Gleason on The Colgate Comedy Hour - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Bill S. · 10-14-2010, 10:02 PM

Has anybody here seen any of Gleason's appearances on The Colgate Comedy Hour? One of the listings on the Paley Center's website is particularly interesting: when Gleason hosted the show on September 2, 1951, he did a sketch where he portrayed a man coming home after being fired from his job. This was only a month before the Honeymooners sketches began on Cavalcade, so I'm thinking maybe this is an early representation of the character he had in mind when he first conceived the idea of The Honeymooners. Any insight would be appreciated.

Listing at PaleyCenter.org

TV Knowledge Fan · 10-15-2010, 03:55 AM

...DuMont's "CAVALCADE OF STARS" in the 1950-'51 season, other variety shows offered him guest shots; Gleason not only made numerous appearances on NBC's "COLGATE COMEDY HOUR", he also found time to make several visits to CBS' 'FRANK SINATRA SHOW" as well.

As for that September 2, 1951 sketch, yes, Jackie was thinking about doing a similar sketch on "CAVALCADE" several weeks later- after rejecting the idea of "renting" Phil Rapp's "The Bickersons" as sketch material, he decided he could do his own version without paying an "outsider's fee" [which the show's budget couldn't afford, anyway], and he and his writers came up with what became "The Honeymooners"...

Frank Gannucci · 04-04-2022, 10:07 AM

Here’s a DVD Box set. Maybe Jackie’s appearance is on here.

https://www.amazon.com/Legends-Laugh.../dp/B002SYAGOG

Notice Jackie’s name is not on there but it does say on the back “…and many more.”

10-14-2010, 10:02 PM	#1
Bill S. Member Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2003 Posts: 1,112	Gleason on The Colgate Comedy Hour Has anybody here seen any of Gleason's appearances on The Colgate Comedy Hour? One of the listings on the Paley Center's website is particularly interesting: when Gleason hosted the show on September 2, 1951, he did a sketch where he portrayed a man coming home after being fired from his job. This was only a month before the Honeymooners sketches began on Cavalcade, so I'm thinking maybe this is an early representation of the character he had in mind when he first conceived the idea of The Honeymooners. Any insight would be appreciated. Listing at PaleyCenter.org

10-15-2010, 03:55 AM	#2
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Because Jackie made such an impact on... ...DuMont's "CAVALCADE OF STARS" in the 1950-'51 season, other variety shows offered him guest shots; Gleason not only made numerous appearances on NBC's "COLGATE COMEDY HOUR", he also found time to make several visits to CBS' 'FRANK SINATRA SHOW" as well. As for that September 2, 1951 sketch, yes, Jackie was thinking about doing a similar sketch on "CAVALCADE" several weeks later- after rejecting the idea of "renting" Phil Rapp's "The Bickersons" as sketch material, he decided he could do his own version without paying an "outsider's fee" [which the show's budget couldn't afford, anyway], and he and his writers came up with what became "The Honeymooners"...

04-04-2022, 10:07 AM	#3
Frank Gannucci Member Forum Star Join Date: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 16,091	Here’s a DVD Box set. Maybe Jackie’s appearance is on here. https://www.amazon.com/Legends-Laugh.../dp/B002SYAGOG Notice Jackie’s name is not on there but it does say on the back “…and many more.”