Carroll Elementary students hear Red Skelton recording
By Jennifer Archibald

Red Skelton program Book Readers and Horn Blowers presented a program on Red Skelton at Carroll Elementary School. The backdrop for the program was painted by art teacher Wyndham Traxler Carter, who created an arrangement of Skelton's own artwork. The musician pictured is Gail Lewis, playing the french horn. Comet photo by Jennifer Archibald

Book Readers and Horn Blowers made a return visit to Carroll Elementary School last Friday to present a musical and biographical program on Red Skelton.

Narrator Charlie Dee told about Skelton's life as a clown, comedian, radio and TV star, actor, composer, artist, and writer.

The Book Readers and Horn Blowers brass quintet played some of Skelton's music, including "Polliwog's March" and "Red's White and Blue March," and other light-hearted and childfriendly selections.

Dee said Skelton came to be known as "America's favorite clown." He not only entertained as a clown but he created clown paintings.

Skelton was born Richard Bernard Skelton in Vincennes in 1913, and got his nickname, "Red," because of his bright red hair.

The narrator told how Skelton sold newspapers on the street to help his family and later left home to perform with a traveling medicine show. He started his career on radio and on Broadway when he was 24. He made over 40 movies, entertained TV audiences on "The Red Skelton Show" for 20 years, and performed for eight U.S. Presidents..

Some of the characters Skelton developed were Clem Kaddiddlehopper, Freddie the Freeloader, and the cross-eyed seagulls, Gertrude and Heathcliffe.

Skelton wrote books, short stories, and poems.

To further introduce Skelton to the children, the narrator played the recording, "Red Skelton's Pledge of Allegiance." Skelton recited the meaning of each word in the Pledge, as once explained by a teacher of his in Vincennes. Then all the students at Carroll stood and said the Pledge in unison.

Dee said Skelton loved children and loved to make them laugh. Two members of the Book Readers and Horn Blowers performed a short Skelton routine.

Skelton's sign-off at the end of his show was "Good night, and may God bless." He died in 1997 at the age of 84.

Throughout the program, the audience was asked questions to see if they remembered what they learned about the comedian. At the conclusion, individual students were called on, and if they answered the question correctly, they received a prize.

Another facet of the program was introducing the students to the brass instruments and how they work. Fifth graders, who will be eligible to take band next year, got hands-on experience with the instruments during a "petting zoo."

Michele Robeson Howard of Indianapolis, formerly of Carroll County, is the director of Book Readers and Horn Blowers. Their presentation was sponsored by Flora Psi Iota Xi, the Tippecanoe Arts Federation, and the Indiana Arts Commission.