George Boyle
Several actresses played the role of Alice Kramden in 'The Honeymooners'. Pert Kelton first played the role in 1955, but when the show moved from the DuMont network to CBS, Kelton was replaced by Audrey Meadows. Meadows became well-known for her portrayal of Alice, and the character became more associated with her than with the other actresses who played her. Meadows reprised her role as Alice on other shows, and even published a memoir about her time on the show, titled 'Love, Alice: My Life As A Honeymooner'. In the late 1960s, Sheila MacRae played Alice in musical-comedy episodes of 'The Honeymooners' featured as part of 'The Jackie Gleason Show'.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the character | Alice Kramden |
| Name of the show | The Honeymooners |
| Number of people who played Alice Kramden | 5 |
| Names of the people who played Alice Kramden | Pert Kelton, Audrey Meadows, Sue Ane Langdon, Sheila MacRae, MacRae |
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What You'll Learn
Pert Kelton was the original Alice Kramden
Pert Kelton was the original actor to play Alice Kramden in The Honeymooners. The show was initially a comedy sketch on the DuMont Television Network's Cavalcade of Stars, with Kelton starring as Alice, the wife of Ralph Kramden, played by Jackie Gleason. The sketches were around 10 to 20 minutes long and formed the basis for the later sitcom The Honeymooners.
When The Honeymooners became a half-hour situation comedy on CBS, Pert Kelton was forced to leave the role due to being blacklisted as a Communist sympathizer. The network refused to hire her, and the official reason given for her departure was health problems. Kelton was replaced by Audrey Meadows, who became well-known for her portrayal of Alice and reprised the role in various shows and specials.
Gleason initially did not want to replace Kelton and preferred her for the role, but eventually, he agreed to meet Audrey Meadows, who was nine years older than him. Meadows altered her appearance to look more like the character of Alice, dressing dowdily and without makeup, and ultimately won the part.
Pert Kelton, however, did make a return to the CBS show in the 1960s, playing Alice's mother in an episode of the hour-long musical version of The Honeymooners.
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Kelton was dropped from the show due to being named a Communist sympathizer
Pert Kelton was the original actress to play Alice Kramden in "The Honeymooners." Kelton portrayed the character during the show's run on the DuMont Television Network's Cavalcade of Stars. However, when the show moved to CBS, Kelton was dropped from the cast due to being named a Communist sympathizer.
Kelton's name appeared in the 1950 book "Red Channels: The Report of Communist Influence in Radio and Television." The book listed 151 people in the entertainment industry who were accused of having Communist sympathies. Those named in the book, including Kelton, were blacklisted and faced difficulties finding work in the industry. To resume their careers, they would have had to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee, which was investigating alleged Communist activities in entertainment.
At the time, there was a widespread fear of Communism in the United States, and those associated with Communist sympathies faced significant repercussions. As a result, CBS refused to allow Kelton to continue her role on "The Honeymooners." The network did not want to be associated with anyone who was perceived as having Communist sympathies.
Gleason, the creator and star of "The Honeymooners," favored Kelton and wanted to keep her on the show. However, he was overruled by CBS, and Kelton was let go. To explain her departure, Gleason fabricated a story about Kelton having health issues, shielding her from the true reason for her dismissal.
The role of Alice Kramden on "The Honeymooners" was then recast, and Audrey Meadows ultimately landed the part. Meadows's portrayal of Alice became highly associated with the character, and she reprised the role in various specials and sketches.
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Audrey Meadows replaced Kelton when the show moved to CBS
Pert Kelton was the original actor to play Alice Kramden in The Honeymooners. Kelton portrayed the character during the show's run on the DuMont Television Network's Cavalcade of Stars. However, when the show moved to CBS, Kelton was replaced by Audrey Meadows.
There are conflicting reports about the reason for Kelton's replacement. Some sources claim that the network refused to hire Kelton due to her being blacklisted. Kelton and her husband were listed in Red Channels, a publication of alleged communists or fellow travellers in the US entertainment industry. To conceal the real reason for her departure, it was reported that Kelton was suffering from health problems. However, other sources suggest that Jackie Gleason, the creator and star of The Honeymooners, simply wanted a new actor in the role of Alice Kramden.
Audrey Meadows, who was six years younger than Gleason, had to prove herself worthy of the role. Initially, Gleason believed she was too young and too pretty to portray a blue-collar housewife. To convince him, Meadows had a series of photographs taken of herself looking dishevelled and dowdy. When Gleason saw the photos, he is reported to have said, "That's our Alice".
Meadows' portrayal of Alice Kramden became iconic, and she reprised the role in various other shows. She was the only member of the Honeymooners cast to earn residual royalties after the Classic 39 episodes of the show from 1955 to 1956 started airing in reruns. Her performance earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Meadows passed away in 1996 at the age of 74.
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Meadows was initially rejected for being too young and pretty
The character of Alice Kramden in "The Honeymooners" was played by several actresses, including Pert Kelton, Audrey Meadows, Sue Ane Langdon, and Sheila MacRae. However, the most iconic portrayal of Alice was by Audrey Meadows, who became strongly associated with the character.
Meadows' road to playing Alice was not easy, and she was initially rejected for the role for being "too chic and pretty." At the time, Meadows was already a regular on television, having appeared in "The Bob and Ray Show." When the opportunity to play Alice Kramden came up, she was determined to win the role. However, she faced a significant challenge due to her appearance.
Gleason, the creator of "The Honeymooners," had a specific vision for the character of Alice, and he did not believe that Meadows fit the bill. In her autobiography, "Love, Alice: My Life as a Honeymooner", Meadows recounted that she had to use a bit of trickery to convince Gleason that she was right for the part. She initially approached him looking her best, but this backfired as Gleason felt she was too attractive for the role.
Realizing the need to change his perception, Meadows had a photographer take photos of her looking more dowdy and run-down, without makeup, and in drab house clothes. When the actor who played Ralph Kramden saw these photos, he exclaimed, "That's our Alice!" He was amused to discover that the unassuming woman in the photos was the same attractive person who had visited him the day before. This strategy worked, and Meadows ultimately secured the role of Alice, becoming a pivotal part of the beloved sitcom.
Meadows' portrayal of Alice was groundbreaking for the time. She presented a strong, independent female character who wasn't afraid to stand up to her husband, challenging the typical portrayal of women in 1950s sitcoms. Her performance paved the way for more complex and empowered female characters on television.
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Meadows' portrayal of Alice was groundbreaking for the time
Audrey Meadows' portrayal of Alice Kramden in "The Honeymooners" was groundbreaking for the time. Meadows' character was the quick-witted and no-nonsense wife of Ralph Kramden, showcasing her comedic prowess and laying the foundation for future female comedic talent. Meadows was one of the first women to star in a sitcom, challenging traditional gender roles with her strong and independent character.
Meadows' portrayal of Alice was so iconic that it became more associated with her than with the other actresses who played the character. She reprised her role as Alice on other shows, including a man-on-the-street interview for "The Steve Allen Show" and a parody sketch on "The Jack Benny Program." Meadows' performance in "The Honeymooners" earned her an Emmy Award nomination in 1956 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, with her portrayal of Alice widely praised for its comedic timing and endearing charm.
The road to landing the role of Alice Kramden was not easy for Meadows. She had to audition for the role and was initially rejected by Jackie Gleason, who thought she was too chic and pretty for the part. Meadows, determined to land the role, took matters into her own hands. She submitted a photo of herself looking much plainer, without makeup, and in dowdy clothing. This strategy worked, and Gleason changed his mind, offering her the role.
Meadows' portrayal of Alice Kramden was also notable because she was able to create comedic magic with her on-screen husband, Ralph Kramden, despite having a famous feud with the actor Jackie Gleason in real life. Their on-screen chemistry and comedic timing helped to make "The Honeymooners" a classic sitcom that left a lasting impact on audiences around the world.
In addition to her groundbreaking portrayal of Alice, Meadows also broke barriers for female comedians during a time when men predominantly dominated the comedy scene. Her improvisational skills and close bond with her co-stars added depth to her enigmatic persona, making her a beloved figure both on and off the screen.
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Frequently asked questions
Four people played Alice Kramden in The Honeymooners. Pert Kelton originated the role, followed by Audrey Meadows, then Sue Ane Langdon, and finally, Sheila MacRae.
Pert Kelton was the first actress to play Alice Kramden in The Honeymooners. She was nine years older than Jackie Gleason, who played Ralph Kramden. Kelton was forced to leave the show due to blacklisting, although the official reason given was a health problem.
Audrey Meadows is the actress most associated with the character of Alice Kramden. She played the role on The Jackie Gleason Show and the CBS sitcom The Honeymooners.
Sheila MacRae was a film, TV, and stage actress who played Alice Kramden in musical-comedy episodes of The Honeymooners in the late 1960s.
