Reflections on an Afternoon with Red Skelton
Teriyaki Gene Goldman.·.
Reflections on an Afternoon with Red Skelton
By Bro. Tommy Sawyer. Thomas B. Hunter Lodge No. 1356 - in the Fall
1998
The Texas Mason
Masonry opens doors including opportunities to meet members of the
Craft who have utilized their Godgiven talents to promote Masonry,
harmony, and goodwill. I'm sure all will conclude %-oil have met many
who possess these traits! I did! His name you certainly know - Red
Skelton!
After proceeding through proper channels with his staff, I received a
letter granting me a thirtyminute interview with him while serving as
Hella Temple Camel Calf Magazine editor. He was performing at the
State Fail- Hall in Dallas and meeting with over 150 people from all
over the world to purchase his original art pieces.
While having lunch. I learned he was born on July 18, 19 13, in
Vincennes, Indiana. His acting career began at age 10 in a medicine
show. Next came minstrels, showboats, and later a job as a Clown with
the Hagenbeck & Wallace Circus. In 1937 he made his Broadway debut and
that same year was featured on the Rudy Valle radio show.
Glancing at my watch. I noticed I had only about 10 minutes left in
the interview when I noticed lie appeared to have lost something. He
asked me if I would accompany him to his room to help him look for a
his gold neck chain. There, he seemed much more relaxed and began to
demonstrate his most unique style in talking about his acclaimed
accomplishments. He began by talking about his career in the movies.
Forty eight movies, of which lie starred in forty. and costarred in
eight. He told me I could ask him questions and this would help him
formulate ideas and answers.
Great! What would my readers like to read? I asked him which show
business personalities did lie enjoy working with the most? His
answer. "I have had the pleasure of working with many talents in
radio, TV and the movies, but I would say the ones that really stood
out were Ed Wynn Mickey Rooney, Vincent Price, and the always funny
Martha Ray. 11
I was interested in what a typical day was like in the life of Red
Skelton. First, lie rises at 5:30 am. showers. shaves, and sits down
to write his wife, Lothian, a "love letter.- He spends the rest of
tile day making appearances and planning his travel agenda, still
finding time to keel) abreast of' his business pursuits. He watches TV
until 10:00 pill and then lie goes to his study to paint his famous
clowns and work oil other artistic talents. working until about 1:00
am. Only 4 or 5 hours of sleep is all lie requires.
Asked where lie lived and did Lothian have any hobbies. lie replied
they resided in Anza, California. She raised thoroughbreds and cutting
horses but managed time to accompany him oil come road trips. Also.
she was great support for him as she helped Iiiiii with his comic
materials.
Like some of you. I wanted to know about his comic characters lie had
invented to entertain so many millions of falls throughout his career,
those hilarious routines and skits lie performed oil his radio and TV
prograrns. and the scripts lie wrote. I began to name those characters
-Clem Kidittlehopper. Willie LumpLump, The Mean Little Kid, California
Pug. and of course. Freddie the Freeloader.'' He said these characters
gave him the opportunity to relive his childhood. He noted that a
little bit of the personalities he portrayed was found in each of us.
An interesting comment was he liked them the same - no favorites. A
point I found interesting was his comment concerning "The Mean Little
Kid" routine. "If I dood it, I get a whipping," wasn't used anymore in
his skits, because another Mason, General Jimmy Doolittle made
headlines during World War 11 with the statement "Doolittle Dood it."
His military career found him on the front lines in Italy in the field
artillery unit for 22 months. After the War, lie performed over 2,500
shows in Korea and Japan. I wondered how many new generations of fans
he gained from these experiences? Red returned to Hollywood and to
making movies with Lucille Ball, Esther Williams and other stars for
many more years. It might be of interest to know lie wrote commercials
for the United Tobacco Co., and designed napkins for some of our major
airlines.
When travelling across the country he made it a point to visit as many
Temples as he could, and he asked permission to visit with the clown
units - all to make a point: He said children are frightened of people
who wear paint and if the clowns of the Temples followed a simple
recommendation he used, their success with children would be
overwhelming. When they visit a hospital or a room of kids, they
should not go directly into the room, but peek around the comer three
or four times before entering. This builds trust and confidence!
"Masons are doing a great job helping children, and I would personally
like to see more emphasis placed on the DeMolay programs across the
country," he said when asked about his thoughts on Masonic activities.
His own personal experience with a Mason occurred in Vincennes when he
was 7 or 8 as lie sold papers on the street comer. A man bought a
newspaper and tipped him the remainder of a $5 bill. "Why did you give
me so much money to keep?" The man answered, "I am a Mason and we are
taught to give!" "Well, I am going to be a Mason too when I grow up,"
Red stated, "Oh. Sonny, you mean you are going to try to be a Mason."
This conversation staved with Brother Skelton all his life.
His Masonic career is most interesting too! He was a member of
Vincennes Lodge No. 1, with membership in both the Scottish and York
Rite Bodies. He was the recipient of the General Grand Chapter's Gold
Medal for Distinguished Service in the Arts and Sciences. On September
24.1969. He was coroneted an Inspector General Honorary Thirty-Third
Degree in Boston, Massachusetts. Also, lie was a member of the A]
Malaikah Temple in Los Angeles, California.
Our beloved Brother died September 24,1997, and was buried at Forest
Lawn Cemetery in Glendale. California. He will be missed! My life was
made richer one afternoon for about three hours with this outstanding
humanitarian. His success no doubt revolved around his love and
understanding of human emotions and people's need for laughter and
happiness. He left a great path for us to walk.
In parting, we shook hands and he said to me, "Tommy, keep smiling -
the world needs laughter, a lot of it." And what about the gold chain?
Did we find it? We looked in and wider the bed, in the bathroom and
down the hall, and I will leave it to the reader's curiosity if he
knew all along, it was in his coat pocket. His performance at the
Music Hall and his art sale was successful. So was my afternoon with
Red Skelton.
|O| Be well. Travel with a light heart.
Who said that?
Brother Gene .*.
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And in case I don't see ya' - Good Afternoon, Good Evening and Good Night!
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