So our favorite foursome did a two-week gig at the Paramount Theatre in New York City in 1954, but what else do we know about this? I've searched high and low looking for some additional details about this gig, but haven't come up with much. I was hoping somebody else might be able to fill me in a little bit. From what I've read, they performed a Honeymooners sketch everyday for two weeks, I'd assume Monday-Friday, maybe even Saturday, so that means anywhere from 10 to 12 Honeymooners sketches were performed within those two weeks. Now, since it wouldn't make sense for them to have done the same sketch day after day, they had to have done a different sketch each day. Does anyone know what sketches they might've done? Were they just recycled scripts from episodes we've already seen or was it new material? Also, what are the chances of any of these performances being caught on film? This has always been an interest of mine, so any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. :wave:

So our favorite foursome did a two-week gig at the Paramount Theatre in New York City in 1954, but what else do we know about this? I've searched high and low looking for some additional details about this gig, but haven't come up with much. I was hoping somebody else might be able to fill me in a little bit. From what I've read, they performed a Honeymooners sketch everyday for two weeks, I'd assume Monday-Friday, maybe even Saturday, so that means anywhere from 10 to 12 Honeymooners sketches were performed within those two weeks. Now, since it wouldn't make sense for them to have done the same sketch day after day, they had to have done a different sketch each day. Does anyone know what sketches they might've done? Were they just recycled scripts from episodes we've already seen or was it new material? Also, what are the chances of any of these performances being caught on film? This has always been an interest of mine, so any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. :wave:

Wow! This is the first time I'm hearing about this. I hope somebody comes forward with some information.

Wow! This is the first time I'm hearing about this. I hope somebody comes forward with some information.

Audrey Meadows said in an interview on Joan Rivers' early 90s talk show that Jackie Gleason and Art Carney used to try to get her ("The Rock") to laugh during that engagement by going off script. Gleason said something to effect of , "Alice, I know about you on the roof with (politically incorrect term for those of Polish descent)." Then, he turned to the audience and said, "You know what I love about her? When she laughs, her stomach bounces." She laughed, made her way to the kitchen chair, and as she sat down, the leg fell off.

Audrey Meadows said in an interview on Joan Rivers' early 90s talk show that Jackie Gleason and Art Carney used to try to get her ("The Rock") to laugh during that engagement by going off script. Gleason said something to effect of , "Alice, I know about you on the roof with (politically incorrect term for those of Polish descent)." Then, he turned to the audience and said, "You know what I love about her? When she laughs, her stomach bounces." She laughed, made her way to the kitchen chair, and as she sat down, the leg fell off.Interesting, she talks about that in her book, "Love Alice".

Audrey Meadows said in an interview on Joan Rivers' early 90s talk show that Jackie Gleason and Art Carney used to try to get her ("The Rock") to laugh during that engagement by going off script. Gleason said something to effect of , "Alice, I know about you on the roof with (politically incorrect term for those of Polish descent)." Then, he turned to the audience and said, "You know what I love about her? When she laughs, her stomach bounces." She laughed, made her way to the kitchen chair, and as she sat down, the leg fell off.

Thanks for posting the information.

Audrey Meadows said in an interview on Joan Rivers' early 90s talk show that Jackie Gleason and Art Carney used to try to get her ("The Rock") to laugh during that engagement by going off script. Gleason said something to effect of , "Alice, I know about you on the roof with (politically incorrect term for those of Polish descent)." Then, he turned to the audience and said, "You know what I love about her? When she laughs, her stomach bounces." She laughed, made her way to the kitchen chair, and as she sat down, the leg fell off.
See, that's something I'd love to see. On one of the Honeymooners specials, I remember them showing footage that appeared to have been filmed by an audience member, it was from one of the '57 Europe shows and it was in color. So that makes me think that the idea of there being footage of one of these performances isn't too far-fetched.

The only thing I know about thier two weeks at Paramount is the time slots, which my dad remembers since he use to listen outside with some friends *Jackie had a wonderful carrying voice lol* Hope someone does know a little more about this.

The only thing I know about thier two weeks at Paramount is the time slots, which my dad remembers since he use to listen outside with some friends *Jackie had a wonderful carrying voice lol* Hope someone does know a little more about this.
So what did he say about the time slots?

BTW, is that you next to Norton? :)

I can only give you Thursday & Friday since that's when he went but Thursday-9-9:30pm of course Friday-10:30-11:00. He only went those two times so whether or not the other week's time slot was the same I don't know. At my local Library they have Paramount Theater Playbills from that time so I plan on checking them out to see if I can find anything.
And yes that's me lol...thats what happens when I'm bored ;).

Was the Paramont Theatre a movie and vaudeville theater, or was it one that was originally a Broadway theater and then coverted? Just wondering, I'm trying to remember where I've heard about it besides the Honeymooners shows. Maybe Lucy & Desi's vaudeville show in 1950/1951? Or is that where Lewis & Martin and Sinatra use to go? Too much on my mind right now to try to pull that old information up!!!!

I'm not sure about Lucy but Sinatra, Martin & Lewis made apperances there a few times.

At my local Library they have Paramount Theater Playbills from that time so I plan on checking them out to see if I can find anything.

Just thought I'd follow up on this. I went today & asked to see these playbills & after being questioned by the 80 something year old man there-who couldn't believe I knew anything about the Honeymooners/Paramount Theater *seriously he was quizzing me about the show/the actors lol* They didn't have what I needed but I did find The Honeymooners opened at Paramount November 17, 1954 so at least it's something. I'm going to NY in a month & I know they have them there so I'll have to wait :rolleyes:.

I remembered after I posted, it was Frank and Martin & Lewis that I knew for sure. Lucy and Desi were at the Roxy and I think even Radio City.

See, that's something I'd love to see. On one of the Honeymooners specials, I remember them showing footage that appeared to have been filmed by an audience member, it was from one of the '57 Europe shows and it was in color. So that makes me think that the idea of there being footage of one of these performances isn't too far-fetched.


I would love to see footage of these performances..especially the one where Jackie & Art try to make Audrey laugh by going off script.

And yes that's me lol...thats what happens when I'm bored ;).

You have to be the prettiest Honeymooners fan I've ever seen, and likely the youngest. How did you first become interested in the show, being it's probably something your parents enjoyed when they were your age? :)

Aw thanks T-Greg that's very nice of you to say :). Well my dad grew up watching the Honeymooners (was in jr High when the show aired) & still does to this day. So naturally my siblings & I grew up watching it to. I said this in one of my other posts but my Grandfather use to play pool with Jackie Gleason which is what started this whole family love of The Honeymooners lol. My 12 year niece & 6 year old nephew have just recently gotten into them as well so maybe I'm the 3rd youngest ;).

Interesting and thanks for sharing that! How did your granddad do when he played against Gleason? He was a real sharp shooter. I guess you've probably seen "The Hustler"?

You have to be the prettiest Honeymooners fan I've ever seen, and likely the youngest.
May I echo those words? :D

:blush: aw thanks! You guys are to cute!

Interesting and thanks for sharing that! How did your granddad do when he played against Gleason? He was a real sharp shooter. I guess you've probably seen "The Hustler"?

From what I've been told he did very good.. I'm sure with Loud-mouth-Irish Jackie & my Loud-mouth-Italian GrandFather it was a very entertaining game. I haven't seen "The Hustler" yet but it's on my list! I also love, love, love playing pool so that added with Jackie Gleason makes it something I've got to see..soon.

May I echo those words? :D

OK Norton.....

Rita Wiedemeier (Alice and the Blonde):lol:

Here's some more info I found, I had it saved on a floppy disk so I'm not sure of the original source:
The "Drum Beat" & Jackie Gleason stage show was a special two-week deal that opened November 17th, 1954 and included the Thanksgiving holiday period. On December 2nd, the Paramount reverted to movies only with "Track of the Cat," followed on December 26th by "The Silver Chalice." Prior to the "Drum Beat"-Gleason booking, the Paramount had been showing Judy Garland's "A Star Is Born," simultaneously with the nearby Victoria Theatre...Another isolated stage show was the one with Frank Sinatra in conjunction with the opening of his western movie, "Johnny Concho." Starting August, 15, 1956, Sinatra performed at the Paramount for one week only, accompanied by the combined orchestras of Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey. "Johnny Concho" continued on its own for another week as the movies only policy resumed, with "The Ambassador's Daughter" following. Prior to the Sinatra package's arrival, the Paramount had shown "Earth Versus the Flying Saucers," and before that Alan Ladd's "Santiago."

In her memoir, "Love, Alice," Audrey Meadows (who was, of course, Jackie Gleason's TV wife, Alice Kramden) has a few pages about the time that the "Honeymooners" played the Paramount.

One of the most amazing things (almost too amazing to believe) is that they did these special versions of the "Honeymooners" (which was then just a regular segment of the Jackie Gleason Show) daily at the Paramount during the actual TV season -- and in an era when TV was done live!

As a matter of fact, a few paragraphs of Meadow's account describes the day they did shows at the Paramount on the same day that they did the Jackie Gleason TV show from their theater about ten blocks further uptown!

But apparently Meadows was used to this kind of stuff. Earlier in the book she also mentions that, just before she was hired for the Gleason show, one of her first TV jobs was with Bob and Ray, and that she would do the show daily at the NBC studios in Rockefeller Center (Sixth Ave.) and then scurry down 50th St. to the Winter Garden (stage door is on Seventh Ave.) where she was appearing nightly opposite Phil Silvers in the Broadway musical "Top Banana"!

As someone else mentioned in connection with the performing schedule of (Jerry) Lewis & (Dean) Martin during that era (perhaps on the page of another Cinema Treasures theater), entertainers really worked in those days!

In the Meadows book, there is also a picture of the Paramount marquee when the "Honeymooners" was there. This marquee seems to me to be different from the original marquee (and therefore different, of course, from the current recreation). The marquee almost looks like the one they have/had at Roseland Ballroom on W. 52nd St. Given that it has a 1950s look, I assume the marquee was remodeled in the early 1950s, but would be interested if anyone has more details.