Indiana Broadcast History Archive

Comedian Red Skelton was famous for his radio show, “The Raleigh Cigarettes Program”, and his television show named after himself, “The Red Skelton Show”, which ran for 20 years. Skelton was also an actor and performer who won the Governor’s Award by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.  

Skelton was born in Vincennes, Indiana, in 1913. When Skelton was 15 years old, he left home to perform in a number of different shows including burlesque and minstrels. In 1937, he made his debut on Broadway and radio, and by the 1940’s, his comedy show, “The Red Skelton Show”, had become iconic in the radio world.  

“The Raleigh Cigarettes Program” premiered in 1941, which was Skelton’s radio show. However, the show was discontinued after Skelton was drafted in March 1944 to serve as a private in the Army entertainment unit. This was short-lived, as he was discharged a year later and then returned to the radio show.    

In 1951, Skelton advanced from radio to television with “The Red Skelton Show”. Many of the characters from his radio show were incorporated into the television show, which lasted for 20 years. The show won an Emmy for Best Comedy Show and Outstanding Writing Achievement.  

Skelton appeared in over thirty Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer (MGM) films in the 1940s and 1950s. As well as being a seasoned actor, he also wrote and performed countless pantomimes and jokes that he performed at casinos, colleges and theaters later in his career. Skelton also wrote over 5,000 musical compositions and wrote hundreds of essays and short stories. 

Photo Courtesy of Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy

 

In 1986, he was awarded the Governor’s Award for lifetime achievement by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Two years later, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Screen Actors Guild. 

He passed away on September 17, 1997, at Rancho Mirage, California, from pneumonia. Skelton left behind an extensive legacy of performances and shows that cemented him as a historic comedian. 

March 2025

By Lily Saylor