Monday, March 18, AD 2024 10:47pm

Red Skelton: Thanksgiving 1952

A Thanksgiving thought in 1952 from master comedian Red Skelton.  Born into deep poverty, his father dying two months before his birth, he went to work at the age of 7 to help his family.  Life dealt Skelton some tough cards at the beginning of his life, and the worst thing that could happen to any parent, the death of a child, lay in his future.  Yet throughout his life Skelton retained a deep faith in God and an abiding love for his country.  He approached life with optimism and a thankful heart, a good message for any Thanksgiving.  Below is his classic Pledge of Allegiance skit.

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Philip
Philip
Tuesday, November 24, AD 2015 5:04am

🙂

Karl
Karl
Tuesday, November 24, AD 2015 7:47am

I remember him from my youth. He was a class act. Those days are long gone. Glad I experienced some of those days.

Philip
Philip
Tuesday, November 24, AD 2015 4:41pm

If ever there was an entertainer that possessed humility it was Red. Call it authentic. He served God first. You Mr. McCleary do a service to all of us, by reminding us what ALL of us are capable of…namely serving God by loving neighbor.
Red Skelton is alive today and tomorrow… thank goodness. Thanks for the memories.

Philip
Philip
Tuesday, November 24, AD 2015 4:50pm

McClarey…geesh. (McCleary)
At least I’m consistent. 🙂

William P. Walsh
William P. Walsh
Friday, November 27, AD 2015 3:20pm

I remember him well, our favorite comedian in the 1950’s. His routines and his jokes stand clearly in my memory. “Did you hear about the poor snake?” He didn’t have a pit to hiss in” was about as risque as he ever got. It is a memory of a kind person who played the happy clown, in spite personal sorrows that might make others bitter, humorless, sarcastic and sour. Such can only be the working of Grace offered and accepted.

Philip
Philip
Friday, November 27, AD 2015 4:04pm

William P Walsh.

Freddie the Freeloader was one of his top characters. The hobo type, but always squeezing in dignity. He did not abuse his persona, but tried to show a compassionate heart from the pits of poverty. Example; A Christmas special he had with Greer Garson as his guest star. In the skit he needs a stage to for his hobo friends to put on a show for the orphanage. He asks Greer for use of her theatre which of course she agrees and the band plays on.

He was deeper than the facade as many comics of his era were as well.

Good man. Great American!

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