Army Private Skelton in 1944.
Red Skelton’s radio career started on Rudy Vallee’s Royal
Gelatin Hour before joining NBC’s 1939 variety series
Avalon Time.
Broadcast from Chicago, Avalon Time featured country
singer Red Foley and Red Skelton’s wife and gag writer,
Edna Stillwell.
Red Skelton was drafted into the Army in March 1944, but
returned to NBC in December of 1945, with the same
sponsor and timeslot.
The Red Skelton Show ran on radio until May 1953. Red
Skelton starred in his own television program from 1951
to 1971.
Richard Bernard Skelton (July 18, 1913 – September 17, 1997)
Portraits of Clowns by Red Skelton.
