Please Read This, Honeymooners Fans... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Adamantium · 11-17-2010, 12:20 PM

I've written a short story version of the history of "The Honeymooners." I was wondering if people here could read it and make sure everything's correct, tell me if I should add something, and whatnot. It's not real detailed. It's meant more for the casual reader, so I didn't go into detail about everything.

Thanks in advance for reading.

The Honeymooners
1 Season: 1955-1956, 39 episodes
Cast:
Ralph Kramden: Jackie Gleason
Alice Kramden: Audrey Meadows
Ed Norton: Art Carney
Trixie Norton: Joyce Randolph

The Honeymooners half-hour sitcom aired from 1955 to 1956 for a single season on CBS. However, the story of the Kramdens and the Nortons goes way beyond those 39 episodes. On October 5, 1951, during Jackie Gleason’s variety series Cavalcade of Stars, which ran on the DuMont network, they put on the very first Honeymooners sketch. It ran for six minutes and featured Gleason as bus driver Ralph Kramden and Pert Kelton as his long-suffering wife Alice. Art Carney appeared in the sketch as a police officer.

The sketch worked and Gleason brought it back for more shows. Some changes were made. Art Carney ditched the policeman character and became Ed Norton, Ralph’s neighbor and best friend, who worked in the sewers. Elaine Stritch played Trixie, Ed’s wife. After only one sketch, Stritch was replaced by Joyce Randolph.

In the fall of 1952, Jackie Gleason left DuMont for the more successful CBS. Instead of bringing Cavalcade of Stars with him, he just started a new variety show titled The Jackie Gleason Show. It was a no-brainer that The Honeymooners would also appear on the new show. There was a problem with the cast. Pert Kelton had been blacklisted. Gleason had to find a new Alice. He ended up going with Audrey Meadows. The sketches continued ending in the 1954-1955 season. It was decided to spin-off The Honeymooners sketches into a half-hour series.

On October 1, 1955, The Honeymooners debuted on CBS. All four of the main stars were there: Gleason, Carney, Meadows and Randolph. Two seasons were planned, but the show was getting lower ratings than expected. It kept losing out to The Perry Como Show. After producing 39 classic episodes, Jackie Gleason decided to end the series. The final episode aired on September 22, 1956.

During the 1956-1957 season, The Jackie Gleason Show was back and with it, The Honeymooners sketches as well. In 1957, Art Carney left The Jackie Gleason Show and as a result of this, Gleason stopped making Honeymooners sketches. In 1962, Gleason starred in Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine. Whenever Art Carney was available, they’d put on a Honeymooners sketch. Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph were replaced by Sue Anne Langdon and Patricia Wilson, respectively.

Audrey Meadows returned as Alice for a musical sketch in January of 1966. When The Jackie Gleason Show returned in the fall of 1966, all of The Honeymooners sketches were now musicals and in color. Art Carney was back as Ed Norton but since the show was shot in Miami, both Meadows and Randolph declined. Sheila MacRae became the new Alice and Jane Kean became the new Trixie. In 1970, The Jackie Gleason Show came to an end. However, even this wasn’t enough to kill the Kramdens and the Nortons. On October 11, 1973, The Honeymooners returned as a CBS special called “Women’s Lib.” It featured Gleason, Carney, MacRae and Kean as the stars.

ABC aired four hour-long specials from 1976-1978. Jackie Gleason and Art Carney were back as was Audrey Meadows. The role of Trixie stayed with Jane Kean. The fourth of these specials turned out to be the final Honeymooners production.

During the 1980s, many of the sketches from The Jackie Gleason Show turned up as “The Lost Episodes.” They were packaged along with the 39 half-hour episodes for syndication.

**Me again**

The only thing the bugs me is that this is supposed to be about the classic 39, yet since the story is so big beyond those episodes, the 39 episodes is just a small paragraph. I didn't really know what to say to spice up the single season.

11-17-2010, 12:20 PM	#1
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,839	Please Read This, Honeymooners Fans... I've written a short story version of the history of "The Honeymooners." I was wondering if people here could read it and make sure everything's correct, tell me if I should add something, and whatnot. It's not real detailed. It's meant more for the casual reader, so I didn't go into detail about everything. Thanks in advance for reading. The Honeymooners 1 Season: 1955-1956, 39 episodes Cast: Ralph Kramden: Jackie Gleason Alice Kramden: Audrey Meadows Ed Norton: Art Carney Trixie Norton: Joyce Randolph The Honeymooners half-hour sitcom aired from 1955 to 1956 for a single season on CBS. However, the story of the Kramdens and the Nortons goes way beyond those 39 episodes. On October 5, 1951, during Jackie Gleason’s variety series Cavalcade of Stars, which ran on the DuMont network, they put on the very first Honeymooners sketch. It ran for six minutes and featured Gleason as bus driver Ralph Kramden and Pert Kelton as his long-suffering wife Alice. Art Carney appeared in the sketch as a police officer. The sketch worked and Gleason brought it back for more shows. Some changes were made. Art Carney ditched the policeman character and became Ed Norton, Ralph’s neighbor and best friend, who worked in the sewers. Elaine Stritch played Trixie, Ed’s wife. After only one sketch, Stritch was replaced by Joyce Randolph. In the fall of 1952, Jackie Gleason left DuMont for the more successful CBS. Instead of bringing Cavalcade of Stars with him, he just started a new variety show titled The Jackie Gleason Show. It was a no-brainer that The Honeymooners would also appear on the new show. There was a problem with the cast. Pert Kelton had been blacklisted. Gleason had to find a new Alice. He ended up going with Audrey Meadows. The sketches continued ending in the 1954-1955 season. It was decided to spin-off The Honeymooners sketches into a half-hour series. On October 1, 1955, The Honeymooners debuted on CBS. All four of the main stars were there: Gleason, Carney, Meadows and Randolph. Two seasons were planned, but the show was getting lower ratings than expected. It kept losing out to The Perry Como Show. After producing 39 classic episodes, Jackie Gleason decided to end the series. The final episode aired on September 22, 1956. During the 1956-1957 season, The Jackie Gleason Show was back and with it, The Honeymooners sketches as well. In 1957, Art Carney left The Jackie Gleason Show and as a result of this, Gleason stopped making Honeymooners sketches. In 1962, Gleason starred in Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine. Whenever Art Carney was available, they’d put on a Honeymooners sketch. Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph were replaced by Sue Anne Langdon and Patricia Wilson, respectively. Audrey Meadows returned as Alice for a musical sketch in January of 1966. When The Jackie Gleason Show returned in the fall of 1966, all of The Honeymooners sketches were now musicals and in color. Art Carney was back as Ed Norton but since the show was shot in Miami, both Meadows and Randolph declined. Sheila MacRae became the new Alice and Jane Kean became the new Trixie. In 1970, The Jackie Gleason Show came to an end. However, even this wasn’t enough to kill the Kramdens and the Nortons. On October 11, 1973, The Honeymooners returned as a CBS special called “Women’s Lib.” It featured Gleason, Carney, MacRae and Kean as the stars. ABC aired four hour-long specials from 1976-1978. Jackie Gleason and Art Carney were back as was Audrey Meadows. The role of Trixie stayed with Jane Kean. The fourth of these specials turned out to be the final Honeymooners production. During the 1980s, many of the sketches from The Jackie Gleason Show turned up as “The Lost Episodes.” They were packaged along with the 39 half-hour episodes for syndication. Me again The only thing the bugs me is that this is supposed to be about the classic 39, yet since the story is so big beyond those episodes, the 39 episodes is just a small paragraph. I didn't really know what to say to spice up the single season.