Deborah Chan
Pert Kelton was the original Alice Kramden in *The Honeymooners* comedy sketches on the DuMont Television Network's *Cavalcade of Stars*. However, Kelton was abruptly dropped from her role after being blacklisted, with producers citing alleged heart problems as the reason for her departure. Kelton's husband had been blacklisted during the McCarthy hearings, which affected her career. Kelton was replaced by Audrey Meadows, and although she returned to play Alice's mother in a musical episode in the 1960s, her performances as Alice are largely lost.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for leaving | Blacklisted |
| Replacement | Audrey Meadows |
| Role | Alice Kramden |
| Year of departure | 1952 |
| Years active | 1950-1952 |
| Show | The Honeymooners |
| Network | DuMont Television Network |
| Format | Sporadic 10- to 20-minute playlets |
| Return | Yes, as Alice's mother |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Pert Kelton was the original Alice Kramden
Pert Kelton was a vaudeville, Broadway, and screen actress, often taking on comedic roles. She is best known for her role as the original Alice Kramden in The Honeymooners, a comedy sketch that aired on the DuMont Television Network's Cavalcade of Stars.
Kelton's performances as Alice Kramden took place between 1950 and 1952, before The Honeymooners became an independent series. The sketches were sporadically scheduled, 10- to 20-minute playlets during Gleason's weekly TV variety show. Kelton's performances as Alice are largely lost, with only a few kinescopes believed to be available.
Kelton was chosen by Jackie Gleason to play the role of Alice Kramden, Ralph Kramden's acerbic and long-suffering wife. Kelton's portrayal of Alice is considered the most believable, and she brought a unique dynamic to the character. Alice was often the target of Ralph's tantrums and demands, responding with biting sarcasm. Despite Ralph's schemes and anger, Alice remained level-headed, often seeing the unworkability of his plans.
However, Kelton was abruptly dropped from the role after being blacklisted due to her husband's political affiliations. Her departure was publicly attributed to alleged heart problems, but in reality, her name had appeared in "Red Channels," a publication listing alleged communists and their associates in the United States. Audrey Meadows replaced Kelton as Alice Kramden when the show moved to CBS.
Despite this setback, Kelton was able to revive her career, particularly on Broadway, where she starred in numerous productions. She also returned to The Honeymooners in the late 1960s, playing the role of Alice's mother.
Edward's Deadly Honeymoon: Bella's Fate
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Kelton's performances as Alice are lost
Pert Kelton was the original Alice Kramden in *The Honeymooners* comedy sketches, which aired on the DuMont Television Network's *Cavalcade of Stars*. These sketches formed the basis for the 1955 sitcom *The Honeymooners*. Kelton's performances took place between 1950 and 1952, when *The Honeymooners* was merely a 10- to 15-minute playlet during Gleason's weekly TV variety show. Kelton's performances as Alice are largely lost, with only a few kinescopes believed to be available.
Kelton was the first to play Alice Kramden, the wife of Ralph Kramden, immortalized by Jackie Gleason. Kelton's portrayal of Alice Kramden is considered the most believable, and she appeared in the first seven to nine episodes of the show. However, she was abruptly dropped from the role due to being blacklisted. Kelton's husband had been blacklisted during the McCarthy hearings, which affected her career. To explain her departure from the show, producers claimed that she had heart problems. Kelton and her husband were listed in *Red Channels*, a publication from the early 1950s that listed alleged communists or sympathizers in the United States.
Although Kelton's performances as Alice Kramden are mostly lost, she did return to *The Honeymooners* in the late 1960s, playing the role of Alice's mother. In 1963, Kelton also appeared on *The Twilight Zone*, playing the overbearing mother of Robert Duvall in the episode "Miniature".
Kelton's career spanned both stage and screen, with appearances in films, television, and theatre. She was a vaudeville and Broadway player and a screen actress, often taking on comedic roles. She is particularly known for her role as Mrs. Paroo in the 1962 film *The Music Man*.
Best Hawaii Big Island Honeymoon Hotels and Resorts
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Kelton was forced to leave due to being blacklisted
Pert Kelton was the original Alice Kramden in *The Honeymooners* comedy sketches on the DuMont Television Network's *Cavalcade of Stars*. These sketches formed the basis for the 1955 sitcom *The Honeymooners*. Kelton's performances took place around 1950–1952, before *The Honeymooners* became an independent series. Kelton was the first to play the role of Ralph Kramden's acerbic and long-suffering wife, and her performances are remembered as wonderful and believable.
Kelton was forced to leave the role due to being blacklisted. Her husband had been blacklisted during the McCarthy hearings, which affected her career. Kelton and her husband were listed in *Red Channels*, a publication from the early 1950s that listed alleged communists or sympathisers in the US. Playwright Arthur Miller, a family friend, wrote in his autobiography that Kelton's blacklisting was due to her husband, Ralph, having marched in a May Day parade.
When Jackie Gleason moved to CBS, Kelton was no longer part of the cast of *The Honeymooners*. To explain her departure, Gleason claimed that she had heart trouble. Audrey Meadows took over the role of Alice Kramden. In the late 1960s, Kelton returned to *The Honeymooners* as Alice's mother.
Honeymooning in Cabo: Top Romantic Escapes
You may want to see also
Audrey Meadows replaced Kelton as Alice
Pert Kelton played the role of Alice Kramden, the wife of Ralph Kramden (played by Jackie Gleason) in the first seven to nine episodes of The Honeymooners. The Honeymooners initially appeared as a 10- to 20-minute sketch on the DuMont Television Network's Cavalcade of Stars. Kelton's performances took place from 1950 to 1952, before the show became an independent series.
Kelton was abruptly dropped from the role of Alice Kramden due to being blacklisted. Her husband had been blacklisted during the McCarthy hearings, which affected her career. Kelton and her husband had been listed in Red Channels, a publication from the early 1950s that listed alleged communists or sympathisers in the US. To conceal the real reason for her departure, her producers claimed that she had left due to heart problems.
Audrey Meadows then replaced Kelton as Alice Kramden. When Jackie Gleason's contract with DuMont expired, he moved to CBS, where he had The Jackie Gleason Show. However, Kelton was no longer part of the cast. Playwright Arthur Miller, a family friend, wrote in his autobiography, Timebends: A Life, that Kelton's blacklisting was due to her husband, Ralph, having marched in a May Day parade years earlier.
Kelton did eventually revive her career, especially on Broadway, where she starred in numerous productions. In the late 1960s, she returned to The Honeymooners, but this time as Alice's mother.
Honeymoon Baby Boom: How Many Are Conceived?
You may want to see also
Kelton later returned to play Alice's mother
Pert Kelton was the original Alice Kramden in "The Honeymooners" comedy sketches, which aired on the DuMont Television Network's Cavalcade of Stars. These sketches formed the basis for the 1955 sitcom "The Honeymooners". Jackie Gleason starred as her husband Ralph Kramden, and Art Carney played their upstairs neighbour, Ed Norton.
Kelton's performances took place between 1950 and 1952, before "The Honeymooners" became an independent series. Kelton was forced to leave the role after being blacklisted due to her husband's involvement in the early 1950s publication, Red Channels, which listed alleged communists or sympathisers in the U.S. To conceal the real reason for her departure, her producers cited alleged heart problems.
In the late 1960s, Kelton returned to "The Honeymooners" to play Alice's mother in an episode of the hour-long musical version of the show, also known as "The Color Honeymooners". This marked a revival in her career, especially on Broadway, where she starred in numerous productions.
Kelton's other notable roles include Mrs. Paroo in the original 1957 Broadway production of "The Music Man", which she reprised in the 1962 movie adaptation, and the overbearing mother of Robert Duvall in the 1963 "The Twilight Zone" episode "Miniature".
Honeymoon Bliss: A Cartoonist's Take on Newlywed Life
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Kelton was forced to leave the role of Alice Kramden in "The Honeymooners" because she was blacklisted. Her husband had been blacklisted during the McCarthy hearings, affecting her career.
Audrey Meadows replaced Pert Kelton in the role of Alice Kramden.
Yes, Kelton returned to "The Honeymooners" in the late 1960s, but as Alice's mother.
