Franklin’s Key

Franklin’s Key [One Minute Drama]

Franklin’s Key is a short one minute drama, aka a Quick Blackout comedy skit, from The Red Skelton Hour episode, Dial ‘M’ for Moron.

The setting is Ben Franklin’s house, before the American Revolution. His wife opens the door, and shouts for Ben Franklin to come in out of the rain, and to bring that silly kite with him! He comes in, holding onto the kite string, with a large metal key attached. He tries to explain to her that he’s trying to discover electricity, and that if lightning strikes the kite, the key will have a tremendous surge of energy.

“Balderdash!” she says, and puts the key in her pocket. From outside, the audience hears lightning, and after a puff of smoke, her skirt is pulled off!