The Red Skelton Show: The Early Years 1951-1955

This set is very welcome, not just for its entertainment value but as comedy archaeology. The ups and downs of the Skelton show make for a story quite unlike anything else in the history of the medium.Speaking of ups and downs, the viewer should be prepared for great variation in quality over the years represented here. The Skelton show was an immense hit its first year, garnering rave reviews, two Emmys and a fourth place finish in the ratings. Unfortunately, the work took its toll and an exhausted Skelton decided to switch to film in the second year after doing the first year live (or almost live-- the series appears to have used one filmed insert every week, presumably to facilitate set and costume changes). Red was quoted as saying that his sponsor "can either have a live comedian on a filmed show or a dead comedian on a live show."Suddenly, the show had a canned, airless feel to it-- besides which the "mistakes", ad-libs and breakups that were a big part of Skelton's stock in trade looked much more contrived in this pre-recorded context. Then, too, some scenes were greeted with what sounds like genuine audience laughter while others are clearly heavily "sweetened".... Critics reacted with negative comments and viewers reacted by demoting the show to twenty-eighth place. (The loss of Jack Douglas as a writer probably didn't help either.)Sponsor and network dropped the show but thankfully CBS picked it up and stuck with it through a few very difficult years. There was a return to live telecasts but nothing was fixed overnight-- reportedly, the program once sank to as low as number eighty-six in the ratings, remarkable for a show that later ranked as high as number two. One turning point (1955) was the arrival of a new writing staff, headed by Sherwood Schwartz, who stayed with the show for eight years. I dearly hope that a future release will bring us more of those episodes....The accompanying documentary is quite interesting, and incorporates a great deal of fascinating home movie footage. Its accuracy, however, is at times questionable: E.g., it now seems very unlikely that Skelton's father was a circus clown (at least for any length of time), and the childhood story he tells about Ed Wynn is doubtful (not to mention the fact that Red told the same story at least once with Raymond Hitchcock as the hero!).For more on the mysteries of Red's origins, the interested reader should consult RED SKELTON: THE MASK BEHIND THE MASK, by Prof. Wes D. Gehring. (Other worthwhile volumes are the same author's SEEING RED, and Wesley Hyatt's fascinating A CRITICAL HISTORY OF TELEVISION'S THE RED SKELTON SHOW, 1951-1971. You may also wish to go on over to bookfinder and look up LOOTVILLE, a 1957 novel by Nancy and Benedict Freedman; B. Freedman was a writer for the Skelton show in its first two years and the book is a fictionalization of his experiences.)

Many of these shows I may never have seen, some I may have in reruns years later. This is great to have a lot of his shows that may not have been reshown.

okay

Liked first episode. Will buy the later years.

From the golden age of live t.v. And from Red Skelton's private collection comes these un-cut windows to a great t.v. past. Where talent instead of violence and "reality" shows were the norm. The highlight of this set is the long thought lost B FOR BRUSH. Where Red in the character of Klem Kadiddlehopper, is a brush salesman that attempts to sell his wares to Bela Lugosi (A Mad Scientist), his Half Wolf ,Half Human Brother Lon Chaney Jr and Bela's sister Vampira!.Complete with a very cleaver dancing Skeletons number and ad libs galore. Hour after hour of wonderful, clean entertainment. Thank goodness the Skelton family supplied Shout Factory with these rarities. The transfers are top notch and the Cheer Laundry Detergent and Geritol commercials are as entertaining as the shows themselves.

Long overdue!Red Skelton was an American institution. After 10 successful years on radio Red came to television where he was able to be a visual comic as well ... and he flourished. The humor was often silly and broad but lurking behind a Skelton performance was always the ability to be touching and profound as well. He was a performer that was devoted to his audience ... he felt his abilities were meant to be shared and he always gave 100%. His comic genius and warmth made him a favorite on TV for 20 years. We don't seem to grow entertainers of his caliber or longevity anymore and he should not be forgotten. This set should do a lot to keep his laughter and art alive. Thanks Shout for putting this out.

So far this is one of the best Red Skelton collections that have come out. One of the other collections I have enjoyed is Red Skelton Unreleased. Many of the shows on these collections were never released before. The main thing going for the Early Years is the number of shows per disc and they're in slim disc boxes so it takes up less space on the shelf. I haven't watched it yet but the bonus disc contains a documentary about Red Skelton and a taping of a rehearsal of a show and the actual show. I'm hoping someday they will release a collection of his later 60's hour long shows.

Love the shows ( these are from early shows are from a low quality Kinescope Recording so know the quality before you buy....for this period of shows its pretty good...... the cases are as cheep as you can get....took 2 shipments to get acceptable dvd's NOTE THE WORD ACCEPABLE ...almost all of the dvds came loose in the cases and were scratched. Even when you try to put then back in the case they easily fall out again. Unless your a die hard RED Skelton fan and cannot wait...look for for the price to be lowered on this product...ITS NOT worth the price it is right now... at close to $50.00 .

He loved it! Said it mad3e him feel young again!

very funny! will not disappoint!

Bought as a gift. The receiver loves the old shows. Great buy.

Very funny.

Was Christmas present for my dad and he just loved watching them