Something About Red

Red Skelton was born into a circus family on July 18, 1913 in Vincennes, Indiana two months after the death of his father who had been a clown with the Haggenbach and Wallace traveling shows. Red was raised by his mother in the love of the circus people who were to become his first real family, leaving an imprint on him that he would carry throughout his life, bringing happiness and laughter to millions.

At age 10, Red joined up with a traveling medicine show. From there minstrel and tent shows, circuses, burlesques, Mississippi showboats, vaudeville, radio, motion pictures and television were to become his home. As a star in over 48 motion pictures and national television, Red achieved his greatest public acclaim. His TV career spanned a record twenty consecutive years, and his shows were always rated among the top ten in the United States.

Red's lesser known but equally outstanding accomplishments include the writing of nearly 8,000 musical compositions, including 64 symphonies, many of which have been played and recorded by Arthur Fiedler, Van Cliburn, David Rose, the Las Vegas Symphony, the Palm Springs Desert Symphony, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Red has authored more than 4,000 short stories and full-length books. Mr. Skelton's "Pledge of Allegiance" has won forty--two awards and has twice been read into the Congressional Record.

In addition to being an accomplished entertainer, Mr. Skelton is being acclaimed as one of this century's greatest painters. His original oil paintings and limited edition prints have been received with great acclaim by art critics and collectors from all over the world.
Evocative of a bygone era, Red Skelton's clowns are welcome guests in homes worldwide. We are continually reminded that the appeal of these fine character studies knows no bounds. Collectors include the rich and famous and those for whom the ownership of a painting by Red Skelton is the fulfillment of a lifetime dream.

While all artists attempt to capture emotions in their works, Red's art succeed in doing so to a degree unique in contemporary history. We are all reminded of happier days, no matter which generation of fans we belong to. It hardly matters if first we saw Red perform, in the vaudeville of the thirties, in the films of the forties and fifties, on night club stages in the sixties, college stages of the seventies or on HBO in the eighties, Red has been part of all of our lives and his paintings and graphics allow us to be sure that he will be our guest in our homes for years to come.

Picasso once said that he had spent his entire life trying to recapture the innocence and sensitivity of a child.

Red Skelton never lost it.