Jackie Gleason's American Scene Magazine Christmas Special - And More!

[cloggedmind]

While we wait for next month's official release of the long-missing-in-action, The Honeymooners' Christmas Carol from 1977, here's an early Xmas gift-- even for the small group of my fans/creepers/stalkers at Stereo Central, who base their lives and hinge reams of discussion based on any and every post of mine they can scour from all corners of the internet..

In 2 parts, this special comes from the syndicated version, so a minute or two is missing, but the main parts are all there, including Jackie's famous recitation of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x84q014

Also included, Art Carney's walk-on appearance during a monologue, where he gives us a little bit of Ed Norton just for the heck of it.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x84q0df

password for both is:
jackie

[cloggedmind]

And, just for fun, let's bring back another rarity:
The Jackie Gleason Show - Poor Soul In Christmas Land - 1967

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7tu4np

password?
jackie

In this musical special from 1967, Gleason reprises his Poor Soul character in a visit to the Christmas Land of Fairy Tales.

Yes, it's blurry. Just watch it in a smaller window and you won't squint so much! Find me a better copy and I'll upgrade it faster than you can say, "BANG! ZOOM!!"

This special is not everyone's cup 'o tea, either, so spare us fans the grumbling if you're not interested, okay?

[Hazel Anyday]

I had not heard anything of an official DVD release of the '77 Christmas special. Is this what you are referring to or is this a posting of a video somewhere? I have had the '77 special already and then someone posted a taped copy last year on daily motion. Is this what you're talking about, another posting, or is this an actual official DVD release of the '77 Christmas show?

While I'm asking is the Christmas American Scene special going to show up as an official DVD release too or just the posting on daily motion.

I have never heard of Stereo Central either, but I have heard of Jackie Gleason if that scores any points.

[cloggedmind]

It's an official release of the 1977 special with Gale Gordon, where Ralph agrees to produce the Gotham Bus Company's Christmas play, spoiling a holiday trip to Miami (The Greatest City in the World!).

https://www.amazon.com/Honeymooners-...3645229&sr=8-1

It got overlooked when the previous specials were released years ago, prompting music rights speculation. Likely it just got, well, overlooked!

It's the same one I put on Dailymotion last year, with the Gleason curtain call added on from a different special (This one's for you, Bing!).

The American Scene shows are not slated for any official release for the foreseeable future.

Stereo Central is an offshoot of The Steve Hoffman Music Forums, where moderators and insiders go to trash Hoffman and other posters who were part of the Hoffman forum, like myself and Frank Gannucci. Best to avoid their private, obscene party. They get upset when you start giving back the cyber-bullying filth they dish out, ban your account, and start doxing you when you can't retaliate, even though doxing is illegal. Nonetheless, their "free" forums keep getting shut down by the providers. Can't imagine why?!!

[Hazel Anyday]

Thank you for the information. I did watch your posting last year. I had a copy of the show from my old days of video trading. I even had an audio cassette recording of the show at one time I made when it was actually first on. I also remember taking Super 8 movie bits of those '70's reunion specials. Not sure if it was the '77 or '78 that I took Super 8 brief clips of, silent movies of course.

Those previous MPI color Honeymooners DVD sets were great. Best thing about them they didn't cut out the June Taylor Dancers like the lousy Time set did. Time Life really went to town with the massive editing they did to those what were once great shows.

Seems I've been lucky to not have heard of any of the warring factions on those various sites. Sometimes ignorance can be bliss. Surprising that Gleason's great show should inspire wars. Weird, actually.

[cloggedmind]

Season's Greetings From The Honeymooners - 1985

A look back at 3 classic, holiday themed episodes: "Santa And The Bookies", "Honeymooners Christmas Party" and "New Year's Eve Party", with your hosts, Jackie Gleason, Audrey Meadows, Joyce Randolph ANNNND Art Carney!

Also, watch for a rarely seen, special Christmas song at the end, performed by the cast during a curtain call.

Part 1
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7xu7po
Part 2
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7xu988

pass?
jackie

[cloggedmind]

And, once again, for those who bought the MPI Color Honeymooners sets, here's the episode you're missing:

Life Upon The Wicked Stage
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7tyds1

pass:
jackie

It's The Guys against The Gals as Ralph, Ed, Alice and Trixie enter a talent contest.
CBS. Color. 1967.
Running time: 42:00. Syndication edit. Station ID. No slate.

[cloggedmind]

Originally Posted by Hazel Anyday

Seems I've been lucky to not have heard of any of the warring factions on those various sites. Sometimes ignorance can be bliss. Surprising that Gleason's great show should inspire wars. Weird, actually.

You're not missing anything. It's just a bunch of lame keyboard jockeys burning off steam, taking one-sided jabs at people they randomly quote or, in the case of the Hoffman moderators, people they don't like (like Steve, himself). They just don't like being the butt of the jokes or taking the brunt of the insults.

[cloggedmind]

The Jackie Gleason Show, Oct 19, 1968
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x84qjwf
pass:
jackie

Featuring:
Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Mike Douglas and Bob Newhart.

Got the Time-Life set? Here's what you missed! This episode was one that was cut to shreds on that collection. This includes the full monologue, original commericals and full performances from The June Taylor Dancers and others.

Also has one of those fun commercials for La Choy, featuring Jim Henson.

From a 1" dub of the broadcast master. CBS. Color. 1968. Color Bars/Slate/Time Code (window dub). 54:35 runtime with ads and continuity.

[Frank Gannucci]

Are you going to reupload the Jackie Gleason Show episode from 1970 that was supposed to have Incredible World of Ed Norton?

[cloggedmind]

It was still there, I just had to add a password, since all FailyMotion videos HAVE to be private, now.

The Jackie Gleason Show - January 17, 1970
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7uhga7
pass:
jackie


The infamous episode that SHOULD HAVE included "The Incredible World of Ed Norton". However, this 16mm copy that has circulated for years, has been physically cut to remove that portion and, in its place, we have the last half of an episode from 1969.

Anyone with any information as to the whereabouts of "The Incredible World of Ed Norton" episode should seek out sitcomsonline.com and contact Frank Gannucci, who has searched and re-searched high and low for any trace of its existence!

Though, whatever you do, don't contact the Gleason family directly. They get "upset" over inquiries, to put it mildly!

Originally Posted by Frank Gannucci

Are you going to reupload the Jackie Gleason Show episode from 1970 that was supposed to have Incredible World of Ed Norton?

[1960'sTVfan]

I love The Honeymooners classic 39 but just haven't been able to get into any of the other Honeymooners incarnations.

I wonder what the deal is with The Incredible World Of Ed Norton, does it no longer exist or perhaps the Gleason family is hiding it and doesn't want anyone to see it?

[Frank Gannucci]

Originally Posted by cloggedmind

It was still there, I just had to add a password, since all FailyMotion videos HAVE to be private, now.

The Jackie Gleason Show - January 17, 1970
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7uhga7
pass:
jackie


The infamous episode that SHOULD HAVE included "The Incredible World of Ed Norton". However, this 16mm copy that has circulated for years, has been physically cut to remove that portion and, in its place, we have the last half of an episode from 1969.

Anyone with any information as to the whereabouts of "The Incredible World of Ed Norton" episode should seek out sitcomsonline.com and contact Frank Gannucci, who has searched and re-searched high and low for any trace of its existence!

Though, whatever you do, don't contact the Gleason family directly. They get "upset" over inquiries, to put it mildly!

Thanks.

As far as the whereabouts of the pilot, I spoke to a Mr. Slattery from Steve Hoffman Forums. Here is the link:

https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=403561

[cloggedmind]

There's plenty of folks who dig the Classic 39, but can't deal with the "lost" episodes, as such, nor the Color Honeymooners which had a completely different feel from the Classic year. I enjoy them all on their own merits, and really dig a nice, well, corny (There! I said it!) variety show. Gives me a nostalgia for simpler times.

The tape with Incredible World.. has been confirmed (rather tersely and under apparent duress during a phone call placed by Frank Gannucci to a certain family member!) to exist in the Gleason archive. Whether it is still playable (those things happen) or, perhaps, labelled as "Do Not Air" for legal reasons, or what, is unknown, as those who could tell us won't! A simple picture of the box or documentation for that tape would answer much-- like the last play, air date, dub date or other archiving info. Quad tapes usually, usually, have pretty stringent documentation due to their fragility and limit of how many times they can, effectively, be played before degredation and damage occurs. Also, damage must be reported if the tape is run and something happens to avoid future mishaps.

Gleason was known for tossing around cash for vanity projects, and Incredible World had a distinction about it: Carney didn't want a series of his own with that character, and certainly not without Gleason as Ralph! Some say that doomed the project from the start.

Why we can't see it remains a mystery, as da famly don' wanna talk abouddit!

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

I love The Honeymooners classic 39 but just haven't been able to get into any of the other Honeymooners incarnations.

I wonder what the deal is with The Incredible World Of Ed Norton, does it no longer exist or perhaps the Gleason family is hiding it and doesn't want anyone to see it?

[Hazel Anyday]

I also like all of the various incarnations of the Gleason show. I grew up in the '60's and I still favor the '60's Gleason shows as they remind me of my Saturday night viewing as a kid. But in the '70's was when I first saw the "classic 39" and agree those shows are pure comedy genius. My least favorite Gleasons are the American Scene Magazine shows as I don't find them funny (the ones with guests and blackout comedy bits) though those are the shows I remember also watching when new. I have always liked the Frank Fontaine segments of those shows though and I wish they would stop cutting out his great singing whenever they do show Crazy talking with Joe. Frank Fontaine is heard a lot of times in the Sounds Like Radio podcasts, not every show but he's in quite a few and when he's on the host there imitates Crazy Gugenheim in the style that he was on Jackie's show. He's on in Episodes 33, 59, 66, the St. Patrick's Day special
Here's where you'll hear Frank sing and the host there imitate him talking:
https://anchor.fm/your-humble-host