VINCENNES, Ind. (AP) — The widow of comedian Red Skelton says she was overwhelmed by her first visit to the new museum honoring him in his southwestern Indiana hometown.

Lothian Skelton toured the Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy on Wednesday, the day before opening ceremonies for the museum in Vincennes. The Thursday evening ceremonies are happening on the 100th anniversary of Skelton’s birth.

Lothian Skelton tells the Vincennes Sun-Commercial she thinks even visitors who don’t remember her husband will find the museum interesting.

The museum features memorabilia and videos about Skelton’s influence on early television and comedy with his characters such as Freddie the Freeloader. “The Red Skelton Show” ran on NBC or CBS for 20 years until 1971.

___

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.