Honeymooners Episode Reviews: "Quiz Show" ('52 version) & "Halloween Party" ('52):

[Frank Gannucci]

Honeymooners Episode Reviews: "Quiz Show" ('52 version) & "Halloween Party" (aka "Masquarade") ('52 version):

Episode #30
TV: It was shown in reruns for the first time on the Honeymooners 35th Anniversary Special in 1990 on CBS. (The same special is shown on the Classic 39 DVD box Set with the lost episode clips edited out because Paramount didn't [and doesn't] have the home video rights to the lost episodes.) In 2019, the future Catchy Comedy started showing this episode and it is attached to "Manager of The Baseball Team" ('57 version).
VHS: Attached to "Catch A Star."
DVD: Attached to "Manager of The Baseball Team" ('53 version), "Teamwork Beats The Clock" & "The Wit & Wisdom of Ed Norton." On the Lost Episodes DVD Box Set, it is attached to “Bread”, “Razor Blades”, “New TV Set”, “Ralph Threatens To Leave”, “Alice & Ralph Get Dressed For A Date Last Night” (aka “The Dance”), “The Ring Salesman” (’51 version), “Quiz Show” (’51 version), “Xmas Party” (’51 version), “The New Bowling Ball”, “The Turkey” “Lost Baby”, “Halloween Party” (’52 version), “Cold”, “Pickles”, “Jellybeans” & “Six Months To Live” (’51 version).
Air Date: Sat. 10/18/52

Ralph and Alice come home from being on a quiz show with a lot of Krinkley Krax Cereal. Ralph slams the door and the whole set shakes. I should also mention that the video of this episode isn't exactly 100% great. Ralph: "Well, are you satisfied? Are you satisfied?" Alice: "Yes, I am satisfied. I am satisfied." Ralph: "Well, you ought to be satisfied. Thanks to your wrong answer on that quiz program, we have now won a year's supply of Krinkley Krax." You think that Ralph would be happy that Alice tried her best to answer that quiz show question, but no. This is Ralph Kramden, we are talking about people. Alice: "During the ride home in the cab, you were yelling at me from the top of your lungs." Ralph: "I had too. There were so many boxes between us that I could not see you." Ralph complains about how he has to face the people down in the garage. Meaning that in this episode, Ralph works for a taxi cab company.

Ralph goes on a tangent on what would happen if they had won. Him and Alice also have an argument when they talk about there family members. Ralph says those Krinkley Krax are no prize. Alice: "Well, what harm can it do? We can use them for something." Ralph agrees. He can use them on the steps. That way, he will be warned when his mother-in-law is coming. Ralph and Alice then have an argument about Alice's parents as well as Ralph's brother Eddie and how stupid he is. Ralph: "How can you look at me and say that Eddie is the stupidest person you ever seen?" Alice leaves the room.

Ed comes in. He looks around and says: "Looks like you robbed the A&P." Ralph then talks about what happened on the quiz show and how he answered all his questions correctly and how Alice didn't. Ed says that one time he was on a quiz show; he couldn't answer the first question that they gave him because of nervousness. That being his name. Ha!

"Happy" Larry Barnabee along with several other people come in. He explains Alice's question was: "Who was President after Grover Cleveland?" He assumed that it was wrong. He later found out that Alice was right since Grover Cleveland had two non-consecutive terms. That's the first time that quiz show made a mistake. Since Alice got her question right, it was now Ralph's turn. D'oh! Not something that Ralph wants to hear.

They set up the recording device so they can record the host's question and Ralph's answer. "Happy" Larry Barnabee: "Mr. Kramden, what did Marconi invent?" Ralph: "Marcaroni." Ha! Ralph gets told that his answer was wrong. Ralph has been mad at Alice for no reason. The host of the quiz show says: "Mr. Kramden, too bad you are not as smart as your wife."

Ralph apologizes to Alice and she accepts.

Episode #31
TV: In 2019, the future Catchy Comedy started showing this episode and it is attached to "Sprained Thumb."
DVD: Attached to “New Bowling Ball", "The Turkey", "Lost Baby", "Quiz Show" ('52 version), "Cold", "Pickles", "Jellybeans" & “Six Months To Live” (1952 version) on the Lost Episodes restored box set.
Air Date: Sat. 10/25/52

According to John K's Book "To The Moon", this episode was originally titled: "Masquerade." Other Honeymooners books have this episode entitled: “Question Mark” probably because they knew a Honeymooners episode took place on this date (10/25/52) but didn’t know the summary.

The 1954 version is supposedly on the same video as "Box Top Kid", but MPI made an error and put the 1953 version on some or all tapes of Vol. 26.

The Kramdens and Nortons are getting dressed up to go to Ralph's boss' party. Alice is dressed as an angel. Trixie comes in dressed as a sailor. Alice gave Ralph a very unique costume to say the least. Alice: "Hey Ralph, come on out and show the costume you are going to wear." Ralph (yells from the bedroom): "I’M COMING! I’M COMING!" Ralph comes dressed with a sweatshirt, a hat, and a grass skirt that is pulled up to his chest. He hates his costume and asks what he is. Alice: "You’re a Zulu Chief." Ralph: "If this is what a Zulu Chief wears, I hate to be a private citizen in that tribe." Ha! Trixie goes upstairs.

Ralph complains about his costume. He says Alice's costume must have cost a fortune. Alice reveals the hard work that she had to go through to make her costume. Ralph decides to go into the bedroom. Ed comes in dressed as Clara Bow, a woman. Alice says hello to Ed. Ed: "How did you recognize me?" Ralph's finger is in a mousetrap. Ralph yells in pain and tells Ed he has a mousetrap on his finger. Ed: "What are you going as, a mouse?" Ed takes the trap off Ralph. Ralph yells to Alice as to why she has a mousetrap in he closet (where he got the mousetrap) where she should have one in the kitchen. Ralph: "Two mousetraps? Who are you showing off for?" Ralph decides that he wants to rip up his tux and go as an elegant bum. Alice says no. Ralph: "Why? I am not going to wear it again. All my brothers are married and your sister is not going to get hooked." Gee, that was nice. NOT!

Trixie comes back and paints Ed's fingertips. Ralph comes out and rips his tux and puts it on. Ed: "Ralph, you'll be the biggest bum at the party." Freddie Muller and his wife come by to pick them up and they are dressed to the teeth. Even though the boss' party is on Halloween, it's a normal dance and not a costume party. Fred sees Norton and thinks that it's Alice. Ed corrects him. When Fred offers to shake Ed’s hand, he declines. Art makes a blooper when he says: “My fingernails are still dry.” Freddie and his wife leave. Ed: "Why are we sitting around like mopes for? Why don't we go out trick-or-treating?" Question: If all of them went trick-or-treating, wouldn't that be a TAD immature for people their age? The Nortons leave. Ralph apologizes to Alice. He says that he was jealous of Alice’s costume since he thinks that she looks great in that. They agree to go change and take a walk but not before they hug and kiss.

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

[Frank Gannucci]

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