History of Gleason’s Cavalcade of Stars 1951-52 Pictures & Newspaper Articles

[ChrisTV]

Here are some pictures, stories & info from Gleason's Dumont Cavalcade of Stars 1951-52.
Maybe this can help with finding some of the still missing Honeymooners episodes.

1) Gleason & Carney (top) / Gleason overseeing production.
2 & 3) Kelton, Gleason, Carney & Randolph staged/press photos.
4) Story of how some of the "Cavalcade Honeymooners" were found.
5) Pages from 1986 "How Sweet It Is" book by James Bacon where Gleason says the funniest "Honeymooners" from the 1951 winter season was an ad-libbed episode. Gleason also speaks of this episode in his 1984 "60 Minutes" interview with Morley Safer.
6) Page from 1985 "The Honeymooners Lost Episodes" book in which actress Ginger Jones (Virginia Damon) claims that she portrayed Ed Norton's wife in 1 or 2 early Dumont. She says that the part was not big enough to give her a name. This would mean that Elaine Stritch was not the first Trixie.
7) Photo of Pert Kelton & Gleason in the only known press photo of them during a "Cavalcade Honeymooners". This scene does not match any of the episodes released on the 2011 DVD box set. This appears to be from an actual episode. Unable to tell if it is a rehearsal or performance. Amongst the carrots on the table appears to be a jar or can. Please reply if you are able to figure the label on the can or any other info regarding these episodes.

[Bill S.]

The last shot is very interesting. Gleason's not dressed in his usual bus driver outfit and he's smoking a cigarette, so it could be a rehearsal. Then again, the groceries seem like a bit much for a rehearsal. Another possibility is that they were doing a run through with the camera to see how everything looked on-screen. Can't say for sure though.

[ChrisTV]

Great points Bill.
My thinking is they may have just come home from shopping. There seems to be other packages on the table.
That would be why Alice is more "dressed" up & Ralph is in a regular jacket,
maybe it was a weekend. Back then, people dressed up to shop
Regarding the cigarette, as much as Gleason smoked, he very rarely smoked on screen, unless the scene called for it, for example; a cigar. If you look at most of the rehearsal shots online & in books & magazines, Gleason & Meadows have cigarettes in hand during rehearsals only.
Also, in those same rehearsal pictures, they seem to keep emotionless. The pic here seems to to be expressive.

Anyone else have any thoughts/info?

[ChrisTV]

More pics from Gleason's Cavalcade.

[ChrisTV]

Gleason's widow & June Taylor Dancer, Marilyn Taylor appears in all of the next 7 pics...

[ChrisTV]

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[ChrisTV]

Newspaper articles regarding 1951-1952 Cavalcade season.

[ChrisTV]

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[ChrisTV]

The photos in the following batch are dated March 15, 1952 on the Getty site.
This would be about 2 months before the end of Gleason's Cavalcade run, 6 months before Gleason's start on CBS & 3 months after Gleason's signing with CBS.

[ChrisTV]

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[upperco]

Wonderful finds! How I wish we could find that improvised sketch -- I'm sure it was a hoot! Is that book the only indication of Jones playing the Trixie role? Do we know for certain that Norton's first appearance was in the sketch with Stritch, or could he have appeared the week earlier (with Jones) too?

[ChrisTV]

Yes that book is the only source that I have found this info regarding Ginger Jones.
We do not know if Carney appeared as Norton prior to "The New Television Set.”
We do not know when the improvised sketch aired.

With trying to determine the date the improvised sketch was performed…
Starting with the excerpt from the book above stating it was performed during the winter of 1951...

Here are the 1951 Cavalcade dates…

10/5/51 “Honeymooners” “Bread” - Carney plays cop. On DVD box set.
10/12/51 “Honeymooners” "Razor Blades” On DVD box set.
10/19/51 “Honeymooners” episode "Supermarket Shopping" [Alice's Anniversary] - Still missing
10/26/51 Confirmed no “Honeymooners” aired this date - entire episode is at Paley Museum & on youtube.
11/2/51 “Honeymooners” "The New Television Set” - Elaine Stritch plays Trixie this episode only. On DVD box set.
11/9/51 ? - portion or entire episode is at Paley Museum.
11/16/51 “Honeymooners” "Ralph Threatens To Leave.” On DVD box set.
11/23/51 ?
11/30/51 “Honeymooners” "Alice And Ralph Get Dressed For A Date Last Night.” On DVD box set.
12/7/51 “Honeymooners” "The Ring Salesman” - Joyce Randolph begins as Trixie. On DVD box set.
12/14/51 “Honeymooners” episode “The Quiz Show.” On DVD box set.
12/21/51 “Honeymooners” episode “Christmas Party.” On DVD box set.
12/28/51 ? - 30 mins of this episode is at Paley Museum
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NOTES:
1) Weeks listed above with “?” are the most likely dates the improvised sketch aired.

2) The following link is the most detailed site found to date regarding Gleason’s Cavalcade of Stars season…
http://ctva.biz/US/MusicVariety/Cava..._(1951-52).htm

3) Every written Harry Crane “Honeymooners” script from the 1951-52 Cavalcade season & the 1st season of Jackie Gleason Show, is listed at the following link at the UCLA Special Collections.
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/view?docId=...02-1.2.7.5.102

According to the UCLA Harry Crane scripts, there is only 1 sketch that was unproduced. This is titled “Double Indemnity.” Is this the sketch Gleason tossed in the garbage?

4) When the 7 “Cavalcade” sketches were found, they were shown on 2 1993 Disney channel specials:
First - "The Really Lost Debut Episodes” hosted by Paul Reiser. Episodes shown were:
“Bread,” "Razor Blades,” "The New Television Set,” "Ralph Threatens To Leave,” "The Ring Salesman,” & “The Quiz Show.”
6 weeks later the 2nd special aired titled "The Honeymooners First Christmas” w/ the airing of “Christmas Party.”

2 interesting notes regarding this:

1) The quality of the footage aired on the 1993 Disney specials is far superior compared to the quality on the 2011 DVD box set.
Does this mean there are at least 2 copies of each episode?

2) The only additional episode released from the Cavalcade season on the DVD box set is "Alice And Ralph Get Dressed For A Date Last Night.” According to Dan Wingate, TV historian, on the DVD box set documentary he says that "Alice And Ralph Get Dressed For A Date Last Night” was found in early 2011 in the Gleason archives.

If it took this long to find an episode that had always been in the Gleason archive what else is still in there?

Next,
Regarding Ginger Jones playing Norton’s wife...
It was 34 years between the 1951, the 1st episodes on Cavalcade & the 1985 "Lost Episodes” book was 1st released. Even though she says she remembers distinctly, it’s very possible her memories of this had faded.

If she did play Norton’s wife, it would have had to be in 10/19/51 "Supermarket Shopping" [Alice's Anniversary] sketch,
as this is the only known missing episode from 1951 prior to Elaine Stritch & Joyce Randolph.

Because she says they didn’t even bother to give her a name, it’s possible she wasn’t playing Norton’s wife, she could have just been a friend of Alice's.

However, in "Alice And Ralph Get Dressed For A Date Last Night” at the end if the episode Gleason calls Norton’s wife Millie.
So it’s possible that Gleason misspoke and just called Trixie, Millie, or perhaps when Ginger Jones was on she was called Millie & was Norton’s wife.

Lastly, regarding the 2 photos above w/ Kelton & Gleason standing at the table with groceries & one with her holding what looks like is a pickle.

After a bit of research, these photos are most likely from 10/19/51 "Supermarket Shopping" [Alice's Anniversary] sketch.

The 11/8/52 “The Pickles” sketch on the Jackie Gleason Show is about Alice testing pickles for an allergy. Within this episode it is also
about them coming home from shopping at the supermarket and also about them saving money for their anniversary the next day.
Both Ed & Trixie Norton appear in "The Pickles."

If this is the same exact script, this could mean Ginger Jones is correct
& also Art Carney's 1st appearance as Norton is in "Supermarket Shopping" [Alice's Anniversary].

I/m attaching additional info below regarding the improvised sketch from "The Honeymooners Companion" book. And also comparison pics of Cavalcade's "Supermarket Shopping" & Gleason Show's "The Pickles."

[upperco]

Love all this info -- thanks for your hard work. I suppose it's possible that Gleason was incorrect in remembering the improvised sketch as 1951. It could have been early 1952.

[ChrisTV]

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[ChrisTV]

Absolutely true. Winter 1951 could include Jan-Mar of 1952.