Frank Gannucci
05-11-2018, 08:03 AM
Honeymooners Episode Reviews: “Behind The Iron Curtain” & “When In Rome”:
Episode #159
TV: In 2019, the future Catchy Comedy started showing this in two parts.
DVD: On disc 13 of the Lost Episodes DVD Box Set, it is attached to “Away We Go”, “Plastered In Paris” & “Away We Go.”
Lost Episode Title: "Behind The Iron Curtain."
Color Episode Title: "We Spy."
Air Date: Sat. 2/16/57
"Behind The Iron Curtain":
The beginning of this episode is unique in that apparently it is the opening of the Jackie Gleason Show with fireworks in the background. Old Gold Cigarettes are the sponsor. Much like in the Color Honeymooners, a camera zooms in on a Glee Girl as they announce the stars’ names. Jack Lescoulie comes out. Jack says that the Kramdens and Nortons are going to Germany.
As the Berlin Express arrives in Germany, a bunch of “Germans” (aka June Taylor Dancers) sing: “Berlin Express Is At The Station Now.” A marching band comes out and plays music as the dancers sing. It is so obvious that the train is fake but that is to be expected. The Kramdens & Nortons arrive in Germany. Ed is carrying all the luggage off the train. Ed asked him why he didn’t get a porter to carry the luggage. He said that he didn't want a porter to take advantage of them. Ed: "I don't need one to take advantage of me. I got you to take advantage of me." Ralph claims that he strained his back. He strained his back while putting the luggage in Ed's hands. Ha! They wait for the Flaky-Wakey people. They want their picture taken. Ed takes their picture, but Ed being Ed, takes his time which gets Ralph upset. They want a picture off all four of them, so Ed asks a German person. Ed: "Hey Schweinehund" Ralph corrects him. Ralph: "It's Herr Schweinehund." Alice says to greet someone in German, you say: "Mein herr." Ralph tries to ask a German man. The man reveals his bald head and so Ralph says to never mind. Ha! Ralph wants Ed to take a picture of him right by the front of the train. Ed gets ready to snap the picture when steam from the train comes out right in front of Ralph which causes Ralph to scream in pain. Ralph wants his photo taken away from the front of the train, so he stands in front of one of the other cars right by the wheels. Déjŕ vu happens. Ha! Mr. Poota, The Flaky-Wakey man comes and addresses himself as the German representative. He was late. He came from the frontier. He says that in Germany, there's the American, British, Russian & French zone. You can not go into the Russian zone because it is dangerous. Since the fall of the U.S.S.R., I don’t think that Germany is divided anymore. The man suggests taking a hike in a German forest. The man: "The German forest has the most beautiful scenery in the world." Ralph likes the idea. They will all go to the hotel and make up their mind what they want to do later. A marching band comes. Ralph grabs the drum and sings a German song. Everyone grabs an instrument and joins Ralph in song.
At a top of a mountain, two Russian people set up a marker and sign that said: "Zutritt Nicht Erlabut 3anpethar 3oha." That sign means that this is a Russian firing area. You can tell that the background in this scene is fake. They leave. Ralph arrives, dropping paper so it will make it easier for him to remember the way back. He looks ridiculous. The girls and Ralph follow. Ralph: Ed comes behind and picks up the trash. Ralph yells at him because he put the trash there so he will remember the way back. Alice is upset that they are now lost. Ed. He gets out his map and says that he knows where they are; right smack in the middle of the North, South, East & West. The girls are worried that they are in the Russian zone. Ed says that they are in the American zone. He says that his map has the four zones and in each zone is marked by a different color. According to him, since the grass is green, that means that they are in the American zone. Ha! Alice is worried that they are going to get in trouble. Ralph: “How are we going to get in trouble in a great place like this? If you don’t like this, go back to the hotel. We are going to camp out here and sleep overnight. You want to live like natives here, not tourists.” Alice: “At home, I am a native. Here, I want to be a tourist.” Ralph says if anybody doesn’t want to stay here to go. The girls do. Ed tries to follow, but Ralph says that he is staying here with him. What a friend. Alice is given the map so her & Trixie can go back to the hotel. Ralph: “On a trip like this, girls can be trouble.” Ralph talks about how nice it is up here. They try to put the tent up. Ed asks what the sign says. Ralph says that it says: "No smoking." I would ask questions like why a "No smoking" sign would be in the middle of nowhere as well as how could Ralph say that that sign says "No Smoking" on a sign that has five Russian words. They need a stick to put up the pole. Ralph grabs the Russian firing area pole. They sit down. Ed asks why a pole like the one that Ralph grabbed would be in the forrest. Ralph: “Maybe someone is going to open up a barber shop here.” Ed mentions another area that was as quiet: a Sunday that he spent in a sewer without a ripple. Both of them sing a song: “So Peaceful, So Quiet.” They get up. Ed is going to smoke a cigarette. Ralph says no cigarettes for him. Firing shots are heard and seen. Audience applauds. Ralph: "When they mean 'No smoking', they mean it." The Russians get them and take them back into their headquarters in Russia.
At the Russian headquarters the next day, Ralph & Ed are detained. Interrogator: "For the past time, confess. You two are the two American spies." Ralph says that they are not. Interrogator: "What were you two doing in the Russian firing range?" Ralph: “We came there to relax.” Interrogator: “You were stealing Russian military secrets.” Ralph denies it. Interrogator, grabbing Ed's kit which has a map, asks what they are doing with this map of Russian factory. Ed says it isn't and he & Ed try to tell him the truth. It doesn't work. Interrogator: “Explain to me what this ring means.” Ed: “It is my secret code ring.” Oh boy! Ed won’t explain the code because Little Orphan Annie swore him to secrecy. The interrogator asks them to confess or they would be transferred to Moscow. The interrogator threatens to torture them by hanging them. The Interrogator is going to send in secret police to help him out. Interrogator: “When you people admit that you are spies, I will get special promotion from our fearless leader.” Interrogator: “We have ways to make you confess.” The interrogator leaves asks the guards to guard them. Ed: “I don’t want to get brainwashed. I hate to come out of this thing stupid.” Ralph has a plan. Ralph tries to speak to them in English but it doesn’t work. Ralph & Ed then get up to play “Patty Cake” in which they punch out the guards. The guards are dragged into a closet. Ralph & Ed grab uniforms so they will look like Russians. They try to leave. A Russian person brings in an important man from Moscow and his friend. They assume that they are a Mr. Yenko and a Mr. Boojenyen (sp?) They say that Russians are planning a banquet in his (Mr. Yenko’s) honor tonight. Ralph goes along with this and asks the other American prisoners to be freed. One of them does. The other one offers to drive them to it. "Ralph tries to decline so he and Norton can escape but Norton, being stupid, says he wants to be driven to the banquet.
At the banquet, Russian dancers (June Taylor dancers) & male dancers are dancing in front of Ralph & Ed. The Russian remembers his childhood with Ralph. He asks what was the nickname that he used to call him. Ed says it was "fatso." Russian: "That's right. Your nickname for me was ‘Stinky.’" They try to leave. Russian: "First you will honor us with a speech." Ralph: "I would like to make a speech but I got a sore throat." The Russian makes him a Vodka drink to combat the sore throat. Ralph drinks it and hates it. Ed makes a speech. Ed (in a funny voice): “How do you do? Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Fellow Raccoons, I mean fellow Russians..." He mentions his idea for the next five-year plan. We are going to replace our Russian steps and replace them with escalators. Ha! Ralph says that he is making a toast. The Russian assumes that his sore throat has healed. Ralph gets to told to say his plans for the American worker which is a song that I think is entitled: “All The Poor Workers In America.” He ends the song. The Russian asks to do his kazatski dance. Ralph does. He dances a similar dance like in “Mama Loves Mambo.” He gets tired and tries to sit down but they want more dancing. He dances some more. He tries to sit down but they want more dancing. He dances some more. He sits down. The real Mr. Yenko & Mr. Boojenven come in. Ralph & Ed's reaction? They leap through the window. Russians fire gun shots at them.
The Kramdens & Nortons are scheduled to leave Berlin at 2:30pm. At the train station the next day in the American section, the boys run into the girls and explain the whole situation of where they were and why are they are wearing Russian uniforms. The girls don't believe them. The girls go on the train. Ed says that without them, they were scared. Ralph says that Ed was but he wasn’t. Wow! Ralph: “Takes more than a couple of bullets to scare me. Steam emanates from the train, scaring Ralph. They go in the train. The Russians (June Taylor Dancers) dance and sing a song that I think in entitled: “Berlin.” I hate it when episodes of TV shows end with husbands tell the wives the truth and the wives don't believe them. On a side note, what happened to Ed Norton's kit? Jackie comes out and says “Goodnight.”
The announcer then plugs Bulova (the world leader in fine watches and radios) and asks the audience to tune in next week as Bulova presents the Jackie Gleason Show. One of the stills that was used for the advertisement was a bit lopsided. The Glee Girls all come out one by one as the announcer tries to read EVERY credit line (some of which weren’t on the credit roll.) The announcer continues reading as we fade to black.
Episode #160
TV: In 2019, the future Catchy Comedy started showing this in two parts.
DVD: On disc 13 of the Lost Episodes DVD Box Set, it is attached to “Away We Go”, “Plastered In Paris” & “Behind The Iron Curtain.”
Lost Episode Title: "When In Rome."
Color Episode Title: "Confusion, Italian Style."
Air Date: Sat. 2/23/57
"When In Rome":
The beginning of this episode is unique in that apparently it is the opening of the Jackie Gleason Show with fireworks in the background. Bulova is the sponsor. Much like in the Color Honeymooners, a camera zooms in on a Glee Girl as they announce the stars’ names. Jack Lescoulie says that the Kramdens and Nortons have arrived in Sunny Italy. Jack: “We are going to be joining them in just a moment…”
In Rome, a bunch of people (June Taylor Dancers) sing "You Got To Do As The Romans Do." Sounds like Jack Lescoulie’s intro was cut short on the DVD. The Italian representative, a Mr. Woodley, of the Flaky Wakey Company is waiting for the Kramdens & Nortons to arrive. He is played by George Petrie. They arrive in a rented convertible that they claim is small. It is indeed small. The Kramdens & Nortons have a bunch of bags and they are squished like sardines in a can. Ralph claims that when he saw the car, he thought it was a cigarette lighter. The representative checks for their reservations at the Hotel Excelsior. Ralph asks a paisan to help them get the luggage out of the car. They try to get out of their car. Ralph can't because he's stuck (due to the fact that he was the driver and he's so fat). Ed suggests taking out the floorboards if Ralph doesn't mind walking around with the remnants of the car for the rest of his life. Trixie says if he managed to get in there, how come he can't get out. Alice says that Ralph ate all of those pizzas (presumably while in the car). Everyone tries to shake the car so Ralph can get loose but to no avail because Ralph is getting seasick. Then Alice grabs one arm and Ed grabs the other and basically play the game “Tug-of-War” in hoping to get Ralph out. That doesn’t work. A paisan (who must have watched the entire proceedings) gives Ed some Olive Oil. Ed & the girls shake the car but Ralph complains of sea sickness. He claims that he used it on a guy who was stuck in the manhole and the olive oil set hi loose. Ed pours the Olive Oil on Ralph's lap. Ralph is upset. He gets out and it is revealed that the Olive Oil worked. Ralph gets upset with Ed and gets out to beat up Ed. If you look closely, I think you can see that Jackie wasn’t really doused with Olive Oil. Ralph asks a paisan if they can leave the car here. He says no but asks if they are from New York. Ralph: “Yes.” Paisan: “Than you must know my cousin. He is bigger than the President of the USA. He is Perry Como.” Ralph: “Never heard of him.” Ha! The paisan leaves. Ralph & Ed then move the car to a garage. Ralph steers from the outside while Ed pushes. It is revealed in this scene that apparently the car has no ignition sounds, no way of starting the car by using a key or buy hotwiring it and apparently has no parking brake. How odd. They leave and the girls run into a young little boy (played by Sandy Renda) who just happens to speak English. The boy offers them postcards of Rome. The little boy than looks at Alice and says that she is so pretty. Alice is flattered. Boy: "You call me Tony lady. You are so pretty." Alice: "And you are such a flirt." The boys come back and claimed they found a parking place as they walk up the stairs of the Hotel Excelsior. Tony then asks Alice if he can give her a shopping spree of Europe because he's a classy guy and he can show her where to get real bargains. Alice loves the idea especially when he charges her nothing. They both sing and dance to a song that I think is called "You Will Always Be My Friend." I think that was one lucky boy to be dancing with Audrey. After the song, he kisses her on the cheek and she responds by hugging him. They plan to meet each other at 10am outside of the hotel. Tony leaves. Trixie comes out with the news that Olive Oil is needed because Ralph is stuck in the elevator. The June Taylor dancers come out and sing: “You Go To Do As The Romans Do.”
At the Kramdens & Nortons hotel room, a delivery boy has a rose with a note from Tony (Alice's Italian "boyfriend"). Alice reads the note to Trixie. In the note, Tony claims that Alice (the person he calls "lovely lady") has stolen his heart even though they met two days ago. Tony is planning on taking Alice shopping again and seeing her at the festival tonight. Alice claims that she fell in love with her schoolteacher and asks Trixie did she ever fall in love with an older man. Trixie says she did. Trixie fell in love with a doctor and wound up marrying on his patients. The boys aren't going to the festival tonight because they are going to see the wrestling matches. Trixie leaves. The phone rings and its Tony. Ralph comes out and overhears Alice talking with him. He listens to her saying that if she doesn't have any money, she will use Ralph's money which causes Ralph to misinterpret the words. He also hears Alice saying to Tony that she loves the flowers and loves him and calling him the sweetest boy she ever met. Ralph is thinking that Alice is cheating on him but doesn't let on. Alice: "In the meantime, Arrivederci." Alice goes into the other room. Ed enters. He just went sight-seeing and asks Ralph not to see the Roman Coliseum because the whole place is falling apart. Ralph tells Ed that Alice is cheating on him. He shows him the love letter and flowers and reads part of the letter to him. Ed: "It could be a business letter." Ralph: "It's a business letter all right. Monkey business." Ralph continues to read the letter. Ed thinks the letter could be for Trixie but when he reads lovely lady, he thinks it is for Alice. Ralph says to Ed all the things that he claims he heard Alice say on the phone. Ralph is hoping he can stop this in time. Ed tries to help out by saying: "You can lead a horse to water but you can't grow a stone on a moss." What? Ralph says that when he finds the guy, he will kill them. Ralph has clues. He knows his name. His name: Harry Vaderci (arrivederci). Alice comes out and tries to go to the beauty parlor. Ralph asks her to come here. Alice says that she is going to the beauty parlor for my great, big lover boy. Ralph: “HA-HA! Who is he?” Alice: “He is a gigolo that I met on the banks of the Kiver (sp?).” Ralph says that they are leaving Italy. Alice asks if Ralph lost his mind. Ralph says that he wants to go to another country, like Greece. Ed: “That is a great idea. You will never get suck in the car there.” Alice asks Ralph why he wants to leave a romantic county like Italy. Ralph tells her to go in there and pack. Alice wants to go to the festival. Ralph: “I want to go to Greece.” Alice says that that is okay. Alice: “You go to Greece and I will see you there in a couple of days.” Ralph (yells): “GO IN THERE AND PACK!” Alice wants to go to the beauty parlor unless Ralph can give her a good reason. Ralph: “All right. Harry Vaderci.” Alice: “All right. Goodbye.” She leaves. Ralph is more upset. Ralph says that that is proof. Ralph: “I say ‘Harry Vaderci’ to her and she says ‘goodbye’ to me.” Ralph wants to get her back. They sing a song: "That's When You Are Glad You Are Married." Ralph will go to the festival. Ralph says that when he finds the guy, pow. Right in the love bonza.
At the festival called the "Festa L' Uva", a bunch of dancers dance to an Italian song. Ralph and Ed arrive in disguise so they will look Italian. Ralph has a fake mustache. They look ridiculous. Ralph doesn't like spying on Alice and he hates this idea with every second. Ralph: “I suppose I have to do this. When I meet that guy, it is goodbye Harry Vaderci.” They see the girls without Tony. The girls somehow don’t hear them. The boys go somewhere. The girls see them and recognize them. Alice thinks that they said they were going to wrestling matches. The girls then plan to pretend that they think that they are strangers and flirt with them. The boys come back. Alice: “Do you two speak English?” Ralph (patting his stomach): “Si! Si!” They introduce themselves an Angelo (Ed) and Luigi (Ralph). Alice: "Our husbands are at the wrestling matches but don't talk about them with two cut boys like you around." Ralph claims he has more evidence. Alice: "What the old boys won't know won't hurt them." Ralph: “Did you hear that Luigi?” Ed: “I’m Angelo.” Ralph elbows Ed. Alice: “Our husbands are probably going to go somewhere else tomorrow night. What are you going to be doing?” “Luigi” then makes a fist is if he is going to punch someone. “Luigi”: “We are all going out together. You see, Pasquale…” "Angelo": “Angelo.” Ralph: “Angelo is going to take us out onto his boat.” Trixie: “I thought they were in Venice where all the canals are.” Ed: “That is why I moved down here. So, I can get no competition. While there may be no canals, my boat uses wheels.” Ralph: “His boat has wheels but there are no wheels up there in his brain.” Ha! Ralph: “Shut your mouth Luigi.” Alice: “You are Luigi. He’s Angelo. Why don’t we all stay here?” Trixie (to Ed): “You are cute." Ed: “You go take the girls. I got to go change tires on my boat.” Ralph: “You will stay here.” The girls go to powder their noses. Ralph claims that he has more evidence to his thoughts. Ed: “I am dressed like a dope just to pick up my own wife.” Ralph claims that they want to go out with us and they didn’t even know that it was them. Ralph: “Yesterday, I was sitting on top of the world. Now, it has collapsed.” Ed: “With you, it figures.” They leave.
All of them are in the hotel room the next day. Ralph tells Alice to admit that they didn't know that it was them and they were flirting with them. Alice & Trixie tell the truth. Ralph says Alice went to the festival to meet the man that he claims that she is in love with. Ralph says that he knows that Alice was given flowers by her lover and shows her the love letter. Alice & Trixie laugh. The phone rings. Alice answers it. It's Tony. Alice asks for Tony to come on up to their hotel room. Alice says that it was the guy who sent him the flowers and note. Ralph is now madder than ever. Alice decides to have fun with Ralph and says that she loves her new "boyfriend." Alice: "You got to let me go Ralph. My place is with him." Ralph: "Oh, I want him to come up here." A knock on the door is heard. Ralph opens it. It's Tony. Ralph: "Get out of the way kid. There is going to be a massacre and I don't want you to get hurt." Alice introduces him as Tony and says that he is the person who sent her all the flowers, the note and who was supposed to meet at the festival last night." Tony says that his mother wouldn’t let him out of the house and brought her more flowers. Alice & Tony tell Ralph the truth. Ralph: “Pal O’ Mine. Put it there pal. Ralph asks if he wants some ice cream. Tony says that his family is waiting for him. So Ralph asks him to bring his family up here for ice cream but when he sees Tony’s big family, he says that they will go down to the dining room. Ralph: “What a family. Alice, I thought you were running around with a guy named Harry Vaderci.” Alice explains that it is not a name and that is Italian for “Goodbye.” So Ralph blames Ed. Ed: “I thought that it was food.” Ralph asks Tony’s family and Tony to go on down to the dining room. They leave. They all sing: “You Got To Do The Romans Do.”
Jackie Gleason comes out and says hello to a new kid that was “just born.” He was the son of his dresser. He wishes Mr & Mrs. DiVerno a very happy event and a Happy Birthday to William Francis DiVerno. Jackie says that due to lack of time the rest of the cast will not come out and bow. However, Jackie lets the kid (Sandy Renda) come out and take a bow before saying goodnight.
The announcer then plugs Old Gold Cigarettes and asks the audience to tune in next week as Old Gold presents the Jackie Gleason Show. The Glee Girls all come out one by one as the announcer tries to read EVERY credit line that wasn’t on the credit roll.
This is one of the few times, a kid is cast as a character on a Honeymooners show and even though he had two very small parts, it might be somewhat surprising to some people that Jackie allowed a kid to be a character in a Honeymooners episode since he never liked working with them because he was always afraid they would not perform on cue (he may have been even more receptive to having kids on his shows when they were performed live even though there were a few lost episodes that had kids starring as one of the characters). I like seeing an episode with a kid in it since those kind of scenes that have a kid perform were a good change of pace for these Honeymooners episodes (especially if the kid doesn't mess up their lines.)
Credit I think goes to (the original) Bill's 'Mooners Archives, eBay.com, tv.com, Honeymooners Lost Episodes Book, tvguide.com, honeymooners.net, Honeymooners Lost Episodes DVD booklet, Wikipedia.org, Yahoo Groups You're A Riot! & Amazon.com.
Episode #159
TV: In 2019, the future Catchy Comedy started showing this in two parts.
DVD: On disc 13 of the Lost Episodes DVD Box Set, it is attached to “Away We Go”, “Plastered In Paris” & “Away We Go.”
Lost Episode Title: "Behind The Iron Curtain."
Color Episode Title: "We Spy."
Air Date: Sat. 2/16/57
"Behind The Iron Curtain":
The beginning of this episode is unique in that apparently it is the opening of the Jackie Gleason Show with fireworks in the background. Old Gold Cigarettes are the sponsor. Much like in the Color Honeymooners, a camera zooms in on a Glee Girl as they announce the stars’ names. Jack Lescoulie comes out. Jack says that the Kramdens and Nortons are going to Germany.
As the Berlin Express arrives in Germany, a bunch of “Germans” (aka June Taylor Dancers) sing: “Berlin Express Is At The Station Now.” A marching band comes out and plays music as the dancers sing. It is so obvious that the train is fake but that is to be expected. The Kramdens & Nortons arrive in Germany. Ed is carrying all the luggage off the train. Ed asked him why he didn’t get a porter to carry the luggage. He said that he didn't want a porter to take advantage of them. Ed: "I don't need one to take advantage of me. I got you to take advantage of me." Ralph claims that he strained his back. He strained his back while putting the luggage in Ed's hands. Ha! They wait for the Flaky-Wakey people. They want their picture taken. Ed takes their picture, but Ed being Ed, takes his time which gets Ralph upset. They want a picture off all four of them, so Ed asks a German person. Ed: "Hey Schweinehund" Ralph corrects him. Ralph: "It's Herr Schweinehund." Alice says to greet someone in German, you say: "Mein herr." Ralph tries to ask a German man. The man reveals his bald head and so Ralph says to never mind. Ha! Ralph wants Ed to take a picture of him right by the front of the train. Ed gets ready to snap the picture when steam from the train comes out right in front of Ralph which causes Ralph to scream in pain. Ralph wants his photo taken away from the front of the train, so he stands in front of one of the other cars right by the wheels. Déjŕ vu happens. Ha! Mr. Poota, The Flaky-Wakey man comes and addresses himself as the German representative. He was late. He came from the frontier. He says that in Germany, there's the American, British, Russian & French zone. You can not go into the Russian zone because it is dangerous. Since the fall of the U.S.S.R., I don’t think that Germany is divided anymore. The man suggests taking a hike in a German forest. The man: "The German forest has the most beautiful scenery in the world." Ralph likes the idea. They will all go to the hotel and make up their mind what they want to do later. A marching band comes. Ralph grabs the drum and sings a German song. Everyone grabs an instrument and joins Ralph in song.
At a top of a mountain, two Russian people set up a marker and sign that said: "Zutritt Nicht Erlabut 3anpethar 3oha." That sign means that this is a Russian firing area. You can tell that the background in this scene is fake. They leave. Ralph arrives, dropping paper so it will make it easier for him to remember the way back. He looks ridiculous. The girls and Ralph follow. Ralph: Ed comes behind and picks up the trash. Ralph yells at him because he put the trash there so he will remember the way back. Alice is upset that they are now lost. Ed. He gets out his map and says that he knows where they are; right smack in the middle of the North, South, East & West. The girls are worried that they are in the Russian zone. Ed says that they are in the American zone. He says that his map has the four zones and in each zone is marked by a different color. According to him, since the grass is green, that means that they are in the American zone. Ha! Alice is worried that they are going to get in trouble. Ralph: “How are we going to get in trouble in a great place like this? If you don’t like this, go back to the hotel. We are going to camp out here and sleep overnight. You want to live like natives here, not tourists.” Alice: “At home, I am a native. Here, I want to be a tourist.” Ralph says if anybody doesn’t want to stay here to go. The girls do. Ed tries to follow, but Ralph says that he is staying here with him. What a friend. Alice is given the map so her & Trixie can go back to the hotel. Ralph: “On a trip like this, girls can be trouble.” Ralph talks about how nice it is up here. They try to put the tent up. Ed asks what the sign says. Ralph says that it says: "No smoking." I would ask questions like why a "No smoking" sign would be in the middle of nowhere as well as how could Ralph say that that sign says "No Smoking" on a sign that has five Russian words. They need a stick to put up the pole. Ralph grabs the Russian firing area pole. They sit down. Ed asks why a pole like the one that Ralph grabbed would be in the forrest. Ralph: “Maybe someone is going to open up a barber shop here.” Ed mentions another area that was as quiet: a Sunday that he spent in a sewer without a ripple. Both of them sing a song: “So Peaceful, So Quiet.” They get up. Ed is going to smoke a cigarette. Ralph says no cigarettes for him. Firing shots are heard and seen. Audience applauds. Ralph: "When they mean 'No smoking', they mean it." The Russians get them and take them back into their headquarters in Russia.
At the Russian headquarters the next day, Ralph & Ed are detained. Interrogator: "For the past time, confess. You two are the two American spies." Ralph says that they are not. Interrogator: "What were you two doing in the Russian firing range?" Ralph: “We came there to relax.” Interrogator: “You were stealing Russian military secrets.” Ralph denies it. Interrogator, grabbing Ed's kit which has a map, asks what they are doing with this map of Russian factory. Ed says it isn't and he & Ed try to tell him the truth. It doesn't work. Interrogator: “Explain to me what this ring means.” Ed: “It is my secret code ring.” Oh boy! Ed won’t explain the code because Little Orphan Annie swore him to secrecy. The interrogator asks them to confess or they would be transferred to Moscow. The interrogator threatens to torture them by hanging them. The Interrogator is going to send in secret police to help him out. Interrogator: “When you people admit that you are spies, I will get special promotion from our fearless leader.” Interrogator: “We have ways to make you confess.” The interrogator leaves asks the guards to guard them. Ed: “I don’t want to get brainwashed. I hate to come out of this thing stupid.” Ralph has a plan. Ralph tries to speak to them in English but it doesn’t work. Ralph & Ed then get up to play “Patty Cake” in which they punch out the guards. The guards are dragged into a closet. Ralph & Ed grab uniforms so they will look like Russians. They try to leave. A Russian person brings in an important man from Moscow and his friend. They assume that they are a Mr. Yenko and a Mr. Boojenyen (sp?) They say that Russians are planning a banquet in his (Mr. Yenko’s) honor tonight. Ralph goes along with this and asks the other American prisoners to be freed. One of them does. The other one offers to drive them to it. "Ralph tries to decline so he and Norton can escape but Norton, being stupid, says he wants to be driven to the banquet.
At the banquet, Russian dancers (June Taylor dancers) & male dancers are dancing in front of Ralph & Ed. The Russian remembers his childhood with Ralph. He asks what was the nickname that he used to call him. Ed says it was "fatso." Russian: "That's right. Your nickname for me was ‘Stinky.’" They try to leave. Russian: "First you will honor us with a speech." Ralph: "I would like to make a speech but I got a sore throat." The Russian makes him a Vodka drink to combat the sore throat. Ralph drinks it and hates it. Ed makes a speech. Ed (in a funny voice): “How do you do? Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Fellow Raccoons, I mean fellow Russians..." He mentions his idea for the next five-year plan. We are going to replace our Russian steps and replace them with escalators. Ha! Ralph says that he is making a toast. The Russian assumes that his sore throat has healed. Ralph gets to told to say his plans for the American worker which is a song that I think is entitled: “All The Poor Workers In America.” He ends the song. The Russian asks to do his kazatski dance. Ralph does. He dances a similar dance like in “Mama Loves Mambo.” He gets tired and tries to sit down but they want more dancing. He dances some more. He tries to sit down but they want more dancing. He dances some more. He sits down. The real Mr. Yenko & Mr. Boojenven come in. Ralph & Ed's reaction? They leap through the window. Russians fire gun shots at them.
The Kramdens & Nortons are scheduled to leave Berlin at 2:30pm. At the train station the next day in the American section, the boys run into the girls and explain the whole situation of where they were and why are they are wearing Russian uniforms. The girls don't believe them. The girls go on the train. Ed says that without them, they were scared. Ralph says that Ed was but he wasn’t. Wow! Ralph: “Takes more than a couple of bullets to scare me. Steam emanates from the train, scaring Ralph. They go in the train. The Russians (June Taylor Dancers) dance and sing a song that I think in entitled: “Berlin.” I hate it when episodes of TV shows end with husbands tell the wives the truth and the wives don't believe them. On a side note, what happened to Ed Norton's kit? Jackie comes out and says “Goodnight.”
The announcer then plugs Bulova (the world leader in fine watches and radios) and asks the audience to tune in next week as Bulova presents the Jackie Gleason Show. One of the stills that was used for the advertisement was a bit lopsided. The Glee Girls all come out one by one as the announcer tries to read EVERY credit line (some of which weren’t on the credit roll.) The announcer continues reading as we fade to black.
Episode #160
TV: In 2019, the future Catchy Comedy started showing this in two parts.
DVD: On disc 13 of the Lost Episodes DVD Box Set, it is attached to “Away We Go”, “Plastered In Paris” & “Behind The Iron Curtain.”
Lost Episode Title: "When In Rome."
Color Episode Title: "Confusion, Italian Style."
Air Date: Sat. 2/23/57
"When In Rome":
The beginning of this episode is unique in that apparently it is the opening of the Jackie Gleason Show with fireworks in the background. Bulova is the sponsor. Much like in the Color Honeymooners, a camera zooms in on a Glee Girl as they announce the stars’ names. Jack Lescoulie says that the Kramdens and Nortons have arrived in Sunny Italy. Jack: “We are going to be joining them in just a moment…”
In Rome, a bunch of people (June Taylor Dancers) sing "You Got To Do As The Romans Do." Sounds like Jack Lescoulie’s intro was cut short on the DVD. The Italian representative, a Mr. Woodley, of the Flaky Wakey Company is waiting for the Kramdens & Nortons to arrive. He is played by George Petrie. They arrive in a rented convertible that they claim is small. It is indeed small. The Kramdens & Nortons have a bunch of bags and they are squished like sardines in a can. Ralph claims that when he saw the car, he thought it was a cigarette lighter. The representative checks for their reservations at the Hotel Excelsior. Ralph asks a paisan to help them get the luggage out of the car. They try to get out of their car. Ralph can't because he's stuck (due to the fact that he was the driver and he's so fat). Ed suggests taking out the floorboards if Ralph doesn't mind walking around with the remnants of the car for the rest of his life. Trixie says if he managed to get in there, how come he can't get out. Alice says that Ralph ate all of those pizzas (presumably while in the car). Everyone tries to shake the car so Ralph can get loose but to no avail because Ralph is getting seasick. Then Alice grabs one arm and Ed grabs the other and basically play the game “Tug-of-War” in hoping to get Ralph out. That doesn’t work. A paisan (who must have watched the entire proceedings) gives Ed some Olive Oil. Ed & the girls shake the car but Ralph complains of sea sickness. He claims that he used it on a guy who was stuck in the manhole and the olive oil set hi loose. Ed pours the Olive Oil on Ralph's lap. Ralph is upset. He gets out and it is revealed that the Olive Oil worked. Ralph gets upset with Ed and gets out to beat up Ed. If you look closely, I think you can see that Jackie wasn’t really doused with Olive Oil. Ralph asks a paisan if they can leave the car here. He says no but asks if they are from New York. Ralph: “Yes.” Paisan: “Than you must know my cousin. He is bigger than the President of the USA. He is Perry Como.” Ralph: “Never heard of him.” Ha! The paisan leaves. Ralph & Ed then move the car to a garage. Ralph steers from the outside while Ed pushes. It is revealed in this scene that apparently the car has no ignition sounds, no way of starting the car by using a key or buy hotwiring it and apparently has no parking brake. How odd. They leave and the girls run into a young little boy (played by Sandy Renda) who just happens to speak English. The boy offers them postcards of Rome. The little boy than looks at Alice and says that she is so pretty. Alice is flattered. Boy: "You call me Tony lady. You are so pretty." Alice: "And you are such a flirt." The boys come back and claimed they found a parking place as they walk up the stairs of the Hotel Excelsior. Tony then asks Alice if he can give her a shopping spree of Europe because he's a classy guy and he can show her where to get real bargains. Alice loves the idea especially when he charges her nothing. They both sing and dance to a song that I think is called "You Will Always Be My Friend." I think that was one lucky boy to be dancing with Audrey. After the song, he kisses her on the cheek and she responds by hugging him. They plan to meet each other at 10am outside of the hotel. Tony leaves. Trixie comes out with the news that Olive Oil is needed because Ralph is stuck in the elevator. The June Taylor dancers come out and sing: “You Go To Do As The Romans Do.”
At the Kramdens & Nortons hotel room, a delivery boy has a rose with a note from Tony (Alice's Italian "boyfriend"). Alice reads the note to Trixie. In the note, Tony claims that Alice (the person he calls "lovely lady") has stolen his heart even though they met two days ago. Tony is planning on taking Alice shopping again and seeing her at the festival tonight. Alice claims that she fell in love with her schoolteacher and asks Trixie did she ever fall in love with an older man. Trixie says she did. Trixie fell in love with a doctor and wound up marrying on his patients. The boys aren't going to the festival tonight because they are going to see the wrestling matches. Trixie leaves. The phone rings and its Tony. Ralph comes out and overhears Alice talking with him. He listens to her saying that if she doesn't have any money, she will use Ralph's money which causes Ralph to misinterpret the words. He also hears Alice saying to Tony that she loves the flowers and loves him and calling him the sweetest boy she ever met. Ralph is thinking that Alice is cheating on him but doesn't let on. Alice: "In the meantime, Arrivederci." Alice goes into the other room. Ed enters. He just went sight-seeing and asks Ralph not to see the Roman Coliseum because the whole place is falling apart. Ralph tells Ed that Alice is cheating on him. He shows him the love letter and flowers and reads part of the letter to him. Ed: "It could be a business letter." Ralph: "It's a business letter all right. Monkey business." Ralph continues to read the letter. Ed thinks the letter could be for Trixie but when he reads lovely lady, he thinks it is for Alice. Ralph says to Ed all the things that he claims he heard Alice say on the phone. Ralph is hoping he can stop this in time. Ed tries to help out by saying: "You can lead a horse to water but you can't grow a stone on a moss." What? Ralph says that when he finds the guy, he will kill them. Ralph has clues. He knows his name. His name: Harry Vaderci (arrivederci). Alice comes out and tries to go to the beauty parlor. Ralph asks her to come here. Alice says that she is going to the beauty parlor for my great, big lover boy. Ralph: “HA-HA! Who is he?” Alice: “He is a gigolo that I met on the banks of the Kiver (sp?).” Ralph says that they are leaving Italy. Alice asks if Ralph lost his mind. Ralph says that he wants to go to another country, like Greece. Ed: “That is a great idea. You will never get suck in the car there.” Alice asks Ralph why he wants to leave a romantic county like Italy. Ralph tells her to go in there and pack. Alice wants to go to the festival. Ralph: “I want to go to Greece.” Alice says that that is okay. Alice: “You go to Greece and I will see you there in a couple of days.” Ralph (yells): “GO IN THERE AND PACK!” Alice wants to go to the beauty parlor unless Ralph can give her a good reason. Ralph: “All right. Harry Vaderci.” Alice: “All right. Goodbye.” She leaves. Ralph is more upset. Ralph says that that is proof. Ralph: “I say ‘Harry Vaderci’ to her and she says ‘goodbye’ to me.” Ralph wants to get her back. They sing a song: "That's When You Are Glad You Are Married." Ralph will go to the festival. Ralph says that when he finds the guy, pow. Right in the love bonza.
At the festival called the "Festa L' Uva", a bunch of dancers dance to an Italian song. Ralph and Ed arrive in disguise so they will look Italian. Ralph has a fake mustache. They look ridiculous. Ralph doesn't like spying on Alice and he hates this idea with every second. Ralph: “I suppose I have to do this. When I meet that guy, it is goodbye Harry Vaderci.” They see the girls without Tony. The girls somehow don’t hear them. The boys go somewhere. The girls see them and recognize them. Alice thinks that they said they were going to wrestling matches. The girls then plan to pretend that they think that they are strangers and flirt with them. The boys come back. Alice: “Do you two speak English?” Ralph (patting his stomach): “Si! Si!” They introduce themselves an Angelo (Ed) and Luigi (Ralph). Alice: "Our husbands are at the wrestling matches but don't talk about them with two cut boys like you around." Ralph claims he has more evidence. Alice: "What the old boys won't know won't hurt them." Ralph: “Did you hear that Luigi?” Ed: “I’m Angelo.” Ralph elbows Ed. Alice: “Our husbands are probably going to go somewhere else tomorrow night. What are you going to be doing?” “Luigi” then makes a fist is if he is going to punch someone. “Luigi”: “We are all going out together. You see, Pasquale…” "Angelo": “Angelo.” Ralph: “Angelo is going to take us out onto his boat.” Trixie: “I thought they were in Venice where all the canals are.” Ed: “That is why I moved down here. So, I can get no competition. While there may be no canals, my boat uses wheels.” Ralph: “His boat has wheels but there are no wheels up there in his brain.” Ha! Ralph: “Shut your mouth Luigi.” Alice: “You are Luigi. He’s Angelo. Why don’t we all stay here?” Trixie (to Ed): “You are cute." Ed: “You go take the girls. I got to go change tires on my boat.” Ralph: “You will stay here.” The girls go to powder their noses. Ralph claims that he has more evidence to his thoughts. Ed: “I am dressed like a dope just to pick up my own wife.” Ralph claims that they want to go out with us and they didn’t even know that it was them. Ralph: “Yesterday, I was sitting on top of the world. Now, it has collapsed.” Ed: “With you, it figures.” They leave.
All of them are in the hotel room the next day. Ralph tells Alice to admit that they didn't know that it was them and they were flirting with them. Alice & Trixie tell the truth. Ralph says Alice went to the festival to meet the man that he claims that she is in love with. Ralph says that he knows that Alice was given flowers by her lover and shows her the love letter. Alice & Trixie laugh. The phone rings. Alice answers it. It's Tony. Alice asks for Tony to come on up to their hotel room. Alice says that it was the guy who sent him the flowers and note. Ralph is now madder than ever. Alice decides to have fun with Ralph and says that she loves her new "boyfriend." Alice: "You got to let me go Ralph. My place is with him." Ralph: "Oh, I want him to come up here." A knock on the door is heard. Ralph opens it. It's Tony. Ralph: "Get out of the way kid. There is going to be a massacre and I don't want you to get hurt." Alice introduces him as Tony and says that he is the person who sent her all the flowers, the note and who was supposed to meet at the festival last night." Tony says that his mother wouldn’t let him out of the house and brought her more flowers. Alice & Tony tell Ralph the truth. Ralph: “Pal O’ Mine. Put it there pal. Ralph asks if he wants some ice cream. Tony says that his family is waiting for him. So Ralph asks him to bring his family up here for ice cream but when he sees Tony’s big family, he says that they will go down to the dining room. Ralph: “What a family. Alice, I thought you were running around with a guy named Harry Vaderci.” Alice explains that it is not a name and that is Italian for “Goodbye.” So Ralph blames Ed. Ed: “I thought that it was food.” Ralph asks Tony’s family and Tony to go on down to the dining room. They leave. They all sing: “You Got To Do The Romans Do.”
Jackie Gleason comes out and says hello to a new kid that was “just born.” He was the son of his dresser. He wishes Mr & Mrs. DiVerno a very happy event and a Happy Birthday to William Francis DiVerno. Jackie says that due to lack of time the rest of the cast will not come out and bow. However, Jackie lets the kid (Sandy Renda) come out and take a bow before saying goodnight.
The announcer then plugs Old Gold Cigarettes and asks the audience to tune in next week as Old Gold presents the Jackie Gleason Show. The Glee Girls all come out one by one as the announcer tries to read EVERY credit line that wasn’t on the credit roll.
This is one of the few times, a kid is cast as a character on a Honeymooners show and even though he had two very small parts, it might be somewhat surprising to some people that Jackie allowed a kid to be a character in a Honeymooners episode since he never liked working with them because he was always afraid they would not perform on cue (he may have been even more receptive to having kids on his shows when they were performed live even though there were a few lost episodes that had kids starring as one of the characters). I like seeing an episode with a kid in it since those kind of scenes that have a kid perform were a good change of pace for these Honeymooners episodes (especially if the kid doesn't mess up their lines.)
Credit I think goes to (the original) Bill's 'Mooners Archives, eBay.com, tv.com, Honeymooners Lost Episodes Book, tvguide.com, honeymooners.net, Honeymooners Lost Episodes DVD booklet, Wikipedia.org, Yahoo Groups You're A Riot! & Amazon.com.