Medford mail tribune., April 07, 1957, Image 36

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0 CBTiAf afternoon January, Red and
Georgia Skelton toot their nine-year-old son Richard
to pediatrics specialists at the University of California
at Los Angeles for "diagnosis and observation of an
unexplained fever."
Twenty-four hours later, the comedian and his wife
were given shocking news: Richard had leukemia.
His life expectancy was from five months to a year.
Wealth and fame were useless now. There is no
cure for leukemia. The Skeltons joined thousands of
other families, in all walks of life, who have stood
helpless and bewildered as doctors explained how
blood-forming organs malfunction and cause a fatal
imbalance in the blood.
Georgia collapsed in tears at the news. Red tried to
hold back visible signs of shock, but his anguish ap
peared in trembling hands and ashen face.
Young Richard, a carbon copy of his father in ap
pearance and personality, was happily unaware of
his condition, but Red knew that he, as a father, had
to face many immediate problems for his sake as
well as for Georgia and their two children.
The first decision was the most difficult: Should he
tell his son? Red decided against Richard's knowing
about the fatal malady and instructed his publicist to
withhold any news that might get back to his son.
Red had two reasons: 1) It would upset the boy
without benefiting him. 2) Red refused to accept the
doctors' verdict as final.
True, medical science doesn't yet have an answer to
STRUCK HIS FAMILY, RED SKELTON
the dread disease, but there is always the possibility
that tomorrow might bring some miracle.
Unfortunately, Red was unable to keep grief locked
within himself. He mentioned Richard's illness to a
friend who promptly notified a local television an
nouncer. Six hours later the news was broadcast and
telecast throughout the world. One of the listeners
was young Richard.
"Perhaps it's better that he knows," Red said the
next day. "Now he can cooperate better with the
doctors. We are not giving up hope. All of us, includ
ing Richard, are praying hard."
ichahd was still too young to feel the full impact
of the news, and Red realized youthfulness could con
tinue to ease the future days. But Red knew, too, that
the boy must have help from his family, and before
that help could be offered, the family itself must
summon all its reserve strength.
It wasn't easy. A week after he learned of his son's
critical condition, Red was unable to make his regular
TV appearance. A filmed kinescope of a previous
show was substituted.
CBS told Red to stay away for another week, or
more if he desired. Red refused, and not merely to
fulfill the old theatrical tradition that "the show must
go on." He was convinced that until he was able to
face an audience again, he could never be at ease with
his son. Perhaps he also recalled other comedians who
cracked under similar shocks and never came back.
His first live telecast after the discovery of Rich
ard's illness was far more crucial to the Skeltons as
a family and to Red as a showman than was apparent
to the nation's viewers.
Critics reported that his show was the best of the
series and credited Red's courageous spirit, as well as
the help he got from co-workers particularly his
guest star, pint-sized Mickey Rooney.
There were no sad expressions, no wet handshakes,
Family Weekly. April 7, 1957
Family Weekly, April 7, 1957