Honeymooners Episode Reviews: “Vacation At Fred’s Landing” (’52)/“The Expectant Dad":

[Frank Gannucci]

Honeymooners Episode Reviews: “Vacation At Fred’s Landing” (’52) & “The Expectant Dad”:

Episode #18
TV: Hasn’t been seen on TV since its original airdate.
DVD: Hasn’t been released.
Air Date: 5/30/52

"Vacation At Fred's Landing" ('52):

I don't have the lost episode titled "Vacation Plans." I assume its the same as "Vacation At Fred's Landing."

Alice comes home and Trixie follows her home. Alice says she had a rough day. She couldn't get the key to her apartment so she put down the groceries that she had in her hand and went down to the landlord and landlady. She complained about how her husband doesn't pick up the garbage that she usually puts by her front door. The landlord who just came in says: "What are you talking about? I picked up your garbage (Alice's groceries) right now." Alice had to run down to the garbage truck to get her groceries. What humiliation!

Alice and Trixie talk about the fun time they are going to have in Atlantic City and what things that they are going to do. Ralph comes home with stuff for the trip. Trixie leaves just as Ralph reveals his new fishing attire. Why? Because Ralph reveals that they are going to Fred's Landing. A place that is right near Lake Pookamoonshine (sp?). Alice wants to go to Atlantic City. Ralph: "Atlantic City? What type of place is that for a vacation?" Let's see. Atlantic City is a very popular and great place in southern New Jersey where there are a lot of hotels, casinos and beaches. A place where people can have a whole lot of fun. Fred's Landing is a place where people camp and fish and that's it. If I was a fisherman or not, I would go to Atlantic City not Fred's Landing. Ralph reveals the "great romantic story" that Fred's Landing is attached to. A boy and a woman loved each other but they were on enemy teams. They both got killed and got buried with their arms around each other.

Alice wants to go to Atlantic City. She says she has had enough hard work to do around the house (cooking, cleaning etc.) She needs a vacation. Ralph says he has worked hard in his life too. He drives a bus all day and sees things like Central Park every day. He needs a vacation.

Ed Norton comes down in his sewer attire and says he is ready for the trip. Ralph says that he is ready for wading in the water. Ed says that he does that every day in the sewer so it won't be new to him. He reveals a very funny story about one time when he went fishing but he couldn't catch anything because since it was dark out, he didn't know he was fishing in a place that didn't even have water and fish. Ha! Ed plans on telling Trixie that they are going to Fred's Landing because he will say that Atlantic City is closed for the summer. Oh boy! Can you imagine how much money Atlantic City would lose if they closed for the summer? What a dumb move that would be. Ed leaves. Alice says that she doesn't want to go to Fred's Landing. Ralph: "All right. Stay home." Alice: "I wouldn't give you the satisfaction!"

On Vacation Day 1, Ralph and Ed have to push the car because the car is having engine trouble. The background in this scene is so not real. You can tell it's a fake background. Ralph and Ed try to fix the car by Ed getting behind the driver seat while Ralph fumbles with the engine. This is a funny scene as Ed accidentally "electrocutes" Ralph. After a number of mishaps, Ralph starts yelling at Ed. Ralph: "You were just trying to help me? You almost electrocuted me. Why don't you help me out some more? Why don't you run me over with the car?" Ed: "The car won't start." Ha! Everyone thinks that they are lost. Ed says no. Ed: "You see this black dot here? That's New York City. That is where we started from. Then we go through the Lincoln Tunnel. This black dot here is Jersey City. This black dot is Bayonne" Ralph: "Bayonne is moving and that's an ant." Ed: "Well, let's follow the ant. He looks like he knows where he is going." They eventually met a man who helps out by fixing the car. He fixes the engine. Then he leaves. Ralph and Ed go back in the car to start up the engine. The engine isn't fixed at all. Ralph and E wind up having to push the car again as Ed starts to sing: "Give me the road to..." Ralph (yells to Ed): "SHUT UP!"

At Fred's Landing, Trixie and Alice are very tired of having to cook and do all the other things that Ralph and Ed tell them to do while they go out fishing. I would love to see a fishing scene with Ralph and Ed. Ralph and Ed come back with this "big" catch that Ralph had a tug-of-war with. The "big" fish is very small. Ralph: "He lost weight during the fight." Sure Ralph. Ralph and Ed want to get some sleep before dinner. Ralph (to the girls): "You don't know how hard it is to fish. That's work. You two are lucky to have nothing to do around here." Ralph and Ed go into their respective tents which are very small. Alice (to Ralph): "One of these days, pow right in the kisser." Ralph: "What did you say Alice?" Alice: "Nothing." Question: How could Ralph not hear Alice when Alice is a few feet from him? Alice and Trixie cook up a plan to get Ralph and Ed to leave here. Another question: How could Ralph an Ed not hear of Alice and Trixie's plan when they are a few feet from them? Ralph and Ed must go to sleep very fast. Alice blows smoke in Ralph's tent. Ralph wakes up. Alice says to Ralph that she is cooking. Ralph: "Watch out! I'm not on the menu." Alice "falls" over Ralph's feet and in the process pours water over Ralph's legs. That doesn't work. Alice: "Look out Trixie! There's a snake!" Ralph wakes up. Alice: "You must have scared the snake away. They would make another reference to Fred's Landing and a snake being in a tent in "The Worry Wart." Ralph: "First you try to drown me, then cook me, now you want me to go back in there with a snake?" Boy, Ralph is overreacting. Alice: "We are living like the Indians did." Ralph: "Well, if this is how the Indians lived, now wonder they are the vanishing race." Ha!

Alice and Trixie leave as Ralph and Ed say they are miserable here too. Ed: "Let's leave before the girls get back." Ralph concocts a plan to get them to leave here. There is a bear skin rug in the lodge that Ralph will use to scare the girls into leaving.

A "bear" comes near Ed and Ed thinks that it is Ralph. It is so obvious that the "bear" is not a real one. Ralph is behind Ed and sees the bear. Ralph tells Ed that he is not the bear that is in front of him. Ed is afraid. The girls see the "bear" and get scared. Ralph says that they are leaving and apologizes to Alice for dragging her here. Alice says: "We still have a lot of time to see Atlantic City!" They hug and kiss.

Episode #21
TV: Hasn’t been seen on TV since its original airdate.
DVD: Hasn’t been released.
Air Date: ???

"Expectant Dad":

Nobody knows for sure if this episode ever aired on TV or not. In the early 2010s, it was revealed that this as long as some other sketches were rumored to have been shown on TV. I am going to assume that the script for this one is right. If it did, it was called “The Expectant Dad” (aka “Alice Knitting Sweater For A Dog.”)

Alice is busy knitting a sweater for a dog. Alice says to Trixie that she can't talk about her new job to Ralph because Ralph will say to quit the job. This discussion is almost the same as in "Santa & The Bookies" & “Run, Santa, Run.” Ed comes down. Ed: "Alice, where's your better one and a half?" Alice says that Ralph isn't home. He sees Alice trying to take laundry upstairs and says that she shouldn't carry that big of an item, so he volunteer’s Trixie's services, much to Trixie's chagrin. They leave.

Ralph comes home and sees the sweater. Ralph thinks that he will become a father. He mentions that when his son is born, he will name him "Ralph." Ed says that that might cause confusion. Ralph: "I was named after my father. They used to call us 'Big' & 'Little' Ralph." Ed: "Who was your father, 'Little' Ralph?" Ha!

The girls come back and Ralph acts all nice when Alice arrives. Trixie: "What's going on here?" Ralph mentions to Alice that he knows what she knows but the way he explains it far too confusing. Alice: "You are nuts." Ralph offers everyone some unique food, which Ed says that he will take it. Ralph (yells): "OH WHY DON'T YOU SHUT UP!" Ralph tries to kick Ed out but it doesn't work. Ralph talks some more about what he thinks that Alice might have. Alice thinks that Ralph found out that her mother is coming. Ralph (yells to Alice): "SHE IS NOT SETTING FOOT IN THIS HOUSE!" (Normally to Alice): "I'm sorry. She and your dad can come and stay until New Year's if she likes but if it isn't you, out they go."

Ralph & Alice have some time alone. Ralph continues to talk about what he thinks that Alice might have and he is happy about it. Alice says that if she does this every year, she might have to join a union. Ralph: "I didn't know that you had to join a union to have a baby." Alice then knows what Ralph has been talking about and says that the sweater is for a dog. Ralph is disappointed but says when they have a baby; he would rather have a girl just like Alice. They hug and kiss.

Credit I believe goes to The old Bill 'Mooners Archive, eBay.com, tv.com, Honeymooners Lost Episodes Book, tvguide.com, honeymooners.net, Honeymooners Box Set booklet Honeymooners Lost Episodes DVD booklet, Yahoo! Groups You’re A Riot! & amazon.com