Jackie Gleason and the Honeymooners
The cast had perfect timing and played so well off of each other, it was true comedic genius. The man behind the show was Jackie Gleason. This man could say more with one facial expression than some actors can express throughout an entire screenplay.
In the Beginning
The Honeymooners originally started in 1951, as a short skit on a show called, The Cavalcade of Stars, which later went on to become, The Jackie Gleason Show. Jackie Gleason invented the character, Ralph Kramden. Ralph was your average blue collar worker who had dreams of grandeur.
Most of the scenes took place in the Kramden’s sparsely decorated apartment on Chauncey Street. The weekly premise was always the same, Ralph scheming to get rich quick, and never succeeding. But the show went much deeper than that.
The characters involved displayed real love and affection for each other. Ralph didn’t want to get rich for himself. Ralph wanted to be a success for his wife Alice, played lovingly by the beautiful actress, Audrey Meadows.
Ralph was never just out for himself, either. Each of his “hair-brained schemes” included his best friend, sewer-worker Ed Norton, played to perfection by Art Carney. This fine cast was rounded out by Ed’s wife, Trixie, who was played by actress Joyce Randolph.
It went on to become a half hour situation comedy program in 1955. Unfortunately, bad timing on the CBS schedule was the cause of its demise and short run in prime time but the original 39 episodes went on to become a staple of late night televison and grabbed the attention of millions of loyal followers.
The Honeymooners’ basic comedy routines have stood up throughout the years and whether you’ve seen the program once or a hundred times over, they will make you laugh out loud.
Classic Lines
The Honeymooners programs often started out with Ralph shouting, “Bang. Zoom. You’re going to the moon, Alice” because of her reluctance to go along with his ridiculous plans.
But they would always end with him professing his love to her with, “Baby, you’re the greatest!” Although most of the plots were silly, even touching on outrageous, there were always moments of tenderness between the characters. I believe this is a big part of the show’s like-ability and longevity.
Classic Dilemmas
Another reason for The Honeymooners long shelf life is that the problems that the Kramden’s and the Norton’s faced some fifty years ago, are the same problems that still plague people today. Money shortages, being stuck in a dead-end job, housing and relationship issues and the desire to better one’s condition are all things that are dealt with on a daily basis for most of the population every day.
The Honeymooners allow us to laugh at ourselves while teaching us that the most valuable commodities are really love and friendship. And in those two respects, Ralph and his gang are wealthy beyond their wildest dreams.
Lost Episodes
In 1985, Jackie Gleason found and released a number of “lost episodes” of The Honeymooners that he had stored in his home. These were the tapes from the original skits, performed live, on the old Jackie Gleason show. Some of these are shorter than the standard thirty minutes, and the film is rough around the edges, but they are all just as funny as the classic 39.
Better Living Through TV
For those of you who can’t find it on late night television, The Honeymooners has been released on VHS video and on DVD. With the recent release of the 2005 movie, The Honeymooners, starring, Cedric the Entertainer, as Ralph Kramden, this show looks like it will continue to make people smile for many years to come.
