Red Skelton

From 1920 to 1965, the great Buster Keaton made spectacular use of locomotives in his films. This video essay charts the course of his iconic cinematic career across the many tracks he rode along on screen: as a young man in the surge of his silent movie ascent in Our Hospitality, while making his masterpiece The General, and traversing the width of Canada on a railway speeder car as an old man in The Railrodder.

An in-depth look at the early days of television and its first stars.

Honorary Mayor of Hollywood, Johnny Grant, leads us through the history of this special holiday in the City of Angels.

Comedian Red Skelton, who delighted millions in his radio, TV, and movie appearances for more than fifty years, once said, "I'm nuts and I know it. But as long as I make 'em laugh, they ain't going to put me away." You'll see how nuts he can be-and how much he can make you laugh-in this hilarious collection of sketches, clips, monologues, and routines featuring goofs, flubs, missed cues, blown lines, and zany antics. Whether he's wincing over a joke that died, cracking up his co-stars, or muttering about what he did during rehearsal, these moments that weren't in the script showcase Skelton at his wild and unpredictable best. You'll see him clowning with guest stars Harpo Marx, Vincent Price, and Audrey Meadows, and as Deadeye, Clem Kadiddlehopper, San Fernando Red, Freddy the Freeloader, George Appleby, and other classic roles.

Faye Dunaway hosts a behind-the-scenes look at the Hollywood star-making machine.

Trace the history of television and its impact on American culture with clips, newsreels, and exclusive interviews from television greats like Walter Cronkite, Carol Burnett, and Jay Leno.

A documentary film about dancing on the screen, from its origins after the invention of the movie camera, over the movie musical from the late 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s, up to the break dance and music videos from the 80s.

John Calvert performs an array of tricks inspired by celebrated escape artist and magician Harry Houdini.

William Shatner, Liz Taylor and many more stars blow lines, lose their pants and more in this hilarious collection of movie and TV bloopers.

Freddie the Freeloader sets out to have Xmas dinner in a very expensive New York restaurant with his good friend, the Professor. Along the way he stops in a hospital to entertain some children on Xmas. Red Skelton does a couple of songs on his own & a duet with Vincent Price.

Rudolph must find Happy, the baby new year, before the midnight of New Year's Eve.

Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire present more golden moments from the MGM film library, this time including comedy and drama as well as classic musical numbers.

Various MGM stars from yesterday present their favorite musical moments from the studio's 50 year history.

A celebrity lineup selected by a “specially conducted nationwide survey” entertains.

Bob Hope's 2 1/2 hour star-spangled salute to America... "Honor America Day" as aired on July 4, 1970 on WTOP Channel 4 Washington. Billed as a non-partisan, rally around the flag event, it was really an effort to help out his buddy Nixon and prop up sagging poll numbers mostly due to the Vietnam War. As you might expect many people saw through the effort as only war-supporting entertainers were recruited for the event. At some point during the show, supposedly protesters (who can be heard), were hit with tear gas that ended up drifted into the mostly white, evangelical, middle-age conservative audience relaxing on the national lawn. Guests include: Bob Hope, Les Brown & his band, Barbara Eden, Ester Phillips, Jeanie C. Riley, Jack Benny, Dinah Shore, Teresa Graves, Dorothy Lamour, The New Christy Minstrels, Sugar Ray Robinson, Kate Smith, Red, Skelton, Connie Stevens, Glen Campbell and more.

No synopsis available yet.

John Wayne and an all-star cast tell the story of America.

Danny Ocean and his gang attempt to rob the five biggest casinos in Las Vegas in one night.

In order to boost circulation of his newspaper, Lord Rawnsley announces an air race and offers £10,000 to the first person who can fly across the English Channel. But one of the participants, Percy, plots to sabotage his competitor's planes. Will Percy triumph?

Film clips highlight the funniest scenes and brightest comic stars in MGM's history.

An all-star cast joins Red Skelton in this lavish 60-minute salute to circus clowns.

A Classic Holiday Celebration with Dean and Friends.

A dramatisation of the difficulties faced by actor Keenan Wynn when his father comedian Ed Wynn is cast in the dramatic production of Requiem for a Heavyweight.

Based on the famous book by Jules Verne the movie follows Phileas Fogg on his journey around the world. Which has to be completed within 80 days, a very short period for those days.

Song-and-dance man Bert Kalmar can't continue his stage career after an injury, so he has to earn his money as a lyricist. By chance, he meets composer Harry Ruby and their first song is a hit. Ruby gets Kalmar to marry his former partner Jessie Brown, and Kalmar and Jessie prevent Ruby from getting married to the wrong girls. But due to the fact that Ruby has caused a backer's withdrawal for a Kalmar play, they end their professional relationship.

On Christmas Eve, suffering from a case of writer's block, screenwriter Mark Christopher and his gofer Virgil get an unexpected visit from Sergeant Maizel. Knowing Christopher is working on a juvenile delinquent script, the sergeant brings by delinquent Susan thinking she will inspire Christopher while providing a place for her to spend the holidays outside of juvenile hall.

A daffy door-to-door saleswoman blunders into a murder investigation.

Ambrose C. Park, left on a park bench as an infant with an impulsive need to find his parents, is an assistant to a diamond cutter. Shyster lawyer Remlick, in a strategy to get a fabulous uncut diamond through Ambrose, arranges for Emily Drummon, Duke Fargoh and Maggie Drummon to pose as Ambrose's long-lost parents and sister. The diamond, through many comic situations, is acquired and the gang is going to have Ambrose cut the diamond, and relieve him of the two stones and his parental illusions at the same time. But Maggie, who has no taste for the deception, tips Ambrose off and a wild chase ensues. At the end, Ambrose is very happy as he can now marry his "sister."

Broadway producers Tony Naylor, Al Marsh, and Jerry Ralby are having difficulty securing funds for their latest show. Then Al learns he has inherited half of a salon in Paris from his Aunt Roberta. The three men travel to France, where they attempt to stage an extravagant fashion show to revitalize the struggling business, now run by Roberta's nieces, Stephanie and Clarisse.

Pirdy is accident prone. He has been denied insurance from every company in town because he is always getting hit or hurt in some way. On the day that he meets the lovely Ellen of the Yellow Cab Co., he also meets the crooked lawyer named Creavy. Pirdy is an inventor and when Creavy learns about elastic-glass, his new invention, he makes plans to steal the process. With the help of another con man named Doksteader, and the boys, he will steal this million dollar invention no matter who gets hurt.

A man moves his family from the big city to the suburbs.

Once a famous Ziegfeld star, Dodo Delwyn is reduced to playing clowns in burlesque and amusement parks as a result of his drinking. His son Little Dink idolizes Dodo and faithfully believes in a comeback. He persuades "Uncle" Goldie, Dodo's agent in the good old days, to find a booking for Dodo. He can't, and Dink is sent to live with his remarried-and-wealthy mother, Paula. The unhappy Dink runs back to his father. His welcome return gives Dodo the courage needed to try a knockabout TV show offered by Goldie

Swindlers con a lunchroom clerk into doing them a favor, supposedly on behalf of the FBI.

A Texas carnival showmen team is mistaken for a cattle baron and his sister.

A photographer falls for a rich girl and gets mixed up with crooks.

Joe, inventor in an American Small town of 1895 has problems with his new invention, a car, driven with a gasoline motor. Everybody is making fun about his "crazy invention", only his girl friend believes in him. When he's halfway successful, another woman tries to win his heart, and his girl-friend thinks he has quit with her. But on a race for those new horse-less vehicles, he gets in trouble and only his former girl friend is able to help him.

After a car crash and the arrival of a beautiful babysitter, a young businessman, William Wiley, considers leaving his wife for the babysitter.

After breaking up with her fiancé, a gym teacher returns to work at a women's college, but a legal loophole allows him to enroll as one of her students.

The late, great impresario Florenz Ziegfeld looks down from heaven and ordains a new revue in his grand old style.

Scatterbrained Betty Barrett mistakes masseur Jack Spratt for Jose O'Rourke, the captain of the South American polo team. Spratt goes along with the charade, but the situation becomes more complicated when they fall in love. Meanwhile, Betty's sensible older sister Eve fears Betty's heart will be broken when Jose returns to South America. She arranges to meet with the real O'Rourke and love soon blossoms between them as well.

Acrobat Eddie Marsh is in the army now. His first act is to become friendly with Kathryn Jones, the colonel's pretty daughter. Their romance hits a few snags, including disapproval from her father. Eddie's also plagued by fear of having an accident during his family's trapeze act in the army variety show, which also features a gallery of MGM stars.

Hat check man Louis Blore is in love with nightclub star May Daly. May, however, is in love with a poor dancer but wants to marry for money. When Louis wins the Irish Sweepstakes, he asks May to marry him and she accepts even though she doesn't love him. Soon after, Louis has an accident and gets knocked on the head, where he dreams that he's King Louis XV pursuing the infamous Madame Du Barry.

Radio crime show host "The Fox" finds himself on the trail of a serial killer while a suspect himself.

Miss Winters is a dancer with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and is asked to secretly transport a prototype magnetic mine to Puerto Rico. She thinks that she is working for the US Government, but fails to see why she would be involved.

A rookie flyer, Ens. Alan Drake, joins the famous Hellcats Squadron right out of flight school in Pensacola. He doesn't make a great first impression when he is forced to ditch his airplane and parachute to safety when he arrives at the base but is unable to land due to heavy fog. On his first day on the job, his poor shooting skills results in the Hellcats losing an air combat competition. His fellow pilots accept him anyways but they think he's crossed the line when they erroneously conclude that while their CO Billy Gray is away, Drake has an affair with his wife Lorna. Drake is now an outcast and is prepared to resign from the Navy but his extreme heroism in saving Billy Gray's life turns things around.

This short celebrates the 20th anniversary of MGM. Segments are shown from several early hits, then from a number of 1944 releases.

Sailors and spies mingle in between the acts at Hattie's nightclub in the Canal Zone.

Poor Red Jones gets fired from every job he tries. His fiancée gives him one last chance to make good when he becomes a Fuller Brush man. His awkward attempts at sales are further complicated when one of his customers is murdered and he becomes the prime suspect.

Married songwriters almost split up while putting on a big show.

Struggling performers, Sothern and Skelton's lives are thrown off gear when they are caught with a bagful of hard cash robbed by a goon. With Skelton in prison, how will Sothern prove their innocence?

Radio crime show host 'The Fox' along with his fiancée and ex-girlfriend are kidnapped by a larcenous cult who demand that he help them plan a perfect murder.

In 1915, Kansas theatre usher Merton Gill is a rabid silent-movie fan. When he brings Mammoth Studios free publicity by imitating star Lawrence Rupert's heroics, they bring him to Hollywood to generate another headline; he thinks he'll get a movie contract. Disillusioned, he haunts the casting offices, where he meets and is consoled by Phyllis Montague, bit player and stunt-woman. When Merton finally gets his "break," though, it's not quite what he envisioned.

A variety of predicaments arise to distract Dr. Kildare from his wedding to Nurse Mary Lamont.

Constance Shaw, a Broadway dance star, and Joseph Rivington Reynolds, a keen fan of hers, marry after she breaks up with her fiancé. Connie thinks Joseph owns a gold mine, but he actually works as a presser at a hotel valet shop. When everyone learns what he really is, Joseph is banned from the theater. When he sneaks in again, he learns of a plot to set off a bomb in the adjoining munitions warehouse.

An ice skater sues Kildare (Lew Ayres) for malpractice after his roadside first aid leaves her paralyzed.

Red Skelton plays Aubrey Filmore, a feather-brained but lovable bellboy who dreams of becoming an agent for the Union's secret service during the Civil War.

Chaos is brought to a family when daughter marries a brash young man met on a blind date.

Radio sleuth Wally 'The Fox' Benton travels to Georgia with his fiancé Carol to be married; and to help Carol's college chum, Ellamae Downs, solve a mystery involving a murdered man, old Fort Dixon, and buried treasure.

When he is fired from his job, Red puts a hex on his boss. That evening, the boss goes to a nightclub and discovers that the hex worked.

Teddy Shaw, a bored New York office girl, goes to a camp in the Catskill Mountains for rest and finds Chick Kirkland.