Red Skelton: The Mask Behind the Mask

by Wes D. Gehring

For twenty years, Hoosier comic Red Skelton entertained millions of viewers who gathered around their television sets to delight in the antics of such notable characters as Freddie the Freeloader, Clem Kaddiddlehopper, Cauliflower McPugg, and Sheriff Deadeye. Noted film historian Wes D. Gehring examines the man behind the characters--someone who never let the facts get in the way of a good story. Gehring delves into Skelton's hardscrabble life with a shockingly dysfunctional family in the southern Indiana community of Vincennes, his days on the road on the vaudeville circuit, the comedian's early success on radio, his up-and-down movie career with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and his sometimes tragic personal life.

396 pages, Hardcover

First published October 28, 2008

Reviews

[Sean · Rating 1 out of 5]

couldn't finish this. It reads like an academic term paper/thesis. if you like that style, this might be the book for you. for me though, a book that reads like a history paper does nothing for me.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the book! I love the subject matter! When I was just a little girl, my parents couldn't refuse to let me stay up late to watch Red Skelton. The author is a professor of film at Ball State University in Indiana. His book focuses more on how Mr. Skelton got his start from humble beginnings with his radio career eventually progressing to nearly two decades long comedy show on TV. There is significant personal information as well; and the author was fortunate enough to have met and interviewed Red. The one drawback of the book is that it really ends abruptly with the end of Red's TV career and the death of his second wife, though his third wife is mentioned. Most of the book explains Red's film career, with which I was unfamiliar. Yet, as a professor of film, this is exactly what the author's intentions were. I did learn that this show business icon was tragic and vulnerable, having a side to him he did his best to keep hidden from his fans. Like many of us, Red was desperate to be accepted. His ego required it; his livelihood depended upon it. Tragedy is what made Red Skelton who he was. I have always said that a finely honed sense of humor is an outgrowth of pain. No fears Mr. Skelton, I will always love you! Mr. Gehring, my compliments on a job well done. Thank you for helping me get to know my all time favorite funny man!

[Pat Coppens · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible book. I never thought anyone could make Red Skelton boring but this author did a fine job of it.

[Tom Britz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many, I grew up watching Red Skelton on Tuesday nights. He was an icon to me and this biography helped show that he was a genius, yet still was a flawed human being. It takes a different type of person to succeed in the entertainment field and Red had what it took. The book helped showcase his comic genius which also had its downside in a perpetual insecurity. I've heard this about many that have climbed the ivory towers of the entertainment industry.
This book helped me to see Red as a flawed person who nevertheless was a true comic genius. The book in no way dimmed Red's star, it just grounded him and showed his all too human side.

[James Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very sad story that could be well told if it weren't for all of the reference details. There has to be a way to make this tragic tale less tedious.

[C Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

For all the Skelton controversy revealed in Gehring's biography, it was a "Foreword Magazine" "Biography Finalist" at BookExpo (NYC,2009).

"One of the icons of early television comedy, Red Skelton was man of many layers. Mostly masks. "Red Skelton: The Mask Behind the Mask" tells the story of the man who brought joy to millions, and how there wasn't much joy for him growing up. While he was all smiles when the camera was on, Red was anything but when the cameras were off. Telling his life story in a charming tribute to one of the greats, "Red Skelton: The Mask Behind the Mask" is a must for those who want to finally get to who the man really is." --"Midwest Book Review" April 13, 2009

From the Foreword to this text, the comedian's daughter, Valentine Marie Skelton Alonso writes: "I commend biographer Wes D. Gehring for researching my dad's life story, and for helping me to understand more about my father. Thank you Professor Gehring for writing this story for those young and old about on of America's distinguished clowns."

By Midwest Book Review on April 13,2009
"One of the icons of early television comedy, Red Skelton was a man of many layers. Mostly masks. "Red Skelton: The Mask Behind the Mask" tells the story of the man who brought joy to millions, and how there wasn't much joy for him growing up. While he was all smiles when the camera was on, Red was anything but when the cameras were off. Telling his life story in a charming tribute to one of the greats, "Red skelton: The Mask Behind the Mask" is a must for those who want to finally get to who the man really is."