American comedian (1913-1997) best known as a top radio and television star from 1937 to 1971. After starting his show-business career in his teens as a circus clown, Skelton went on to vaudeville, Broadway, films, radio, TV, night clubs and casinos, while pursuing a separate career as a painter. Extensive and varied archive of Red Skelton material dating primarily from Skelton’s marriage to his first wife, Edna. While performing in Kansas City in 1930, Skelton met and married Edna Stillwell, and though they divorced 13 years later, Edna remained one of Skelton’s chief writers. Included in the archive: handwritten show bits; partial scripts (some possibly written by Edna Skelton); daily journal and diary entries from Skelton’s stint in the military (1944–45); and several short stories and essays, including one titled “America,” which reads, in part: “I just came home. I am not excited about it.... Funny we are pulling into the dock. No band. No General to greet us.... I wish I could have stayed in Italy—with all its filth. I still could have done a good job.” Also: four original handwritten musical compositions by Skelton on manuscript paper; an original ink sketch on celluloid of Edna by Skelton, signed “Big Red”; and several other crayon sketches by Skelton, one captioned, “Love is a headache.” Skelton was drafted in March 1944 and shipped overseas to serve with an Army entertainment unit. He led an exceptionally hectic military life; in addition to his own duties and responsibilities, he was often summoned to entertain officers late at night. The perpetual motion and lack of rest caused him to suffer a nervous breakdown in Italy. After spending three months recovering in a hospital, Skelton was discharged in September 1945. He once joked about his military career, "I was the only celebrity who went in and came out a private." Skelton’s stint in the Army is well documented in a large file that includes his notice of classification card (Skelton was classified 2-A), notice of induction, fitness notice, a three-page ALS from Edna contesting Skelton’s original classification as 1-A, one of his dog tags, accident notification card, three of his military insignias, Good Conduct medal, and his soldier’s qualification card, partially filled out and signed “Richard R. Skelton.” The card notes that Skelton was trained with the M-1 carbine, .50 caliber M-2, rocket launcher, and a 155 mm. Howitzer, lists his occupation as entertainer, and includes Skelton’s “resumé”: “5 years entertained people at medicine shows, tent shows, minstrels, circus, burlesque, walkathons, master of ceremonies, vaudeville, radio programs, television, motion pictures and musicals by means of skits, songs, comedy dances and jokes.” Also included: ten typewritten scripts by Red or Red and Edna, most from the 1940s; a binder full of soldier-show scripts and guides, as well as notes by Skelton on such topics as prisoners of war, news and information, serving with Negro soldiers, and troop morale. Among the ephemera are numerous programs, magazines, and news clippings by or about Skelton; 22 leather-bound scripts from Skelton’s films, including: I Dood It, The Fuller Brush Man, Excuse My Dust, and People vs. Dr. Kildare; and four signature stamps. Rounding out the archive is a group of letters to Skelton (mostly TLS) from such notable friends as Don Ameche, Eddie Arnold, Bob Hope, Hedda Hopper, Conrad Nagel, Zasu Pitts, Nelson Rockefeller, and Henny Youngman. An unsigned 1949 letter to Judy Garland, who had just been replaced by Betty Hutton as the lead in the screen adaptation of Annie Get Your Gun, reads, in part: “No one understands better than we do what it is like to be in a spot. Being the great little trooper you are, we know you’ll come through with flying colors.” In very good to fine condition overall, with scattered handling wear. A vast and interesting collection from one of America’s great comic geniuses, and well worth further research. R&R COA.
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