we meet again."
Red Skelton
Red
By: Jimbo the Clown
With his twinkling eyes of wonder,
His easy, infectious grin,
He spread the gospel of merriment
In a world of serious men.
Red saw that things were funny.
He celebrated the joy in life.
His humor was kind and gentle,
Not piercing like a knife.
The Catholic church has rules,
But for us there's no constraint.
We don't have to wait five years
To declare Red Skelton our patron saint.
See ya' later, Freddie the Freeloader,
Mean Widdle Kid, don't make a mess,
So long until we meet again,
Good Night and May God Bless!
Golden Memories and Silver Tears
By: Penny Cook
Some things last eternity,
All Time's unnumbered years...
Things like Golden Memories,
And things like Silver Tears.
Thank you kindly for stopping by. Have a nice day.
