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By PATRICIA J. GEISTER
of TheColumnists.com
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Okay, I'll admit it:
I had a serious case of hero worship for him. I remember one particular night. There was a large number of men and women in military uniform. Red was particularly attentive to them. Everyone was absolutely thrilled to be in his presence. He knocked us out! In closing his show--which went longer than usual because of the long strertches of roaring laughter--he gave his usual speech about his purpose being never to offend anyone, but to make us happy. He invited all the GIs to come to his party at the Muehlbach Hotel. Now that really brought the house down. The Muehlbach was "the" place to stay. All the presidents, famous stars, and international dignitaries stayed there. I begged Mom to go and take me with her. That invitation was meant for me, too. How could he not want me there? Mom knew better. |
 Red Skelton in concert |
Now flash forward several years. I was on a plane going to Reno to visit my dad and I saw an ad in an inflight magazine, saying Red would be at the Nugget for two weeks. The first thing I wanted to do when I landed was to get to a phone and reserve my spot for at least one show. My second call would be to let Dad know I was waiting for a ride.
Before the Reno airport was enlarged you could park in the lot very near the entrance. It was easy to sit by the front door and see everyone coming and going. That's how small it was. I was going to head straight for that area after I made my call and picked up my bag.
"Red Skelton is going to be in this building very soon. Walk around and look. He's near," was the thought I suddenly had.
These premonitions have come to me many times. I take them seriously. The closer I got to those big doors, the stronger the feeling. "Pay attention to the cars. He's getting close." I never doubted it.
And there he was! He was driving a light brown Silver Cloud model Rolls Royce. He parked in a space close to the start of the front row. A large bouquet of flowers was in one hand and a cane was in the other. His suit was nearly the same shade of brown as the car. Here he came straight to me!
Red walked through the door, smiling at me like an old friend.
"I've been waiting for you. I knew you'd be here."
"Really? You're waiting for me?" he laughed.
"Mr. Skelton," I extended my hand and he put the cane over his arm, moved the flowers to his elbow so he could accept my greeting, "I've wanted to meet you all my life. Something told me to look for you right here in this spot." He smiled and we held hands.
"Remember the old Tower Theater in Kansas City? That's where I saw you the first time. It was during the war."
"Oh, yeah! Yeah, I do remember going there one time around Christmas and New Years, I think." He seemed excited by the memory.
"Yes, it was. You invited all the servicemen and women to come to your party. My mother wouldn't let me go, too. I wanted to so badly."
"I would have been happy to have you both there."
"I knew it! You know how mothers are." We both laughed at that statement.
Red stood there, holding my hand, and we exchanged memories about Kansas City, his old radio show, his movies. He was genuinely friendly, so happy to receive the quiet ardor of a long time fan.
"Mr. Skelton, I made a reservation to see your show tonight, the early one. Can I ask a favor? Will you do the skit about Guzzler's Gin? I love that one especially."
"Yes, I'll be happy to. Everyone gets a request card to fill out before the show. My people tell me which pieces get the most votes and that's what I do for that performance. Even if yours is the only vote, I'll do it for you."
See what I mean? He was so kind.
"Listen, I'm so happy we got to meet like this. You'll never know how good you've made me feel. I'm here to pick up my wife. She flies her own plane, you know."
"No, I didn't, but that's wonderful. Oh, I'm sorry. I hope I didn't make you late."
"I'm always early. I want to be waiting for her, not her waiting for me." What a sweet man. "Now I must go. I'll think of you tonight when I do Guzzler's Gin. Bye, bye, now."
I made him happy? He made me feel like I was his favorite fan.
That night I saw him from my ringside seat. There wasn't a vacant spot in the house. We gave him a standing ovation when he stepped into view. We begged him not to leave us when he finished.
As I pen these words I'm crying tears of nostalgia and sweet memories. His kindness was the true nature of a good man. When I sat in that show laughing, applauding, I was a kid again. It was Kansas City once more. I loved him, we loved him. He gave us more than we expected.
When Red died a few years
back I wept in shock and loss. He's gone, but I have not lost
him. I'll always be grateful to have met him, to look into those
smiling eyes, feel his hands holding mine. Admiration and friendship
passed between us. I will hold that dear man in my heart forever.
© 2002 by Patricia J. Geister. The Red Skelton photo is
courtesy of HBO, Inc.
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