Audrey Meadows Playing Characters Other than Alice - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Larry Surrell · 03-10-2006, 09:44 PM

While channel surfing last night I spotted on my local PBS station a b&w kinescope of Jackie Gleason playing Reggie Van Gleason. I then noticed a glamorous Audrey Meadows with her hair done, in makeup, wearing a ball gown and lots of jewelry. After a minute or so the station broke away for a beg-a-thon break so I never did see any more of the show.

It was strange seeing Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows together playing something other then Ralph and Alice. I had never seen her play other characters on the Gleason show. Did Audrey do this very often or was this a rare occurrence?

VIDEOWACK · 03-10-2006, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Surrell

While channel surfing last night I spotted on my local PBS station a b&w kinescope of Jackie Gleason playing Reggie Van Gleason. I then noticed a glamorous Audrey Meadows with her hair done, in makeup, wearing a ball gown and lots of jewelry. After a minute or so the station broke away for a beg-a-thon break so I never did see any more of the show.

It was strange seeing Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows together playing something other then Ralph and Alice. I had never seen her play other characters on the Gleason show. Did Audrey do this very often or was this a rare occurrence?

That must have been a scene from a show from the 1956-57 season. The first show from that season had a "Reggie" sketch with Audrey playing his fiancee'. The scene concludes with Reggie putting her in a rocket and blasting her to the moon. I don't believe Audrey played any other roles other than Alice in previous seasons, but in 56-57 I think they were trying to use her on weeks where Honeymooners skits were not included in that week's show.

Benno123 · 03-11-2006, 12:53 PM

I just want to know what was airing on PBS that would include the clip??? I wish our local PBS would air something like that!!!

I think since Art Carney, Audrey Meadows, and Joyce Randolph were regulars on the Gleason vareity show, they were probably used in more sketches than The Honeymooners. I know Carney was, but what the other two were used for I wish I knew!

W.B. · 03-11-2006, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benno123

I think since Art Carney, Audrey Meadows, and Joyce Randolph were regulars on the Gleason vareity show, they were probably used in more sketches than The Honeymooners. I know Carney was, but what the other two were used for I wish I knew!

From what I've read, whatever non-"Honeymooners" sketches Ms. Meadows (aside from the Reggie sketch mentioned herein) and Ms. Randolph appeared in were generally (if not exclusively) from the 1956-57 season.

Benno123 · 03-11-2006, 04:23 PM

I never knew that the majority of the sketches that Meadows and Randolph were used in came in the '56 - '57 season. Perhaps it was in their contract since they wouldn't be featured on a weekly basis in "The Honeymooners" that season?

Do you know, besides the Reggie sketch, what other sketches they were in?

VIDEOWACK · 03-11-2006, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benno123

I never knew that the majority of the sketches that Meadows and Randolph were used in came in the '56 - '57 season. Perhaps it was in their contract since they wouldn't be featured on a weekly basis in "The Honeymooners" that season?

Do you know, besides the Reggie sketch, what other sketches they were in?

I'm honestly not sure. As a matter of fact, I'm not certain Audrey ever did another Reggie (or any other) sketch after that first one in '56. That's the sketch they always seem to show whenever they do a "Best of" or from the "Gleason-He's The Greatest" series that Showtime ran in the late 80's.

T-Greg · 03-14-2006, 03:51 PM

While on this subject of the Jackie Gleason Show, Art Carney had other roles pre-Honeymooners: Clem Finch, Reggie Van Gleason's father and the husband of the couple whose house was always wrecked by Rudy the Repairman and his sidekick, Whitey. The wife was played by the woman who would later play Mrs. Manicotti in the Honeymooners. She also played in the 1957 Trip to Spain episode as the woman with the boy at the end who wanted Ralph to take their picture.

treky · 03-16-2006, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benno123

I just want to know what was airing on PBS that would include the clip??? I wish our local PBS would air something like that!!!

I think since Art Carney, Audrey Meadows, and Joyce Randolph were regulars on the Gleason vareity show, they were probably used in more sketches than The Honeymooners. I know Carney was, but what the other two were used for I wish I knew!

Pert Kelton (the first Alice, for those who don't know) was also a regular on his show when it was on Dumont and titled "THE CALVACADE OF STARS".

Bill S. · 08-03-2006, 12:36 PM

Just found this on youtube.com:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=89aAT6iZe...ckie%20gleason

The volume's a little low, but it's the Reggie sketch where he sends Audrey to the moon.

TV Knowledge Fan · 08-04-2006, 12:32 PM

...veteran New York actress Zamah Cunningham portrayed Reggie's mother, "Mrs. Manicotti" in the "Honeymooners" sketches, and the "Italian mother" in that 1957 "Trip To Europe" episode. Cunningham was one of the Gleason "stock company" of players (along with George Petrie, Frank Marth, Dick Bernie, etc.) who filled a LOT of character roles on his weekly show.

03-10-2006, 09:44 PM	#1
Larry Surrell Ed M. 1918-2006 RIP Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 27, 2003 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 702	Audrey Meadows Playing Characters Other than Alice While channel surfing last night I spotted on my local PBS station a b&w kinescope of Jackie Gleason playing Reggie Van Gleason. I then noticed a glamorous Audrey Meadows with her hair done, in makeup, wearing a ball gown and lots of jewelry. After a minute or so the station broke away for a beg-a-thon break so I never did see any more of the show. It was strange seeing Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows together playing something other then Ralph and Alice. I had never seen her play other characters on the Gleason show. Did Audrey do this very often or was this a rare occurrence?

08-04-2006, 12:32 PM	#10
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	For your information... ...veteran New York actress Zamah Cunningham portrayed Reggie's mother, "Mrs. Manicotti" in the "Honeymooners" sketches, and the "Italian mother" in that 1957 "Trip To Europe" episode. Cunningham was one of the Gleason "stock company" of players (along with George Petrie, Frank Marth, Dick Bernie, etc.) who filled a LOT of character roles on his weekly show.

03-11-2006, 12:53 PM	#3
Benno123 Jenna Fischer Rocks My World!! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,036	I just want to know what was airing on PBS that would include the clip??? I wish our local PBS would air something like that!!! I think since Art Carney, Audrey Meadows, and Joyce Randolph were regulars on the Gleason vareity show, they were probably used in more sketches than The Honeymooners. I know Carney was, but what the other two were used for I wish I knew!

03-11-2006, 04:23 PM	#5
Benno123 Jenna Fischer Rocks My World!! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,036	I never knew that the majority of the sketches that Meadows and Randolph were used in came in the '56 - '57 season. Perhaps it was in their contract since they wouldn't be featured on a weekly basis in "The Honeymooners" that season? Do you know, besides the Reggie sketch, what other sketches they were in?

03-14-2006, 03:51 PM	#7
T-Greg Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 17, 2003 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,711	While on this subject of the Jackie Gleason Show, Art Carney had other roles pre-Honeymooners: Clem Finch, Reggie Van Gleason's father and the husband of the couple whose house was always wrecked by Rudy the Repairman and his sidekick, Whitey. The wife was played by the woman who would later play Mrs. Manicotti in the Honeymooners. She also played in the 1957 Trip to Spain episode as the woman with the boy at the end who wanted Ralph to take their picture.

08-03-2006, 12:36 PM	#9
Bill S. Member Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2003 Posts: 1,112	Just found this on youtube.com: http://youtube.com/watch?v=89aAT6iZe...ckie%20gleason The volume's a little low, but it's the Reggie sketch where he sends Audrey to the moon.