The Jackie Gleason Show

Jackie Gleason, his television shows and movies (i.e., The Toy) will always and forever be etched in my memory as family favorites. Starring at the beginning and up to sadly the end were great times for us at home. We always made sure to sit and watch, laugh in awe from the comedy to the stunts by guests. All of us always made sure to stay still when the presentation of Frank Fontaine (as Crazy Guggenheim) came on. Jackie would be behind the bar, Frank would would go through his skit, but always at the very end, coming from Jackie was the familiar, Hey Craz ! How about singing us a little song. For that even the dog had to be outside, Grandmother would come down from upstairs. Mr. Fontaine would sing some lovely melody that would really stick to you and your emotions. It was a favorite and wonderful time for us and something that was left in my parents, grandmother and brother's hearts ! For me, I'm the last of the family living (at age 66) and identify with a wonderful time whenever I hear talk of Jackie Gleason's name. He was a tremendous talent, actor (I even have early films that he was in with Humphrey Bogart) and especially comedy. His ability to keep you laughing without having written lines and everything from memory was something very few (if any) today can do. My favorite comedian ? Why of course, the GREAT Jackie Gleason.

I was in the vocal group through the entire run, some variety and all Honeymooners shows. The only ones rerun were the first season in which they win a trip around the world. Twentieth Century Fox paid the rerun checks on those. The Poor Soul's Christmas was rerun all over the place. The word I have is that ownership of the rest of the tapes (we did, I think, something like 49 shows all together) cannot be proved, and so none of those shows can ever be shown. I'd give a great deal to experience them again. To my knowledge, only one or two of the orchestra are still living--my husband was lead trumpet. Most of the singers and dancers are still around. Marilyn Taylor was NOT around these shows. She and Jackie got together again later.

I'm so glad that the Honeymooners shows from the 1960s and 1970s are now available. The nine episodes called "The Trip to Europe" have been put on DVD and I hope that the rest of the 44 hour shows are also slated to be released on DVD. The Goodlife Network has been showing these Honeymooners, but not everyone has access to this network.

There are those that say, "If it's not Audrey Meadows, it's not the real 'Honeymooners'." Sure, Sheila MacRae plays a softer Alice, but she is far from inappropriate. In fact, Jane Kean enhances the role of Trixie. This is not to take away from Joyce Randolph. Sure, you get the June Taylor Dancers and Gleason and company break into song whenever they wish. I find this to be completely charming. I know. These traditional musical comedy numbers make the shows dated. I don't care. I love these numbers. There are also some dated topical jokes from the 1960s. So what! Gleason and Carney seem to have extra energy from being back together again and performing before a live audience. The famous Gleason mistakes are there, and these make the shows even better.

Did you know that there are a few Honeymooners sketches from the early 1960s with Sue Ann Langdon as Alice and Patricia Wilson as Trixie? Goodtimes put one of these shows on VHS. Did you know that there are also sketches from the late 60s, where the Honeymooners are part of a Gleason variety show? What about putting all of these on DVD. I would also like to see the Gleason American Scene Magazine shows on DVD.

FOLLOWING HIS HIGHLY successful return to network television's weekly grind, it was time for a course correction. The new program had been given the handle of JACKIE GLEASON'S American SCENE MAGAZINE and attempted to sort of update the focus of the comedy being produced. They also wanted to "modernize" the production with short, attention span friendly "blackout" type of skits.

BY THE END of the fourth season, that which had been considered "fresh" and "innovative" was now thought to be commonplace. So, what to do in order to fix things? Perhaps the thought crossed someone's mind that it was time to return to the well once again; but this time it would be to the old and familiar waters of THE HONEYMOONERS.

YES IT WAS true, the Gleason show was returning to Delancy Street and to the tenements of the Kramdens and the Nortons. It was a case of the old becoming fresh and "new" because of an extended absence. (Remember Schultz, "Absence makes the heart fonder!") SO WITH THIS news, the new segments were about to undergo some cast changes. Sheila Mac Rae would be Alice and Jane Kean would take over as Trixie. But without a doubt, no one could envision anyone else in the part of Ed Norton but Art Carney. We were right as it was indeed a reunion of what many believe to be the "Laurel & Hardy of TV" were now being reunited.

OTHER THAN THE live television aspect of the original incarnation of THE HINEYMOONERS, there were several items that could only be viewed as being updates. In addition to the aforementioned application of videotape, the series was now to be a musical. Original songs and production numbers would be the order of the day.

A PREVIOSLY USED IDEA that had both the Norton and Kramden families sharing a winning ticket in a contest and traveling away from their blue collar (Proletariat) existence and seeing Planet Earth from the decks of an Ocean Liner. They would also be taping the shows in beautiful color.

SOME GREAT MAN once said that "You can't go home!" But it would appear that THE HONEYMOONERS succeeded in doing it.

This show was Jackie Gleason just doing what came natural to him. Enjoying himself and making people laugh. His portrayal of several different regular characters, all of whom were as memorable as Ralph Kramden, were all portrayed flawlessly. Frank Fontaine's songs were an added treasure! It seems unlikely to hit the airwaves again, so one can only hope that the shows are released on DVD.