Ep 13. Autograph Hounds

The Red Skelton Hour was a popular television comedy series that ran from 1951 to 1971. The show featured the comedian Red Skelton, who would entertain the audience with a variety of sketches, characters and monologues.

Season 1 episode 13, titled "Autograph Hounds," originally aired on December 18th, 1951. In this episode of the show, Skelton plays a variety of characters, each with their own unique quirks and personalities. One of the main sketches in the episode is "The Autograph Hounds," which features Skelton as a movie star being bombarded by fans seeking his autograph.

As the sketch begins, Skelton is seen walking down a Hollywood street, and is soon spotted by a group of enthusiastic autograph-seekers. These fans, played by various actors, are shown to be quite persistent in their pursuit of Skelton's signature, eagerly hounding him with requests for autographs.

Skelton's character is initially accommodating, signing autographs for the fans with a smile. However, as more and more fans gather around him, he begins to get overwhelmed and frustrated. The fans, meanwhile, continue to insistently demand autographs from the star.

The sketch is a classic example of Skelton's talent for physical comedy and impersonation. As always, Skelton's facial expressions and body language are the highlights of the sketch, perfectly conveying his character's sense of annoyance and exasperation. The fans, meanwhile, are shown to be a motley crew of oddballs and misfits, each with their own strange quirks and mannerisms.

As the sketch progresses, Skelton's character becomes more and more fed up with the fans' persistence, eventually resorting to some zany antics in an attempt to get away from them. At one point, he even pretends to be a different celebrity in order to escape their clutches.

The sketch is one of several in the episode, which also features a musical performance by the popular singer and actress Dorothy Collins, as well as a comedy routine by Skelton's longtime comedy partner Artie Auerbach.

Despite its age, The Red Skelton Hour remains a beloved classic of American television comedy. Skelton's unique brand of humor and the show's emphasis on zany characters and physical comedy have ensured its enduring popularity with viewers over the years. "Autograph Hounds" is just one of many examples of the show's timeless humor and comic genius.