Upholding the tradition of previous years, the first new Red Skelton Show of the 1955-56 season was telecast live from New York (Red would return to Hollywood the following week). On this telecast from September 29, 1955, Skelton's guest was fellow variety-show host Ed Sullivan. In an extended comedy sketch, Ed played a Ralph Kramden-like bus driver who had to contend with a clumsy passenger (Red), who in addition to being overburdened with bulky packages was unable to find his wallet.--
05.06 1955/11/01 "Halloween Show" GS: Virginia Grey Note: Tells the story of how Willie Lump Lump started drinking! A year previous, his girlfriend (Virginia Grey) plied with with rum-laced chocolate to get him to propose. A year later, she tries to scare him into sobriety with the "Topsy Turvy" room.
Guest star Peter Lorre participates in the evening's main comedy sketch. A spoof of crime shows, the segment features Lorre as a serial killer known as "The Phantom of the Ballet." A novice detective (Red Skelton), determined to capture the killer, goes undercover as a ballet dancer -- and guess what happens next! CBS' color-photography system was seen to good advantage in the climactic dance-concert spoof. This episode aired live on November 29, 1955.
1955
12/06
Plot Synopsis
by Hal Erickson
Originally telecast December 6, 1955, this color episode of The Red Skelton Show is highlighted by a lengthy "Western" sketch. Red is once more cast as Deadeye, the stupidest gun in the west. This time, Deadeye faces a showdown with none other than the Lone Ranger -- played by none other than Clayton Moore, mask and all!--
Zsa Zsa Gabor appears "live and in color" on this December 27, 1955, Red Skelton Show telecast. Skelton is once again cast as Cookie the Sailor, once again looking for pretty girls while on leave. Falling in love with Zsa Zsa from afar, Cookie realizes that she'd never have anything to do with a penniless gob. Thus, he hires a costume and poses as the Maharajah of Caliphstan (a cute comment on Gabor's predilection for dating international millionaires).
1956
01/03
1956/01/03 Billy Gilbert, John Carradine, Jackie Coogan. Old vaudeville.
1956
01/10
Plot Synopsis
by Hal Erickson
Red Skelton plays his familiar "likable lush" character Willie Lump Lump on this telecast from January 10, 1956. Still a bachelor at 40, Willy is being pressured by his friends to find a wife. Reading a book about Casanova, he dreams that he is the legendary Latin lover. This episode originally aired in color
1956
01/17
Plot Synopsis
by Hal Erickson
Guest star Basil Rathbone appears in "The Sculpture Show." Rathbone is cast as a celebrated artist who is jealous of the success of a newly discovered surrealistic sculptor. The object of Rathbone's dis-affection is a fellow named Sir Robert -- portrayed by none other than Red Skelton. This program was originally telecast in color on January 17, 1956.
1956
01/24
Plot Synopsis
by Hal Erickson
On tonight's "living color" telecast from January 24, 1956, Red appears in his traditional hobo guise as Freddie the Freeloader. Stowing away on an ocean liner bound for England, Freddie is mistaken for an eccentric millionaire, and as such is treated like royalty. Once the truth is revealed, however, it's "Bum Overboard." Genuine Britons Melville Cooper and Reginald Denny, who'd recently appeared with Red in Around the World in 80 Days, also appear in the sketch.
05.23 1956/03/06 No show listed. Skelton ill. Moved to March 20.
1956
03/13
1956/03/13 {Pre-empted by a special See It Now}
1956
03/20
Plot Synopsis
by Hal Erickson
Guest stars Charles Coburn and Allen Jenkins join Red Skelton in a "Freddie the Freeloader" sketch. The city goes into an uproar when it is discovered that Freddie's tumbledown shack is blocking construction of a superhighway. The head of the construction firm (Coburn) tries to persuade our hobo hero and his pal Muggsy (Jenkins) to move. This "living color" episode of The Red Skelton Show was originally scheduled to air on March 6, 1956, but was moved to March 20 due to Skelton's illness.
Once again, Red Skelton assumes the identity of mild-mannered George Appleby. This time, George is a delegate to a convention, assigned to select the Convention Queen. His task is complicated by the presence of identical twin contestants, played by real-life twin entertainers Sandra and Sonia Warner. Also featuring Dick Foran, this episode originally aired in color on April 10, 1956.
1956
04/17
05.28 1956/04/17 Paul Coates. Stages of evolution by hypnosis
1956
04/24
05.29 1956/04/24 "Robin Hood"
1956
05/01
05.30 1956/05/01 Elena Verdugo, Fritz Feld
1956
05/06
05.31 1956/05/06 Anne Jeffreys. Clem vs. female spy in bakery
05.33 1956/05/22 Allen Jenkins. Freddie stock wizard
1956
05/29
05.34 1956/05/29 "Public Pigeon " ZaSu Pitts. Rusty life insurance
1956
06/05
05.35 1956/06/05 "Captain Kidd" Billy Gilbert, John Carradine, Sterling Holloway
1956
06/12
05.36 1956/06/12 Marie Windsor, Nancy Kulp, Maxine Gates. Factory worker company picnic.
1956
06/19
05.37 1956/06/19
Plot Synopsis
by Hal Erickson
Former film star Anna Sten is Red Skelton's guest in his final telecast of the 1955-56 TV season. Once again, Red plays country boy Clem Kadiddlehopper, who on this occasion has stumbled upon a formula for growing giant fruits and vegetables. Appointed minister of agriculture by the Queen of Livonia (Sten), Clem finds himself in the middle of a revolution. Roland Winters and Henry Kulky also appear in this filmed episode, which originally aired June 16, 1956, and was rebroadcast on June 9, 1959.
