Homage to Red Skelton

[PabloElFlamenco]

Yesterday evening, New Year's eve, I was a bit ill with flu and we decided to stay home. Sitting a bit sadly in front of the TV, zapping through the programs directed at those many who find or have nothing better but to gawk at Bayerische beerfeste, Italian donne, Spanish glitz and French yapping, we had the immense fortune of staying with the 1946 film "Ziegfeld Follies" (a Vincente Minnelli and others production), a collection of multiple scenes, independent of each other, a real "show". Whilst much of the beautifully filmed scenes, in splendid color, are very...outdated..., Red Skelton had me laughing tears galore with a gin-based sketch; absolutely first rate, great display of talent, splendid stuff. Whilst I have seen Red Skelton during the earlier part of the 1960's when I lived in Texas, Virginia and Maryland, he had never, ever, made me laugh. My wife had never heard of Red. Thanks Mr. Skelton. To make it hat-related: this is a sketch where he does two figures, one of them with his hat turned inside out to make him look like a university professor...genius stuff! Remarkable scene, also, the one with a ...delicious... Judy Garland and a great band of dancing newpapermen. Wow!
Oh yes. I feel better. I'll go and open that bottle of Champagne, now.
Happy New Year to all.
Paul

 

[tortswon]

Paul, was it the famous Guzzlers' Gin bit? If not, try finding it on You-Tube. Happy New Year! Sam

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

Guzzler's gin, that's the one. I'd forgotten the "brand" it was... hilarious, really.

 

[RBH]

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[majormoore]

That was funny to watch, he was a funny man in those shows he did on TV.

Major Moore

 

[RBH]

That was funny to watch, he was a funny man in those shows he did on TV.

Major Moore

Yes he was so funny... he always seemed to work a hat into his act some way.

 

[Tomasso]

Here's an interesting read that may provide some insight into Red.

 

[Mr. Paladin]

Pablo and RBH, thanks for the trip down memory lane. As a kid, my folks would go to my grandparents to watch The Red Skelton Show on their TV, 'cause we didn't have one. Love all his hat skits; he is a master commedian!

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

Mr. Paladin, I wish to salute those people in America who did NOT have, at some time in their life, a TV set. A rarifying species, I guess, and now we probably will soon have those who have never had a TV for the fact that they have only ...internet (and offshoot technologies)!