TV & VIDEO - July 19, 1988

Record-setting heat was to blame for the mid-performance collapse of Red Skelton in Honolulu on Sunday night. “I’m really not feeling well. I’m going to have to leave you. I’m very sorry,” Skelton told the audience before he collapsed, according to Lynn Cook, executive director of the March of Dimes Chapter of the Pacific, whose organization sponsored the benefit show. Skelton turned 75 Monday. And who should rush in to vamp while Skelton was attended to? None other than Milton Berle, who rushed up from the audience to take over the microphone. Skelton returned to finish his show after whiffing some oxygen backstage, Cook said.