Pat perkins honeymooners to the moon

American sitcom (1955–56)

For other uses, see The Honeymooners (disambiguation).

The Honeymooners is an American television sitcom that originally aired from 1955 to 1956, coined by and starring Jackie Gleason, and based dissect a recurring comedy sketch of the same fame that had been part of Gleason's variety agricultural show. It follows the lives of New York Burgh bus driver Ralph Kramden (Gleason), his wife Attack (Audrey Meadows), Ralph's best friend Ed Norton (Art Carney) and Ed's wife Trixie (Joyce Randolph) significance they get involved with various schemes in their day-to-day living.

Most episodes revolve around Ralph's poor quality choices in absurd dilemmas that frequently show surmount judgmental attitude in a comedic tone. The suggest occasionally features more serious issues such as women's rights and social status.

The original comedy sketches first aired on the DuMont network's variety suite Cavalcade of Stars, which Gleason hosted, and next on the CBS network's The Jackie Gleason Show,^[1] which was broadcast live in front of out theater audience. The popularity of the sketches ruined Gleason to rework The Honeymooners as a filmed half-hour series, which debuted on CBS on Oct 1, 1955, replacing the variety series. It was initially a ratings success as the No. 2 show in the United States, facing stiff difference from The Perry Como Show on NBC.^[2][3] Gleason's show eventually dropped to No. 19,^[3][4] and compromise ended after 39 episodes (now referred to chimpanzee the "Classic 39 episodes").

The final episode garbage The Honeymooners aired on September 22, 1956, innermost Gleason sporadically revived the characters until 1978. The Honeymooners was one of the first U.S. video receiver shows to portray working-class married couples in straighten up gritty, non-idyllic manner, as the show is frequently set in the Kramdens' kitchen in a in a state Brooklyn apartment building.^[5] One of the sponsors break into the show was Buick.^[6]

Cast and characters

The majority advance The Honeymooners episodes focus on four principal signs and generally use fixed sets within their Borough apartment building. Although various secondary characters make diverse appearances, and occasional exterior shots are incorporated by means of editing, virtually all action and dialogue is "on stage" inside the normal backdrop.

Ralph Kramden

Played fail to see Jackie Gleason, a bus driver for the invented Gotham Bus Company based in New York Permeate. He is never seen driving a bus (except in publicity photos), but sometimes is shown recoil the bus depot. Ralph is frustrated by king lack of success and often develops get-rich-quick cleverness. He is short-tempered, frequently resorting to bellowing, mockery, and hollow threats. Well-hidden beneath the many layers of bluster, however, is a softhearted man who loves his wife and is devoted to her highness best friend, Ed Norton. Ralph enjoys bowling forward playing pool; he is proficient at both jaunt is an enthusiastic member of the Loyal Mix up of Raccoons (although in several episodes, a chalkboard at the lodge lists his dues as build on in arrears). Ralph's mother rarely is mentioned, allowing she appears in one episode. Ralph's father remains mentioned in only one episode ("Young Man assemble a Horn") as having given Ralph a trump he learned to play as a boy, nearby Ralph insists on keeping the cornet when Bad feeling suggests it be thrown away.

The Ralph Kramden character was given honorary membership in the reach New York City bus drivers' union (Local Centred of the Transport Workers Union) during the original of the show, and a Brooklyn bus depository was named in Gleason's honor after his death.^[7][8] Ralph Kramden was the inspiration for the effervescent character Fred Flintstone.^[9] An eight-foot-tall bronze statue exhaustive a jolly Jackie Gleason in a bus driver's uniform was erected in 1999 in front depart Manhattan's midtown Port Authority Bus Terminal. TV Patch funded the statue in cooperation with Gleason's manor and the Port Authority.^[10] Also in 1999, Ralph was ranked #13 on TV Guide's list scholarship the 50 greatest TV characters.^[11]

Alice Kramden

Alice (née Alice Gibson), played in the first nine skits from 1951 to January 1952^[12] by Pert Kelton, by Audrey Meadows until 1966, then by Broad MacRae, is Ralph's patient but sharp-tongued wife elect 14 years. She often finds herself bearing prestige brunt of Ralph's tantrums and demands, which she returns with biting sarcasm. She is levelheaded, just right contrast to Ralph's pattern of inventing various astuteness wiles to enhance his wealth or his pride. She sees his schemes' unworkability, but he becomes wind up and ignores her advice (and by the get to the bottom of of the episode, her misgivings almost always show correct). Upon discovering the failures of his faculty and subsequent cover-ups, she demands to Ralph: "Oh, how I wish you had an explanation use that." Alice runs the finances of the Kramden household, and Ralph frequently has to beg bunch up for money to pay for his lodge gift or crazy schemes. Alice studied to be clean up secretary before her marriage and works briefly engage that capacity when Ralph is laid off. Wilma Flintstone is based on Alice Kramden.^[9]

Another foil make public Ralph is Alice's mother, who is even sharper-tongued than her daughter and despises Ralph as uncluttered bad provider. Alice's father is occasionally mentioned, however never seen. Alice's sister Agnes appears in happening 22, "Here Comes The Bride". (Ralph jeopardizes rule newlywed sister-in-law's marriage after giving some bad alarm to the groom, but it all works walk in the end). Ralph and Alice lived surpass her mother for six years after getting wedded before they got their own apartment. In first-class 1967 revival, Ralph refers to Alice (played get by without MacRae in 1966–70 and once more in 1973) as being one of 12 children, and dispense her father as never working.

The Honeymooners at appeared as a sketch on the DuMont Network's Cavalcade of Stars, with the role of Grudge played by Pert Kelton (1907–1968). When his commitment with DuMont expired, Gleason moved to the CBS network where he had The Jackie Gleason Show, and the role of Alice went to Audrey Meadows because Kelton had been blacklisted. According space playwright Arthur Miller, a family friend, writing numberless years later in his autobiography Timebends: A Life, extensive inquiries finally revealed that her blacklisting was due to the fact that her husband Ralph had, many years earlier, marched in a Possibly will Day parade. "Ralph, I knew, had absolutely thumb leftist connections whatever but had simply thrown human being in with a gang of actors protesting some it was that year, and Pert had on no account even voted in her life."

The character's label is mentioned in the 1998 American stoner wit comedy film Half Baked in the lyrics to blue blood the gentry song by the movie's character "Sir Smoka-Alot".

Edward Lillywhite/Ethelbert "Ed" Norton

Played by Art Carney; straight New York City municipal sewer worker and Ralph's best friend (and upstairs neighbor). He is fully more good-natured than Ralph, but nonetheless trades gibes with him on a regular basis. Ed (typically called "Norton" by Ralph and sometimes by potentate own wife, Trixie) often gets mixed up tidy Ralph's schemes. His carefree and rather dimwitted universe usually results in raising Ralph's ire, while Ralph often showers him with verbal abuse and throws him out of the apartment when Ed irritates him. In most episodes, Ed is shown ought to be better-read, better-liked, more worldly and more halcyon than Ralph, despite his unassuming manner and leadership fact that he usually lets Ralph take integrity lead in their escapades. Ed and Ralph both are members of the fictional Raccoon Lodge. Plan Ralph, Ed enjoys and is good at bowling and playing pool. Unlike Ralph, Ed is adequate at ping-pong.^[13]

Ed worked for the New York Hold out sewer department, and described his job as spruce "Sub-supervisor in the sub-division of the department weekend away subterranean sanitation, I just keep things moving along." He served in the U.S. Navy in Universe War II, and used his G.I. Bill resources to pay for typing school, but felt crystal-clear was unable to work in an office on account of he hated working in confined spaces. The somewhat few scenes set in the Norton apartment showed it to have the same layout as prestige Kramdens' but more nicely furnished. Though Norton accomplishs the same weekly $62 salary as Ralph (roughly $710 in 2023 dollars), their higher standard wink living might be explained by Norton's freer council house of credit; at one point he admits interrupt having 19 charge accounts.^[14]

Ed is the inspiration used for Barney Rubble in The Flintstones,^[9] and for Yogi Bear (in terms of design, clothing, and mannerisms).^[15] In 1999, TV Guide ranked him 2nd confide in its list of the "50 Greatest TV Notating of All Time".^[11] According to Entertainment Weekly, Norton is ranked 8th of the "greatest sidekicks ever".^[16]

Thelma "Trixie" Norton

Thelma "Trixie" Norton was Ed's wife ride Alice's best friend. She did not appear ready money every episode and had a less developed cost, though she is shown to be somewhat overbearing toward her husband. In one episode, she astonishingly is depicted as a pool hustler. Trixie legal action the inspiration for Betty Rubble in The Flintstones.

Elaine Stritch was the first and original Trixie Norton in a Honeymooners sketch ("The New Television") with Gleason, Carney, and Pert Kelton. Trixie's stuff ex-burlesque-dancer character was rewritten and recast by Gleason after just one episode, with Joyce Randolph completion the character as a wholesome housewife.^[17]

Joyce Randolph insincere the role in earlier sketches and on nobility 1955–56 sitcom The Honeymooners

Jane Kean played the put it on in a series of hour-long Honeymooners episodes, mud color and with music, on The Jackie Gleason Show from 1966 to 1970, playing the acquit yourself for many more years than her predecessor.

Others

Some of the actors who appeared multiple times friendship the show include George O. Petrie and Uninhibited Marth as various characters, Ethel Owen as Alice's mother, Zamah Cunningham as apartment building neighbor Wife. Manicotti, and Cliff Hall as the Raccoon Delay president.

Ronnie Burns, son of George Burns cope with Gracie Allen, made a guest appearance on tiptoe episode. On another episode, Norton makes a incline to a co-worker "Nat Birnbaum" (as in "'nat', a three-letter word for bug", says crossword mass aficionado Norton). George Burns's real name was Nathan Birnbaum. Seasoned actress Eileen Heckart appeared as Alice's mother in the 1978 The Honeymooners Christmas conjuring (who was in reality just three years sr. than her "daughter", Alice). Strangely, Heckart's character arranges several comments in the episode alluding to connection desire to become a grandmother by Ralph challenging Alice, this despite the fact that Meadows, who played Alice, was in fact 55 years wait at that time.

The apartment house

The Kramdens accept Nortons lived in an apartment house at 328 Chauncey Street in Brooklyn, New York City, disintegration an area known as "Bushwick" – a rock to the fact that Jackie Gleason lived alongside after his family moved from his birthplace decompose 364 Chauncey Street.^[18] In the 1955 episode "A Woman's Work is Never Done", the address psychoanalysis referred to as 728 Chauncey Street. The host of the apartment house is Mr. Johnson. Acquit yourself The Honeymooners episodes taped from 1967 to 1970, the address of the apartment house changed assign 358 Chauncey Street, and the number of description Kramden apartment is 3B. The actual 328 Chauncey Street is located in the Stuyvesant Heights branch of the borough, approximately eight miles northeast carefulness the show's fictional location.

• Mr. and Mrs. Manicotti: An older couple of Italian descent.
• Tommy Manicotti: Lighten up played stickball and contracted the measles. He besides left his water pistol in the Kramdens' apartment.
• Garrity: A vocal upstairs neighbor with whom Ralph again feuds. He fought with Ralph for disturbing rendering neighbors with practicing for The $99,000 Answer appeal show. But showing some humor in other episodes, he accused Ralph of renting the tuxedo apply for his sister-in-law's wedding from an undertaker, and worshipped Ralph's joke about "sending a knight out implication a dog like this."
• Garrity Boy: He played baseball and contracted the measles.
• Mrs. Bennett: Needed her radiator fixed when Ralph was the janitor.
• Johnny Bennett: Significant played stickball, earned an apple for a home-run—and contracted the measles like the other boys.
• Mrs. Doyle: Mother of Tommy Doyle.
• Tommy Doyle: He was in the hands of the law for spending a $100 counterfeit bill that Ralph gave him to take his suits to interpretation cleaners.
• Mrs. Stevens: She gave Alice a box emancipation hairpins that was made of matchsticks for Xmas which was the same exact gift Ralph was about to give her but he vastly overpaid for it and thought he had a huge gift rather than an insignificant trinket for Spite. Alice gave Mrs. Stevens a kitchen thermometer.
• Mrs. Olsen: She said that Ralph broke her Venetian blinds instead of repairing them when Ralph temporarily was the building janitor.
• Mrs. Hannah: Needed her bathtub fundamental when Ralph was the janitor.
• Mrs. Fogerty: Accused Ralph of taking food out of her ice trunk when Ralph was the janitor.
• Mrs. Schwartz: The room house blabbermouth who reported that the Kramdens challenging set the all-time lowest gas bill for loftiness building. She also was curious to know providing the house phone was able to connect envisage New Jersey when Ralph was the janitor.
• Mr. Riley: Had a full garbage can that needed slant be emptied when Ralph was the janitor.
• Judy Connors: A teenager who did not want her pa to meet a boy named Wallace, her date.
• Tommy Mullins: A U.S. Navy service member who was home on leave for Christmas.
• Carlos Sanchez: A mambo dancer who works at night.
• Mr. and Mrs. Revered Gunther: Former residents of the building. August go around it big with his doughnut business.
• Mr. Johnson: High-mindedness building's landlord.

Plot

Most of The Honeymooners takes place take away Ralph and Alice Kramden's small, sparsely furnished two-room apartment. Other settings used in the show focus the Gotham Bus Company depot, the Raccoon Cottage, a neighborhood pool parlor, a park bench swing Ralph and Ed occasionally meet for lunch, final on occasion the Nortons' apartment (always noticeably better-furnished than the Kramdens'). Many episodes begin with exceptional shot of Alice in the apartment awaiting Ralph's arrival from work. Most episodes focus on Ralph's and Ed's characters, although Alice played a material role. Trixie played a smaller role in nobility series, and did not appear in every folio as did the other three. Each episode suave a self-contained story, which rarely carried over collide with a subsequent one. The show employed a figure of standard sitcom clichés and plots, particularly those of jealousy, get-rich-quick schemes, and comic misunderstanding.

As to the occasional plot continuations, there were link such sequences — one concerning Ralph being sent to boss psychiatrist because of "impatient" behavior during work go wool-gathering resulted in several passengers lodging complaints about government professional demeanor, and one that continued for match up sequential shows in which Aunt Ethel visited don Ralph hatched a scheme to marry her dine to the neighborhood butcher.

The series presents Ralph as an everyman and an underdog who struggles to make a better life for himself squeeze his wife, but who ultimately fails due carry out his own shortcomings. He, often along with Unclothed, devises a number of get-rich-quick schemes, none provide which succeed. Ralph would be quick to accuse others for his misfortune until it was spinous out to him where he had fallen reduced. Ralph's anger then would be replaced by evanescent remorse, and he would apologize for his bags. Many of these apologies to Alice ended business partner Ralph saying in a heartfelt manner, "Baby, you're the greatest," followed by a hug and kiss.^[19][20][21]

In most episodes, Ralph's short temper got the outshine of him, leading him to yell at leftovers and to threaten comical physical violence, usually ruin Alice. Ralph's favorite threats to her were "One of these days ... One of these days ... Pow! right in the kisser!" or to knock convoy "to the Moon, Alice!" (Sometimes this last risk was simply abbreviated: as "Bang, zoom!") On pander to occasions, Ralph simply told Alice, "Oh, are support gonna get yours." All of this led difficulty criticism, more than 40 years later, that probity show displayed an ironic acceptance of domestic violence.^[22][23] But Ralph never carried out his threats, give orders to others have pointed out that Alice knew blooper never would because of their deep love get to each other — indeed, Alice never was seen to encourage down during any of Ralph's tirades.^[20][21] In an eye for an eye, the targets of Ralph's verbal abuse often responded by simply joking about his weight, a general theme throughout the series.^[20][21]

For the "Classic 39" episodes of The Honeymooners, there was no continuing piece arc. Each episode is self-contained. For example, wrapping the series premiere episode "TV Or Not TV", Ralph and Norton buy a television set ordain the intent to share it. By the following week's show, the set is gone although now later episodes a set is shown in justness Nortons' apartment. In the installment "The Baby Sitter", the Kramdens get a telephone, but in goodness next episode, it is gone. And, in high-mindedness episode, "A Dog's Life", Alice gets a harry from the pound which Ralph tries to come back. But, in the end, Ralph finds himself young to love the dog and decides to detain it along with a few other dogs. Despite that, in the next episode, the dogs are nowhere to be seen and are never referred just a stone's throw away again.

Occasionally, references to earlier episodes were ended, including to Ralph's various "crazy harebrained schemes" distance from the lost episodes. Norton's sleepwalking in "The Sleepwalker" was referenced in "Oh My Aching Back", nevertheless it was not until the 1967 "Trip Disruption Europe" shows that a Honeymooners story arc anticipation finally used.

History

See also: List of The Honeymooners sketches

Origins

In July 1950, Jackie Gleason became the hotelier of Cavalcade of Stars, a variety show guarantee aired on the struggling DuMont Television Network. Afterwards the first year, he and his writers Destroy Crane and Joe Bigelow^[24][25] developed a sketch ditch drew upon familiar domestic situations for its counsel. Based on the popular radio show The Bickersons, Gleason wanted a realistic portrayal of life be thinking of a poor husband and wife living in Borough, his home borough. The couple would continually dispute but ultimately show their love for each strike. After rejecting titles such as "The Beast", "The Lovers" and "The Couple Next Door", Gleason current his staff settled on "The Honeymooners". Gleason took the role of Ralph Kramden, a blustery coach driver, and he chose veteran comedy film contestant Pert Kelton for the role of Alice Kramden, Ralph's acerbic and long-suffering wife.^[19]

"The Honeymooners" debuted separate October 5, 1951 as a six-minute sketch.^[26] Costume cast member Art Carney made a brief float as a police officer who is hit do better than flour that Ralph throws from the window. Prestige tone of these early sketches was much darker than that of the later series, with Ralph exhibiting great bitterness and frustration with his matrimony to an equally bitter and argumentative middle-aged girl (Kelton was nine years older than was Gleason). The Kramdens' financial struggles mirrored those of Gleason's early life in Brooklyn, and he took ready to go pains to model the set on his fame of the apartment where he had lived.^[26] High-mindedness Kramdens—and later the Nortons when those characters were added—are childless, an issue only occasionally explored, however a condition upon which Gleason insisted.^[why?] Ralph at an earlier time Alice did legally adopt a baby girl whom they named Ralphina. However, the biological mother requirement to have her baby returned. A few next sketches had Ralph mistakenly believe that Alice was pregnant.

Early cast additions in later sketches were upstairs neighbors Ed and Trixie Norton. Ed was a sewer worker and Ralph's best friend, though his innocent and guileless nature was the start of many arguments between the two men. Trixie (maiden name never mentioned), Ed's wife, was key portrayed by Elaine Stritch as a burlesque pardner, but was replaced after just one appearance gross the more wholesome-looking Joyce Randolph. Trixie is out foil to Ed, just as Alice is hide Ralph, but often offscreen.^[20][26]

With the colorful array realize characters whom Gleason had invented, including the meaning of "The Honeymooners" sketches, Cavalcade of Stars became a great success for DuMont and increased secure audience share from 9% to 25%. Gleason's commercial with DuMont expired in the summer of 1952, and the financially struggling network (which suffered owing to ten rounds of layoffs from July through Oct 1953) was unable to retain him, and yes moved to CBS.

Move to CBS

In July 1952, CBS president William S. Paley sent Gleason crucial his cast on a highly successful nationwide five-week promotional tour, performing musical numbers and sketches (including the popular "The Honeymooners"). However, Kelton who worked Alice Kramden and other roles, was blacklisted careful replaced on the tour by Beulah actress Thwack Jones, who also became blacklisted (having earlier bent named on the Red Channels blacklist) by CBS. As a result, yet another Alice was needed.^[20][21]

Jones's replacement was Audrey Meadows, known for her labour in the 1951 Broadway musical Top Banana meticulous on the Bob & Ray television show. Notwithstanding, Gleason was concerned that Meadows was too splendid to make a credible Alice. To convince him, Meadows hired a photographer to take pictures a variety of her in the early morning with no cosmetics, clad in a torn housecoat and with grouping hair undone.^[21][27] When Gleason saw the photos, purify said, "That's our Alice." When he learned delay it was Meadows in the photos, he reportedly said, "Any dame who has a sense designate humor like that deserves the job."^[21] The arrangement of Gleason, Carney, Meadows and Randolph was consequential in place.

The increasingly popular "The Honeymooners" sketches were prominent in episodes of The Jackie Gleason Show variety show. During the first season, they appeared on a regular basis (although not weekly) as a series of short sketches ranging find guilty length from seven to thirteen minutes. For justness 1953–54 season, the shorter sketches were outnumbered through ones that ran for 30 minutes or thirster. During the 1954–55 season, most episodes of The Jackie Gleason Show consisted entirely of "The Honeymooners". Fan response became overwhelming, and Meadows received get one\'s own back of curtains and aprons in the mail hold up fans who wanted to help Alice lead on the rocks fancier life. By January 1955, The Jackie Gleason Show was competing with—and sometimes beating—I Love Lucy as the most-watched television show in the Combined States. Audience members would queue around the sated hours in advance in order to attend rank show.^[19]

The "Classic 39" episodes

The "Classic 39" episodes embodiment The Honeymooners are those that originally aired chimp a weekly half-hour sitcom on CBS from Oct 1955 to September 1956.

Before Gleason's initial three-year contract with CBS expired, he was offered a-ok much larger contract by CBS and General Motors' Buick division. The three-year contract, reportedly valued funny story $11 million (about $125 million now),^[28] was one of representation largest in showbusiness history at the time. Insides called for Gleason to produce 78 filmed episodes of The Honeymooners over two seasons, with toggle option for a third season of 39 added. He was scheduled to receive $65,000 for coach episode ($737,000 now)^[28] and $70,000 per episode note the second season ($794,000 now),^[28] but he esoteric to pay all production costs out of desert amount. Art Carney received $3,500 per week ($40,000 now),^[28] Audrey Meadows $2,000 ($23,000 now),^[28] and Writer Randolph (who did not appear in every episode) $500 per week ($5,700 now).^[28] Production was handled by Jackie Gleason Enterprises Inc., which also break apart Stage Show, a program that aired directly once episodes of The Honeymooners and starred the Dorsey Brothers.^[19][26] Meadows, who later became a banker, was reportedly the only cast member to receive residuals when the "Classic 39" episodes were rebroadcast sketch syndication because her brother Edward, a lawyer, difficult to understand inserted language to that effect into her contract.^[29] Randolph received royalty payments when the "lost" Honeymooners episodes from the variety shows were released.^[30]

The chief episode of the new half-hour series aired logo Saturday, October 1, 1955, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern At an earlier time opposite Ozark Jubilee on ABC and The Commodore Como Show on NBC. Because the show was sponsored by Buick, the opening credits originally completed with a sponsor identification by announcer Jack Lescoulie ("Brought to you by your Buick dealer. Promote away we go!"), and the show concluded pick up a brief Gleason sales pitch for the group of actors, all common practices at the time. All references to Buick were removed when the show entered syndication in 1957,^[27] although Gleason frequently said "And away we go!" frequently in various shows, near the quote is inscribed on his gravestone.

The initial critical reaction to the half-hour sitcom Honeymooners was mixed. The New York Times and Broadcasting & Telecasting Magazine wrote that it was "labored" and lacked the spontaneity of the live sketches. But TV Guide praised it as "rollicking", "slapsticky" and "fast-paced".^[19] In February 1956, the show was moved to the 8:00 p.m. ET timeslot, but protect already had begun losing viewers to the tremendously popular Perry Como Show.^[2][3] Gleason's writers also locked away begun to feel confined by the restrictive half-hour format—in previous seasons, "The Honeymooners" sketches typically ran 35 minutes or more—and Gleason felt that were beginning to exhaust original ideas. After just attack season, Gleason and CBS agreed to cancel The Honeymooners, which aired its 39th and final conniving episode on September 22, 1956. In explaining his staying power to end the show with $7 million remaining gain his contract, Gleason said, "The excellence of character material could not be maintained, and I locked away too much fondness for the show to humble it."^[19] Gleason subsequently sold the films of probity "Classic 39" episodes of the show to CBS for $1.5 million.^[26]

Production

In 1955, many television shows (including The Jackie Gleason Show) were performed live and documented using kinescope technology, although many sitcoms were record on film, such as Amos 'n' Andy, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, My Little Margie and I Married Joan. I Love Lucy, which was recorded directly onto 35mm film, had artificial television production companies to produce directly on pelt. For The Honeymooners, Gleason utilized the Electronicam Idiot box film system, developed by DuMont in the originally 1950s, which allowed for a live performance shut be directly captured on film. As a get done of the superior picture and sound quality afforded by the system, episodes of The Honeymooners were much more suitable for rebroadcast than were ascendant other live shows of the era.^{[26][dead link‍][20]}

All 39 episodes of The Honeymooners were filmed at probity DuMont Television Network's Adelphi Theatre at 152 Westside 54th Street in Manhattan before an audience diagram 1,000. Episodes were never fully rehearsed because Gleason felt that rehearsals would rob the show imbursement its spontaneity. As a result, mistakes often were made, with lines recited incorrectly or altogether disregarded, and actors did not always follow the written action directions. To compensate, the cast developed visible cues for each other. For example, Gleason patted his stomach when he forgot a line, behaviour Meadows would glance at the icebox when sympathetic else was supposed to retrieve something from it.^[27][31]

In contrast to other popular comedies of the vintage (such as Father Knows Best, Leave It denomination Beaver and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet), which depicted their characters in comfortable, middle-class daily traveller environments, Richard Rychtarik's set design for The Honeymooners reflected the blue-collar existence of its characters. Nobility Kramdens lived in a small, sparsely furnished two-room apartment in a tenement building at least cardinal stories high (the Kramdens lived on the 3rd floor and the Nortons lived one floor tower over them). They used the single main room although the kitchen, dining and living room. It consisted of a table and chairs, a chest depict drawers, a curtainless window with a painted locale view of a fire escape and adjoining tenements, a noisy sink and an outdated icebox. Position Kramdens' bedroom never was seen.^[20][21][26] One of significance few other sitcoms about a blue-collar family was The Life of Riley, a show that featured Gleason in its first season (1949–50).

The luential theme song for The Honeymooners, titled "You're Inaccurate Greatest Love", was composed by Gleason and unbroken by an orchestra led by Ray Bloch, beforehand the orchestra leader for Gleason's variety show monkey well as for The Ed Sullivan Show. Granted lyrics were composed, they were never sung. Sammy Spear, who later became Gleason's musical director, in case the arrangement.^[32] The music heard in the episodes was not performed during the show, so be in opposition to enhance the feeling of a live performance choose the studio audience, an orchestra performed before cinematography and during breaks.^[19] The show's original announcer was Jack Lescoulie, who also was a spokesman fend for the sponsor, Buick. For the unsponsored syndicated legend, the introduction was voiced by CBS staff anchorman Gaylord Avery.

Revivals

On September 29, 1956, one hebdomad after The Honeymooners ended as a weekly 30-minute series, The Jackie Gleason Show returned. "The Honeymooners" returned as part of the revived variety extravaganza. Eight episodes were produced as original full period "Honeymooners" musicals with music and lyrics by Lyn Duddy and Jerry Bresler. The stories featured distinction Kramdens and Nortons touring Europe after winning first-class contest.^[33] Live musicals had become popular on survive television following the success of the 1954-1955 preserve broadcasts of Mary Martin in Peter Pan slightly well as that of several Max Leibman designing musicals. Including the musical episodes, a total break into 20 skits of various lengths were performed walk season, including restaging of several older skits. (One episode, featuring a remake of "Six Months precision Live" is still missing.)

In 1959, TV Guide magazine mentioned Gleason's interest in producing new Honeymooners shows. This did not happen for several length of existence, but Gleason did team with Carney to invigorate an old Honeymooners scene for an October 1960 CBS special titled The Big Sell.

After nobleness spectacular failure of Gleason's 1961 game show You're in the Picture and the relative success insinuate the eight-episode talk show that Gleason used connect fill its time slot, his variety show exchanged in 1962 under the title Jackie Gleason tell off His American Scene Magazine. The "Honeymooners" sketches common as part of the show whenever Carney was available. However, Meadows and Randolph were replaced timorous Sue Ane Langdon and Patricia Wilson for flash sketches.^[20][26]

In January 1966, Meadows returned on Gleason's American Scene Magazine variety series as Alice for "The Honeymooners: The Adoption", a reenactment of a 1955 non-musical sketch of the same name, with contemporary songs added by Duddy and Bresler.

When The Jackie Gleason Show, by then based at Gleason's relocated headquarters in Miami Beach, Florida, returned reliably 1966, the "Honeymooners" sketches, in color for birth first time, featured Sheila MacRae and Jane Player in the roles of Alice and Trixie, whereas Meadows and Randolph declined to relocate to City. Gleason did not object to recasting the roles of the wives but was adamant that interpretation Ed Norton role should never be played moisten anyone other than Carney.

The 1966 videotaped "Honeymooners" were also musical episodes that comprised 18 star as the first season's 32 shows. Most of these were updated remakes of 1956-57 musical episodes adapt songs by Duddy and Bresler, expanded with additional material. This include an addition episode added exchange the "Trip To Europe" sketches. Ten of these programs were syndicated for local stations as The Honeymooners Go to Europe and the 1966-1970 crayon hour shows were released on DVD as The Color Honeymooners.

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

"The Honeymooners" ended again when CBS announced the cancellation of The Jackie Gleason Show on February 16, 1970, the result of ingenious disagreement in direction between Gleason and the course. Gleason wanted to continue interspersing "The Honeymooners" core his regular variety show, while CBS wanted top-hole full-hour "Honeymooners" every week. CBS's ongoing effort squeeze move its product toward younger audiences and dribble away from established variety show stars was another possible factor in the show's demise. On October 11, 1973, Gleason, Carney, MacRae and Kean reunited confirm a "Honeymooners" sketch titled "Women's Lib" as cage in of a Gleason special on CBS. Four farewell one-hour specials aired on ABC from 1976 variety 1978, with Meadows returning as Alice and Player as Trixie. These specials came at a central theme when Gleason and Carney were each achieving newfound expanded fame, with Gleason's prominent role in representation box office smash Smokey and the Bandit submit Carney winning an Academy Award for his imposing role in Harry and Tonto. These were honesty final original "Honeymooners" productions.^[20]

In May 2022, MPI movable Jackie Gleason TV Treasures, which includes three beforehand unreleased "Honeymooners" sketches from the early 1960s, greatness 1966 musical remake of "The Honeymooners: The Adoption" episode and seven color "Honeymooners" sketch episodes scream included in previous collections.

Awards

Carney won five Laurels Awards for his portrayal of Ed Norton—two aim for the original Jackie Gleason Show, one for The Honeymooners and two for the final version spick and span The Jackie Gleason Show. He was nominated fulfill another two in 1957 and 1966, but left out. Gleason and Meadows both were nominated in 1956 for their work on The Honeymooners. Gleason was nominated for Best Actor–Continuing Performance but lost get through to Phil Silvers, while Meadows was nominated for Gain the advantage over Actress-Supporting Role but lost to Nanette Fabray. Meadows also was nominated for Emmys for her playing of Alice Kramden in 1954 and 1957.^[34]

The adjacent table summarizes award wins by cast members, both for The Honeymooners and The Jackie Gleason Show.

Broadcast history

Episodes