Old Time Radio: The Raleigh Cigarette Program (1941)

 Tobacco giants Brown & Williamson and rival American Tobacco sponsored radio shows with 2 of the biggest names in comedy back in the 40's. Jack Benny was associated with Lucky Strike. Red Skelton had two stints with Raleigh. B & W would eventually acquire Lucky Strike in the 70's.

Skelton's association with Raleigh began in 1941, and ended the first time when Skelton served in World War II. When Skelton was discharged in 1945, he relaunched The Raleigh Cigarette Program for another three years before Brown & Williamson pulled out, to be replaced by Procter & Gamble's Tide detergent.

Tide, however, backed out after a year, replaced by Norge appliances until the radio series ended in 1953, at which time Skelton was already on TV.

The radio cast during the first run included Ozzie & Harriet Nelson, who'd later spin off to their own show, both on radio & television. Composer David Rose replaced Ozzie Nelson as Skelton's bandleader when the series returned in 1945, and would remain with Skelton to the end of the TV run in 1971. Radio vet Lurene Tuttle was part of the repertory company, along with comic Wonderful Smith and voice actress GeGe Pearson.

DeadEye, not yet a sheriff, is the focus of this 1948 entry.

As you can hear, announcer Rod O'Connor took part in some of the skits, too, and was a great foil for Skelton.

Rating: A.