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Clem Kadiddlehopper - Red Skelton's country bumpkin character

Clem Kadiddlehopper was one of Red Skelton's most popular characters, portrayed on radio and television for several decades. Clem Kadiddlehopper was a country bumpkin, slow witted and big hearted. Although never intentionally hurtful, he would often cause clownish harm, typically to his long-suffering father. ("When the stork brought you, Clem, I should've shot it on sight!" )

Clem Kadiddlehopper was one of Red Skelton's most versatile characters, often placed in a rural setting to contrast Clem's down-home values with "higher society." Examples include when Clem's worthless paintings become valuable impressionistic art ("Clem the Artist," a hilarious episode), when Clem sells his family's fountain of youth water and becomes a Hollywood make up artist (guest starring Audrey Meadows' of the Honeymooners), or when Clem turns the tables on a pair of city slickers trying to con Clem and his family out of their "oil-rich" land.

Red Skelton as Clem Kadiddlehopper, courtesy of KET, now re-broadcasting Red Skelton's radio shows

painting of Clem Kadiddlehopper, as done by Red Skelton

Depending on the needs of the story, Clem was either afraid of girls or actively chasing them, living on the family farm or working in town (such as in Fish Market)

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Trivia about Red Skelton's Clem Kadiddlehopper character:

Representatives for Red Skelton contacted the producers of "The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show" claiming that Bullwinkle's voice was an unauthorized use of a character voice created and owned by Red Skelton for his character "Clem Kadiddlehopper". Producer Jay Ward responded by having a segment on the show where Bullwinkle would address the issue... in a voice that was a deliberate imitation of Clem Kadiddlehopper.

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About the Author

Tom Raymond, aka. Raynbow the Clown, is a professional clown working out of Madison, Wisconsin, and is available for ministry events, conventions and conferences.

Posted by Tom Raymond, aka Raynbow on 11/23 at 10:07 PM
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