RED SKELTON - INSCRIBED ORIGINAL ART SIGNED 1982 - HFSID 286278

RED SKELTON
Skelton has drawn the face of a clown, one of his favorite subjects, in the broad lower margin of a photo of himself, inscribing it to theater critic Robert E. White, Jr. The ticket to a Skelton show from 1982, the year of the inscription, is attached.
Original Art inscribed and signed: "Bob,Thanks for your/friendship/[He has drawn a clown's face.]/Red Skelton/1982". Drawn on the lower portion of a photograph of Skelton (B/w 7¼x4¼ image 8x10 overall), with 3¾x1½ ticket stub affixed at center right. Ticket is for a floor chair to a performance by Skelton at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, October 30, 1982. Since the photo shows Skelton at a podium, with an announcement of the Miami appearance posted behind him, the photo was almost certainly taken at the event represented by the ticket. TV's The Red Skelton Show (1951-1971) ranked in the Neilsen ratings "Top 20" for a record 15 consecutive seasons, 1955-1970. The show also featured musical groups, including the one of the first U.S. appearances of The Rolling Stones (1964). On his radio show (1941-1953), Skelton developed most of the characters that he would later bring to television: Junior (the Mean Widdle Kid), Freddie the Freeloader, Clem Kadiddlehopper, George Appleby, Sheriff Deadeye, San Fernando Red and others. Skelton's film credits date from 1938. He was also an accomplished painter, a 33rd degree Mason (the highest level), and a strong supporter of children's charities. Clowns were a frequent theme of Skelton's paintings. He himself had entered show business in his teens, as a circus clown! Theater critic Robert E. White collected autographs and souvenirs from prominent entertainers. Signed at blank lower margin. Adhesive stains at top corners on verso. Otherwise fine condition.