Honeymooners Christmas episodes & more: (Part 3):

[Frank Gannucci]

Honeymooners Christmas episodes & more: (Part 3):

Episode #90
TV: Hasn't been seen on TV since its original air date.
VHS: Hadn't been released.
DVD: Attached to “Teamwork Beats The Clock”, “The Brother-In-Law”, “Songwriters”, “Kramden Vs. Norton” & “A Promotion.”
Color Episode Title: “Run Santa Run.”
Air Date: Sat. 12/19/54

"Santa & The Bookies" ('54):

I find it strange that there was two Christmas specials during the same year.

Alice is busy knitting clothes for some baby while singing the song that Ralph & Ed “wrote” in “Songwriters.” Trixie comes in and here Alice reveals her temporary job she has just so she can save enough money for Christmas. She won't tell Ralph because Ralph will make her quit no matter how hard the job is. It's the principle of the thing to him. She did and said the same exact thing in "Expectant Father" too. Alice hurts her back so Trixie says she will make sure Alice go sees a doctor.

Ralph comes home and is upset that he has to have tuna fish again. He wanders why that he couldn't have a hot meal. He and Alice have an argument about this causing Alice to go into the bedroom. Ed comes in Alice is knitting baby clothes to make some extra money for Christmas. Norton comes down. Ed: "Hey Ralph, what are all those cats doing outside your front door?" Ralph gets more upset that he has to have tuna fish. Ed asks Ralph if he can hide Trixie's Christmas present in the Kramdens' apartment, Ralph says yes and sticks the present in the bureau drawer -- where Alice has hidden the baby clothes. A moment later, when Norton tells Ralph that Trixie has made a doctor's appointment for Alice, Ralph is sure that Alice is pregnant. Ed: "This is almost as good as when you got 300 points in bowling." Now Ralph is remorseful for yelling at Alice. Alice comes in and says that Ralph was right he deserves a hot meal. Ralph is acting all nice because he thinks that Alice is pregnant. Alice doesn't know what to make of it. She leaves. Ralph decides he has to make some more money in a hurry so that his future son can go to college. He needs so extra money for the kid. Ed: "I have some money that is owed to me and when I get it, it's just as good as yours." Ralph: "You're a good pal Norton. Who owes you?" Ed: "You do." Gee, that really helps Ralph. Ralph he answers a newspaper ad for a Santa Claus job but not before Ed finds some jobs that Ralph can do to earn extra money for the kid. One of them is in South America. Ralph says to forget about that job because he doesn't want to go to South America. Ed finally finds a job for Ralph, a street Santa. After Ed leaves, he brings in the cats that were near Ralph's front door because he says that the cats attacked him.

The next day Ralph goes to apply for the job. What he doesn't know is that the guys who placed the ad are bookmakers and that they plan to use the Santa to collect bets. They reveal themselves to Ralph as Mr. Smith and Mr. Smith. When they reveal to Ralph that he got the job, the sound is cut off for a few seconds on the DVD. I guess all the audio didn’t survive. Ralph gets hired and asks Ed if he can be hired but he warns them that he is not as smart as he is. With that, Ed is hired. Around 6pm that night, Ralph and Ed begin their first day on the job. Ed is wearing a loud elf uniform. Ed is recognized by some kids as Space Hopper. Ha! After one person drops in their slip, Ralph reads it and still he doesn't know it's a bet for a horse in a race. An old lady comes by. When she puts down her bet with the money, Ralph says that she doesn't have to do that. Lady: "I want 'Rocking Chair' for $2." Ralph still doesn't know what she meant. A mother and a kid come by. She asks "Santa" that if he doesn't go to bed when they get home, will he put a lump of coal in his stocking. "Santa" says: "Yes." So the kid “kicks” Ralph. I think you can tell that he didn’t really kick him. They leave. Either that kid and his mother live VERY far away or that mother forces her kid to go to bed VERY early. One drunken person comes by, takes one look at them and says that he will never drink as long as he lives. Another person comes by and puts his money in the pot. Ralph says he will get that back many fold. Man: "I should. It's 20 to 1." Ed: "What are you talking about? It's half-past six." He leaves. A policeman comes by and puts his money in (thinking that what Ralph and Ed are dong something good.) When Ed says to the police officer to put in his slip (everyone else put in their slips). The policeman sees what's really going on and sends Ralph and Ed to jail, thinking that they are the bookies they are looking for.

In jail, Ralph is mad at Ed. He is thinking that this is the end of life for him. A police officer comes by. Police officer: “Are you guys ready to talk?” Ed: “Yeah, what do you want to talk about?” Ha! Ralph explains to the police officer that his wife is pregnant. Alice comes by and Ralph tells her that he was making extra money for their future baby. Alice says that she is not pregnant. Now Ralph and Ed are in bigger trouble. When Ed says that the two Mr. Smiths are going to come by their street corner and collect the money soon, Ralph hatches a plan so the police can catch the real bad guys. It works. Ralph is upset. Alice says that she was just getting a job so she can buy him a Christmas present. Ralph: “You know how I feel about a woman getting a job. Every time they do, they get into trouble.” Alice: “We do? How about the trouble you are in?” Are in? I think that was a blunder. Ralph: “Don’t change the subject. From now on, you do what I say.”

It looks like Ralph will have a Merry Christmas after all. But when he holds out his hand, a woman comes by and drops money in his hand. A policeman catches him and sends Ralph off to jail. Alice & Ed follow Ralph. The policeman follows them as the opening of the "Dragnet" theme song plays.

Episode #89 (Syndicated episode #92)
TV: Half-hour.
VCR: Attached to "Double Anniversary Party." On some tapes, it is attached to “Catch A Star”, “Quiz Show” (‘53 version) & “Double Anniversary Party.”
DVD: Attached to "Battle of The Sexes" & "Catch A Star." On the Lost Episodes DVD Box Set, it is attached to “Teamwork Beats The Clock”, “The Brother-In-Law”, “Santa & The Bookies” (’54 version), “Kramden Vs. Norton” & “A Promotion.” On the Best of Lost Episodes DVD, it is attached to “Stand-In For Murder” (’55 version), “Principle of The Thing”, “A Weighty Problem” & “The Little Man Who Wasn’t There.”
Air Date: Sat. 12/11/54

"Songwriters":

At the Raccoon lodge, Ralph and Ed are playing ping-pong with a couple of other Raccoon players. After Ralph yells: "I HAVE GOT IT! I HAVE GOT IT!” he somehow ends up with the ball in his mouth. Ed says that he could go on the Ed Sullivan Show doing that. The Raccoon meeting is called to order as the Raccoons recite the Raccoon Pledge in Latin. After the pledge, Ed wants to know what it means. Oh God! We found out that the Raccoon Pledge was made by their founding Father Herman Hildebrand even though in "The Hypnotist" it was Toots Mondello. It turns out that Herman made some kind of drugs. It is also found out that Ed wants to fix the grandfather clock in the lodge and he wants to fix it during the meeting to show the Raccoons that it works. He does at approximately 8:57pm. He fixes it and when Ralph tries to talk, the gong in the clock rings for 9pm and swings thereby looking like some person is controlling it. I'm pretty sure it didn't ring three minutes later. Ralph gets upset and "unfixes" it.

Mr. Alfredo comes by and asks the Raccoons to sing the Raccoon Marching Song which goes like this:

In the west and in the east
There's a mighty little beast
For courage there is no other.

When the chips are all at stake
The Raccoon will never break
We are proud to call him brother.

So with our noble tails entwined
And a spirit strong of mind
We'll have hearts that cannot melt.

In the forest, in the trees
On the land or seven seas
We're brothers under the pelt.

Raccoons, the noble Raccoons.

The audience didn't even clap or laugh at the end. After everyone leaves, Ed plays "Suwannee River" on the piano and Mr. Alfredo says that Ed Norton has plenty of talent and musical ability. He also knows that Ralph is a good lyric writer. He leaves just as Ralph talks about his latest idea. He and Ed are going to become songwriters. Ed fixes the grandfather clock. He says that by fixing it, he saved the Lodge $3. They leave, just as the clock rings. As it rings where it actually causes nearby things to fall and break. The clock also breaks more now than ever. Watch and you will find out what I mean. So in turn, Ed costed the lodge money.

At home, a piano is delivered and Alice says to Trixie that it is a refrigerator. Seems to be VERY BIG for it to be a refrigerator. Trixie leaves. Ralph enters and asks Alice to close her eyes as Ralph opens the package. It's a piano and Alice demands it to be returned back. They argue. Ralph says that he always wrote great poetry. Alice recites some of his poetry: "Ape! Ape! Open the gate! Here comes Alice the Grad-u-ate!" Some poetry. Ralph says he spent the whole $80 (the Christmas club money) to pay for the piano. (He bought it on credit.) Alice is upset since they have 15 relatives that they have to give presents for. Alice says that she is going to take it back. Ralph throws out the window the store information so Alice won't find out what store it belongs to only to have Ed pick it up and give it to Alice. Ralph kicks Ed out.

That night, Ralph and Ed are getting very tired rehearsing. Ed warms up to every song playing by playing "Suwannee River." He would do the same thing in the "$99,000 Answer." Ralph says some of the lyrics that he wrote which include: "Ears like a bunny." Ralph: "Maybe we can make it an Easter song." Ed is very tired. Ed: "I got to get up in the morning. I got a job to do." Ralph says that he does to and he has responsibilities. If he falls asleep, he's liable to run into something. Ed says that if he falls asleep, he will drown. Ralph says some more of the lyrics that he wrote that include: "Baby dear, what are you crying for? Do your dad-dy a big favor!" McGarrity complains and so does Alice who recites some of the bad lyrics that she heard Ralph sing. Ralph gets upset. Alice goes to bed. Ralph and Ed rehearse some more with little success. McGarrity's wife vacuums saying that with Ralph living in the building, she has to sleep during the day. Her voice is like Trixie's. Ralph complains about a person moving garbage cans and McGarrity banging his pipes. Those two interruptions give Ralph some lyrics which go: "The garbage cans go clang! The radiator goes bang!" Ralph: "It's going to be hit."

At a publisher's office, Ed plays the piano while Ralph attempts to say the lyrics. Ed warms up by playing "Suwannee River." The publisher thinks that "Suwannee River'"s notes are being rewritten and he mentions "Suwannee River’s writer, Steven Foster. Ralph would forget that Steve wrote that song in "$99,000 Answer." Ralph explains to him that Ed does that to warm up. A pianist comes by and plays the song just as Ralph and Ed write the lyrics which go like this: "The garbage can goes clang, the radiator goes bang, and the vacuum makes a racket too. Put them all together and...that's my love song to you." Bob Manning wrote this song before this episode was made. Don't the lyrics seem a bit outdated? The publisher doesn't know what to think Ed leaves. The publisher says that he likes the music but the lyrics need to be changed and that a pro lyric writer would write new lyrics to Ed's music. Instead of being selfish, Ralph steps aside for Norton's sake.

At home, Ralph is upset about what he did. Alice is happy that Ralph did something nice for Norton. Ed Norton comes in with a radio saying that they are going to play a song on CBS radio. Ralph goes into the bedroom but comes out when he hears his and Ed's song on the radio. By the way, the guy on the radio says that the song is being sung by a guy named Bob Manny. Norton says to Ralph that he values his friendship with Ralph more than a musical career, and unbeknownst to Ralph, takes their song to another publisher, who loves it so much he has it recorded. Ralph says that they will be millionaires! It turns out that Ralph's idea worked sort of. Of course, they don't become millionaires!

Episode #65
TV: Attached to “Santa & The Bookies” (’53 version)
VCR: Attached to "Forgot To Register."
DVD: Attached to "Forgot To Register" & "Income Tax." On the Lost Episodes DVD Box Set it is attached to “Finger Man”, “Honeymooners Xmas Party” (’53 version), “New Year’s Eve Party”, “This Is Your Life” & “Cottage For Sale.”
Air Date: Sat. 12/19/53

"Honeymooners XMas Party" ('53):

This episode was part of the TV version of “Seasons Greetings From The Honeymooners” that is different than the home video version.

I will also point out that when this episode was released on VHS, MPI decided to put most of the video package in red. For the video that has "New Year's Eve Party", they put that video package in green. I guess they did that since that they are holiday episodes, the might as will decorate the packages with holiday colors. I like that. They didn't do the same thing with the DVDs though.

I find it strange that there were two Christmas specials done in the same year.

The episode opens up with Alice decorating the Christmas tree. Ralph comes home with potato salad from DeVitos. She says that he should get it from Krauss'. Ralph explains that at DeVitos that Reginald Van Gleason as running a party and that a lot of people are there including people who came from Connecticut. Ralph, disgustedly, leaves to get potato salad from Krauss'.

Trixie comes in and she reveals that Ed gave her an orange juice squeezer. You squeeze the oranges on top of Napoleon’s head and the juice squirts out of his ears. Same gift that he would give her in "'Twas The Night Before Christmas." A guy knocks on the door and Trixie answers it and within a second she knows his name: Fenwick Babbit. Either Trixie saw him before or he gave her his name very softly and quickly. Fenwick is played by Jackie Gleason. After pacing his beer barrel in the apartment, he begins to cut the ice. He hits his finger and yells in Ralph Kramden fashion. Now I wonder why Alice and Trixie don't come up with the thought that Ralph and he look alike. When Trixie goes upstairs to get something for Fenwick, Fenwick asks: "Does she live nearby?" The crowd laughs. When Trixie comes back, Fenwick realizes that he is in the wrong apartment and leaves. But not before he says to Alice: "You are a nice lady."

Ed comes in and says that he has come with, Frances Langford. The crowd applauds for the guest star. She sings "Great Day" and "I Love Paris" for Alice, Ed, and Trixie, and dances with Ed. Joe The Bartender comes in (also played by Gleason). Of course after hearing Joe speak, Alice, Ed and Trixie don't come up with the thought that he and Ralph look alike. Joe The Bartender reveals something that just happened a few minutes ago at Krauss'. This poor soul comes in and takes the last bit of steak and gives it to a kitten that he bought in from the cold. Fatso Fogarty sees this and becomes mad. He sets up a nasty practical joke in which he tells him he had "won" a diamond and then handed him a cheap rhinestone. What made the hoax particularly pathetic was that the poor soul, totally taken in, cherished his prize. Alice, moved by the tale, tells Joe to send the poor soul up, and she'll give him a real present. Joe & Frances leave.

The poor soul comes up (played by Jackie Gleason in pantomime) comes up and Alice gives him a real present. Once again, Alice and Trixie don't even think that he and Ralph look alike. He gives her the "diamond" and leaves. Trix: “Now that Ed is gone, let’s relax.”

Trixie says that they are showing some Christmas Specials on TV, so she asks Alice if they can watch it on Alice's TV (which probably looks terrible). Alice says that the TV is on the brink. Gee, in "TV or Not TV", Alice says that the Kramdens never got a TV. Rudy the Repairman comes by to fix it. Rudy is played by Jackie Gleason and once again by looking and hearing Rudy speak, Alice and Trixie don't think that Ralph and he look alike. Alice explains all the trouble she is having with some of the channels. Some of the channels that I think she talks about: 4, 5, 7, 11, and 13. Now, since I used to live in North Jersey and about an hour away from New York, I can tell you that those channels in real life do exist. And do you know what? The channel 11 that Alice is talking about would start to carry reruns of the Honeymooners four years later and has carried them for the better part of 50 years. Rudy, after hearing Alice's strange problems, brings in Whitey. Whitey talks to Ralph in language that is not real English. But Rudy understands him anyway. Great comedy. Rudy makes a pass at Alice and Trixie & sees the set destroyed. He said that a pair of shorts caused the problem and he and Whitey depart with the shorts. Alice tells Trixie that it doesn't really matter, since she just had the set on trial.

Ed Norton comes in with little Eddie Hodges who is going to sing at Krauss'. "He is not going to drink", says Ed. Eddie had to be a kid. Ed sings: "Welcome My Baby Back Home." It's interesting that Jackie allowed this kid to sing on his show when you think about the fact that he didn't want kids to appear on his show because he thought that kids may not be able to act on cue. Both Eds leave. Alice says that Ed is always looking to help someone. Trixie says that after a wedding he drove a couple of family members home. The only problem was that it was their wedding. Oh boy!

Ed comes back in and Reginald Van Gleason comes in (played by Jackie Gleason). He brings in gifts for Ed, Trixie, and Alice. He also brings in his band and June Taylor Dancers, with Alice's permission. The band plays a song VERY loudly and Gleason dances with the dancers. Try doing what Reggie is doing in an ordinary apartment at night in real life and you will probably get a TON of complaints (and maybe get kicked out too.) Anyway, at one point Reggie dances too far to the left and you can see the stage curtain. Another think that wasn't in the script. Once again, Alice, Ed and Trixie don't come up with the conclusion that Reggie and Ralph look and probably sound alike (maybe except for Reggie's mustache). Reggie and his whole entourage leave. Ed: "Reggie is okay in my book." Ed says that in Reggie's limo, he watches wrestling. Not on TV, he watches wrestlers wrestling each other in the limo in a pro wrestling match. Oh God! Trixie is afraid to leave because another star may drop by. Alice says that she wonders where Ralph is. Ed says to Trixie that he will give her what every woman wants on her hand, that being rubber gloves. Ha!

Ed and Trixie leave. Ralph comes by with a policeman. Alice explains the whole situation to the policeman and leaves. Ralph reveals what happened. After he returned the original potato salad, he had to walk two LONG blocks to Krauss only to find out that Krauss was asleep. He kicked so hard on his door that he knocked out the window and got in trouble with the police. Anyway, Alice and Ralph exchange gifts. Ralph opens his gift first and finds out that Alice gave him rubber-lined gloves. Alice gets an orange juice squeezer from Ralph. The same gift that Ralph will giver again in "'Twas The Night Before Christmas." Ralph says that after 14 years of marriage, every Christmas gets better and better. 24 years later in an ABC Special, Ralph and Alice say that they are celebrating 25 years of marriage (the writers thought that that would be appropriate since that show marked the 25th anniversary of the show.) The hug and kiss.

I lot of people probably don't like this episode since it's a great departure from traditional episodes. I liked it because it's a great X-Mas episode and it offers a change of pace. Jackie Gleason must have had to do some quick costume changes in this episode since this episode (like all the other ones in the 50's) were done live.

Episode #64
TV: Attached to “Honeymooners Christmas Party” (’53 version). In 2019, Decades channel started showing this in two parts but as far as Part 2 goes, since part 2 is so short, it is attached to "New Bowling Ball."
VCR: Attached to "Game Called On Account of Marriage." On the VHS/DVD version of “Seasons Greetings From The Honeymooners”, it was attached to “Honeymooners Christmas Party” (’53 version)
DVD: Attached to "Game Called On Account of Marriage", "Brother-in-Law" & "Peacemaker." On the Lost Episodes DVD Box Set it is attached to “Finger Man”, “Honeymooners Xmas Party” (’53 version), “New Year’s Eve Party”, “This Is Your Life” & “Cottage For Sale.”
Color Episode Title: “Run Santa Run.”
Air Date: Sat. 12/12/53

"Santa & The Bookies" ('53):

This episode was part of the TV version “Seasons Greetings From The Honeymooners” that is different from the home video version.

Alice is busy knitting clothes for some baby. Trixie comes in and here Alice reveals her temporary job she has just so she can save enough money for Christmas. She won't tell Ralph because Ralph will make her quit no matter how hard the job is. It's the principle of the thing to him. She did and said the same exact thing in "Expectant Father" too. Alice hurts her back so Trixie says she will make sure Alice go sees a doctor.

Ralph comes home and is upset that he has to have tuna fish for the fifth time. He wanders why that he couldn't have a hot meal. He and Alice have an argument about this causing Alice to go into the bedroom. Ed comes in Alice is knitting baby clothes to make some extra money for Christmas. Norton comes down. Ed: "Hey Ralph, what are all those cats doing outside your front door?" Ralph gets more upset that he has to have tuna fish. Ed asks Ralph if he can hide Trixie's Christmas present in the Kramdens' apartment, Ralph says yes and sticks the present in the bureau drawer -- where Alice has hidden the baby clothes. A moment later, when Norton tells Ralph that Trixie has made a doctor's appointment for Alice, Ralph is sure that Alice is pregnant. Ed: "This is almost as good as when you got 300 points in bowling." Now Ralph is remorseful for yelling at Alice. He decides he has to make some more money in a hurry so that his future son can go to college. He needs so extra money for the kid. Ed: "I have some money that is owed to me and when I get it, it's just as good as yours." Ralph: "You're a good pal Norton. Who owes you?" Ed: "You do." Gee, that really helps Ralph. Ralph he answers a newspaper ad for a Santa Claus job but not before Ed finds some jobs that Ralph can do to earn extra money for the kid. One of them is in South America. Ralph says to forget about that job because he doesn't want to go to South America. Ed finally finds a job for Ralph, a street Santa. Alice comes in and says that Ralph was right he deserves a hot meal. Ralph is acting all nice because he thinks that Alice is pregnant. Alice doesn't know what to make of it. She leaves and then so does Ed. After Ed leaves, he brings in the cats that were near Ralph's front door, one of them climbs out of Ed's hands. D'Oh! Not something that was in the script.

The next day Ralph goes to apply for the job. What he doesn't know is that the guys who placed the ad are bookmakers and that they plan to use the Santa to collect bets. They reveal themselves to Ralph as Mr. Smith and Mr. Smith. Ralph gets hired and asks Ed if he can be hired but he warns them that he is not as smart as he is. With that, Ed is hired. Around 6pm that night, Ralph and Ed begin their first day on the job. Ed is wearing a loud elf uniform. Ed is recognized by some kids as Space Hopper. Ha! After one person drops in their slip, Ralph reads it and still he doesn't know it's a bet for a horse in a race. A mother and a kid come by. She asks "Santa" that if he doesn't go to bed when they get home, will he put a lump of coal in his stocking. "Santa" says: "Yes." So the kid kicks Ralph. They leave. Either that kid and his mother live VERY far away or that mother forces her kid to go to bed VERY early. One drunken person comes by, takes one look at them and says that he will never drink as long as he lives. One other person comes by and accidentally knocks over the bowl. That was also not in the script, so Jackie covers it up by saying: "The dollar is going down every day." Another person comes by and puts his money in the pot. Ralph says he will get that back many fold. Man: "I should. It's 20 to 1." Ed: "What are you talking about? It's half-past six." He leaves. An old lady comes by. When she puts down her bet with the money, Ralph says that she doesn't have to do that. Lady: "I want 'Rocking Chair' for $2." Ralph still doesn't know what she meant. A policeman comes by and puts his money in (thinking that what Ralph and Ed are dong something good.) When Ed says to the police officer to put in his slip (everyone else put in their slips). The policeman sees what's really going on and sends Ralph and Ed to jail, thinking that they are the bookies they are looking for.

In jail, Ralph is mad at Ed. He is thinking that this is the end of life for him. Ralph explains to the police officer that his wife is pregnant. Alice comes by and Ralph tells her that he was making extra money for their future baby. Alice says that she is not pregnant. Now Ralph and Ed are in bigger trouble. When Ed says that the two Mr. Smiths are going to come by their street corner and collect the money soon, Ralph hatches a plan so the police can catch the real bad guys. It works.

It looks like Ralph will have a Merry Christmas after all. But when he holds out his hand, a woman comes by and drops money in his hand. A policeman catches him and sends Ralph off to jail as the opening of the "Dragnet" theme song plays.

Episode #36
TV: Not seen since its original airdate.
DVD: The 1952 version on the Lost Episodes DVD Box Set is attached to “Glow Worm Cleaning”, “Alice Plays Cupid”, “Suspense”, “Lost Job”, “Anniversary Gift”, “Income Tax”,” “Alice’s Aunt Ethel”, “What’s Her Name”, “Lunch Box”, “Hot Tips”, “Norton Moves In”, “Ralph’s Diet”, “Dinner Guest”, “Manager of The Baseball Team” (’53 version) & “Dorsey Brothers Show.”
Air Date: Sat. 12/20/52

"Honeymooners XMas Party" ('52):

In the early 2010s, the script for this episode was revealed to be in the UCLA Special Colleciosn Library. Box 109, Folder 26.

MPI says that the picture to the original film of the sketch is missing for the first few seconds so still frame images have been utilized. The episode opens up with Alice getting ready for Christmas. Ralph comes home with potato salad from DeVitos. She says that he should get it from Krauss'. Ralph explains that at DeVitos that Reginald Van Gleason as running a party and that a lot of people are there including people who came from Connecticut. Ralph, disgustedly, leaves to get potato salad from Krauss'. He slams the door and the set shakes.

Trixie comes in and she reveals that Ed gave her an orange juice squeezer. You squeeze the oranges on top of Napoleon’s head and the juice squirts out of his ears. Same gift that he would give her in "'Twas The Night Before Christmas." A guy knocks on the door and Trixie answers it and within a second she knows his name: Fenwick Babbit. Either Trixie saw him before or he gave her his name very softly and quickly. Fenwick is played by Jackie Gleason. After pacing his beer barrel in the apartment, he begins to cut the ice. He hits his finger and yells in Ralph Kramden fashion. Now I wonder why Alice and Trixie don't come up with the thought that Ralph and he look alike. When Trixie goes upstairs to get something for Fenwick, Fenwick asks: "Does she live nearby?" The crowd laughs. When Trixie comes back, Fenwick realizes that he is in the wrong apartment and then Alice treats him rudely and asks him to leave. He leaves WITHOUT the ice but not before he says to Trixie: "You are a nice lady."

Ed comes in and says that he has come with, Patricia Morrison. The crowd applauds for the guest star. She sings "All I Want Is You" and "Wunderbar" for Alice, Ed, and Trixie, and dances with Ed. She almost kisses Ed. Trixie intervenes much to Ed’s chagrin. Joe The Bartender comes in (also played by Gleason). Of course after hearing Joe speak, Alice, Ed and Trixie don't come up with the thought that he and Ralph look alike. Joe The Bartender reveals something that just happened some time ago at Krauss'. This poor soul comes in and takes the last bit of steak and gives it to a kitten that he bought in from the cold. Fatso Fogarty sees this and becomes mad. He sets up a nasty practical joke in which he tells him he had "won" a diamond and then handed him a cheap rhinestone that unbeknownst to the poor soul, he tore off his wife’s shirt. What made the hoax particularly pathetic was that the poor soul, totally taken in, cherished his prize. Alice, moved by the tale, tells Joe to send the poor soul up, and she'll give him a real present. Joe and Patricia leave.

The poor soul comes up (played by Jackie Gleason in pantomime) comes up and Alice gives him a real present which is a very loud tie. Once again, Alice and Trixie don't even think that he and Ralph look alike. He gives her the "diamond" and leaves. Ed leaves.

You will notice that the Kramdens have a TV. Gee, in "TV or Not TV", Alice says that the Kramdens never got a TV. Rudy the Repairman comes by (making a lot of noise in the process) to fix it. Rudy is played by Jackie Gleason and once again by looking and hearing Rudy speak, Alice and Trixie don't think that Ralph and he look alike. Alice explains all the trouble she is having with some of the channels. Some of the channels that I think she talks about: 4, 5, 7, 11, and 13. Now, since I used to live in North Jersey and about an hour away from New York, I can tell you that those channels in real life do exist. And do you know what? The channel 11 that Alice is talking about would start to carry reruns of the Honeymooners four years later and has carried them for the better part of 50 years. Rudy, after hearing Alice's strange problems, brings in Whitey. Whitey talks to Ralph in language that is not real English. But Rudy understands him anyway. Great comedy. Rudy says that his dad invented the first TV set in 1972 (better known according to Rudy as 1784. What?). According to Rudy, it didn’t work because there was no electricity. Looks like he was kidding. Rudy makes a pass at Alice and Trixie & sees the set destroyed. He said that a pair of shorts caused the problem and he and Whitey depart with the shorts. Alice tells Trixie that it doesn't really matter, since she just had the set on trial.

Ed Norton comes in with a young Frankie Avalon that is going to sing at Krauss'. Frank plays a song on the trumpet that I can’t identify. He also taps dance. It's interesting that Jackie allowed this kid to sing on his show when you think about the fact that he didn't want kids to appear on his show because he thought that kids may not be able to act on cue. Both Ed & Frank leave. Alice says that Ed is always looking to help someone. Trixie begins to tell Alice of Ed’s get-rick-quick scheme that he had years ago when Ed comes back in and Reginald Van Gleason comes in (played by Jackie Gleason). He brings in gifts for Ed, Trixie, and Alice. He also brings in his band (Phil Napoleon and his Memphis 5) and June Taylor Dancers with Alice's permission. The band plays a song VERY loudly and Gleason dances with the dancers. Try doing what Reggie is doing in an ordinary apartment at night in real life and you will probably get a TON of complaints (and maybe get kicked out too.) Once again, Alice, Ed and Trixie don't come up with the conclusion that Reggie and Ralph look and probably sound alike (maybe except for Reggie's mustache). Reggie and his whole entourage leave. Ed: "Reggie is okay in my book." Ed says that in Reggie's limo, he watches wrestling. Not on TV, he watches wrestlers wrestling each other in the limo in a pro wrestling match. Oh God! Trixie is afraid to leave because another star may drop by. Alice says that she wonders where Ralph is. Ed says to Trixie that he will give her what every woman wants on her hand, that being rubber gloves. Ha!

Ed and Trixie leave. Ralph comes by with a policeman. Alice explains the whole situation to the policeman and leaves. Ralph reveals what happened. After he returned the original potato salad, he had to walk two LONG blocks to Krauss only to find out that Krauss was asleep. He kicked so hard on his door that he knocked out the window and got in trouble with the police. Alice laughs and apologizes probably for putting Ralph through so much trouble. Anyway, Alice and Ralph exchange gifts. Ralph opens his gift first and finds out that Alice gave him rubber-lined gloves. Alice gets an orange juice squeezer from Ralph. The same gift that Ralph will giver again in "'Twas The Night Before Christmas." Ralph says that this is their 13th Christmas together. 24 years later in an ABC Special, Ralph and Alice say that they are celebrating 25 years of marriage (the writers thought that that would be appropriate since that show marked the 25th anniversary of the show.) The hug and kiss.

I lot of people probably don't like this episode since it's a great departure from traditional episodes. I liked it because it's a great X-Mas episode and it offers a change of pace. Jackie Gleason must have had to do some quick costume changes in this episode since this episode (like all the other ones in the 50's) were done live.

Episode #9:
TV: This special was shown on Disney Channel (yes, THAT Disney Channel) in 1993 and probably in 2000 on TV Land. Paul Reiser introduces us to this episode and provides us with some information. In 2019, Decades channel started showing this in two parts.
DVD: Attached to “Bread”, “Razor Blades”, “New TV Set”, “Ralph Threatens To Leave”, “Alice & Ralph Get Dressed For A Date Last Night”, “Ring Salesman”, “Ring Salesman” (Ed Sullivan show version), “New Bowling Ball”, “The Turkey”,” “Lost Baby”, “Quiz Show”, “”Halloween Party”, “Cold”, “Pickles”, “Jellybeans” & “Six Months To Live” (’52 version).
Air Date: Sat. 12/21/51

"Honeymooners XMas Party" ('51):

The episode opens up with Alice decorating the Christmas tree. She sings: “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer/Had a very FUNNY nose…” Ralph comes home with potato salad from DeVitos. She says that he should get it from Krauss'. Ralph explains that at DeVitos that Reginald Van Gleason as running a party and that a lot of people are there including people who came from Connecticut. Ralph, disgustedly, leaves to get potato salad from Krauss'.

Trixie comes in. For whatever reason, she is having trouble with the door. So Alice helps her. Trixie reveals that Ed gave her an orange juice squeezer. You squeeze the oranges on top of Napoleon’s head and the juice squirts out of his ears. Same gift that he would give her in "'Twas The Night Before Christmas." A guy knocks on the door and Trixie answers it. A man mumbles, yet Trixie somehow knows his name and he is delivering a keg of beer here. His name: Fenwick Babbit. Fenwick is played by Jackie Gleason. After placing his beer barrel in the apartment, Trixie goes upstairs to get a pan for Fenwick’s ice. Fenwick asks: "Does she live nearby?" The crowd laughs. Trixie comes back. Fenwick begins to cut the ice. He hits his finger and yells in Ralph Kramden fashion. Doesn’t look like he hit his finger to me. Now I wonder why Alice and Trixie don't come up with the thought that Ralph and he look alike. When Fenwick gets told that this isn’t the Murphy apartment, Alice calls him a big lummox. Wow! That ain’t nice. Fenwick realizes that he is in the wrong apartment and leaves.

Ed comes in and says that he has come with Broadway star Jane Pickens. The episode abruptly cuts to Joe The Bartender’s (also played by Gleason) entrance. I wonder if that was because Jane originally sang two songs and Disney & probably subsequently TV Land (if they aired it) didn’t want to pay for the rights to the songs and just edited them out. Of course after hearing Joe speak, Alice, Ed and Trixie don't come up with the thought that he and Ralph look alike. Joe The Bartender reveals something that just happened a few minutes ago at Krauss'. A person came into his bar. Joe says that this person’s name is “The Poor Soul.” What a name, huh? This poor soul comes in and takes the last bit of steak and gives it to a kitten that he bought in from the cold. Fatso Fogarty, also at his bar, sees this and becomes mad. He sets up a nasty practical joke in which he tells him he had "won" a diamond and then handed him a cheap rhinestone. What made the hoax particularly pathetic was that the poor soul, totally taken in, cherished his prize. Alice, moved by the tale, tells Joe to send the poor soul up, and she'll give him a real present. Joe, Frances and Ed leaves. Trixie: "Now that Ed is gone, we can relax."

The poor soul comes up (played by Jackie Gleason in pantomime) comes up. “Tenderly” is played throughout this sketch. Ed somehow was able to identify him. Alice gives him a real present. Once again, Alice and Trixie don't even think that he and Ralph look alike. He gives her the "diamond" and leaves.

We cut back to Paul Reiser. Paul says that this episode was one of the most difficult episodes to make. So hard that Jackie actually had to rehearse (something that he rarely did because of his photographic memory) Since Jackie had to change clothes SIX times, he had to rehearse that so the actors would know how much time to spend on stage between his appearances.

Back to the episode. Trixie says that they are showing some Christmas Specials on TV, so she asks Alice if they can watch it on Alice's TV Alice says that the TV is n the brink. Rudy the Repairman comes by to fix it. Rudy is played by Jackie Gleason and once again by looking and hearing Rudy speak, Alice and Trixie don't think that Ralph and he look alike. Alice explains all the trouble she is having with some of the channels. Some of the channels that I think she talks about: 2, 4, 5, 7, 11, and 13. Now, since I used to live in North Jersey and about an hour away from New York, I can tell you that those channels in real life do exist (and that channel 2 has been a CBS affiliate forever.) And do you know what? The channel 11 that Alice is talking about would start to carry reruns of the Honeymooners four years later and has carried them for the better part of 50 years. Rudy, after hearing Alice's strange problems, brings in Whitey. Whitey talks to Ralph in language that is not real English. But Rudy understands him anyway. Great comedy. Rudy talks to Whitey about a dead horse. Rudy makes a pass at Alice and Trixie & sees the set destroyed. He said that a pair of shorts caused the problem and he and Whitey depart with the shorts. Alice tells Trixie that it doesn't really matter, since she just had the set on trial.

Ed Norton comes in. Ed explains that he saw two guys bringing a horse into their truck. Trixie explains to Ed that it was two what happened with those two men and how they “attempted” to fix Alice’s TV. Ed: “They found a dead horse in it?” Trixie: “Yeah, stupid.” Ed looks like he is about to hit Trix. Something that Ralph ordinarily does in later episodes. A man who is the son of person named Cardini comes in after. Ed: “he’s a terrific juggler." Cardini’s kid starts juggling things. The person who played him is doing a great job. Ed even joins in. Both Ed and the juggler leave.

We cut back to Paul. Paul says that Jackie’s favorite character was Reggie Van Gleason III. Reggie was rich & flamboyant. Those things Jackie would become later in his life since at this time, he wasn’t very rich and flamboyant at all.

Back to the episode. Alice says that Ed is always looking to help someone. Trixie then says a get-rich-quick idea that Ed had. He had an idea of making tires last forever by putting helium into them instead of air. Ed read that dirigibles are filled with air to keep them up. Ed figured out that way if the tires are three feet off the ground, they wouldn’t burst. (What?) I wonder if Joyce meant to say balloons. When Alice asks her how would the tires move on air, Trixie says that Ed had another idea. The idea: To raise the roads. Ha! That is not an idea that Ralph would get.

Ed comes back in and Reginald Van Gleason comes in (played by Jackie Gleason). An old Disney Channel logo comes on the screen indicating that my copy was taped off Disney. He brings in gifts for Ed, Trixie, and Alice. He also brings in his band (from Jimmy Ryan’s café according to Reggie) and June Taylor Dancers. The band plays a song VERY loudly and Gleason dances with the dancers. Try doing what Reggie is doing in an ordinary apartment at night in real life and you will probably get a TON of complaints (and maybe get kicked out too.) Once again, Alice, Ed and Trixie don't come up with the conclusion that Reggie and Ralph look and probably sound alike (maybe except for Reggie's mustache). Reggie and his whole entourage leave. Ed: "Reggie is okay in my book." Ed says that in Reggie's limo, he watches wrestling. Not on TV, he watches wrestlers wrestling each other in the limo in a pro wrestling match. Oh God! Trixie is afraid to leave because another star may drop by. Alice says that she wonders where Ralph is. Ed says to Trixie that he will give her what every woman wants on her hand, that being rubber gloves. Ha!

Ed and Trixie leave. Ralph comes by with a policeman. Alice explains the whole situation to the policeman and leaves. Ralph reveals what happened. After he returned the original potato salad, he had to walk two LONG blocks to Krauss only to find out that Krauss was asleep. He knocked so hard on his door that he knocked out the window and got in trouble with the police. Ralph says that after 13 years of marriage, every Christmas gets better and better. 25 years later in an ABC Special, Ralph and Alice say that they are celebrating 25 years of marriage (the writers thought that that would be appropriate since that show marked the 25th anniversary of the show.) Anyway, Alice and Ralph exchange gifts. Ralph opens his gift first and finds out that Alice gave him rubber-lined gloves. Alice gets an orange juice squeezer from Ralph. The same gift that Ralph will giver again in "'Twas The Night Before Christmas." They hug and kiss.

I lot of people probably don't like this episode since it's a great departure from traditional episodes. I liked it because it's a great X-Mas episode and it offers a change of pace. Jackie Gleason must have had to do some quick costume changes in this episode since this episode (like all the other ones in the 50's) were done live.

Paul wishes us Happy Holidays!

I should also mention that this Paul Reiser special played the same (albeit updated versions) of the early 50’s version of The Jackie Gleason Show theme song.

Episode #7
TV: This episode was a part of The Honeymooners: The Really Lost Debut Episodes (episodes #1-6.) This special was shown in 1993 on Disney Channel (yes, THAT Disney Channel) and again in 2000 on TV Land. In 2019, Decades channel started airing this episode and it is attached to "Bread" & "Ralph Threatens To Leave."
VHS & DVD: Attached to “Bread”, “Razor Blades”, “New TV Set”, “Ralph Threatens To Leave”, “Alice & Ralph Get Dressed For A Date Last Night”, “Honeymooners Xmas Party” (’51 version), “Ring Salesman” (Ed Sullivan show version), “New Bowling Ball”, “The Turkey”,” “Lost Baby”, “Quiz Show”, “”Halloween Party”, “Cold”, “Pickles”, “Jellybeans” & “Six Months To Live” (’52 version).
Air Date: Sat. 12/7/51

"Ring Salesman" (Dec. 1951):

In the early 2010s, the script for this episode was found in the UCLA Special Collections Library, Box 109, Folder 24.

Trixie comes by. Alice is talking about how Joe is going to help Alice choose a ring to get for Ralph. She leaves. Alice goes into the bedroom. Ed & Ralph are going bowling against the same team. Ralph isn’t worried about the team. Ralph finds a note: Dear Alice, meet me at the same spot this afternoon and I will take you around to a few places. Then I will sneak up to your place tonight after Ralph leaves for bowling. Signed Joe.” Ralph thinks that Alice and Joe are lovers and that Joe is tearing down an “empire” that took him 12 years to build. Ed said that maybe it isn’t Alice’s fault since he knew a married guy whose wife was sitting at a bar one night drinking and some guy came around and picked her up. Ed: “Don’t let this upset you because you will bowl lousy tonight.” Ralph can’t bowl tonight due to this situation. Ed leaves. Alice comes out. Alice asks for Ralph to hurry up and eat so he can go bowl. Ralph says that he might NOT go bowling. Alice: “Ralph, you got to go.” Ralph says that he might have been leaving Alice alone too much. Alice: “Every man needs a night out.” Ralph: “Some guys need an afternoon out.” Alice says that Ralph is acting stupid and Ralph agrees that nobody knows more about him being stupid than Alice does.

Alice asks if something fell on Ralph’s head. Ralph: “Yes, the whole world.” Alice asks what is on Ralph’s mind. Ralph tells Alice to explain the note. Alice explains that she can’t so Ralph says that he will. Ralph: “You have been playing me for a dope for a long time.” Ralph accuses Alice of going to nightclubs while he is out as well as running around with a guy named Joe. Alice: “Ralph, this is all in your head.” Ralph: “There is nothing in my head.” Ralph says that he doesn’t waste his money on expensive things so he takes the little money he has and buys a twin-burial plot.

Joe comes in. Joe has the ring. Ralph challenges Joe to fight. Alice explains that Joe is a jeweler. Alice was going to give Ralph a ring for Christmas. Alice apologizes to Joe. Joe doesn’t mind. He leaves. Ralph doesn’t get the ring at least for now. Cue the Ralph-is-remorseful-for-what-he-did-to-Alice-bit. Ralph says that he is jealous of Alice. Alice not only forgives Ralph but she thanks her because not every wife that has a husband who is still jealous of her after 12 years of married life. They hug and kiss.

Like the 1954 & 1953 seasons, the 1951 season has two episodes with Christmas themes.

Credit I think goes to (the original) Bill's 'Mooners Archives, eBay.com, tv.com, Honeymooners Lost Episodes Book, tvguide.com, honeymooners.net, Honeymooners Lost Episodes DVD booklet, Wikipedia.org, Yahoo Groups You're A Riot! & Amazon.com.

[Frank Gannucci]

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[Frank Gannucci]

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[Frank Gannucci]

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[Frank Gannucci]

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