The Red Skelton Hour (1951–1971)
"The Red Skelton Show" (original title)

Long-running weekly show that spotlighted legendary comedian and beloved TV clown, Red Skelton. Each show featured comedy skits, gags and vignettes starring Skelton and guest performers.

Stars:

Red Skelton, David Rose and His Orchestra, Art Gilmore

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Red Skelton	...	Clem Kadiddlehopper (640 episodes, 1951-1971)
David Rose and His Orchestra	...	Themselves (624 episodes, 1951-1971)
Art Gilmore	...	Announcer (530 episodes, 1954-1971)

Storyline

Long-running weekly show that spotlighted legendary comedian and beloved TV clown, Red Skelton. Each show featured comedy skits, gags and vignettes starring Skelton and guest performers.

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Plot Keywords:

comedian | actor name in title | performer name in title | based on radio show | actor playing himself | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 September 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Red Skelton Hour

Filming Locations:

CBS Television City - 7800 Beverly Blvd., Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), National Broadcasting Company (NBC), Sursum Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 30 min (1951-1962)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White (1951-1955 and 1958-1965) Color (1955-1958 and 1965-1971)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Red Skelton had a reputation among comedy writers as being extremely difficult to work with, since he didn't like writers in general and resented CBS for insisting that he use them on his show; he wanted to write all the sketches himself, his reasoning being that no one knew his characters as well as he did. Sherwood Schwartz, prior to taking the position as head writer on the show, had it written into his contract with CBS that Skelton was under no circumstances allowed to discuss anything about a show's script with him before he was given it prior to taping, which often resulted in Skelton not knowing what a sketch was about or even what character he would be playing until shortly before airtime. That's why Skelton would often break character in the middle of a skit and turn to the audience and say something like, "Don't blame me, folks, I don't write this stuff."

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Connections

Referenced in The Jack Benny Program: Jack Does the U.S.O. Show (1963)

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Soundtracks

"Holiday for Strings"
by David Rose and Sammy Gallop
WB Music Corporation (ASCAP)

User Reviews

One of the best

Red Skelton, Jackie Gleason, Milton Berle, Burns and Allen, etc., etc. Will there ever be others that will equal them? I doubt it. Their shows were meant to entertain, not to push a political agenda as so many programs seem to do today.

As I understand, Red had several offers to do other television work but turned them down because he was expected to "modernize" his comedy, which he refused to do. Good for you Red! Shows were not flashy. There was no loud distracting music. Just pure comedy entertainment.

The dvds or videos should be part of the collection of anyone who loves a good laugh.