Red Skelton
Also Known As: Ред Скелтон, Richard Red Skelton, Richard Bernard "Red" Skelton, Richard Bernard Skelton
Biography: The son of a former circus clown turned grocer and a cleaning woman, Red Skelton was introduced to show business at the age of 7 by Ed Wynn, at a vaudeville show in Vincennes. At age 10, he left home to travel with a medicine show through the Midwest, and joined the vaudeville circuit at age 15. At age 17, he married Edna Marie Stilwell, an usher who became his vaudeville partner and later his chief writer and manager. He debuted on Broadway and radio in 1937 and on film in 1938. His ex-wife/manager negotiated a seven-year Hollywood contract for him in 1951, the same year The Red Skelton Hour (1951) premiered on NBC. For two decades, until 1971, his show consistently stayed in the top twenty, both on NBC and CBS. His numerous characters, including Clem Kaddiddlehopper, George Appleby, and the seagulls Gertrude and Heathcliffe delighted audiences for decades. First and foremost, he considered himself a clown, although not the greatest, and his paintings of clowns brought in a fortune after he left television. His home life was not completely happy--two divorces and a son Richard who died of leukemia at age 9--and he did not hang around with other comedians. He continued performing live until illness, and he was a longtime supporter of children's charities. Red Skelton died at age 84 of pneumonia in Rancho Mirage, California, on September 17, 1997. Red is interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Glendale, California, in the Great Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Benediction.
Department: Acting
Place of Birth: Vincennes, Indiana, USA
Birthday: July 18, 1913
Deathday: September 17, 1997
Adult: No
Gender: Male
Popularity:
Known For:
Ocean's Eleven
Overview: Danny Ocean and his gang attempt to rob the five biggest casinos in Las Vegas in one night.
Genres: Crime Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1960-08-10
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Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Overview: William Shatner, Liz Taylor and many more stars blow lines, lose their pants and more in this hilarious collection of movie and TV bloopers.
Genres: Documentary Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-01-01
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Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes
Overview: 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?
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1965-06-16
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Rudolph's Shiny New Year
Overview: Rudolph must find Happy, the baby new year, before the midnight of New Year's Eve.
Genres: Animation Fantasy Family TV Movie Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1976-12-10
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The Hollywood Clowns
Overview: Glenn Ford narrates this hilarious look back at the greatest comedians in movie history.
Genres: Documentary Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1979-03-23
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The People's Command Performance: '77
Overview: A celebrity lineup selected by a “specially conducted nationwide survey” entertains.
Genres: Music Comedy Documentary TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1977-04-07
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Three Little Words
Overview: 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.
Genres: Music Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-07-12
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Lovely to Look At
Overview: Three broke Broadway producers are desperately looking for backers for a new show. When they are about to give up, one of them discovers that they are an heir to a Parisian dress salon. Off to Paris they go!
Genres: Comedy Music Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1952-05-29
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Texas Carnival
Overview: A Texas carnival showmen team is mistaken for a cattle baron and his sister.
Genres: Music Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1951-10-05
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Ziegfeld Follies
Overview: The late, great impresario Florenz Ziegfeld looks down from heaven and ordains a new revue in his grand old style.
Genres: Music Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1945-08-26
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Neptune's Daughter
Overview: 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.
Genres: Comedy Music Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1949-06-10
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The Fuller Brush Man
Overview: 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.
Genres: Adventure Comedy Crime Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1948-06-01
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Du Barry was a Lady
Overview: 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.
Genres: Comedy Fantasy Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-08-13
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Thousands Cheer
Overview: 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.
Genres: Music Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-09-13
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Ship Ahoy
Overview: 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.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-04-16
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Lady Be Good
Overview: Married songwriters almost split up while putting on a big show.
Genres: Comedy Music Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-09-18
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Bathing Beauty
Overview: 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.
Genres: Music Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1944-06-27
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The Dean Martin Christmas Show
Overview: A Classic Holiday Celebration with Dean and Friends.
Genres: Comedy Music TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1968-12-19
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Having Wonderful Time
Overview: Teddy Shaw, a bored New York office girl, goes to a camp in the Catskill Mountains for rest and finds Chick Kirkland.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1938-07-01
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Clown Alley
Overview: An all-star cast joins Red Skelton in this lavish 60-minute salute to circus clowns.
Genres: Comedy TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1966-11-09
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Susan Slept Here
Overview: 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.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1954-07-28
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Excuse My Dust
Overview: 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.
Genres: Comedy Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1951-06-27
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Freddie the Freeloader's Christmas Dinner
Overview: 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.
Genres: Comedy Family TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1981-11-01
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Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day
Overview: A variety of predicaments arise to distract Dr. Kildare from his wedding to Nurse Mary Lamont.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-08-22
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Whistling in the Dark
Overview: 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.
Genres: Comedy Mystery Crime Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-08-08
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Whistling in Brooklyn
Overview: Radio crime show host "The Fox" finds himself on the trail of a serial killer while a suspect himself.
Genres: Comedy Crime Mystery Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-12-01
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Whistling in Dixie
Overview: 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.
Genres: Comedy Mystery Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-12-31
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Flight Command
Overview: 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.
Genres: Drama War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1940-12-27
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The Clown
Overview: 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
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1953-01-16
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Maisie Gets Her Man
Overview: 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?
Genres: Romance Drama Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-06-01
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The Yellow Cab Man
Overview: 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.
Genres: Comedy Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-03-25
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Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special
Overview:
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1970-11-16
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Panama Hattie
Overview: Sailors and spies mingle in between the acts at Hattie's nightclub in the Canal Zone.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-09-30
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Merton of the Movies
Overview: 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.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1947-10-11
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The People Vs. Dr. Kildare
Overview: An ice skater sues Kildare (Lew Ayres) for malpractice after his roadside first aid leaves her paralyzed.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-05-02
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I Dood It
Overview: 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.
Genres: Music Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-09-01
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The Great Diamond Robbery
Overview: 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."
Genres: Comedy Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1954-01-29
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Half a Hero
Overview: A man moves his family from the big city to the suburbs.
Genres: Comedy Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1953-05-11
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Swing Out, Sweet Land
Overview: John Wayne and an all-star cast tell the story of America.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1970-01-01
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A Southern Yankee
Overview: 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.
Genres: Comedy History War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1948-08-05
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Watch the Birdie
Overview: A photographer falls for a rich girl and gets mixed up with crooks.
Genres: Comedy Crime Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-12-11
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The Show-Off
Overview: Chaos is brought to a family when daughter marries a brash young man met on a blind date.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1946-12-01
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The Fuller Brush Girl
Overview: A daffy door-to-door saleswoman blunders into a murder investigation.
Genres: Comedy Mystery
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-09-15
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Seeing Red
Overview: 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.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-08-25
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Public Pigeon No. 1
Overview: Swindlers con a lunchroom clerk into doing them a favor, supposedly on behalf of the FBI.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1957-05-17
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That's Entertainment!
Overview: Various MGM stars from yesterday present their favorite musical moments from the studio's 50 year history.
Genres: Documentary Family Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1974-06-21
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Red Skelton Christmas Classics
Overview: The ultimate Red Skelton Holiday Collection! Restored and In Color!
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1955-12-23
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Red Skelton: Bloopers, Blunders, and Ad Libs
Overview: 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.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2001-05-15
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Television: The First Fifty Years
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1999-01-01
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Around the World in Eighty Days
Overview: 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.
Genres: Adventure Comedy Family Fantasy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1956-10-17
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The Big Parade of Comedy
Overview: Film clips highlight the funniest scenes and brightest comic stars in MGM's history.
Genres: Comedy Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1964-09-02
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America on Parade
Overview: Television special for the American Bicentennial starring Red Skelton, featuring the America on Parade pageant at Disneyland.
Genres: Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1976-04-03
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The Broadway Buckaroo
Overview: Red Skelton inherits a dude ranch and must live there for six months, far from the bright lights of New York City.
Genres: Comedy Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-06-03
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That's Entertainment, Part II
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1976-05-16
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Twenty Years After
Overview: This short celebrates the 20th anniversary of MGM. Segments are shown from several early hits, then from a number of 1944 releases.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1944-01-01
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That's Dancing!
Overview: A documentary film about dancing on the screen, from it's orgins 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 the music videos from the 80s.
Genres: Documentary Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-01-18
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Red Skelton: A Royal Command Performance
Overview: This performance was recorded live on Red Skelton's 70th Birthday on 18 July 1983 and released on the pay cable channel HBO on 22 April 1984. The recording took place before the Royal Family at London's Royal Albert Hall and before a packed house of Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen. Red tosses off jokes, one-liners, and works through elaborate pantomime routines both classic and new. Highlights include Skelton's uproarious "Guzzler's Gin" routine, his "Fisherman and the Little Boy" mime, and his heartbreaking "Old Man Watching a Parade." Additionally , he mimes a scarecrow and an old golfer. His legendary rapport with audiences is clearly evident here.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1984-04-22
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Inside the Dream Factory
Overview: Faye Dunaway hosts a behind-the-scenes look at the Hollywood star-making machine.
Genres: Documentary TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1995-11-01
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Honor America Day
Overview: 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.
Genres: War Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1970-07-04
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A Tribute to Houdini
Overview: John Calvert performs an array of tricks inspired by celebrated escape artist and magician Harry Houdini.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1987-01-01
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