A thousand clowns strong: The Red Skelton Festival

Posted by Bill on Friday, June 4, 2010   |   5 Comments

Red Bernard Skelton died in 1997. Add that to the fact that he wasn’t really active much after the late 1980s, and you probably have the two best reasons why a good many of today’s readers have little to no memory of America’s most beloved clown.

But The Red Skelton Hour was a family favorite when I was growing up. Originally aired on NBC, the show moved to CBS in 1953 where it continued until 1970.

His signoff at the end of each show, “Good night and may God bless.” became as famous as the parting phrases of Edward R. Murrow (“Good night and good luck.”) or Walter Cronkite (“And that’s the way it is.”)

Skelton was the symbol of conservatism and traditional values. His material was wholesome and squeaky clean. Even in the face of slumping ratings and other signs that he was losing touch with younger viewers, Red never lowered his standard for what he regarded as decent and acceptable for family audiences.

A life of performing

Born in Vincennes, Indiana, in 1913, Red Skelton tasted show business as early as 10. It was at that tender age that he caught the eye of Ed Wynn, who spied him hawking newspapers in front of the Vincennes Pantheon Theater.

After buying every newspaper Red had, Wynn took him back stage to introduce him to cast members of the traveling show.

At 15, Red was on the road full time as an entertainer, working everything from vaudeville and burlesque shows to showboats and circuses. He married his first wife, Edna Stillwell, in Kansas City in 1930.

Red soon worked his way into film and radio, and by 1941 he had his own radio show. He was drafted in 1944 and served overseas with an Army entertainment unit. Years later, he joked about his life in the service: “I was the only celebrity who went in and came out a private.”

After the war, Red resumed his radio show. By 1951, he was on NBC television, the first step in what would become a long and successful small screen career.

Although Red Skelton brought comic relief to millions, his life off the air was a stark contrast to his on-camera clown. He struggled with drinking and failed marriages.

Then, in 1957, Skelton’s son was stricken by leukemia. The decline and death of Richard Skelton at age 9 left his father ravaged by grief and unable to perform for much of the 1957-58 TV season.

When Red left television in 1970, he returned to his roots, live performing. He continued to delight audiences in nightclubs, resorts and casinos. He also devoted more time to a life-long love of painting.

In time, his work—mostly of clowns—began to attract prices in the neighborhood of $80,000. In 1983, he married Lothian Toland, who became his third and final wife. The International Clown Hall of Fame inducted Red Skelton into membership in 1989.

The Red Skelton Festival

Vincennes is Red’s hometown in southern Indiana. It is rich in history and has much to offer the visitor in its own right. The small town is also home to the Red Skelton Tribute Festival, featuring the popular “Parade of 1,000 Clowns.”

This year’s parade is Saturday, June 12 at 11 a.m. Billed as the biggest clown parade in the Midwest, the thousand-clown strong march is the signature event of the annual festival.

Although the parade is the main event, there is a good deal more for visitors to sample during the festivities. In addition to food, entertainment and activities for kids, there is an All-Star Clown Show, featuring ten Ringling clowns, including two from the International Clown Hall of Fame, and The Red Skelton Follies later in the day.

From June 9-12, the Red Skelton Jr. Joey Clown School holds daily clown camps for kids, aged 8-12. If you want to come and spend the night, check out free dormitory accommodations on the campus of Vincennes University.

All things considered, it’s a festival of a different sort—one devoted to nobler causes than most, clowns and laughter. Besides, it’s a low-cost family opportunity. So go ahead, take in Vincennes this June and make some memories.

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