MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO, THE: THE ORIGINAL
HONEYMOONERS
Summary
This Museum of Television & Radio program features excerpts of the earliest Honeymooners sketches, as well as interview segments that were taped at the Museum. The first Honeymooners sketches appeared on "Cavalcade of Stars," which aired on the DuMont network from 1949 to 1952, and they featured Jackie Gleason as Ralph Kramden and Pert Kelton as Alice. These early sketches inspired the classic series of comedies about blustery bus driver Ralph Kramden, his long-suffering but understanding wife, Alice, and their neighbors, Ed and Trixie Norton. The following people offer insights and comments about the original sketches, the way that they evolved into the series, and Gleason's remarkable talents: William A. Henry III, author of "The Great One -- The Life and Legend of Jackie Gleason"; Joyce Randolph, who played Trixie on "The Honeymooners" series; Donna McCrohan, author of "The Honeymooners' Companion"; and producer Joe Cates, whose career began on "Cavalcade of Stars." The first segment in this program is the original sketch that introduced the characters of Ralph and Alice Kramden. Entitled "The Honeymooners," the sketch appeared on DuMont's "Cavalcade of Stars" on October 5, 1951. In this clip, Ralph returns from a hard day at work and argues with Alice when she asks him to go back outside to buy some bread for dinner. Art Carney makes a brief appearance as a police officer. In the second sketch, which aired on October 12, 1951, Ralph accuses Alice of hiding his razor blades. The third sketch, which aired on November 2, 1951, introduces the Kramdens' upstairs neighbors, Ed Norton (Carney) and Trixie Norton (Elaine Stritch in her single appearance in the role). Ralph is angry when he returns home from work and discovers that Alice has installed a television set for a free trial period. In the fourth sketch, which aired on November 16, 1951, Alice has made a meatloaf without any meat for dinner, and Ralph threatens to leave. In the fifth sketch, which aired on December 7, 1951, Alice tells Trixie, (in Joyce Randolph's first appearance in the role) that she plans to surprise Ralph with a ring for Christmas. But when Ralph finds a letter from the ring salesman, he suspects that Alice is having an affair. In the sixth sketch, which aired December 14, 1951, Alice and Ralph return home after an appearance on the quiz show "Your Guess Is as Good as Mine" with a year's supply of breakfast cereal as a consolation prize, and Ralph blames Alice for giving the wrong answer. When they have a second chance, however, Ralph is the one who must answer the giant jackpot question. The final clip, which aired on December 21, 1951, is an extended sketch about Christmas Eve at the Kramdens'. Alice makes Ralph go back to the correct store for better potato salad, despite Ralph's objections. While Ralph is gone, the Nortons stop by and they encounter several characters portrayed by Gleason, including Fenwick Babbitt, Rudy the repairman (with his sidekick Whitey), Joe the bartender, the Poor Soul, and Reggie Van Gleason III, who brings a band and dancers with him to celebrate. An old vaudeville pal of Trixie's, Jane Pickens, sings for Alice and the Nortons, and Ed brings by a "boy from the neighborhood," who juggles for them. When Ralph finally returns, he explains why he took so long to get back home. As the sketch concludes, Gleason comes out of character and asks the cast, crew, and the audience to join him in singing "Silent Night."
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: 1993
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color/B&W
- CATALOG ID: T:28412
- GENRE: Talk/Interviews; Comedy/Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interviews; Comedy/Variety
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- For "Cavalcade of Stars":
- Milton Douglas … Producer
- Frank Bunetta … Director
- Arnie Rosen … Writer
- Coleman Jacoby … Writer
- Snag Werris … Writer
- Harry Crane … Writer
- Joe Bigelow … Writer
- Sammy Spear … Conductor
- June Taylor … Choreographer
- Jackie Gleason … Cast, Ralph Kramden
- Pert Kelton … Cast, Alice Kramden
- Art Carney … Cast, Ed Norton
- Elaine Stritch … Cast, Trixie Norton
- Joyce Randolph … Cast, Trixie Norton
- Jane Pickens … Cast, Herself
- Jerry Bergen … Cast, Whitey, with others
- For the interview segments:
- Cates, Joe (See also: Cates, Joseph)
- Henry, William A., III
- Donna McCrohan
- Joyce Randolph