The Many Career Comebacks of Red Skelton

By the late 1940s, MGM released Skelton from his contract. The decision reflected both changing audience tastes and concerns over his dependability, rather than a sudden collapse in popularity.

Although the release ended his film momentum, it did not end his career. Skelton remained enormously popular on radio, and the separation from MGM pushed him toward a medium where he would soon regain full control.