Skip to main content

Search the Special Collections and Archives Portal

ent001330-261

Image

File
Download ent001330-261.tif (image/tiff; 103.59 MB)

Information

Digital ID

ent001330-261
    Details

    Publisher

    University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Libraries

    High School )|C LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS $ PHONE MO 4-3939 26 June 68 Mr. Red Skelton The SANDS HOTEL Las Vegas, Nevada Dear Mr. Skelton, Last Saturday night I was in the audience at The Sands for your midnight performance. I stopped in LasVegas while driving back here from visiting friends in San Francisco. It was my first trip to LasVegas and the first time I had ever seen you in person. I'm sure you are tired of every kind of fan letter and they must be very repetitive. I hope you will take a few minutes out to read this one; its comments are most sincere. There is no need to go into the matter of your material. As a showman you know it is excellent. Your performance was magnificent. But I'm writing to tell you how deeply moved I was by your closing comments to the effect that it was your desire to make ms laugh and help us forget our troubles for just a while. You did just that! I've always been aware of the fact that I've had a "vocation" to the priesthood....a special calling from God to help people pray. After watching your eyes, your expressions and listening to you I became convinced that you, too have a "vocation"....a special calling from God to help people laugh. You are not a Clown, Mr. Skelton...you are rather a "priest of laughter". If I can do half as good a job in my vocation as you do in yours I'll be very content. It was apparent that your audience loved you as well as enjoyed you. Most entertainers are just enjoyed. As I watched you I thought of the heartaches you?╟≤ve had....especially the loss of your son. As a priest whose life is spent teaching boys your loss^ in that regard had a special meaning to me. I really feel that the sufferings you've experienced are what have made you grow into such a fine and good man.