The American Scene Magazine 45th Anniversary

[MrBand]

Saturday, September 29 marks the 45th anniversary of the premiere of Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine, the Great One's much-heralded return to the CBS schedule after the failure of You're In The Picture in 1961. The show was distinguished by its use of pantomimed comedy blackouts with commentary by the Glea Girls and later Gleason or Barbara Heller, spotlighting happenings on the "American Scene." Among those who appeared on the first show were Art Carney, Sue Ane Langdon, Frank Fontaine and Wayne Newton. Highlights included a musical spoof of the then popular series "The Untouchables" and a Honeymooners sketch with Carney and Langdon. Others who would appear in the cast during the show's four year run were Alice Ghostley, Horace McMahon, Sid Fields, Helen Curtis, Jan Crockett, and Patricia Wilson (as Trixie in the Honeymooners sketches.)
The show was taped before a live audience in New York City for two seasons before Gleason moved the whole operation to Miami beginning in 1965. On New Year's Eve 1965, Gleason reunited Audrey Meadows and Art Carney for a musical Honeymooners updating the Adoption episode. (The episode would air January 8, 1966.) The favorable reviews paved the way for the revival of the Honeymooners that would be a regular staple of the retitled Jackie Gleason Show from 1966 through 1970.

Although not broadcast in many years, a kinescope of the premiere episode was released by GoodTimes Home Video in the late 80s. One hundred edited half hours ran in syndication beginning in 1979. Additionally, TV Land broadcast the Adoption hour as a stunt to introduce The Honeymooners to its lineup in 2000.