The Jackie Gleason Show

The talent of Jackie Gleason and Art Carney made for an awesome chemistry on stage/screen. Anyone who can't see that should envy bats. "The Great One" has not only secured his rightful place in the history of show business but also in the hearts of millions of his fans for all time!!

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.

GoodLife TV has been running reruns of the color episodes of The Honeymooners, which ran on The Jackie Gleason Show from 1966 to 1970. The production may seem overblown, but the shows themselves are fun to watch. They bring back great memories for me, as I saw them as a kid. Even when Gleason had the "variety," this show was still fun to watch. I especially remember seeing this show in 1968 in the basement of an Elks lodge in Owego, NY, and remember the pretty girls who would introduce the shows! Yes, it may be "comfort food," but it sure is fun. And it is a show CBS could be very proud of!!

I grew up watching the "classic 39" reruns and I actually remember watching Gleason's late 60's color variety show at original airing during the same period. I thought for sure that once I saw these color episodes again, it would be a disaster. I remember enjoying them, but I also know that in many cases you "can't go home again". Well, forget that cliché' since these episodes hold up extremely well! Yeah, I know Ralph and Ed are a bit older. Yeah, I know the real "Alice" is no longer around. But Gleason and Carney's portrayal of Ralph & Ed have lost VERY little, and in some scenes they seem even sharper than the 50's! Maybe I'll whistle a different tune if and when they issue the later seasons eventually, but as far as I'm concerned, you can't lose investing in this fine and funny first season of "newer" Honeymooners! A-

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.