Deborah Chan
Pert Kelton was an American actress who featured in stage, film, radio, and television productions. Kelton is best known for her role as Alice Kramden in the original sketches of The Honeymooners, which later became a sitcom in 1955. In the sitcom, Trixie Norton, the wife of Ed Norton, was played by Joyce Randolph. Elaine Stritch played Trixie in one sketch before being replaced by Randolph. Pert Kelton never played Trixie Norton in The Honeymooners.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Pert Kelton |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1925-1968 |
| Known for playing | Trixie in The Bowery, Alice Kramden in The Honeymooners |
| Trixie's character in The Bowery | Dance hall singer |
| Year played Trixie | 1933 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Pert Kelton played the original Alice Kramden in The Honeymooners
- Elaine Stritch played Trixie Norton for one sketch
- Pert Kelton was dropped from The Honeymooners due to being blacklisted
- Pert Kelton was in A-list movies during the 1930s
- Kelton's performances as Alice are available on DVD in the Lost Honeymooners collection
Pert Kelton played the original Alice Kramden in The Honeymooners
Pert Kelton was the original Alice Kramden in The Honeymooners, a comedy sketch that first aired on the DuMont Television Network's Cavalcade of Stars. The character of Alice Kramden was Ralph Kramden's wife, played by Jackie Gleason. The Honeymooners sketch was created by Gleason, who wanted to portray the realistic life of a poor husband and wife living in Brooklyn. The couple would continually argue but still show their love for each other.
Kelton's performances as Alice Kramden took place between 1950 and 1952, when The Honeymooners was a sporadically scheduled 10- to 20-minute playlet during Gleason's weekly TV variety show. Kelton was a veteran comedy actress, having performed in Broadway productions and Hollywood films during the 1920s and 1930s. She was known for her roles in films such as Bed of Roses (1933) and The Bowery (1933).
In 1955, Gleason decided to give The Honeymooners its own series, and the role of Alice Kramden went to Audrey Meadows. Kelton was abruptly dropped from the role due to being blacklisted, and her producers explained her departure as being due to alleged heart problems. Kelton and her husband had been listed in Red Channels, a publication from the early 1950s that listed alleged communists or sympathisers in the U.S.
In the 1960s, Kelton was invited back to play Alice's mother in an episode of the hour-long musical version of The Honeymooners, with Sheila MacRae as a younger Alice.
Best Honeymoon Destinations for the Month of May
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Elaine Stritch played Trixie Norton for one sketch
Pert Kelton was an American actress for stage, movie, radio, and television. She was born in 1907 in Great Falls, Montana, and began her career at the age of three in 1910. Kelton was the original Alice Kramden in The Honeymooners, a comedy sketch that formed the basis for the 1955 sitcom of the same name. The Honeymooners follows the lives of New York City bus driver Ralph Kramden, his wife Alice, Ralph's best friend Ed Norton, and Ed's wife Trixie Norton as they navigate various schemes in their daily lives.
Elaine Stritch, also an American actress, singer, and comedienne, was the first and original Trixie Norton in one Honeymooners sketch. The character was initially a burlesque dancer, but the role was recast after one episode with Joyce Randolph playing Trixie as a housewife. Stritch's portrayal of Trixie was substantially grittier than Randolph's, which is the version most people remember.
Pert Kelton's role as Alice Kramden in The Honeymooners was short-lived due to her being blacklisted for her then-considered-radical political beliefs. Kelton and her husband were listed in Red Channels, a publication of alleged communists or sympathizers in the U.S. While the public reason given for her departure was heart problems, it was later revealed that her blacklisting was due to her husband's participation in a May Day parade years earlier.
The Honeymooners became a pop culture icon, with its cast of characters and their schemes remaining in the public consciousness long after the show went off the air. The show's creator and star, Jackie Gleason, auditioned several actresses to replace Kelton as Alice but struggled to find a suitable fit. He eventually cast Audrey Meadows in the role, and the new version of The Honeymooners with Meadows, Art Carney as Ed Norton, and Joyce Randolph as Trixie Norton was assembled.
Honeymoon in Puerto Rico: Adventure, Romance, and Relaxation
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Pert Kelton was dropped from The Honeymooners due to being blacklisted
Pert Kelton was an American actress who performed on stage, in movies, on radio, and on television. She was born on October 14, 1907, in Great Falls, Montana, and began performing at the age of three. By the late 1920s, she had moved to California to work in Hollywood films. During the 1930s, she appeared in over 20 feature films and shorts, often portraying the leading lady's wisecracking friend. She also performed on Broadway and had a successful career on radio.
In the early 1950s, Kelton's career was interrupted due to being blacklisted. She was named in "Red Channels", an early 1950s publication that listed alleged communists or "fellow travellers" in the United States. This led to her departure from the role of Alice Kramden in the "Honeymooners" sketches, which she had originated on the DuMont Television Network's "Cavalcade of Stars." The "Honeymooners" sketches formed the basis for the 1955 sitcom "The Honeymooners."
Kelton's producers gave health problems as the public reason for her departure, specifically heart issues. However, it was later revealed that she had been blacklisted due to her then-considered-radical political beliefs and her association with her husband, Ralph Bell, who had also been blacklisted for participating in a May Day parade.
Despite this setback, Kelton continued to find success in her career. She returned to the "big screen" in 1962 with a role in "The Music Man." She was also invited back to the CBS show to play Alice's mother in an episode of the hour-long musical version of "The Honeymooners" in the 1960s. In addition, she appeared in other television shows such as "The Twilight Zone" and "My Three Sons." Kelton passed away on October 30, 1968, leaving behind a legacy as a talented and versatile actress.
Understanding the Duration of Honeymoon Phase in Relationships
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Pert Kelton was in A-list movies during the 1930s
Pert Kelton was a young comedienne who starred in several A-list movies during the 1930s. She often portrayed the leading lady's wisecracking friend. She appeared in over 20 feature films and shorts during that decade, including Gregory La Cava's "Bed of Roses" with Constance Bennett and Raoul Walsh's "The Bowery" with Wallace Beery and George Raft (both released in 1933). In "The Bowery", Kelton played dance hall singer "Trixie" alongside Wallace Beery, George Raft, Jackie Cooper, and Fay Wray. The film is based on the story of Steve Brodie, the first man who reportedly jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge in 1886 and survived. Kelton's performance included a memorable scene in which she sings to a rowdy crowd in a New York accent, with Beery and Raft arguing over her attention.
In Gregory La Cava's 1933 pre-Code comedy "Bed of Roses", Kelton played Minnie, a witty prostitute who teams up with Constance Bennett's character, Lorry, to rob men by getting them drunk. Kelton's career began on stage at the age of three when she debuted in Cape Town, Union of South Africa, while accompanying her parents and sister on an overseas tour. She later received extensive training in dance, voice, and drama. By the age of 12, she was performing with her parents as "The Three Keltons", and by 17, she was performing on Broadway. Kelton and her parents moved to California in the latter half of 1927 to work in Hollywood films.
In addition to her film career, Kelton was also a successful radio actress, performing on popular shows such as "Easy Aces", "It's Always Albert", "The Stu Erwin Show", and "The Milton Berle Show". She was also a regular cast member of "The Henry Morgan Show". In the early 1950s, she played the role of Agnes, the tart maid in the Monty Woolley vehicle "The Magnificent Montague". Kelton is best known for her role as Mrs. Paroo in the original 1957 Broadway production of "The Music Man", which she reprised in the 1962 film adaptation.
Pert Kelton is also known for her role as Alice Kramden in the original "Honeymooners" sketches, which debuted on October 5, 1951, as a six-minute sketch. The "Honeymooners" was a comedy sketch created by and starring Jackie Gleason, based on a radio show called "The Bickersons". Kelton's character, Alice Kramden, was the long-suffering wife of Ralph Kramden, played by Gleason. Kelton was forced to leave the role after being blacklisted due to her political beliefs and was replaced by Audrey Meadows.
Honeymoon Wedding Registries: Tacky or Tasteful?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Kelton's performances as Alice are available on DVD in the Lost Honeymooners collection
Pert Kelton played the role of Alice Kramden in the original sketches of The Honeymooners. The character of Alice Kramden is Ralph Kramden's wife, played by Jackie Gleason. Kelton's performances as Alice are available on DVD in the Lost Honeymooners collection. However, Kelton's performances as Alice are believed to be essentially lost, with only a few kinescopes possibly existing.
The Honeymooners originally appeared as a sketch on the DuMont Network's Cavalcade of Stars, with Kelton as Alice. When the contract with DuMont expired, Gleason moved to CBS, where he hosted The Jackie Gleason Show. The role of Alice went to Audrey Meadows because Kelton had been blacklisted. Kelton was reportedly blacklisted due to her then-considered-radical political beliefs, as well as her husband's political affiliations. The public reason given for her departure was alleged heart problems.
Kelton's performances as Alice in The Honeymooners sketches are described as wonderful and memorable. She is considered the most believable Alice, with her performances showcasing both humour and touching moments. Kelton's chemistry with Gleason is also highlighted, with some claiming that she was the most realistic partner for him on the show.
In the 1960s, Kelton was invited back to Gleason's CBS show to play Alice's mother in an episode of the hour-long musical version of The Honeymooners, also known as The Color Honeymooners. This version featured Sheila MacRae as a younger Alice. Kelton's return to the show, even in a different role, showcases her enduring association with the character of Alice and The Honeymooners.
The Perfect Honeymoon: Adventure or Relaxation?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Pert Kelton never played Trixie in The Honeymooners. Kelton played Alice Kramden, wife of Ralph Kramden, in the original sketches of The Honeymooners. Trixie was played by Elaine Stritch for one sketch and then by Joyce Randolph.
Trixie Norton, Ed Norton's wife, was played by Elaine Stritch for one sketch and then by Joyce Randolph.
Alice Kramden was first played by Pert Kelton. Kelton was forced to leave the role due to being blacklisted and was replaced by Audrey Meadows.
