Frank Gannucci
11-13-2020, 07:58 AM
Honeymooners Episode Reviews: "Alice's Birthday" & "Lawsuit" (Color versions):
Episode #202
DVD: Attached to "Lawsuit" & "Six Months To Live" (as well as other variety show sketches.) In 2022, this was released by MPI onto DVD. It’s on Jackie Gleason’s Timeless Treasures and it is attached to “The Big Sell”, “Two Below (aka “Retreat To The Basement”), “TV Game of The Week”, “The Adoption” (‘66 version), Opening/June Taylor Dancers/Monologue from the 11/23/68 episode of the Jackie Gleason Show, “Alice’s Birthday” (Color version), “Lawsuit” (Color version), “Hot Tip” (Color version), “The New Bowling Ball” (Color version), “Norton Moves In” (Color version), “The New Manager”, Jackie saying Goodnight from the 4/19/69 episode of the Jackie Gleason show episode, Ed Norton presents award to Jackie Gleason (2/25/67), a clip of the Great Gleason Express from the 9/20/65 episode of the Steve Lawrence Show & the 2006 documentary Jackie Gleason: Genius At Work.
Color & Lost Episode Title: “Alice’s Birthday.”
Air Date: Sat. 12/7/68
"Alice's Birthday" (Color):
Thanks to Time Life, I am FINALLY able to see these short color sketches.
Trixie comes by and wishes Alice a Happy Birthday with a hug and a gift. Alice says that Ralph is going to give her a nylon slip. Ralph doesn’t even know that he is going to give her a nylon slip yet. Every year, Ralph forgets to buy Alice a present. Tonight, some of her friends are going to drop in. They do for every one of her birthdays. Every year, Ralph gets embarrassed when they give me gifts and Ralph doesn’t have one for her. To make sure that it doesn’t happen this time, she asked Jo Anne’s Lingerie to send a nylon slip to her as Ralph’s gift. She even dictated a romantic card. Alice needs some glasses for the party.
Ralph & Ed come in. Ed wonders why Trixie is here and not upstairs because he doesn’t like burnt leftovers. Trixie: “You are getting cold cuts.” The girls leave. Ed says that he couldn’t get out for lunch because some jerk parked his car over the manhole. A man arrives with a package for Alice. Ralph found out again. It’s Alice’s birthday. He asks Ed to go down to the drug store and get the biggest box of candy that they have with ribbons and everything. Take it to your place and I will pretend that I had it there all the time. Ralph reads the romantic card and assumes that since the card wasn’t signed, that there is another guy in Alice’s life. Ralph: “Why would Alice want another guy when she has got me? I’m with her every night except for the nights when I play pool, go bowling, go to the Raccoon Lodge and play shuffleboard. I take Alice to the movies every Friday if I am not too tired.” Ed claims that since Ralph has Alice get the popcorn every time they are at the movies that she is in love with the popcorn man. Ralph (yells): “HE IS 75 YEARS OLD.” Ed (yells): “YEAH, BUT HE IS IN SHOW BUSINESS.” Ralph: “It can’t be him because sometimes he doesn’t even fill up the bags.”
Ed says that they know what Alice does during the nighttime but not the daytime. Ed says that she may be in love with the Ice Man. Ed: “When the Ice Man comes by, you go downstairs, and when he leaves, you come back in here, thrown your arms around Alice and give her a kiss. If her shoulders are wet, than she has been kissing the iceman.” Ralph: “When you die Norton, you should give your brain to a college so they can use it for a volleyball.” Ha! Ed is convinced that it is the iceman because he is far away. He has to wake up the horse, get the ice and beat the traffic just so he can give Ralph a 25 cent piece of ice. Ed: “That is not profit. That is love.” The iceman used a horse to deliver ice in the 1960s? He must have been pretty poor and/or thrifty.
Ralph is so upset and convinced that there is another guy in Alice’s life that he will move to the Y.M.C.A. rather than wallow in grief. Ed: “You are 250 pounds of class.” Ralph is classy? Ralph talks about how much he spent for Alice like a $2 flu shot. Ed: “You always spoiled that girl.” He has? Ralph notices that Alice made a big cake and because of that, she will have a lot of people over. He will stick around and expose this home wrecker. When they get here, all Ralph will do is mention the words “I Love you now and forever.” (A sentence that was a part of the romantic card.) When he sees the person react to it, he will nab the guilty party. If that doesn’t work, he will use his ace in the hole. He will compare everyone’s handwriting to the handwriting on the card.
Alice comes down and asks Ed if he can bring chairs down. Ed: “I don’t know. I don’t want to see any chairs get broken tonight. Ralph convince Ed to get the chairs. While feeling Alice’s shoulders, Ed says that he will bring down the chairs since it is her birthday. Ed (to Ralph): “They are bone dry Ralph. It’s not the iceman.” Ralph kicks Ed out. Ralph notices that Alice is wearing her best dress. Alice: “It’s my birthday and I want to please the man I love.” Ralph sarcastically wishes her a happy birthday. Alice puckers her lips expecting Ralph to kiss her. Ralph doesn’t so Alice asks Ralph what is eating him. A knock on the door is heard. It’s Alice’s friends. Ralph goes into the bedroom. Alice lets them in. It’s a couple named Mildred & Fred.
Ralph comes out. Fred says that Ralph is pretty lucky to have a wife like Alice. Ralph gets suspicious that Fred is the “home wrecker.” Ralph: “So, you think I got a pretty wife, huh?” Fred: “Yeah.” Ralph: “’I love you now and forever.’ Does that mean anything to you?” Fred: “Yeah, you are drunk.” Ha! I think you can tell that this was before homosexuality really came into vogue. Ralph asks Fred to get out a pencil and a piece of paper. Frank asks why. Ralph: “I need to know your address.” Fred: “I live right in the next apartment.” Oh boy! Ralph: “I need it in case I move.” Fred complies. Ralph takes the paper and compares the writing to the writing on the card. Ralph then tells him to get a drink and gives him his address back. A man named Max (played by Frank Marth) comes in and kisses Alice on the cheek. Ralph calls Max over. He asks Max what he gave Alice for her birthday. Max says that he didn’t give her anything. He told the store to deliver it. Ralph assumes that Max is the guy and demands that Max put up his dukes. Alice gets upset. Max lightly taps Ralph in the stomach. Cue Ralph’s pain bit. Gee, Ralph must be a wimp for that light punch to hurt him that much. Yeah, I know why that was put in the script. Alice’s friends all leave. She looks and sounds like she is about to cry. Ralph accuses Alice of being in love with Max Winkleman. He proves it by showing the present and card that Max “sent.” Alice explains the whole thing. She says that since Ralph never remembers her birthday and when people give her gifts, Ralph gets embarrassed. So she asked Jo Anne’s Lingerie to send a nylon slip to her as Ralph’s gift with a card so Ralph wouldn’t get embarrassed. She says that Ralph humiliated her. Ralph apologizes that he ruined her birthday. He says that he loves her. He says happy birthday. Alice says that she is puckered up. They embrace. Ed comes down with the chairs and leaves. Well, that was different.
Jackie walks on stage for the curtain call. There are walls that are covering up the curtains for whatever reason. Maybe they were being worked on. Jackie praises the Miami Beach crowd and says good night.
Thanks to Time Life, I am FINALLY able to see these short color sketches.
Episode #203
DVD: Attached to “Alice’s Birthday” & “Six Months To Live” (as well as other variety show sketches.) In 2022, this was released by MPI onto DVD. It’s on Jackie Gleason’s Timeless Treasures and it is attached to “The Big Sell”, “Two Below (aka “Retreat To The Basement”), “TV Game of The Week”, “The Adoption” (‘66 version), Opening/June Taylor Dancers/Monologue from the 11/23/68 episode of the Jackie Gleason Show, “Alice’s Birthday” (Color version), “Lawsuit” (Color version), “Hot Tip” (Color version), “The New Bowling Ball” (Color version), “Norton Moves In” (Color version), “The New Manager”, Jackie saying Goodnight from the 4/19/69 episode of the Jackie Gleason show episode, Ed Norton presents award to Jackie Gleason (2/25/67), a clip of the Great Gleason Express from the 9/20/65 episode of the Steve Lawrence Show & the 2006 documentary Jackie Gleason: Genius At Work.
Color & Lost Episode Title: "Lawsuit."
Air Date: Sat. 1/4/69
"Lawsuit" (Color):
Alice is cleaning the window. Ralph comes out with a cast around his broken leg. Jackie did break his leg once during his variety show several weeks prior to making the lost episode version of this episode. That might have served as inspiration for the original script. Ralph wants a pad and paper. Alice: "Why can't you get it yourself?" Ralph says that he can't do anything in the condition that he is in. Alice: "How did you get out here?" Ralph: "Don't change the subject." Alice: "Will there be anything else, your majesty?" Ralph says that if that is her attitude, if he can't get something, he will do without it. That lasts for a few seconds. Typical Ralph. Ralph says that he will sue the bus company for $75,000. Alice says that after this ridiculous lawsuit, Ralph will have no job. Ralph: "I will be a millionaire." Doesn't Ralph know that when you sue someone, you are supposed to use the money to pay off the injury so to speak and Ralph must stink at Math for him to think he will be a millionaire with the money he will have left over. Ralph explains the whole accident. It was raining and the windshield wipers weren't working and because of that, he got into an accident. It was the bus company's responsibility to make sure that the wipers work. Ralph says with the dough, he will open up a grocery store in New Jersey. Ralph: "We will be living on Easy Street just because I broke my leg. I must be the luckiest guy in the world." Sure, he's lucky. Ralph: "This is the American dream."
Ed Norton comes in. Ralph explains that he is trying to put some weight on his broken leg. Ed: "Good. Progress." Ed cracks walnuts when Ralph is putting weight on his leg so Ralph thinks he broke his leg again and when he hears that was Ed cracking walnuts, he gets mad at Ed. Alice goes to see Trixie. Ed says he got off the phone with a lawyer and explained the whole case to him. According to the lawyer, the case is perfect. Ralph explains that to Alice and she says she will buy a mink coat. Ralph: "She is just jealous because I have the broken leg."
Ed explains an accident he had in the sewer once. A manhole cover fell on his head and since he couldn't prove it did any damage, the layers said he had no case. Ralph says soon he is going to start exercising and putting some weight on his leg. Ed: "You are just the boy that could do it." Ralph, exercising? That must be a sight to behold. Ed explains a similar situation that happened to his cousin Eddie involving chickens. His story was funny. Ed's case was entitled: "Rock Island Railroad Vs. Rhode Island Red." Ralph says that he is going to sue for $75,000. $50,000 for Ralph & $25,000 for Alice because she lost his services. How selfish is Ralph? Alice lost his services which are that he can't take her dancing because of his leg. Mr. Handleman, a lawyer from the Gotham Bus Company comes in and Ralph moans. The lawyer offers Ralph back pay for the time he missed while recuperating and complete payment of his medical bills, but Ralph refuses the offer. Ralph says that he is suing for $75,000. Ed: "And $25,000 for the loss of the service to his wife because he can't take her dancing." The lawyer says that that is an enormous figure. Ralph tears the forms. The lawyer leaves and wishes Ralph good luck. Ed says that Ralph has got his broken leg. He tries to hit it softly but ends up hurting Ralph.
Alice comes back. She saw and talked to the lawyer. This is the dumbest thing that Ralph ever did. Ralph: "You won't be saying that when we are living on Park Avenue." Alice: "I thought you were going to open a grocery store in Jersey." Ralph: "I'll commute." Ed's lawyer, Mr. Frasier comes in. The lawyer explains he whole case to everyone but says that the fault of the accident rests on the driver's shoulders. D'oh! Not something Ralph wanted to hear. Ralph explains that he was the driver. The lawyer, shocked leaves but not before saying that if the bus company offers him a settlement to take it. Ed leaves too. Ralph has no case after all, and, after kicking the adjuster out of the apartment, maybe no job either. Ed leaves. Ralph apologizes to Alice. Alice forgives Ralph. They hug and kiss.
During the curtain call, Jack praises the crowd.
I also have the audio of this episode from atvaudio.com. During the end credits of said audio, the CBS announcer advertises the Minnesota Vikings/Dallas Cowboys in what was than called the NFL Playoff Bowl. Yes, V/O announcements over the credits happened in the 60s. This is not heard on the Time Life version.
Credit I think goes to (the original) Bill's 'Mooners Archives, eBay.com, the now defunct tv.com, Honeymooners Lost Episodes Book, tvguide.com, honeymooners.net, Honeymooners Lost Episodes DVD booklet, Wikipedia.org, the now defunct Yahoo Groups You're A Riot! & Amazon.com.
Episode #202
DVD: Attached to "Lawsuit" & "Six Months To Live" (as well as other variety show sketches.) In 2022, this was released by MPI onto DVD. It’s on Jackie Gleason’s Timeless Treasures and it is attached to “The Big Sell”, “Two Below (aka “Retreat To The Basement”), “TV Game of The Week”, “The Adoption” (‘66 version), Opening/June Taylor Dancers/Monologue from the 11/23/68 episode of the Jackie Gleason Show, “Alice’s Birthday” (Color version), “Lawsuit” (Color version), “Hot Tip” (Color version), “The New Bowling Ball” (Color version), “Norton Moves In” (Color version), “The New Manager”, Jackie saying Goodnight from the 4/19/69 episode of the Jackie Gleason show episode, Ed Norton presents award to Jackie Gleason (2/25/67), a clip of the Great Gleason Express from the 9/20/65 episode of the Steve Lawrence Show & the 2006 documentary Jackie Gleason: Genius At Work.
Color & Lost Episode Title: “Alice’s Birthday.”
Air Date: Sat. 12/7/68
"Alice's Birthday" (Color):
Thanks to Time Life, I am FINALLY able to see these short color sketches.
Trixie comes by and wishes Alice a Happy Birthday with a hug and a gift. Alice says that Ralph is going to give her a nylon slip. Ralph doesn’t even know that he is going to give her a nylon slip yet. Every year, Ralph forgets to buy Alice a present. Tonight, some of her friends are going to drop in. They do for every one of her birthdays. Every year, Ralph gets embarrassed when they give me gifts and Ralph doesn’t have one for her. To make sure that it doesn’t happen this time, she asked Jo Anne’s Lingerie to send a nylon slip to her as Ralph’s gift. She even dictated a romantic card. Alice needs some glasses for the party.
Ralph & Ed come in. Ed wonders why Trixie is here and not upstairs because he doesn’t like burnt leftovers. Trixie: “You are getting cold cuts.” The girls leave. Ed says that he couldn’t get out for lunch because some jerk parked his car over the manhole. A man arrives with a package for Alice. Ralph found out again. It’s Alice’s birthday. He asks Ed to go down to the drug store and get the biggest box of candy that they have with ribbons and everything. Take it to your place and I will pretend that I had it there all the time. Ralph reads the romantic card and assumes that since the card wasn’t signed, that there is another guy in Alice’s life. Ralph: “Why would Alice want another guy when she has got me? I’m with her every night except for the nights when I play pool, go bowling, go to the Raccoon Lodge and play shuffleboard. I take Alice to the movies every Friday if I am not too tired.” Ed claims that since Ralph has Alice get the popcorn every time they are at the movies that she is in love with the popcorn man. Ralph (yells): “HE IS 75 YEARS OLD.” Ed (yells): “YEAH, BUT HE IS IN SHOW BUSINESS.” Ralph: “It can’t be him because sometimes he doesn’t even fill up the bags.”
Ed says that they know what Alice does during the nighttime but not the daytime. Ed says that she may be in love with the Ice Man. Ed: “When the Ice Man comes by, you go downstairs, and when he leaves, you come back in here, thrown your arms around Alice and give her a kiss. If her shoulders are wet, than she has been kissing the iceman.” Ralph: “When you die Norton, you should give your brain to a college so they can use it for a volleyball.” Ha! Ed is convinced that it is the iceman because he is far away. He has to wake up the horse, get the ice and beat the traffic just so he can give Ralph a 25 cent piece of ice. Ed: “That is not profit. That is love.” The iceman used a horse to deliver ice in the 1960s? He must have been pretty poor and/or thrifty.
Ralph is so upset and convinced that there is another guy in Alice’s life that he will move to the Y.M.C.A. rather than wallow in grief. Ed: “You are 250 pounds of class.” Ralph is classy? Ralph talks about how much he spent for Alice like a $2 flu shot. Ed: “You always spoiled that girl.” He has? Ralph notices that Alice made a big cake and because of that, she will have a lot of people over. He will stick around and expose this home wrecker. When they get here, all Ralph will do is mention the words “I Love you now and forever.” (A sentence that was a part of the romantic card.) When he sees the person react to it, he will nab the guilty party. If that doesn’t work, he will use his ace in the hole. He will compare everyone’s handwriting to the handwriting on the card.
Alice comes down and asks Ed if he can bring chairs down. Ed: “I don’t know. I don’t want to see any chairs get broken tonight. Ralph convince Ed to get the chairs. While feeling Alice’s shoulders, Ed says that he will bring down the chairs since it is her birthday. Ed (to Ralph): “They are bone dry Ralph. It’s not the iceman.” Ralph kicks Ed out. Ralph notices that Alice is wearing her best dress. Alice: “It’s my birthday and I want to please the man I love.” Ralph sarcastically wishes her a happy birthday. Alice puckers her lips expecting Ralph to kiss her. Ralph doesn’t so Alice asks Ralph what is eating him. A knock on the door is heard. It’s Alice’s friends. Ralph goes into the bedroom. Alice lets them in. It’s a couple named Mildred & Fred.
Ralph comes out. Fred says that Ralph is pretty lucky to have a wife like Alice. Ralph gets suspicious that Fred is the “home wrecker.” Ralph: “So, you think I got a pretty wife, huh?” Fred: “Yeah.” Ralph: “’I love you now and forever.’ Does that mean anything to you?” Fred: “Yeah, you are drunk.” Ha! I think you can tell that this was before homosexuality really came into vogue. Ralph asks Fred to get out a pencil and a piece of paper. Frank asks why. Ralph: “I need to know your address.” Fred: “I live right in the next apartment.” Oh boy! Ralph: “I need it in case I move.” Fred complies. Ralph takes the paper and compares the writing to the writing on the card. Ralph then tells him to get a drink and gives him his address back. A man named Max (played by Frank Marth) comes in and kisses Alice on the cheek. Ralph calls Max over. He asks Max what he gave Alice for her birthday. Max says that he didn’t give her anything. He told the store to deliver it. Ralph assumes that Max is the guy and demands that Max put up his dukes. Alice gets upset. Max lightly taps Ralph in the stomach. Cue Ralph’s pain bit. Gee, Ralph must be a wimp for that light punch to hurt him that much. Yeah, I know why that was put in the script. Alice’s friends all leave. She looks and sounds like she is about to cry. Ralph accuses Alice of being in love with Max Winkleman. He proves it by showing the present and card that Max “sent.” Alice explains the whole thing. She says that since Ralph never remembers her birthday and when people give her gifts, Ralph gets embarrassed. So she asked Jo Anne’s Lingerie to send a nylon slip to her as Ralph’s gift with a card so Ralph wouldn’t get embarrassed. She says that Ralph humiliated her. Ralph apologizes that he ruined her birthday. He says that he loves her. He says happy birthday. Alice says that she is puckered up. They embrace. Ed comes down with the chairs and leaves. Well, that was different.
Jackie walks on stage for the curtain call. There are walls that are covering up the curtains for whatever reason. Maybe they were being worked on. Jackie praises the Miami Beach crowd and says good night.
Thanks to Time Life, I am FINALLY able to see these short color sketches.
Episode #203
DVD: Attached to “Alice’s Birthday” & “Six Months To Live” (as well as other variety show sketches.) In 2022, this was released by MPI onto DVD. It’s on Jackie Gleason’s Timeless Treasures and it is attached to “The Big Sell”, “Two Below (aka “Retreat To The Basement”), “TV Game of The Week”, “The Adoption” (‘66 version), Opening/June Taylor Dancers/Monologue from the 11/23/68 episode of the Jackie Gleason Show, “Alice’s Birthday” (Color version), “Lawsuit” (Color version), “Hot Tip” (Color version), “The New Bowling Ball” (Color version), “Norton Moves In” (Color version), “The New Manager”, Jackie saying Goodnight from the 4/19/69 episode of the Jackie Gleason show episode, Ed Norton presents award to Jackie Gleason (2/25/67), a clip of the Great Gleason Express from the 9/20/65 episode of the Steve Lawrence Show & the 2006 documentary Jackie Gleason: Genius At Work.
Color & Lost Episode Title: "Lawsuit."
Air Date: Sat. 1/4/69
"Lawsuit" (Color):
Alice is cleaning the window. Ralph comes out with a cast around his broken leg. Jackie did break his leg once during his variety show several weeks prior to making the lost episode version of this episode. That might have served as inspiration for the original script. Ralph wants a pad and paper. Alice: "Why can't you get it yourself?" Ralph says that he can't do anything in the condition that he is in. Alice: "How did you get out here?" Ralph: "Don't change the subject." Alice: "Will there be anything else, your majesty?" Ralph says that if that is her attitude, if he can't get something, he will do without it. That lasts for a few seconds. Typical Ralph. Ralph says that he will sue the bus company for $75,000. Alice says that after this ridiculous lawsuit, Ralph will have no job. Ralph: "I will be a millionaire." Doesn't Ralph know that when you sue someone, you are supposed to use the money to pay off the injury so to speak and Ralph must stink at Math for him to think he will be a millionaire with the money he will have left over. Ralph explains the whole accident. It was raining and the windshield wipers weren't working and because of that, he got into an accident. It was the bus company's responsibility to make sure that the wipers work. Ralph says with the dough, he will open up a grocery store in New Jersey. Ralph: "We will be living on Easy Street just because I broke my leg. I must be the luckiest guy in the world." Sure, he's lucky. Ralph: "This is the American dream."
Ed Norton comes in. Ralph explains that he is trying to put some weight on his broken leg. Ed: "Good. Progress." Ed cracks walnuts when Ralph is putting weight on his leg so Ralph thinks he broke his leg again and when he hears that was Ed cracking walnuts, he gets mad at Ed. Alice goes to see Trixie. Ed says he got off the phone with a lawyer and explained the whole case to him. According to the lawyer, the case is perfect. Ralph explains that to Alice and she says she will buy a mink coat. Ralph: "She is just jealous because I have the broken leg."
Ed explains an accident he had in the sewer once. A manhole cover fell on his head and since he couldn't prove it did any damage, the layers said he had no case. Ralph says soon he is going to start exercising and putting some weight on his leg. Ed: "You are just the boy that could do it." Ralph, exercising? That must be a sight to behold. Ed explains a similar situation that happened to his cousin Eddie involving chickens. His story was funny. Ed's case was entitled: "Rock Island Railroad Vs. Rhode Island Red." Ralph says that he is going to sue for $75,000. $50,000 for Ralph & $25,000 for Alice because she lost his services. How selfish is Ralph? Alice lost his services which are that he can't take her dancing because of his leg. Mr. Handleman, a lawyer from the Gotham Bus Company comes in and Ralph moans. The lawyer offers Ralph back pay for the time he missed while recuperating and complete payment of his medical bills, but Ralph refuses the offer. Ralph says that he is suing for $75,000. Ed: "And $25,000 for the loss of the service to his wife because he can't take her dancing." The lawyer says that that is an enormous figure. Ralph tears the forms. The lawyer leaves and wishes Ralph good luck. Ed says that Ralph has got his broken leg. He tries to hit it softly but ends up hurting Ralph.
Alice comes back. She saw and talked to the lawyer. This is the dumbest thing that Ralph ever did. Ralph: "You won't be saying that when we are living on Park Avenue." Alice: "I thought you were going to open a grocery store in Jersey." Ralph: "I'll commute." Ed's lawyer, Mr. Frasier comes in. The lawyer explains he whole case to everyone but says that the fault of the accident rests on the driver's shoulders. D'oh! Not something Ralph wanted to hear. Ralph explains that he was the driver. The lawyer, shocked leaves but not before saying that if the bus company offers him a settlement to take it. Ed leaves too. Ralph has no case after all, and, after kicking the adjuster out of the apartment, maybe no job either. Ed leaves. Ralph apologizes to Alice. Alice forgives Ralph. They hug and kiss.
During the curtain call, Jack praises the crowd.
I also have the audio of this episode from atvaudio.com. During the end credits of said audio, the CBS announcer advertises the Minnesota Vikings/Dallas Cowboys in what was than called the NFL Playoff Bowl. Yes, V/O announcements over the credits happened in the 60s. This is not heard on the Time Life version.
Credit I think goes to (the original) Bill's 'Mooners Archives, eBay.com, the now defunct tv.com, Honeymooners Lost Episodes Book, tvguide.com, honeymooners.net, Honeymooners Lost Episodes DVD booklet, Wikipedia.org, the now defunct Yahoo Groups You're A Riot! & Amazon.com.