Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy

Hobo Freddie the Freeloader, country boy Clem Kadiddlehopper, the bumbling Sheriff Deadeye, con man San Fernando Red, Junior the Mean Widdle Kid, Red Jones—the Fuller Brush Man—and boxer Cauliflower McPugg. This may look like a list of people you hope to avoid at your next family wedding, but instead these are just a few of the comedic characters created and performed by the beloved entertainer Red Skelton. In his hometown of Vincennes, Indiana, on the campus of Vincennes University, the Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy celebrates his life and work.

Born in 1913, Richard Bernard “Red” Skelton left town at 15 years old to join a medicine show. Once he found success with comedy and as a clown, there was no stopping his rise. Red's career spanned burlesque, vaudeville, radio, more than 50 movies, television from 1951 to 1971, and live shows around the world—a career that lasted 70 years.

The museum traces his life through all these mediums and features many interactive displays. Red's talents ranged far beyond comedy, as he composed over 8,000 songs and published more than 4,000. He also painted hundreds of pictures, mainly of clowns, and a recent extension to the museum displays many of his artworks. Red identified himself as a clown rather than a comedian, and this comes through in his art. 

Red died in California in 1997, having been married three times. He was survived by his wife, Lothian, and two children.