Frank Gannucci
08-21-2020, 07:47 AM
Honeymooners Episode Reviews: "We Spy", "Petticoat Jungle" & "The Great Gleason Express":
Episode #181 (Syndicated episode #7)
TV: Hour (edited).
DVD: Attached to “You’re In The Picture”, “Petticoat Jungle” & "The Great Gleason Express."
Air Date: Sat. 12/3/66
"We Spy":
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. The Kramdens & Nortons arrive in Germany. Ed is carrying all of the luggage off the train because Ralph claims that he strained his back. He strained his back while putting the luggage in Ed's hands. Ha! Alice 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." They wait for the Flakey-Wakey people. They want their picture taken, 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! Ed has an idea on how to get a picture of the four of us without having to ask a stranger. Pictures will be taken with two different people and at the end; the pictures will be glued together like a collage. Ralph doesn't like it. He says that it is the most ridiculous story that he ever heard. Ed says: "What about the idea of a grown man dressing up as a cat on Halloween." Ralph: "When did I do that?" Ed: "I did." Mr. Steinhart, The Flakey-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 Western zone & Eastern zone. You can not go into the Eastern zone unless you have the proper credentials. Of course, since the fall of the U.S.S.R., I believe that Germany is no longer divided, but I could be wrong. He says that the Eastern zone is dangerous. Ralph wants to go to a restaurant and sink his teeth into a German rathskeller. He is later informed that a rathskeller is a restaurant. The man says that for doing something different that most Americans don't do is to take a hike in a German forest. The man: "The German forest has the most beautiful scenery in the WORLD." Ralph likes the idea, but he is alone. Ralph: "In a foreign country, you got to live like a native." Alice: "In Brooklyn, I live like a native." Ed wants to go sightseeing with the girls. Ralph orders to come with him. Wow, what a friend he is. A marching band comes. Ralph grabs the drum and sings a German song. Everyone grabs an instrument and joins Ralph in song Ed gets a horn and scares Ralph when he plays it. Ha!
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. Ralph: "This will look like a great place for a picnic." 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. Ralph: "We are probably lost." Ed brings up a map. He says that he was a Naval Intelligence during the last war. He could have been drafted to Army Intelligence if didn't have a choice. The marines wanted him but he couldn't spell Montezuma (sp?). He gets out his map and says that he knows where they are; right smack in the middle of the North, South, East & West. He says that they are in another county. The county's name on the map: Verboten. They say that it is like Flushing. Ralph talks about how nice it is up here. They sit down. 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. Ed likes hitchhiking Ralph. Ralph says that that marker is there to tell people that this is picnic area. Ed says that Ralph is a walking encyclopedia. Ed tells that Ralph brought some things from Flakey-Wakey boxes back home like a map to tell you where Captain Kidd's treasure is and an Orphan Annie code ring etc. Ed gets Ralph a can opener so he can eat soup. Both of them sing a song about how quiet and peaceful it is up there and they lie on the ground while singing. They get up. Ed smokes a cigarette. Ralph says that they can't, but allows it since no one is around. A firing shot is heard. Ed: "When they mean 'No smoking', they mean it." Ralph: "That was just a sonic boom." More firing shots and explosions are heard and seen. Ralph & Ed duck and cover. The Russians get them and take them back into their headquarters in Russia.
At the Russian headquarters, Ralph & Ed are detained. They are told that they are going to be interrogated. Ed says he will bring this story up in the next meeting of the International Headquarters of the Friendly Raccoons." Ralph: "The Raccoons have no more relations with Russia. Right after our Superior Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler got thrown out of the tea room because he was drunk." Ed: "I hope they don't brainwash us. I would hate to come out of this thing stupid." The interrogator comes. Interrogator: "You two are the two American spies." Ralph says that they are not. Interrogator: "What were you two doing in the Russian firing range?" Ed: "I don't have to tell you anything. Because of the Geneva conventions, all I have to do is tell you my name, address & social security number." Ralph tells him the truth but the interrogator doesn't believe him. Interrogator, grabbing Ed's map, asks what they are doing with this map of Russian gunning placements. Ralph says it isn't and he & Ed try to tell him the truth. It doesn't work. The Interrogator gets out the ring. Ed says he uses it to decipher codes. Boy oh boy! Ralph yells at Ed to tell him what the code is. The code: "My name is Ed Norton. I live at 328 Chauncey Street and my zip code is 10059." The interrogator asks them to confess or they would be transferred to Moscow. The interrogator threatens to torture them. They will put bamboo shoots underneath their finger nails and light them with a match and force your friend to sit down and watch. The interrogator gives them more time and asks the guard to guard them. Ed has a plan. He will trick them into thinking that he is talking into a radio that is in his fountain pen and when the guard comes to see what the matter is, he will shoot the ink in his eyes and escapes. The plan works until Ed realizes that he was using a ballpoint pen. Ha! Ralph has a plan. He gets up and asks if the guard ever saw that 60's TV show that starred Bill Cosby. The guy says no. Ralph beats him up and he is dragged into a closet. Ralph & Ed grab uniforms so they will look like Russians. While this is happening, a Russian person brings in an important man from Moscow and his friend. They leave. Ralph & Ed come out dressed just like the important man and his friend .The plan works until one of the Russian guards sees them and assumes that he is officer Koslov and officer Belinski (the names of the important man from Moscow and his friend.) They say that Russians are planning a banquet in his honor tonight. He offers to drive them to it. "Koslov" 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 "Koslov" & "Belinski." "Belinski" says he wants to go home and beat the traffic since its Thanksgiving weekend. Ha! Russian: "Thanksgiving?" Ralph says that it is a new holiday in Moscow and the Russian believes him. That Russian must be stupid for him to believe that. They will celebrate Thanksgiving here. The Russian talks to "Koslov" and remembers his childhood with him. He asks what was the nickname that he used to call him. "Belinski" says it was "fatso." Russian: "That's right." They try to leave. Russian: "First you will honor us with a speech." "Koslov" (with a sudden raspy voice): "I would like to make a speech but I got a sore throat." A sore throat that he didn't have five seconds ago. "Koslov" says that "Belinski" also can't make a speech because of his sore throat. "Belinski": "My throat is fine. I will make a speech." He does. "Belinski": "Fellow Raccoons, I mean fellow Russians..." He mentions Governor Ronald Reagan. He talks about the problem with the Chinese is that everyone is ordering from Column A and no one is ordering from Column B. Ha! He ends his speech. The Russian asks to do his kazatski dance. He declines. They try to leave, but they run into the real Belinski and Koslov. Ralph & Ed's reaction, they run through the “glass” windows.
The Kramdens & Nortons are scheduled to leave Berlin at 2:30pm. At the train station the next day, 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 even when Ralph says: "Where do you think I got this uniform from" Alice (reading the label): "'The Fat Man's Shop.'" Ralph & Ed see the two people that captured them and asked them what they are doing. They are going on a train to Moscow to celebrate Thanksgiving. Ralph: "I must have done something special for international relations." All of them leave in Berlin, Germany. 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?
During the curtain call, Jackie just says good night to everyone. That's it. I guess they ran into a time problem.
Episode #182 (Syndicated episode #8)
DVD: Attached to "You're In the Picture", "We Spy" & "The Great Gleason Express."
Color Honeymooners Title: "Petticoat Jungle."
Lost episode title: "I Remember Mau Au."
Air Date: Sat. 12/10/66
In 2021, the original version of this episode (with different Glea Girls in the opening) appeared on YouTube and it was in B&W. Unfortunately, it was taken down but I did record it. Here’s the thread with the proof:
https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=405077&page=3
"Petticoat Jungle":
At a shop in London (I think), everyone is buying sporting equipment or doing other things sports-related. They dance as they sing to: "World of Sports." After that, the Kramdens and Nortons enter. The girls want to buy some bathing suits. They plan to go to the Riviera. Ed wants a bathing suit with strips with chartreuse and fuchsia with sequins. Ralph: "You can't wear that in the Rivera. You'll be a laughingstock." Ed: "You're right. I may want to buy one of those because one of these days, we may go to Miami Beach." The audience applauds. The man asks for the ladies measurements which get Ralph upset. Man: "I am a married man." Ralph: "So is Frank Sinatra." The man at first shows them a one-piece blue bathing suit and then shows them a small box with six bathing suits that are popular in the Rivera this year. They guy shows the girls one of them. It looks to be a small two-piece bathing suit that Ralph says that Alice will not wear. Ed: "Get with the times Ralph. If Alice wants one, get her one." Trixie: "Can I get one two?" Ed: "You do and I will break your arm." Ralph says that she will not wear one of those six bathing suits. Ralph: "You wear the first one the man showed you or the one I gave you last year." Alice: "I can't wear the latter Ralph. It has a hole in the knee." They girls buy the one-piece bathing suits. They go to try them on. Ed goes to buy a bathing suit. The man measures Ed and it is revealed that his measurement is 37 inches around the waist. The man goes to measure Ralph since he wants a bathing suit too and the man's measuring tape doesn't even fit around Ralph's waist. The man goes to find a bathing suit for the boys. Ralph & Ed look around. Ed picks up a cricket bat. Ed: "What is it used for?" Ralph: "To kill crickets." Ed picks up a medicine ball. Ralph: "That is a medicine ball." Ed: "You must have to take a pretty big glass of water to swallow a thing like this." Ralph says that that ball is used for throwing around. They throw it around. When Ed throws it at Ralph, he throws it hard which hurts Ralph. Funny stuff. When Ed throws it at Ralph again, Ralph catches it and accidentally breaks a female mannequin. A game hunter comes in with his game hunting attire. He lives in Africa. He takes hunting expeditions and safaris into the jungle. He goes somewhere else in the shop. Ralph is all happy. He wants to go on a safari. They talk about the possibility of bringing to the Raccoons the head of a tiger that they caught. Ed then reveals a small piece of history about the Raccoons. It was called the Raccoons because one of the members ran over one with his car. The boys say that since they won the Flakey-Wake slogan contest and because of that, they have the final say over where they should go. I don't know about you but I rather go to the Riviera than on a safari. The man that did the measuring comes back and Ralph tells him the news that they are now going to Africa. Ralph instructs the man to get the big game hunter that is around because he wants to talk to them. They then sing: "We Are A Couple of Hunters."
At a hut, the girls are bringing stuff in. Trixie and Alice are very tired. Ed scares Trixie by wearing a witch doctor's mask. Ralph is busy talking to the natives. The natives don't like the idea of carrying Ralph over the rough spots. Ralph comes in with a ridiculous looking coat on. The girls say that for them, going into the safari is dangerous. Ralph says it is not. He has taken all the precautions. Ralph says that one woman had bagged an elephant. Ed: "How would you like to bag an elephant Alice?" Alice: "I already did." Ralph says that, according to his guide, they have to be at the Zambezi River by nightfall. Ed: "Why? I will tell you why. Because if you want to take a bath in the river, you should do it while the crocodiles are sleeping." The girls leave the room. Ralph practices using his gun while not shooting it. Ralph: "Did you oil your gun?" Ed: "I didn't have to. It wasn't squeaking." Ed checks to see if it is loaded. He points the gun at Ralph which scares Ralph. Ralph: "You carry only the camera since if I miss anything, you can take a picture of it." The guide comes to get everybody for the safari. Ralph finally lets Ed carry a gun that Ed claims is not loaded. When Ed pulls the trigger, it is revealed that it WAS LOADED. The gun shot scares Ralph but the "bullet" touches nobody.
At the camping site, the girls are tired of having to cook and do all the other things that Ralph and Ed tell them to do. They are scared of all the sounds of the jungle. Ralph, Ed and the guide are out hunting. Ralph & Ed have also been eating and sleeping while the girls do all the work as well. I would love to see an actual hunting scene with Ralph and Ed. The girls sing: "The Rivera." Ralph and the big game hunter come back. Ed is by the lake. Ralph says that the girls have been bored stiff. Ralph claims that he had a big day. He talks about hunting an animal. He was scared. He killed it…a rabbit. A rabbit that doesn't even look like it was real, but one that you would find in a kids' bedroom. Ed kills an elephant. Alice: "What was he doing when you killed him Ralph, coloring Easter eggs?" When I saw that quote for the first time, I laughed. Ralph says that the rabbit lost a lot of weight when he was chasing him. Alice: "The chase didn't make you lose weight." Ralph goes to the natives with the rabbit to make sure they will skin it and stuff it. A gun shot is heard. It came from Ed's gun. Ed: "Is Ralph back from camp yet?" Ralph: "Yes." Ed: "Oh that was an elephant I shot." When Ralph hears that Ed killed an elephant, he gets jealous. Ralph and Ed want to get some sleep before dinner. Alice then says to Trixie to help her put the wet leaves on a grill that is right near Ralph's tent so they can blow smoke in Ralph's direction. Question: How could Ralph not hear Alice when Alice is a few feet away from him? I guess that we were supposed to believe that Ralph goes to sleep very fast. The smoke doesn't even reach Ralph yet Ralph somehow is coughing because of it. Alice blows smoke in Ralph's tent. Ralph wakes up. Alice says to Ralph that she is cooking. Ralph: "Watch out! I'm not on the menu." Alice pours water over Ralph's legs. Alice claims that she slipped. The girls are visibly laughing. Alice then takes some hot charcoal and put them on the ground. Alice: "Look out Trixie! There's a snake!" Ralph wakes up and steps on the hot charcoal. Alice: "You must have scared the snake away. Alice and Trixie leave. Ralph and Ed say they are miserable here too. Ed: "Let's leave before the girls get back." Ralph concocts a plan to get them to leave here. Since the big game hunter shot a gorilla the other day, Ralph talks Ed into wearing a gorilla suit that will scare the girls.
Ed comes back wearing a gorilla suit sans the mask. He can't find Ralph. A "real" gorilla shows up. It is so obvious that the "gorilla" is not a real one. Ralph shows "Norton" the proper way a gorilla walks. Ed comes by wearing the gorilla suit with the mask on. Both of them notice the gorilla and get scared. The girls come by and get scared. They scare off the "real" gorilla. Ralph says that they are leaving because he says he wants to protect the girls. Ralph: "Me? Scared? No." An animal noise is heard and Ralph gets scared. They leave.
In the final scene, the Kramdens and Nortons aboard a boat called the S.S. Merrill. Ralph & Ed are wearing loud outfits. The wives are still mad at their husbands. Alice comes out. Ed leaves to go to his stateroom. Ralph starts to tell her of all the good stories about them going to Europe and the one little mistake he made on ship (he fell overboard.) Ralph: "You had a great time in Paris. It is not my fault that we got arrested for counterfeit money. I Sure, I made a fool of myself on English TV and anybody can be captured by the Russians." Ralph apologies and says that Alice spoiled the whole trip and spent all the money that they got on the trip and not coming back to Brooklyn with anything. Alice: "I had some wonderful memories and plus I am coming back with the best husband in the world: You." They embrace. The Nortons come out and they see the Statue of Liberty. They sing: "It's Much More Fun to Come Home." It is about how much more fun to come home from vacation. Sure, it is. At the end, a lot of people come out and streamers and confetti are flying everywhere.
At the curtain call, Jackie says it was a tough show. Jackie: "Climbing in and out of that tent wasn't easy." Jackie praises his audience at the stage and says that the studio audiences positive opinion is vital because "now" the rest of the country believes it. He must have been hearing about the ratings for his show. Jackie gives credit the people who wrote the show as well and the song introduces the cast (and it is revealed that George Barrows played the gorilla) Jackie then says good night.
This episode is very similar to "Vacation at Fred's Landing." That episode was done twice as a lost episode, again as a 1957 Trip to Europe and again as a color episode. No wonder Jackie didn't do an official color remake of "Vacation at Fred's Landing." By this time, he may have gotten tired of remaking the episode after technically four times (maybe five times if it’s true that this episode was done during the 1951-1952 season.
The Great Gleason Express extra that is shown on the MPI Color Honeymooners 3 Disc set:
DVD: Attached to "You're In The Picture", "We Spy" & "Petticoat Jungle."
"The Great Gleason Express" (Bonus feature):
The first clip that is played is from "We Spy" as Ed is carrying the luggage. Narrator: "Long before the Kramdens and Nortons took their (1960s) trip to Europe, Jackie moved his entire CBS variety show to Miami Beach Florida. Jackie was tired of those endless New York winters and wanted to enjoy outdoor life more." In an interview from the 60s, Jackie says he likes being in Miami Beach. It is revealed that to help charter his show to Florida, he got a train and dubbed it: "The Great Gleason Express" and used his train to help promote his show and was also used for publicity. Jackie's rep was on the line and had the responsibility of transporting a lot of people including people involved with the show and their families as well. Jackie in that same interview as mentioned above, Jackie says that he is grateful that the people, who worked with him, came with him. It is revealed that Hank Mitre proposed to Gleason the idea of moving down to Miami Beach and the president of WTVJ (the then-CBS affiliate down in Miami). Gleason loved train travel and a younger Marilyn Gleason is shown talking about the fact when Jackie first went out to California. I can tell it was a younger Marilyn Gleason because when she appeared on the Larry King Live Honeymooners Special in 2002, she looked much older and talked about him going down to Miami with the whole cast and crew. Marilyn: "We still talk about it today." That line alone reveals the age of this interview. It is revealed that Jackie did a Bon Voyage party at his restaurant in New York called Toots Shor. The actual train ride took a day and a half (save for brief stops along the way.) Music was played non-stop. Wow!
Marilyn: "Jackie didn't have to be on stage to entertain." A few dozen reporters were aboard on the trip, Jackie talked WTVJ into footing the bill for the train ride and remolding what is now called the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach into a TV studio which cost a quarter of a million dollars (I bet that it would cost more today.) TV Guide said that the publicity got more than $9 million dollars in publicity for Miami Beach. Jackie's greatest worker on the train ride was June Taylor (sister of his then-future wife Marilyn). June would be responsible for making those dance numbers on his shows. It was revealed that Jackie spent time with train employees who were working on the charter trip. When the express rolled into a town in the middle of the night, Jackie greeted his fans like a million bucks. When they arrived in Miami, they were greeted by a marching band, a rock and roll group and a lot of fans. While on a tour of Miami, Jackie was surrounded by a LOT of people. Narrator: "Jackie taped his last Honeymooners episodes in what is now called the Jackie Gleason Theater until the 1970s." That theater was renamed The Fillmore Miami Beach At Jackie Gleason Theater in 2007. Jackie: "As always, the Miami Beach audiences are the greatest in the world." The End.
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 #181 (Syndicated episode #7)
TV: Hour (edited).
DVD: Attached to “You’re In The Picture”, “Petticoat Jungle” & "The Great Gleason Express."
Air Date: Sat. 12/3/66
"We Spy":
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. The Kramdens & Nortons arrive in Germany. Ed is carrying all of the luggage off the train because Ralph claims that he strained his back. He strained his back while putting the luggage in Ed's hands. Ha! Alice 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." They wait for the Flakey-Wakey people. They want their picture taken, 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! Ed has an idea on how to get a picture of the four of us without having to ask a stranger. Pictures will be taken with two different people and at the end; the pictures will be glued together like a collage. Ralph doesn't like it. He says that it is the most ridiculous story that he ever heard. Ed says: "What about the idea of a grown man dressing up as a cat on Halloween." Ralph: "When did I do that?" Ed: "I did." Mr. Steinhart, The Flakey-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 Western zone & Eastern zone. You can not go into the Eastern zone unless you have the proper credentials. Of course, since the fall of the U.S.S.R., I believe that Germany is no longer divided, but I could be wrong. He says that the Eastern zone is dangerous. Ralph wants to go to a restaurant and sink his teeth into a German rathskeller. He is later informed that a rathskeller is a restaurant. The man says that for doing something different that most Americans don't do is to take a hike in a German forest. The man: "The German forest has the most beautiful scenery in the WORLD." Ralph likes the idea, but he is alone. Ralph: "In a foreign country, you got to live like a native." Alice: "In Brooklyn, I live like a native." Ed wants to go sightseeing with the girls. Ralph orders to come with him. Wow, what a friend he is. A marching band comes. Ralph grabs the drum and sings a German song. Everyone grabs an instrument and joins Ralph in song Ed gets a horn and scares Ralph when he plays it. Ha!
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. Ralph: "This will look like a great place for a picnic." 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. Ralph: "We are probably lost." Ed brings up a map. He says that he was a Naval Intelligence during the last war. He could have been drafted to Army Intelligence if didn't have a choice. The marines wanted him but he couldn't spell Montezuma (sp?). He gets out his map and says that he knows where they are; right smack in the middle of the North, South, East & West. He says that they are in another county. The county's name on the map: Verboten. They say that it is like Flushing. Ralph talks about how nice it is up here. They sit down. 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. Ed likes hitchhiking Ralph. Ralph says that that marker is there to tell people that this is picnic area. Ed says that Ralph is a walking encyclopedia. Ed tells that Ralph brought some things from Flakey-Wakey boxes back home like a map to tell you where Captain Kidd's treasure is and an Orphan Annie code ring etc. Ed gets Ralph a can opener so he can eat soup. Both of them sing a song about how quiet and peaceful it is up there and they lie on the ground while singing. They get up. Ed smokes a cigarette. Ralph says that they can't, but allows it since no one is around. A firing shot is heard. Ed: "When they mean 'No smoking', they mean it." Ralph: "That was just a sonic boom." More firing shots and explosions are heard and seen. Ralph & Ed duck and cover. The Russians get them and take them back into their headquarters in Russia.
At the Russian headquarters, Ralph & Ed are detained. They are told that they are going to be interrogated. Ed says he will bring this story up in the next meeting of the International Headquarters of the Friendly Raccoons." Ralph: "The Raccoons have no more relations with Russia. Right after our Superior Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler got thrown out of the tea room because he was drunk." Ed: "I hope they don't brainwash us. I would hate to come out of this thing stupid." The interrogator comes. Interrogator: "You two are the two American spies." Ralph says that they are not. Interrogator: "What were you two doing in the Russian firing range?" Ed: "I don't have to tell you anything. Because of the Geneva conventions, all I have to do is tell you my name, address & social security number." Ralph tells him the truth but the interrogator doesn't believe him. Interrogator, grabbing Ed's map, asks what they are doing with this map of Russian gunning placements. Ralph says it isn't and he & Ed try to tell him the truth. It doesn't work. The Interrogator gets out the ring. Ed says he uses it to decipher codes. Boy oh boy! Ralph yells at Ed to tell him what the code is. The code: "My name is Ed Norton. I live at 328 Chauncey Street and my zip code is 10059." The interrogator asks them to confess or they would be transferred to Moscow. The interrogator threatens to torture them. They will put bamboo shoots underneath their finger nails and light them with a match and force your friend to sit down and watch. The interrogator gives them more time and asks the guard to guard them. Ed has a plan. He will trick them into thinking that he is talking into a radio that is in his fountain pen and when the guard comes to see what the matter is, he will shoot the ink in his eyes and escapes. The plan works until Ed realizes that he was using a ballpoint pen. Ha! Ralph has a plan. He gets up and asks if the guard ever saw that 60's TV show that starred Bill Cosby. The guy says no. Ralph beats him up and he is dragged into a closet. Ralph & Ed grab uniforms so they will look like Russians. While this is happening, a Russian person brings in an important man from Moscow and his friend. They leave. Ralph & Ed come out dressed just like the important man and his friend .The plan works until one of the Russian guards sees them and assumes that he is officer Koslov and officer Belinski (the names of the important man from Moscow and his friend.) They say that Russians are planning a banquet in his honor tonight. He offers to drive them to it. "Koslov" 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 "Koslov" & "Belinski." "Belinski" says he wants to go home and beat the traffic since its Thanksgiving weekend. Ha! Russian: "Thanksgiving?" Ralph says that it is a new holiday in Moscow and the Russian believes him. That Russian must be stupid for him to believe that. They will celebrate Thanksgiving here. The Russian talks to "Koslov" and remembers his childhood with him. He asks what was the nickname that he used to call him. "Belinski" says it was "fatso." Russian: "That's right." They try to leave. Russian: "First you will honor us with a speech." "Koslov" (with a sudden raspy voice): "I would like to make a speech but I got a sore throat." A sore throat that he didn't have five seconds ago. "Koslov" says that "Belinski" also can't make a speech because of his sore throat. "Belinski": "My throat is fine. I will make a speech." He does. "Belinski": "Fellow Raccoons, I mean fellow Russians..." He mentions Governor Ronald Reagan. He talks about the problem with the Chinese is that everyone is ordering from Column A and no one is ordering from Column B. Ha! He ends his speech. The Russian asks to do his kazatski dance. He declines. They try to leave, but they run into the real Belinski and Koslov. Ralph & Ed's reaction, they run through the “glass” windows.
The Kramdens & Nortons are scheduled to leave Berlin at 2:30pm. At the train station the next day, 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 even when Ralph says: "Where do you think I got this uniform from" Alice (reading the label): "'The Fat Man's Shop.'" Ralph & Ed see the two people that captured them and asked them what they are doing. They are going on a train to Moscow to celebrate Thanksgiving. Ralph: "I must have done something special for international relations." All of them leave in Berlin, Germany. 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?
During the curtain call, Jackie just says good night to everyone. That's it. I guess they ran into a time problem.
Episode #182 (Syndicated episode #8)
DVD: Attached to "You're In the Picture", "We Spy" & "The Great Gleason Express."
Color Honeymooners Title: "Petticoat Jungle."
Lost episode title: "I Remember Mau Au."
Air Date: Sat. 12/10/66
In 2021, the original version of this episode (with different Glea Girls in the opening) appeared on YouTube and it was in B&W. Unfortunately, it was taken down but I did record it. Here’s the thread with the proof:
https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=405077&page=3
"Petticoat Jungle":
At a shop in London (I think), everyone is buying sporting equipment or doing other things sports-related. They dance as they sing to: "World of Sports." After that, the Kramdens and Nortons enter. The girls want to buy some bathing suits. They plan to go to the Riviera. Ed wants a bathing suit with strips with chartreuse and fuchsia with sequins. Ralph: "You can't wear that in the Rivera. You'll be a laughingstock." Ed: "You're right. I may want to buy one of those because one of these days, we may go to Miami Beach." The audience applauds. The man asks for the ladies measurements which get Ralph upset. Man: "I am a married man." Ralph: "So is Frank Sinatra." The man at first shows them a one-piece blue bathing suit and then shows them a small box with six bathing suits that are popular in the Rivera this year. They guy shows the girls one of them. It looks to be a small two-piece bathing suit that Ralph says that Alice will not wear. Ed: "Get with the times Ralph. If Alice wants one, get her one." Trixie: "Can I get one two?" Ed: "You do and I will break your arm." Ralph says that she will not wear one of those six bathing suits. Ralph: "You wear the first one the man showed you or the one I gave you last year." Alice: "I can't wear the latter Ralph. It has a hole in the knee." They girls buy the one-piece bathing suits. They go to try them on. Ed goes to buy a bathing suit. The man measures Ed and it is revealed that his measurement is 37 inches around the waist. The man goes to measure Ralph since he wants a bathing suit too and the man's measuring tape doesn't even fit around Ralph's waist. The man goes to find a bathing suit for the boys. Ralph & Ed look around. Ed picks up a cricket bat. Ed: "What is it used for?" Ralph: "To kill crickets." Ed picks up a medicine ball. Ralph: "That is a medicine ball." Ed: "You must have to take a pretty big glass of water to swallow a thing like this." Ralph says that that ball is used for throwing around. They throw it around. When Ed throws it at Ralph, he throws it hard which hurts Ralph. Funny stuff. When Ed throws it at Ralph again, Ralph catches it and accidentally breaks a female mannequin. A game hunter comes in with his game hunting attire. He lives in Africa. He takes hunting expeditions and safaris into the jungle. He goes somewhere else in the shop. Ralph is all happy. He wants to go on a safari. They talk about the possibility of bringing to the Raccoons the head of a tiger that they caught. Ed then reveals a small piece of history about the Raccoons. It was called the Raccoons because one of the members ran over one with his car. The boys say that since they won the Flakey-Wake slogan contest and because of that, they have the final say over where they should go. I don't know about you but I rather go to the Riviera than on a safari. The man that did the measuring comes back and Ralph tells him the news that they are now going to Africa. Ralph instructs the man to get the big game hunter that is around because he wants to talk to them. They then sing: "We Are A Couple of Hunters."
At a hut, the girls are bringing stuff in. Trixie and Alice are very tired. Ed scares Trixie by wearing a witch doctor's mask. Ralph is busy talking to the natives. The natives don't like the idea of carrying Ralph over the rough spots. Ralph comes in with a ridiculous looking coat on. The girls say that for them, going into the safari is dangerous. Ralph says it is not. He has taken all the precautions. Ralph says that one woman had bagged an elephant. Ed: "How would you like to bag an elephant Alice?" Alice: "I already did." Ralph says that, according to his guide, they have to be at the Zambezi River by nightfall. Ed: "Why? I will tell you why. Because if you want to take a bath in the river, you should do it while the crocodiles are sleeping." The girls leave the room. Ralph practices using his gun while not shooting it. Ralph: "Did you oil your gun?" Ed: "I didn't have to. It wasn't squeaking." Ed checks to see if it is loaded. He points the gun at Ralph which scares Ralph. Ralph: "You carry only the camera since if I miss anything, you can take a picture of it." The guide comes to get everybody for the safari. Ralph finally lets Ed carry a gun that Ed claims is not loaded. When Ed pulls the trigger, it is revealed that it WAS LOADED. The gun shot scares Ralph but the "bullet" touches nobody.
At the camping site, the girls are tired of having to cook and do all the other things that Ralph and Ed tell them to do. They are scared of all the sounds of the jungle. Ralph, Ed and the guide are out hunting. Ralph & Ed have also been eating and sleeping while the girls do all the work as well. I would love to see an actual hunting scene with Ralph and Ed. The girls sing: "The Rivera." Ralph and the big game hunter come back. Ed is by the lake. Ralph says that the girls have been bored stiff. Ralph claims that he had a big day. He talks about hunting an animal. He was scared. He killed it…a rabbit. A rabbit that doesn't even look like it was real, but one that you would find in a kids' bedroom. Ed kills an elephant. Alice: "What was he doing when you killed him Ralph, coloring Easter eggs?" When I saw that quote for the first time, I laughed. Ralph says that the rabbit lost a lot of weight when he was chasing him. Alice: "The chase didn't make you lose weight." Ralph goes to the natives with the rabbit to make sure they will skin it and stuff it. A gun shot is heard. It came from Ed's gun. Ed: "Is Ralph back from camp yet?" Ralph: "Yes." Ed: "Oh that was an elephant I shot." When Ralph hears that Ed killed an elephant, he gets jealous. Ralph and Ed want to get some sleep before dinner. Alice then says to Trixie to help her put the wet leaves on a grill that is right near Ralph's tent so they can blow smoke in Ralph's direction. Question: How could Ralph not hear Alice when Alice is a few feet away from him? I guess that we were supposed to believe that Ralph goes to sleep very fast. The smoke doesn't even reach Ralph yet Ralph somehow is coughing because of it. Alice blows smoke in Ralph's tent. Ralph wakes up. Alice says to Ralph that she is cooking. Ralph: "Watch out! I'm not on the menu." Alice pours water over Ralph's legs. Alice claims that she slipped. The girls are visibly laughing. Alice then takes some hot charcoal and put them on the ground. Alice: "Look out Trixie! There's a snake!" Ralph wakes up and steps on the hot charcoal. Alice: "You must have scared the snake away. Alice and Trixie leave. Ralph and Ed say they are miserable here too. Ed: "Let's leave before the girls get back." Ralph concocts a plan to get them to leave here. Since the big game hunter shot a gorilla the other day, Ralph talks Ed into wearing a gorilla suit that will scare the girls.
Ed comes back wearing a gorilla suit sans the mask. He can't find Ralph. A "real" gorilla shows up. It is so obvious that the "gorilla" is not a real one. Ralph shows "Norton" the proper way a gorilla walks. Ed comes by wearing the gorilla suit with the mask on. Both of them notice the gorilla and get scared. The girls come by and get scared. They scare off the "real" gorilla. Ralph says that they are leaving because he says he wants to protect the girls. Ralph: "Me? Scared? No." An animal noise is heard and Ralph gets scared. They leave.
In the final scene, the Kramdens and Nortons aboard a boat called the S.S. Merrill. Ralph & Ed are wearing loud outfits. The wives are still mad at their husbands. Alice comes out. Ed leaves to go to his stateroom. Ralph starts to tell her of all the good stories about them going to Europe and the one little mistake he made on ship (he fell overboard.) Ralph: "You had a great time in Paris. It is not my fault that we got arrested for counterfeit money. I Sure, I made a fool of myself on English TV and anybody can be captured by the Russians." Ralph apologies and says that Alice spoiled the whole trip and spent all the money that they got on the trip and not coming back to Brooklyn with anything. Alice: "I had some wonderful memories and plus I am coming back with the best husband in the world: You." They embrace. The Nortons come out and they see the Statue of Liberty. They sing: "It's Much More Fun to Come Home." It is about how much more fun to come home from vacation. Sure, it is. At the end, a lot of people come out and streamers and confetti are flying everywhere.
At the curtain call, Jackie says it was a tough show. Jackie: "Climbing in and out of that tent wasn't easy." Jackie praises his audience at the stage and says that the studio audiences positive opinion is vital because "now" the rest of the country believes it. He must have been hearing about the ratings for his show. Jackie gives credit the people who wrote the show as well and the song introduces the cast (and it is revealed that George Barrows played the gorilla) Jackie then says good night.
This episode is very similar to "Vacation at Fred's Landing." That episode was done twice as a lost episode, again as a 1957 Trip to Europe and again as a color episode. No wonder Jackie didn't do an official color remake of "Vacation at Fred's Landing." By this time, he may have gotten tired of remaking the episode after technically four times (maybe five times if it’s true that this episode was done during the 1951-1952 season.
The Great Gleason Express extra that is shown on the MPI Color Honeymooners 3 Disc set:
DVD: Attached to "You're In The Picture", "We Spy" & "Petticoat Jungle."
"The Great Gleason Express" (Bonus feature):
The first clip that is played is from "We Spy" as Ed is carrying the luggage. Narrator: "Long before the Kramdens and Nortons took their (1960s) trip to Europe, Jackie moved his entire CBS variety show to Miami Beach Florida. Jackie was tired of those endless New York winters and wanted to enjoy outdoor life more." In an interview from the 60s, Jackie says he likes being in Miami Beach. It is revealed that to help charter his show to Florida, he got a train and dubbed it: "The Great Gleason Express" and used his train to help promote his show and was also used for publicity. Jackie's rep was on the line and had the responsibility of transporting a lot of people including people involved with the show and their families as well. Jackie in that same interview as mentioned above, Jackie says that he is grateful that the people, who worked with him, came with him. It is revealed that Hank Mitre proposed to Gleason the idea of moving down to Miami Beach and the president of WTVJ (the then-CBS affiliate down in Miami). Gleason loved train travel and a younger Marilyn Gleason is shown talking about the fact when Jackie first went out to California. I can tell it was a younger Marilyn Gleason because when she appeared on the Larry King Live Honeymooners Special in 2002, she looked much older and talked about him going down to Miami with the whole cast and crew. Marilyn: "We still talk about it today." That line alone reveals the age of this interview. It is revealed that Jackie did a Bon Voyage party at his restaurant in New York called Toots Shor. The actual train ride took a day and a half (save for brief stops along the way.) Music was played non-stop. Wow!
Marilyn: "Jackie didn't have to be on stage to entertain." A few dozen reporters were aboard on the trip, Jackie talked WTVJ into footing the bill for the train ride and remolding what is now called the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach into a TV studio which cost a quarter of a million dollars (I bet that it would cost more today.) TV Guide said that the publicity got more than $9 million dollars in publicity for Miami Beach. Jackie's greatest worker on the train ride was June Taylor (sister of his then-future wife Marilyn). June would be responsible for making those dance numbers on his shows. It was revealed that Jackie spent time with train employees who were working on the charter trip. When the express rolled into a town in the middle of the night, Jackie greeted his fans like a million bucks. When they arrived in Miami, they were greeted by a marching band, a rock and roll group and a lot of fans. While on a tour of Miami, Jackie was surrounded by a LOT of people. Narrator: "Jackie taped his last Honeymooners episodes in what is now called the Jackie Gleason Theater until the 1970s." That theater was renamed The Fillmore Miami Beach At Jackie Gleason Theater in 2007. Jackie: "As always, the Miami Beach audiences are the greatest in the world." The End.
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.