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.

If one would likes to see how a husband should treat his wife and how his wife reacts to his ways, this is the show, no matter how bad this turn out, they always fix it at the end on the day. I hope we can have more of there shows aired to let us know how in a funny way to deal with regular lives problems we face today with couples. I know that cleaning is a very hard work. This reminds me on the Honeymooner (1966-1970), they had an episode on the wives at work, Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) told his wife that she did not work and that he was the bread maker in the house. Alice Kramden (Sheila MacRae) said, "A women's work is never done from sun up to sun down" and that is so true. While the husband was working outside she did the work at home and when he got home she still worked on taking care of him. Thank You!

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.

It's the color honeymooners as the good life channel calls them and thank you good life, for bringing them back.

If it looks like the great one is resting on his laurels, so be it. He deserves it. Where the '50s version of the honeymooners was hysterical and gritty, the late '60s version emphasizes Miami (ad nausea - it still tickles me tho since i grew up in ft. Lauderdale in the '60s-'70s.), color, a large budget and awesome musical numbers. The comedy is still funny in fact even sidesplitting from time to time, but in this version, it seems to be all about CHARM as opposed to innovative comedy. Sure, Gleason and Carney are a TEAM and a delightful team, like going over to a favorite uncle at thanksgiving. It's a team that has paid their dues and now are reaping the rewards and just relaxing and having fun. THere's nothing wrong with that. IT's just not as funny and innovative as these episode are remakes of the '50s episodes which was where the innovation was.

THe composers of the songs can stand proud of their accomplishment at writing a damn fine musical a week (or every other maybe?) and their creations can stand along side anything on Broadway at the time or even now. Perhaps there can be a musical review on stage featuring these great songs. I especially love the song from the Italy episode which Sheila mccrae sings with a Italian boy. what a beautiful song.

Mccrae and Jane Kean are always criticized for not being the beloved Audrey Meadows (or Pert Kelton for that matter. I saw one extremely rare Dumont show where she played Alice. she was truly frightening.) and Joyce Randolph. But Sheila and Jane are top notch singers and I love the hear them belt out Alice's and Trixie's songs. It's funny because I can't picture Sheila and Jane in the old '50s show just like i can't picture Audrey and Joyce in the '60s show. Gleason and Carney aren't singers at all, but they can sure put over a great song nonetheless. There are no comparisons.

THe only thing i find regrettable is that good life TV is only showing honeymooner episodes and there are only 40 of these hour long color musicals. I wish they would show the other non-honeymooners episodes. And now that I live in a city where I cant get good life TV, I wish someone would come out with an authorized DVD of four complete seasons of the Jackie Gleason show from Miami.

But thank you good life TV for bringing back great Saturday night TV and a heck of a lot of charm and class.