1955 · 1 season · Comedy

7.5 Modest

Series finished

Comedy Family

A bus driver and his sewer worker friend struggle to strike it rich while their wives look on with weary patience. One of the most influential situation comedy television series in American history.

Country of origin: 🇺🇸 United States
Year: 1955

Created by: Jackie Gleason
Channel: CBS

Trivia & behind the scenes

Origins

The sketch was inspired by the popular radio show The Bickersons, with Gleason aiming for a realistic portrayal of a poor Brooklyn couple who argue but ultimately show their love for each other.

Origins

Before settling on 'The Honeymooners,' Gleason and his writers considered titles like 'The Beast,' 'The Lovers,' and 'The Couple Next Door.'

Casting

Original Alice Kramden actress Pert Kelton was blacklisted after her husband was found to have marched in a May Day parade years earlier, forcing Gleason to recast the role when he moved to CBS.

Casting

To convince a skeptical Gleason that she could play the frumpy Alice despite being considered too attractive, Audrey Meadows had a photographer take pictures of her early in the morning with no makeup and a torn housecoat; Gleason approved on seeing them, unaware it was Meadows.

Casting

Elaine Stritch originated the role of Trixie Norton as a burlesque dancer in a single sketch before Gleason rewrote the character as a wholesome housewife and recast Joyce Randolph.

Casting

Ralph Kramden became the inspiration for Fred Flintstone, Alice for Wilma Flintstone, Ed Norton for Barney Rubble, and Trixie for Betty Rubble.

Filming

All 39 'Classic' episodes were filmed live before an audience of 1,000 at the DuMont Network's Adelphi Theatre in Manhattan, without full rehearsals because Gleason felt rehearsing would kill the show's spontaneity.

Filming

Because episodes were unrehearsed, actors often forgot lines and developed visual cues to help each other, such as Gleason patting his stomach when he forgot a line and Meadows glancing at the icebox to cue someone to retrieve a prop.

Effects

The show was filmed using DuMont's Electronicam TV film system, which captured live performances directly onto film, giving it superior picture and sound quality compared to most kinescoped live shows of the era.

References

In one episode, Norton mentions a co-worker named 'Nat Birnbaum,' a sly reference since Nathan Birnbaum was George Burns's real name.

Reception

Gleason's three-year CBS/Buick contract for The Honeymooners was reportedly valued at $11 million, one of the largest deals in show business history at the time, yet he cancelled the show after just one season despite $7 million remaining on the contract.

Reception

Audrey Meadows was reportedly the only original cast member to receive residuals from syndication of the 'Classic 39' episodes because her lawyer brother had inserted that provision into her contract.

Memorable quotes

BANG, ZOOM! To the moon, Alice!

Ralph Kramden Ralph's iconic threat to Alice

One of these days... One of these days... (He shoots his fist up) POW! Right in the kisser!

Ralph Kramden Ralph threatens Norton or Alice

(To Alice, gesturing with his fist) Bang, zoom!

Ralph Kramden Ralph's fist-shaking catchphrase

(To Alice at the end of many episodes) Baby, you're the greatest.

Ralph Kramden Ralph's tender ending line to Alice

Hamina-hamina-hamina-hamina.

Ralph Kramden Ralph flustered and speechless

(To Ralph): Ahhhh, shaddap!

Alice Kramden Alice dismisses Ralph's rant

(To Ralph): The biggest thing you ever got into was your pants.

Alice Kramden Alice mocks Ralph's failures

A mere bag of shells.

Ralph Kramden Ralph downplays something valuable

Norton: Ralph?Ralph: What?Norton: Mind if I smoke?Ralph: I don't care if you burn.

Ed Norton Norton asks to smoke, Ralph snaps back

Ralph: Peanuts! Peanuts, Alice! What am I supposed to do with peanuts?Alice: Eat 'em, like any other elephant!

Ralph Kramden Ralph complains about a meager gift

Ralph: Me and my silly pride. Well, I promise you this, Norton: I'm gonna learn. I'm gonna learn from here on out how to swallow my pride.Norton: Well, that ought not to be too hard; you've learned how to swallow everything else.Ralph: GET OUT!

Ralph Kramden Ralph vows to swallow his pride, Norton jabs back

(Ralph can't remove a ring from his finger)Ralph: Isn't there any lard around here?Alice: Yeah, about 300 pounds.Ralph: Oh, you're gonna get yours!

Ralph Kramden Ralph stuck with a ring, Alice teases his weight

Alice: I'll go fix my lipstick. I won't be gone long, Killer. I call you Killer 'cause you slay me.Ralph: And I'm calling Bellevue 'cause you're nuts!

Alice Kramden Alice's pun on Killer, Ralph's comeback

Ralph: That's the trouble with you, Alice. You don't know the latest developments!Alice: I don't know the latest developments??! Who is it that lets your pants out every other day??

Alice Kramden Alice reminds Ralph who fixes his pants

Ralph: You're the type of person that would bend waaaaay over to pick up a purse on April Fools' Day. I wouldn't. Alice: You couldn't.

Alice Kramden Alice tops Ralph's insult

(in A Matter of Life and Death) Don't touch me, Ralph. I'm sterile.

Ed Norton Norton avoids Ralph's germs

Va va va voom!

Ed Norton Norton's exclamation of admiration

Hey, Ralphie boy!

Ed Norton Norton greets Ralph

(Norton has been fired from his job) Ol' Ed Norton, reliable ol' Ed Norton, working 17 years in the sewer. And now everything's down the drain!

Ed Norton Norton laments losing his sewer job

(To Ralph): I don't wanna look at that icebox, that stove, that sink, and these four walls. I wanna look at Liberace!

Alice Kramden Alice dreams of a better life

Themes

new york city working class blue collar worker sitcom

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Trivia & behind the scenes

Memorable quotes

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