The Honeymoon Is Never Over

Author: Jeff Little

Ah, Brooklyn. Brooklyn, New York. Home of the ever-popular television series The Honeymooners, and not so coincidentally the birthplace of one Herbert John Gleason.

Better known to us as "Jackie", Gleason was born in Brooklyn on February 26, 1916 and years later was kind enough to share a talent as immense as his physicality with television viewers and, later on, movie-goers and music lovers.

Raised in an area surrounded by real-life characters he would later convert into television icons, Gleason was raised by a single mother (his father had deserted them), and was left totally parentless when she died about the time he turned 16. But, fortunately for us, "The Great One" (as he later became to known) converted a tough upbringing into laughter and escapism that would be enjoyed by the entire world over the course of his career and long after his death in 1987.

Minor recognition came to Gleason on Broadway and in minor film roles, but his major introduction to millions of television viewers came in 1949. As Chester A. Riley, title character on one of television's first situation comedies, The Life of Riley, America met Gleason and they liked what they saw.

Spring-boarding from Riley, Gleason was hired in 1950 to host the now defunct Dumont Network's Cavalcade of Stars, a weekly variety show that made Gleason an immediate sensation; sensational enough to be hired by CBS as host and star of The Jackie Gleason Show in 1952.

Gleason's weekly variety fest ran on CBS for years (in various incarnations) and was an unqualified smash. Becoming a television mainstay which aired on-and-off until 1970, Gleason introduced the world to such unforgettable characters as Reginald Van Gleason III, Fenwick Babbitt, The Poor Soul (always performed in pantomime), and, of course, an overbearing, loud-mouthed bus driver named Ralph Kramden.

The Honeymooners, originally a series of skits on Gleason's variety show, became such a popular feature that viewers constantly clamoring for more finally got their wish. In 1955 Gleason suspended his variety show format in favor of a weekly half hour situation comedy called The Honeymooners.

As hard as it is to believe, The Honeymooners series aired only a total of 39 episodes between 1955 and 1956. But so much television history was made with those 39 installments. No doubt thanks to the rich characters brought to life by Gleason, Joyce Randolph, Audrey Meadows, and the incredible Art Carney.

Often imitated (never duplicated), The Honeymooners has served as a blueprint for other sitcoms lacking the imagination and creativity of its writers and cast since it first aired in 1955. And the blatant rip-offs continue even today in a much too high percentage of low-quality television.

Even the concept of residual payments to actors (reportedly created by Joyce Randolph's brother/manager) continues today thanks to Gleason and Company's innovations. Years after its first airing, actors have The Honeymooners to thank for many, many paychecks.

Even today's boom in primetime television animation is thanks to a spin-off of The Honeymooners. But, to its credit, The Flintstones never made a secret that they were a copy. In fact, they capitalized on the fact they weren't exactly original.

Not being original was never a problem for Jackie Gleason. After his stint with The Honeymooners he continued to entertain us on television, in films (like Smokey and the Bandit), and even with music (Jackie Gleason's Music for Lovers Only).

Thanks for all the great entertainment, Jackie. "Baby, you're the greatest."

Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows as Ralph and Alice.

Art Carney as The Honeymooners' Ed Norton

Bedrock's Favorite Families.