The first pic is an ad that appeared in BROADCASTING Magazine, issue of 6/18/79, selling the half-hour versions of "American Scene"

The second is the cover of the program from one of the R.A.L.P.H. conventions I attended. By the way, the convention was cancelled due to hurricane Gloria that hit Long Island the day before. The convention was rescheduled for November. They never reprinted the programs for the new date.

...20th Century-Fox Television didn't sell the half-hour edition of "THE JACCKIE GLEASON SHOW" (at least to WOR-TV in New York) until 1984, when the revived interest in the "Lost Honeymooners" began. I'm sure viewers were disappointed when they didn't see ANY "Honeymooners" segments in those repackaged episodes. "Joe The Bartender", MAYBE they appreciated....but it was gone from New York screens by the end of 1985.

:tv:

...20th Century-Fox Television didn't sell the half-hour edition of "THE JACCKIE GLEASON SHOW" (at least to WOR-TV in New York) until 1984, when the revived interest in the "Lost Honeymooners" began. I'm sure viewers were disappointed when they didn't see ANY "Honeymooners" segments in those repackaged episodes. "Joe The Bartender", MAYBE they appreciated....but it was gone from New York screens by the end of 1985.

:tv:

Not true.....WOR aired the first half hour edition on October 1, 1979. I still have the original VCR tape which is dated. WOR would continue carrying it on and off until 1985. NY Mets baseball telecasts would often cancel a scheduled JG half hour. It's quite a double-edged sword when one is both a Mets AND Jackie Gleason fan! Altogether, not a very successful run. Had it not been for a fellow in CA taping them off KCET for me, I doubt I would have gotten all 100 as I did. :)

WOR aired the first half hour edition on October 1, 1979. I still have the original VCR tape which is dated. WOR would continue carrying it on and off until 1985. NY Mets baseball telecasts would often cancel a scheduled JG half hour. It's quite a double-edged sword when one is both a Mets AND Jackie Gleason fan! Altogether, not a very successful run. Had it not been for a fellow in CA taping them off KCET for me, I doubt I would have gotten all 100 as I did. :)
I.I.N.M., I last saw Gleason on WOR-TV in 1986. I also seem to remember that at one point (I think back when Ch. 9 first got The Great One), WOR ran Gleason and Benny Hill back-to-back at least once a night . . . which I thought was remarkable, given that both men had contractual control over the circumstances of production of their respective shows, and that both their shows had a similar format - bevies of beautiful girls (dancing and non-dancing), knockabout comedy, the host portraying several different characters in each edition (and, in the case of the Hill show's early years, musical guests) - but that's where the similarities end. For one thing, the Glea Girls and June Taylor Dancers were far more conservatively dressed when compared with the Hill's Angels; for another, Benny often played different characters at the same time in the same sketch, and used a lot of video trickery . . . plus, Gleason lived for performing before live audiences, whereas Hill had a fear of performing before live audiences.

O.T.O.H., when Gleason died, Ch. 9's obituary showed some clips from the half-hour syndie edits of The American Scene Magazine.

...20th Century-Fox Television didn't sell the half-hour edition of "THE JACCKIE GLEASON SHOW" (at least to WOR-TV in New York) until 1984, when the revived interest in the "Lost Honeymooners" began. I'm sure viewers were disappointed when they didn't see ANY "Honeymooners" segments in those repackaged episodes. "Joe The Bartender", MAYBE they appreciated....but it was gone from New York screens by the end of 1985.

:tv:


I know that I was disappointed that the Honeymooners were not included in that package, but being familiar with Gleason's work only through the Honeymooners at that time, those shows did give me a greater appreciation for his other work.

I can confirm that the package was on WOR in the wee hours of the morning in 1987 because I taped some of them when Mr. Gleason passed away.

I.I.N.M., I last saw Gleason on WOR-TV in 1986. I also seem to remember that at one point (I think back when Ch. 9 first got The Great One), WOR ran Gleason and Benny Hill back-to-back at least once a night . . . which I thought was remarkable, given that both men had contractual control over the circumstances of production of their respective shows, and that both their shows had a similar format - bevies of beautiful girls (dancing and non-dancing), knockabout comedy, the host portraying several different characters in each edition (and, in the case of the Hill show's early years, musical guests) - but that's where the similarities end. For one thing, the Glea Girls and June Taylor Dancers were far more conservatively dressed when compared with the Hill's Angels; for another, Benny often played different characters at the same time in the same sketch, and used a lot of video trickery . . . plus, Gleason lived for performing before live audiences, whereas Hill had a fear of performing before live audiences.

O.T.O.H., when Gleason died, Ch. 9's obituary showed some clips from the half-hour syndie edits of The American Scene Magazine.

You are quite correct. Starting on 10/1/79 Gleason was on WOR from 11 to 11:30, followed by Benny Hill until midnight. It made for a great hour. I also believe you are correct in the fact that WOR carried Gleason until 1986 and perhaps even a bit beyond. I checked my VCR cases, and yes....1986 was the year the show fizzled out from WOR. As I previously posted, it was unfortunate that WOR was the station in New York to pick the show up. Between the Mets and the NY Islander games, the show was seen less than it should have. To be honest: they never DID show all 100 episodes. For some odd reason they kept repeating previous shows. I think they were something like 10 or 15 episodes shy. Why that took place I don't know, but again....I am grateful to fellow "tapers" around the country who were able to provide the balance.

I know that I was disappointed that the Honeymooners were not included in that package, but being familiar with Gleason's work only through the Honeymooners at that time, those shows did give me a greater appreciation for his other work.

I can confirm that the package was on WOR in the wee hours of the morning in 1987 because I taped some of them when Mr. Gleason passed away.

Yes, it gave many folks a chance to see Jackie's other characters and sketches. Fans who may only have known him as "Ralph" got to see exactly how diverse he was in his portrayals of those other great alter-egos. My favorite of them was Reggie Van Gleason. To this day whenever I watch a "Reggie" sketch, I just totally crack up! He was just such a cartoon of a real life character, it was great! He knew exactly what he was doing on that stage.

Besides the first American Scene Magazine show being available on VHS from Goodtimes, are any complete hour shows of this available anywhere else? Either on some long-lost video releases or in the collectors market? (Well, any episodes besides the "Adoption" show which I bought off of Ebay after it aired on TV Land in a "press preview" video which doesn't have commercials, the TV Land logo, and before the show it has the "Jackie Gleason Show" and the production# and original airdate.) Also, has the other Honeymooners skit from the ASM ever come to the light of day? I'd like to see Sue Ane Langdon's other performance as Alice.

Besides the first American Scene Magazine show being available on VHS from Goodtimes, are any complete hour shows of this available anywhere else? Either on some long-lost video releases or in the collectors market? (Well, any episodes besides the "Adoption" show which I bought off of Ebay after it aired on TV Land in a "press preview" video which doesn't have commercials, the TV Land logo, and before the show it has the "Jackie Gleason Show" and the production# and original airdate.) Also, has the other Honeymooners skit from the ASM ever come to the light of day? I'd like to see Sue Ane Langdon's other performance as Alice.

Ben, you are referring to the second ASM Honeymooners skit that aired on October 20, 1962. No, unfortunately that show has never been released on video. I was able to view it at the Museum of Radio and TV a few months ago. It was great seeing it after 40 years. The curtain call segment was the highlight.....Gleason spoke to the audience on how wonderful it is to work with Art Carney and what a fine actor he is. It was a very nice moment for both of these great talents.

The first pic is an ad that appeared in BROADCASTING Magazine, issue of 6/18/79, selling the half-hour versions of "American Scene"

The second is the cover of the program from one of the R.A.L.P.H. conventions I attended. By the way, the convention was cancelled due to hurricane Gloria that hit Long Island the day before. The convention was rescheduled for November. They never reprinted the programs for the new date.

I live in Long Island, too. That's cool literature you have. You could probably sell that on Ebay. LOL

I live in Long Island, too. That's cool literature you have. You could probably sell that on Ebay. LOL

I would never part with it.