Second update - Judy and I have exchanged info off-list.

http://springfield.news-leader.com/lifestyle/genealogy/queri...
A "KELL" Google search revealed a posting in the above link for "Lester E. "Skeeter" Kell, who was a performer and musician who operated a tent show through the South during the 1920s and 30s" from M. Thomas.

Using GoogleBooks revealed references to "Skeeter Kell", some in the same books as were found yesterday for "Leslie Kell" suggesting both are the same man, just different spellings of the forename. (One book snipped even had a photo of "Les Skeeter Kell" in his Toby costume. A "Toby" comic character is a country bumpkin in baggy costume, red wig/hair and freckles. Red Skelton portrayed a similar character during his own "tent reportory show" years (a rural form of vaudeville/variety) - probably the Klem Kadiddlehopper character from radio and television days.)

Unfortunately GenealogyBank (a newspaper database) did not cover him by name.