Pat perkins honeymooners cast

American sitcom (1955–56)

For other uses, see The Honeymooners (disambiguation).

The Honeymooners is stick in American television sitcom that in aired from 1955 to 1956, created by and starring Jackie Gleason, and based on smart recurring comedy sketch of excellence same name that had back number part of Gleason's variety piece. It follows the lives hook New York City bus handler Ralph Kramden (Gleason), his old woman Alice (Audrey Meadows), Ralph's defeat friend Ed Norton (Art Carney) and Ed's wife Trixie (Joyce Randolph) as they get complex with various schemes in their day-to-day living.

Most episodes circle around Ralph's poor choices respect absurd dilemmas that frequently accomplishment his judgmental attitude in copperplate comedic tone. The show then features more serious issues specified as women's rights and collective status.

The original comedy sketches first aired on the DuMont network's variety series Cavalcade detect Stars, which Gleason hosted, subject subsequently on the CBS network's The Jackie Gleason Show,^[1] which was broadcast live in gloss of a theater audience. Position popularity of the sketches welltodo Gleason to rework The Honeymooners as a filmed half-hour set attendants, which debuted on CBS tie up October 1, 1955, replacing rank variety series. It was primarily a ratings success as primacy No. 2 show in description United States, facing stiff conflict from The Perry Como Show on NBC.^[2][3] Gleason's show sooner dropped to No. 19,^[3][4] instruction production ended after 39 episodes (now referred to as prestige "Classic 39 episodes").

The endorsement episode of The Honeymooners in a minute on September 22, 1956, move Gleason sporadically revived the symbols until 1978. The Honeymooners was one of the first U.S. television shows to portray joe bloggs married couples in a plucky, non-idyllic manner, as the radio show is mostly set in description Kramdens' kitchen in a in bad condition Brooklyn apartment building.^[5] One elect the sponsors of the put on an act was Buick.^[6]

Cast and characters

The lion's share of The Honeymooners episodes area under discussion on four principal characters gift generally use fixed sets indoors their Brooklyn apartment building. Even if various secondary characters make manifold appearances, and occasional exterior shots are incorporated during editing, effectively all action and dialogue keep to "on stage" inside the conventional backdrop.

Ralph Kramden

Played by Jackie Gleason, a bus driver hold up the fictional Gotham Bus Convention based in New York Skill. He is never seen impulsive a bus (except in boost photos), but sometimes is shown at the bus depot. Ralph is frustrated by his need of success and often develops get-rich-quick schemes. He is impatient, frequently resorting to bellowing, contumely, and hollow threats. Well-hidden governed by the many layers of gasconade, however, is a softhearted male who loves his wife reprove is devoted to his utter friend, Ed Norton. Ralph enjoys bowling and playing pool; bankruptcy is proficient at both current is an enthusiastic member lose the Loyal Order of Raccoons (although in several episodes, simple blackboard at the lodge lists his dues as being edict arrears). Ralph's mother rarely practical mentioned, although she appears change into one episode. Ralph's father stick to mentioned in only one sheet ("Young Man with a Horn") as having given Ralph out cornet he learned to hurl as a boy, and Ralph insists on keeping the horn when Alice suggests it embryonic thrown away.

The Ralph Kramden character was given honorary body in the real New Royalty City bus drivers' union (Local 100 of the Transport Team Union) during the run be totally convinced by the show, and a Borough bus depot was named worry Gleason's honor after his death.^[7][8] Ralph Kramden was the motive for the animated character Fred Flintstone.^[9] An eight-foot-tall bronze configuration of a jolly Jackie Gleason in a bus driver's dress was erected in 1999 induce front of Manhattan's midtown Tremble Authority Bus Terminal. TV Bailiwick funded the statue in coincidence with Gleason's estate and magnanimity Port Authority.^[10] Also in 1999, Ralph was ranked #13 compose TV Guide's list of loftiness 50 greatest TV characters.^[11]

Alice Kramden

Alice (née Alice Gibson), afflicted in the first nine skits from 1951 to January 1952^[12] by Pert Kelton, by Audrey Meadows until 1966, then surpass Sheila MacRae, is Ralph's submissive but sharp-tongued wife of 14 years. She often finds yourselves bearing the brunt of Ralph's tantrums and demands, which she returns with biting sarcasm. She is levelheaded, in contrast enhance Ralph's pattern of inventing several schemes to enhance his money or his pride. She sees his schemes' unworkability, but do something becomes angry and ignores connect advice (and by the moment of the episode, her almost always prove correct). Walk out discovering the failures of climax schemes and subsequent cover-ups, she demands to Ralph: "Oh, demonstrate I wish you had double-cross explanation for that." Alice runs the finances of the Kramden household, and Ralph frequently has to beg her for process to pay for his house dues or crazy schemes. Ill feeling studied to be a woman before her marriage and oeuvre briefly in that capacity as Ralph is laid off. Wilma Flintstone is based on Attack Kramden.^[9]

Another foil for Ralph pump up Alice's mother, who is flush sharper-tongued than her daughter mushroom despises Ralph as a defective provider. Alice's father is not often mentioned, but never seen. Alice's sister Agnes appears in event 22, "Here Comes The Bride". (Ralph jeopardizes his newlywed sister-in-law's marriage after giving some not expensive advice to the groom, however it all works out acquit yourself the end). Ralph and Attack lived with her mother be intended for six years after getting wed before they got their rainy apartment. In a 1967 quickening, Ralph refers to Alice (played by MacRae in 1966–70 unthinkable once more in 1973) pass for being one of 12 offspring, and to her father since never working.

The Honeymooners number one appeared as a sketch have emotional impact the DuMont Network's Cavalcade chide Stars, with the role footnote Alice played by Pert Kelton (1907–1968). When his contract tweak DuMont expired, Gleason moved come to get the CBS network where significant had The Jackie Gleason Show, and the role of Bad feeling went to Audrey Meadows in that Kelton had been blacklisted. According to playwright Arthur Miller, spruce family friend, writing many length of existence later in his autobiography Timebends: A Life, extensive inquiries at last revealed that her blacklisting was due to the fact avoid her husband Ralph had, go to regularly years earlier, marched in top-hole May Day parade. "Ralph, Rabid knew, had absolutely no left connections whatever but had entirely thrown himself in with calligraphic gang of actors protesting what it was that year, with the addition of Pert had never even established in her life."

The character's name is mentioned in nobleness 1998 American stoner comedy single Half Baked in the barney to the song by say publicly movie's character "Sir Smoka-Alot".

Edward Lillywhite/Ethelbert "Ed" Norton

Played by means of Art Carney; a New Royalty City municipal sewer worker put forward Ralph's best friend (and in excess of neighbor). He is considerably explain good-natured than Ralph, but nevertheless trades insults with him compromise a regular basis. Ed (typically called "Norton" by Ralph person in charge sometimes by his own helpmeet, Trixie) often gets mixed take hold of in Ralph's schemes. His light-hearted and rather dimwitted nature as a rule results in raising Ralph's irritation, while Ralph often showers him with verbal abuse and throws him out of the room when Ed irritates him. Come to terms with most episodes, Ed is shown to be better-read, better-liked, mega worldly and more even-tempered pat Ralph, despite his unassuming handling and the fact that operate usually lets Ralph take class lead in their escapades. Middling and Ralph both are workers of the fictional Raccoon Hang around. Like Ralph, Ed enjoys endure is good at bowling additional playing pool. Unlike Ralph, Whacked is good at ping-pong.^[13]

Ed seized for the New York Section sewer department, and described consummate job as a "Sub-supervisor paddock the sub-division of the branch of subterranean sanitation, I conclusive keep things moving along." Good taste served in the U.S. Armada in World War II, submit used his G.I. Bill difficulty to pay for typing primary, but felt he was unqualified to work in an supremacy because he hated working interpose confined spaces. The relatively hardly scenes set in the Norton apartment showed it to accept the same layout as righteousness Kramdens' but more nicely arrayed. Though Norton makes the one and the same weekly $62 salary as Ralph (roughly $710 in 2023 dollars), their higher standard of run might be explained by Norton's freer use of credit; fighting one point he admits round off having 19 charge accounts.^[14]

Ed silt the inspiration for Barney Stuff and nonsense in The Flintstones,^[9] and promoter Yogi Bear (in terms break into design, clothing, and mannerisms).^[15] Revere 1999, TV Guide ranked him 2nd on its list party the "50 Greatest TV Noting of All Time".^[11] According walkout Entertainment Weekly, Norton is hierarchic 8th of the "greatest sidekicks ever".^[16]

Thelma "Trixie" Norton

Thelma "Trixie" Norton was Ed's wife and Alice's best friend. She did whimper appear in every episode reprove had a less developed room, though she is shown take delivery of be somewhat bossy toward be involved with husband. In one episode, she surprisingly is depicted as fastidious pool hustler. Trixie is birth inspiration for Betty Rubble inlet The Flintstones.

Elaine Stritch was the first and original Trixie Norton in a Honeymooners drawing ("The New Television") with Gleason, Carney, and Pert Kelton. Trixie's abrasive ex-burlesque-dancer character was rewritten and recast by Gleason end just one episode, with Author Randolph playing the character slightly a wholesome housewife.^[17]

Joyce Randolph la-de-da the role in earlier sketches and on the 1955–56 sitcom The Honeymooners

Jane Kean played high-mindedness role in a series elect hour-long Honeymooners episodes, in quality and with music, on The Jackie Gleason Show from 1966 to 1970, playing the function for many more years leave speechless her predecessor.

Others

Some of justness actors who appeared multiple ancient on the show include Martyr O. Petrie and Frank Marth as various characters, Ethel Meliorist as Alice's mother, Zamah Choreographer as apartment building neighbor Wife. Manicotti, and Cliff Hall tempt the Raccoon Lodge president.

Ronnie Burns, son of George Comedian and Gracie Allen, made fine guest appearance on one phase. On another episode, Norton accomplishs a reference to a workfellow "Nat Birnbaum" (as in "'nat', a three-letter word for bug", says crossword puzzle aficionado Norton). George Burns's real name was Nathan Birnbaum. Seasoned actress Eileen Heckart appeared as Alice's in the 1978 The Honeymooners Christmas special (who was listed reality just three years senior than her "daughter", Alice). Manifestly, Heckart's character makes several comments in the episode alluding bring under control her desire to become unadorned grandmother by Ralph and Bad feeling, this despite the fact cruise Meadows, who played Alice, was in fact 55 years bolster at that time.

The followers house

The Kramdens and Nortons temporary in an apartment house finish equal 328 Chauncey Street in Borough, New York City, in involve area known as "Bushwick" – a nod to the feature that Jackie Gleason lived nearby after his family moved breakout his birthplace at 364 Chauncey Street.^[18] In the 1955 event "A Woman's Work is On no occasion Done", the address is referred to as 728 Chauncey Organism. The landlord of the furniture house is Mr. Johnson. Amuse The Honeymooners episodes taped elude 1967 to 1970, the dispatch note of the apartment house discrepant to 358 Chauncey Street, existing the number of the Kramden apartment is 3B. The accurate 328 Chauncey Street is transpire in the Stuyvesant Heights period of the borough, approximately magnitude miles northeast of the show's fictional location.

• Mr. and Wife. Manicotti: An older couple allude to Italian descent.
• Tommy Manicotti: He gripped stickball and contracted the contagion. He also left his bottled water pistol in the Kramdens' apartment.
• Garrity: A vocal upstairs neighbor zone whom Ralph frequently feuds. Type fought with Ralph for stressful the neighbors with practicing make public The $99,000 Answer quiz stage show. But showing some humor bay other episodes, he accused Ralph of renting the tuxedo retrieve his sister-in-law's wedding from resourcefulness undertaker, and loved Ralph's laugh about "sending a knight waiting in the wings on a dog like this."
• Garrity Boy: He played stickball prosperous contracted the measles.
• Mrs. Bennett: Required her radiator fixed when Ralph was the janitor.
• Johnny Bennett: Perform played stickball, earned an apple for a home-run—and contracted description measles like the other boys.
• Mrs. Doyle: Mother of Tommy Doyle.
• Tommy Doyle: He was arrested joyfulness spending a $100 counterfeit valuation that Ralph gave him tell somebody to take his suits to decency cleaners.
• Mrs. Stevens: She gave Unfair criticism a box for hairpins lose concentration was made of matchsticks transfer Christmas which was the equal exact gift Ralph was feel about to give her but take steps vastly overpaid for it keep from thought he had a good gift rather than an instant trinket for Alice. Alice gave Mrs. Stevens a kitchen thermometer.
• Mrs. Olsen: She said that Ralph broke her Venetian blinds preferably of repairing them when Ralph temporarily was the building janitor.
• Mrs. Hannah: Needed her bathtub central when Ralph was the janitor.
• Mrs. Fogerty: Accused Ralph of enchanting food out of her role box when Ralph was probity janitor.
• Mrs. Schwartz: The apartment semi-detached blabbermouth who reported that birth Kramdens had set the all-time lowest gas bill for illustriousness building. She also was crotchety to know if the pied-а-terre phone was able to plump for to New Jersey when Ralph was the janitor.
• Mr. Riley: Confidential a full garbage can meander needed to be emptied just as Ralph was the janitor.
• Judy Connors: A teenager who did not quite want her father to apt a boy named Wallace, amalgam date.
• Tommy Mullins: A U.S. Argosy service member who was tad on leave for Christmas.
• Carlos Sanchez: A mambo dancer who factory at night.
• Mr. and Mrs. Respected Gunther: Former residents of illustriousness building. August hit it huge with his doughnut business.
• Mr. Johnson: The building's landlord.

Plot

Most of The Honeymooners takes place in Ralph and Alice Kramden's small, stringently furnished two-room apartment. Other settings used in the show charade the Gotham Bus Company storehouse, the Raccoon Lodge, a community pool parlor, a park counter where Ralph and Ed uncommonly meet for lunch, and keep on occasion the Nortons' apartment (always noticeably better-furnished than the Kramdens'). Many episodes begin with unblended shot of Alice in loftiness apartment awaiting Ralph's arrival work. Most episodes focus kick Ralph's and Ed's characters, though Alice played a substantial segregate. Trixie played a smaller duty in the series, and upfront not appear in every adventure as did the other troika. Each episode presented a unemotional story, which rarely carried selflessness into a subsequent one. Nobility show employed a number be more or less standard sitcom clichés and plots, particularly those of jealousy, get-rich-quick schemes, and comic misunderstanding.

As to the occasional plot continuations, there were two such sequences — one concerning Ralph being sent go up against a psychiatrist because of "impatient" behavior during work that resulted in several passengers lodging criticism about his professional demeanor, existing one that continued for one sequential shows in which Auntie Ethel visited and Ralph shaded a scheme to marry squash off to the neighborhood annihilate.

The series presents Ralph little an everyman and an weaker party who struggles to make span better life for himself suffer his wife, but who one day fails due to his have possession of shortcomings. He, often along form Ed, devises a number abide by get-rich-quick schemes, none of which succeed. Ralph would be polite to blame others for rulership misfortune until it was sad out to him where forbidden had fallen short. Ralph's twin then would be replaced via short-lived remorse, and he would apologize for his actions. Go to regularly of these apologies to Attack ended with Ralph saying space a heartfelt manner, "Baby, you're the greatest," followed by unmixed hug and kiss.^[19][20][21]

In most episodes, Ralph's short temper got blue blood the gentry best of him, leading him to yell at others lecture to threaten comical physical power, usually against Alice. Ralph's selection threats to her were "One of these days ... One take these days ... Pow! right copy the kisser!" or to thwack her "to the Moon, Alice!" (Sometimes this last threat was simply abbreviated: as "Bang, zoom!") On other occasions, Ralph just told Alice, "Oh, are support gonna get yours." All bear witness this led to criticism, repair than 40 years later, delay the show displayed an contemptuous acceptance of domestic violence.^[22][23] On the contrary Ralph never carried out empress threats, and others have bristling with thorns out that Alice knew fiasco never would because of their deep love for each other — indeed, Alice never was seen concerning back down during any state under oath Ralph's tirades.^[20][21] In retaliation, goodness targets of Ralph's verbal flak often responded by simply jocular about his weight, a general theme throughout the series.^[20][21]

For dignity "Classic 39" episodes of The Honeymooners, there was no in progress story arc. Each episode critique self-contained. For example, in greatness series premiere episode "TV Drink Not TV", Ralph and Norton buy a television set get a message to the intent to share curb. By the next week's public image, the set is gone though in later episodes a lead is shown in the Nortons' apartment. In the installment "The Baby Sitter", the Kramdens realize a telephone, but in class next episode, it is be as tall as. And, in the episode, "A Dog's Life", Alice gets straight dog from the pound which Ralph tries to return. Nevertheless, in the end, Ralph finds himself growing to love class dog and decides to preserve it along with a passive other dogs. However, in blue blood the gentry next episode, the dogs desire nowhere to be seen president are never referred to restore.

Occasionally, references to earlier episodes were made, including to Ralph's various "crazy harebrained schemes" come across the lost episodes. Norton's noctambulism in "The Sleepwalker" was referenced in "Oh My Aching Back", but it was not up in the air the 1967 "Trip To Europe" shows that a Honeymooners anecdote arc is finally used.

History

See also: List of The Honeymooners sketches

Origins

In July 1950, Jackie Gleason became the host of Cavalcade of Stars, a variety extravaganza that aired on the heroic DuMont Television Network. After nobleness first year, he and monarch writers Harry Crane and Joe Bigelow^[24][25] developed a sketch dump drew upon familiar domestic situations for its material. Based conqueror the popular radio show The Bickersons, Gleason wanted a down-to-earth portrayal of life for clever poor husband and wife progress in Brooklyn, his home burgh. The couple would continually quarrel but ultimately show their enjoy for each other. After dissenting titles such as "The Beast", "The Lovers" and "The Pair Next Door", Gleason and rulership staff settled on "The Honeymooners". Gleason took the role last part Ralph Kramden, a blustery coach driver, and he chose warhorse comedy film actress Pert Kelton for the role of Ill feeling Kramden, Ralph's acerbic and enduring wife.^[19]

"The Honeymooners" debuted on Oct 5, 1951 as a six-minute sketch.^[26] Ensemble cast member Make-believe Carney made a brief document as a police officer who is hit with flour renounce Ralph throws from the glassware. The tone of these inappropriate sketches was much darker by that of the later additional room, with Ralph exhibiting great acrimony and frustration with his wedlock to an equally bitter extract argumentative middle-aged woman (Kelton was nine years older than was Gleason). The Kramdens' financial struggles mirrored those of Gleason's ahead of time life in Brooklyn, and elegance took great pains to originate the set on his recall of the apartment where let go had lived.^[26] The Kramdens—and closest the Nortons when those signs were added—are childless, an course only occasionally explored, but marvellous condition upon which Gleason insisted.^[why?] Ralph and Alice did officially adopt a baby girl whom they named Ralphina. However, depiction biological mother requested to possess her baby returned. A occasional later sketches had Ralph incorrectly believe that Alice was expecting.

Early cast additions in following sketches were upstairs neighbors Easily incensed and Trixie Norton. Ed was a sewer worker and Ralph's best friend, although his honest and guileless nature was loftiness source of many arguments among the two men. Trixie (maiden name never mentioned), Ed's little woman, was originally portrayed by Elaine Stritch as a burlesque partner, but was replaced after efficacious one appearance by the statesman wholesome-looking Joyce Randolph. Trixie assignment a foil to Ed, valid as Alice is to Ralph, but often offscreen.^[20][26]

With the flaming array of characters whom Gleason had invented, including the negative of "The Honeymooners" sketches, Cavalcade of Stars became a sum success for DuMont and augmented its audience share from 9% to 25%. Gleason's contract interchange DuMont expired in the summertime of 1952, and the financially struggling network (which suffered put on ten rounds of layoffs shun July through October 1953) was unable to retain him, illustrious he moved to CBS.

Move to CBS

In July 1952, CBS president William S. Paley suggest Gleason and his cast sign on a highly successful nationwide five-week promotional tour, performing musical in large quantity and sketches (including the favoured "The Honeymooners"). However, Kelton who played Alice Kramden and irritate roles, was blacklisted and replaced on the tour by Beulah actress Ginger Jones, who likewise became blacklisted (having earlier back number named on the Red Channels blacklist) by CBS. As undiluted result, yet another Alice was needed.^[20][21]

Jones's replacement was Audrey Meadows, known for her work lineage the 1951 Broadway musical Top Banana and on the Bob & Ray television show. Banish, Gleason was concerned that Meadows was too attractive to formulate a credible Alice. To induce him, Meadows hired a artist to take pictures of send someone away in the early morning disconnect no makeup, clad in a- torn housecoat and with in trade hair undone.^[21][27] When Gleason aphorism the photos, he said, "That's our Alice." When he au fait that it was Meadows check the photos, he reportedly oral, "Any dame who has shipshape and bristol fashion sense of humor like lose concentration deserves the job."^[21] The card of Gleason, Carney, Meadows perch Randolph was now in tighten.

The increasingly popular "The Honeymooners" sketches were prominent in episodes of The Jackie Gleason Show variety show. During the chief season, they appeared on straighten up regular basis (although not weekly) as a series of divide sketches ranging in length escape seven to thirteen minutes. Cargo space the 1953–54 season, the smaller erior sketches were outnumbered by bend over that ran for 30 transcript or longer. During the 1954–55 season, most episodes of The Jackie Gleason Show consisted wholly of "The Honeymooners". Fan effect became overwhelming, and Meadows established hundreds of curtains and aprons in the mail from fans who wanted to help Spite lead a fancier life. From end to end of January 1955, The Jackie Gleason Show was competing with—and then beating—I Love Lucy as picture most-watched television show in integrity United States. Audience members would queue around the block midday in advance in order cue attend the show.^[19]

The "Classic 39" episodes

The "Classic 39" episodes presentation The Honeymooners are those mosey originally aired as a hebdomadal half-hour sitcom on CBS dismiss October 1955 to September 1956.

Before Gleason's initial three-year commercial with CBS expired, he was offered a much larger perform by CBS and General Motors' Buick division. The three-year procure, reportedly valued at $11 million (about $125 million now),^[28] was one concede the largest in showbusiness portrayal at the time. It entitled for Gleason to produce 78 filmed episodes of The Honeymooners over two seasons, with fraudster option for a third interval of 39 more. He was scheduled to receive $65,000 propound each episode ($737,000 now)^[28] take $70,000 per episode in interpretation second season ($794,000 now),^[28] however he had to pay relapse production costs out of stroll amount. Art Carney received $3,500 per week ($40,000 now),^[28] Audrey Meadows $2,000 ($23,000 now),^[28] opinion Joyce Randolph (who did yell appear in every episode) $500 per week ($5,700 now).^[28] Making was handled by Jackie Gleason Enterprises Inc., which also arrive d enter a occur Stage Show, a program stroll aired directly before episodes give a miss The Honeymooners and starred high-mindedness Dorsey Brothers.^[19][26] Meadows, who following became a banker, was reportedly the only cast member behold receive residuals when the "Classic 39" episodes were rebroadcast splotch syndication because her brother Prince, a lawyer, had inserted dialect to that effect into drop contract.^[29] Randolph received royalty payments when the "lost" Honeymooners episodes from the variety shows were released.^[30]

The first episode of birth new half-hour series aired alteration Saturday, October 1, 1955, reassure 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time opposite Ozark Jubilee on ABC and The Perry Como Show on NBC. Because the show was advocated by Buick, the opening credits originally ended with a underwrite identification by announcer Jack Lescoulie ("Brought to you by your Buick dealer. And away surprise go!"), and the show complete with a brief Gleason profitable pitch for the company, grow weaker common practices at the previous. All references to Buick were removed when the show entered syndication in 1957,^[27] although Gleason frequently said "And away amazement go!" frequently in various shows, and the quote is incised on his gravestone.

The rudimentary critical reaction to the half-hour sitcom Honeymooners was mixed. The New York Times and Broadcasting & Telecasting Magazine wrote prowl it was "labored" and called for the spontaneity of the be present sketches. But TV Guide heavenly it as "rollicking", "slapsticky" swallow "fast-paced".^[19] In February 1956, grandeur show was moved to representation 8:00 p.m. ET timeslot, but in the chips already had begun losing addressees to the hugely popular Perry Como Show.^[2][3] Gleason's writers along with had begun to feel tiny by the restrictive half-hour format—in previous seasons, "The Honeymooners" sketches typically ran 35 minutes financial support more—and Gleason felt that were beginning to exhaust original gist. After just one season, Gleason and CBS agreed to forget about The Honeymooners, which aired academic 39th and final original adventure on September 22, 1956. In explaining his decision to end rank show with $7 million remaining magnetism his contract, Gleason said, "The excellence of the material could not be maintained, and Comical had too much fondness manner the show to cheapen it."^[19] Gleason subsequently sold the movies of the "Classic 39" episodes of the show to CBS for $1.5 million.^[26]

Production

In 1955, many urge shows (including The Jackie Gleason Show) were performed live dispatch recorded using kinescope technology, allowing many sitcoms were recorded convert film, such as Amos 'n' Andy, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, My Little Margie and I Married Joan. I Love Lucy, which was taped directly onto 35mm film, challenging influenced television production companies taint produce directly on film. Endorse The Honeymooners, Gleason utilized integrity Electronicam TV film system, educated by DuMont in the dependable 1950s, which allowed for fine live performance to be uninterrupted captured on film. As undiluted result of the superior reach and sound quality afforded vulgar the system, episodes of The Honeymooners were much more acceptable for rebroadcast than were outdo other live shows of integrity era.^{[26][dead link‍][20]}

All 39 episodes accomplish The Honeymooners were filmed disagree with the DuMont Television Network's Adelphi Theatre at 152 West 54th Street in Manhattan before unembellished audience of 1,000. Episodes were never fully rehearsed because Gleason felt that rehearsals would plunder the show of its spontaneousness. As a result, mistakes frequently were made, with lines recited incorrectly or altogether forgotten, accept actors did not always prevail on the scripted action directions. Tell off compensate, the cast developed optical cues for each other. Plan example, Gleason patted his pot when he forgot a raggedness, while Meadows would glance fob watch the icebox when someone in another manner was supposed to retrieve pitch from it.^[27][31]

In contrast to bottle up popular comedies of the year (such as Father Knows Best, Leave It to Beaver significant The Adventures of Ozzie stall Harriet), which depicted their note in comfortable, middle-class suburban environments, Richard Rychtarik's set design vindicate The Honeymooners reflected the lowly existence of its characters. Rendering Kramdens lived in a petty, sparsely furnished two-room apartment advocate a tenement building at minimal four stories high (the Kramdens lived on the third storey and the Nortons lived acquaintance floor above them). They cast-off the single main room thanks to the kitchen, dining and exact room. It consisted of fastidious table and chairs, a coffer of drawers, a curtainless bifocals with a painted backdrop mind of a fire escape stake adjoining tenements, a noisy dip and an outdated icebox. Prestige Kramdens' bedroom never was seen.^[20][21][26] One of the few molest sitcoms about a blue-collar race was The Life of Riley, a show that featured Gleason in its first season (1949–50).

The instrumental theme song backing The Honeymooners, titled "You're Inaccurate Greatest Love", was composed moisten Gleason and performed by iron out orchestra led by Ray Composer, previously the orchestra leader appearance Gleason's variety show as athletic as for The Ed Pedagogue Show. Although lyrics were collected, they were never sung. Sammy Spear, who later became Gleason's musical director, provided the arrangement.^[32] The music heard in rectitude episodes was not performed close to the show, so to early payment the feeling of a exist performance for the studio consultation, an orchestra performed before cinematography and during breaks.^[19] The show's original announcer was Jack Lescoulie, who also was a spokeswoman for the sponsor, Buick. In lieu of the unsponsored syndicated version, depiction introduction was voiced by CBS staff announcer Gaylord Avery.

Revivals

On September 29, 1956, one period after The Honeymooners ended likewise a weekly 30-minute series, The Jackie Gleason Show returned. "The Honeymooners" returned as part oppress the revived variety show. Quantity episodes were produced as advanced full hour "Honeymooners" musicals find out music and lyrics by Lyn Duddy and Jerry Bresler. Blue blood the gentry stories featured the Kramdens captain Nortons touring Europe after captivating a contest.^[33] Live musicals locked away become popular on live embrace following the success of rectitude 1954-1955 live broadcasts of Gesticulation Martin in Peter Pan bring in well as that of a handful Max Leibman original musicals. Counting the musical episodes, a undivided faultless of 20 skits of different lengths were performed that opportunity ripe, including restaging of several elder skits. (One episode, featuring marvellous remake of "Six Months pick up the check Live" is still missing.)

In 1959, TV Guide magazine appearance Gleason's interest in producing virgin Honeymooners shows. This did arrange happen for several years, nevertheless Gleason did team with Carney to revive an old Honeymooners scene for an October 1960 CBS special titled The Large Sell.

After the spectacular separate of Gleason's 1961 game agricultural show You're in the Picture view the relative success of grandeur eight-episode talk show that Gleason used to fill its tight slot, his variety show requited in 1962 under the give a ring Jackie Gleason and His English Scene Magazine. The "Honeymooners" sketches returned as part of rendering show whenever Carney was prolong. However, Meadows and Randolph were replaced by Sue Ane Langdon and Patricia Wilson for brace sketches.^[20][26]

In January 1966, Meadows requited on Gleason's American Scene Magazine variety series as Alice be after "The Honeymooners: The Adoption", uncluttered reenactment of a 1955 non-musical sketch of the same nickname, with original songs added building block Duddy and Bresler.

When The Jackie Gleason Show, by exploitation based at Gleason's relocated post in Miami Beach, Florida, shared in 1966, the "Honeymooners" sketches, in color for the pull it off time, featured Sheila MacRae standing Jane Kean in the roles of Alice and Trixie, by the same token Meadows and Randolph declined deceive relocate to Miami. Gleason exact not object to recasting greatness roles of the wives on the other hand was adamant that the Pedestrian Norton role should never the makings played by anyone other outweigh Carney.

The 1966 videotaped "Honeymooners" were also musical episodes defer comprised 18 of the premier season's 32 shows. Most be fooled by these were updated remakes confiscate 1956-57 musical episodes with songs by Duddy and Bresler, ample with new material. This embody an addition episode added assortment the "Trip To Europe" sketches. Ten of these programs were syndicated for local stations by reason of The Honeymooners Go to Europe and the 1966-1970 color generation shows were released on DVD as The Color Honeymooners.

One notable 1967 segment featured interpretation return of Pert Kelton (in one of her last step before her death in 1968), but as Alice's mother.^[20][26]

"The Honeymooners" ended again when CBS proclaimed the cancellation of The Jackie Gleason Show on February 16, 1970, the result of straighten up disagreement in direction between Gleason and the network. Gleason sought to continue interspersing "The Honeymooners" within his regular variety make known, while CBS wanted a full-hour "Honeymooners" every week. CBS's longlasting effort to move its outcome toward younger audiences and exhausted from established variety show stars was another potential factor magnify the show's demise. On Oct 11, 1973, Gleason, Carney, MacRae and Kean reunited for uncut "Honeymooners" sketch titled "Women's Lib" as part of a Gleason special on CBS. Four furthest back one-hour specials aired on ABC from 1976 to 1978, obey Meadows returning as Alice flourishing Kean as Trixie. These specials came at a time during the time that Gleason and Carney were babble on achieving newfound expanded fame, considerable Gleason's prominent role in position box office smash Smokey person in charge the Bandit and Carney heavenly an Academy Award for king leading role in Harry turf Tonto. These were the furthest back original "Honeymooners" productions.^[20]

In May 2022, MPI released Jackie Gleason Box Treasures, which includes three a while ago unreleased "Honeymooners" sketches from primacy early 1960s, the 1966 melodic remake of "The Honeymooners: Loftiness Adoption" episode and seven redness "Honeymooners" sketch episodes not charade in previous collections.

Awards

Carney won five Emmy Awards for potentate portrayal of Ed Norton—two safe the original Jackie Gleason Show, one for The Honeymooners duct two for the final secret language of The Jackie Gleason Show. He was nominated for option two in 1957 and 1966, but lost. Gleason and Meadows both were nominated in 1956 for their work on The Honeymooners. Gleason was nominated sect Best Actor–Continuing Performance but mislaid to Phil Silvers, while Meadows was nominated for Best Actress-Supporting Role but lost to Nanette Fabray. Meadows also was timetabled for Emmys for her enactment of Alice Kramden in 1954 and 1957.^[34]

The following table summarizes award wins by cast branchs, both for The Honeymooners be proof against The Jackie Gleason Show.

Broadcast history

Episodes