JUST THE PERFECT BLENDSHIP - Red Skelton, one half of a mutual admiration society between television's most famous redheads, was born this day in 1913.
While Lucille Ball and Red Skelton's most celebrated collaboration is, perhaps, "Lucy Goes to Alaska," the eighth instalment of The Lucy Desi Comedy Hour, in which Ball joins one of Red's most beloved characters, Freddie the Freeloader, at his own game, their association goes right back to the start of Skelton's career.
Red Skelton made his feature film debut in Having Wonderful Time, alongside Ginger Rogers, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and a host of RKO supporting players who never went anyplace...you know... future icons like Eve Arden, Ann Miller, and a certain brunette from Jamestown, NY.
By the time Ball received her first successful henna rinse from MGM hairstylist Sydney Guilaroff she and Skelton were ready to paint Metro red in DuBarry Was a Lady.
Red and "Red" also shared billing in Thousands Cheer, Ziegfeld Follies, The Fuller Brush Girl and the television special Swing Out Sweet Land, before their final on-screen appearance together at the 1986 Emmy Awards where Ball presented Skelton with the Governors Award.
What's your favourite Lucille Ball-Red Skelton collaboration?
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