May 07 2009
San Fernando Loses the Dixie Queen - The Red Skelton Show Season 8, Episode 19
Episode: San Fernando Loses the Dixie Queen
Original Air Date: 1959/03/10
Guest Star: Cesar Romero
Wow…Red used the same Texas couple joke as he used in The Many Skeltons in Las Vegas.
“I’m dying for a new fur coat.”
“You want a new fur coat? Don’t shave for about a month. See what develops.”
Like the joke about, “Shootin 5,000.”
Pantomime skit about a little old man passing an orphanage during the bombing of a city. Narrated by Art Gilmore. Aww, it was a heartwarming skit. Waited for the joke that never came. Well done, well done.
Dancing number time. Riverboat themed…
San Fernando Loses the Dixie Queen Act I (Mississippi River 1870)
San Fernando is the captain of the Dixie Queen. Known to be dishonest.
“He remembers when the Mississippi used to be a dew drop.” - San says of a co-worker on the take.
Classic poker-cheating humor - 5 aces at the table. In comes San’s daughter - easy on the eyes.
Uh-oh, here comes Clayton (Romero). He’s trying to pick up the daughter. I wish I had the courage to just give a girl a kiss.
“I gotta work fast, honey. I’m a wanted man.”
“By whom are you wanted?”
“Practically gal I know.”
Clayton’s gonna try to hustle San Fernando. The poker cheating jokes are just beginning.
The gig is up.
“Honest man? Sir, that’s an insult!!,” - San.
Clayton wants to start a partnership with San.
Clayton finds San’s daughter, Mary Lou, out along the railing of the Dixie Queen…
“For 30 years I’ve been sailing up this river. This is the first time I’ve ever been up the creek.”
San Fernando Loses the Dixie Queen Act II
San’s gonna work to win his boat back…wow a long, rambling speech about the South Rising…
“What’s that got to do with this boat?”
“Nothing.”
Clayton makes San a partner so San doesn’t turn him into the cops, then knocks him out and steals his clothes.
Clayton is dressed as San n tricks the cops.
Clayton’s trying to prove to Mary Lou that he’s innocent.
Clayton n San run into each other - mirror joke coming.
Uh, oh, the Sherriff sees 2 San Fernando Red’s.
San Fernando Red takes the fall for at his daughter’s request n walks the sheriff off the gang plank. Of course, there’s no gang plank.
Final Thoughts on San Fernando Red Loses the Dixie Queen
A classic Red Skelton Show episode. Poker jokes seem to never get old. Old vaudeville-styled skit with more physical comedy than zingers that seems to be timeless. Red puts just enough of a twist to them that he’ll still catch you off guard even when you know what’s coming.
