Red Skelton, a seriously funny man

Stand-up comedy requires a unique set of talents. The comedian has to be part actor, part motivational speaker, part minister, and 100% funny.

The performer's facial expressions, voice inflections, and body language all determine if the audience buys into their routine or if they find the speaker offensive and arrogant.

There have been many funny men and women I have enjoyed over the years. Richard Pryor, Joan Rivers, and Rodney Dangerfield, just to name a few.

Back in 1987, I had the good fortune to see an old-time comedian named Red Skelton live on stage at the newly renovated Chicago Theater. A friend had been gifted two tickets and asked me to join him. Apprehensive at first, I thought, Who wants to see an old has-been comedian? 

I am glad I took him up on the invitation.

Skelton, whose career began as a 10-year-old boy in vaudeville, had a career in television, the movies, and on stage that lasted over 70 years.

Skelton wasn’t just a comedian; he was an actor, artist, and author.

By the time I saw Red on stage, he was 74 years old and in the twilight of his career.

Most stand-up comedians rely on originality, surprise, and even shock to capture an audience's attention.

Red had all those tools and one more, sincerity. He believed his act was funny. Even though many of his jokes were rehashes of skits he had performed on television and movies, he was still delivering them with the same enthusiasm as newly written ones.

One of the things I remember him doing was starting a new joke. After engaging the audience, he paused. Then, right in the middle of his delivery, his face changed. He laughed, interrupted the joke he was telling, told a second joke, then went back and finished the first one.

He had so many funny thoughts running through his head that they spilled out of him faster than he could repeat them.

He had the audience, me included, in the palm of his hand. The crazy part about it was that many of his jokes were old. They were stories and skits I had seen before. Yet they were still funny. At times, I laughed so hard I cried.

Despite living his life as a renowned funny man, Skelton had a serious side. He believed his art was there to help people. He was once quoted as saying, “If by chance someday you're not feeling well and you should remember some silly thing I've said or done and it brings back a smile to your face or a chuckle to your heart, then my purpose as your clown has been fulfilled.”

Skelton always appreciated his audience. He finished every show by thanking them and closing with the phrase, “Good night, and may God bless.”

I never thought seeing an old comedian telling old jokes would have such an impact on me. The man was downright funny.

It turned out to be a performance I have never forgotten. Red Skeleton was the funniest man I ever saw on stage.