Originally a recurring sketch on Gleason’s live variety TV show, “The Honeymooners” aired as filmed productions beginning in 1955. While only 39 episodes were shot (the “classic 39,” according to aficionados), the characters were brought back for Gleason’s ’60s variety show, making a run on American television screens up until 1970 — and, to this day, continuing in syndication.
“The Honeymooners”
The Brooklyn-born Jackie Gleason was a nightclub comedian who appeared in several B-movies in the 1940s and in an early TV version of the popular radio comedy, “The Life of Riley.” His nightclub gigs landed him the role of host of the variety show, “Cavalcade of Stars.”Art Carney was an actor, singer and radio comedian who teamed up with Gleason for sketches on “Cavalcade of Stars.” In “The Honeymooners,” Carney played sewer worker Ed Norton.
Actress Audrey Meadows, who appeared in the Broadway show “Top Banana,” replaced the original Alice Kramden, Pert Kelton, when Gleason debuted his CBS variety show.
Broadway and TV actress Joyce Randolph took over the role of Ed’s wife, Trixie Norton, from Elaine Stritch on “Cavalcade of Stars,” and continued with the role throughout the 1950s.
