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The Honeymooners is an American television sitcom that aired from 1955 to 1956 on CBS. The show revolves around the lives of New York City bus driver Ralph Kramden, his wife Alice, and their neighbours, Ed and Trixie Norton. The show is known for its comedic portrayal of Ralph's get-rich-quick schemes and the absurd dilemmas that the characters often find themselves in. With its working-class characters and gritty setting, The Honeymooners was ahead of its time, offering a realistic portrayal of married life that was uncommon in television shows of that era. The show's popularity has endured, with viewers still enjoying the classic episodes decades later.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Original airing period | October 1955 – September 1956 |
| Number of episodes | 39 |
| Length of episodes | 30 minutes |
| Creator and star | Jackie Gleason |
| Based on | A recurring comedy sketch of the same name that was part of Gleason's variety show |
| Characters | Ralph Kramden, Alice Kramden, Ed Norton, Trixie Norton |
| Actors | Jackie Gleason, Audrey Meadows, Art Carney, Joyce Randolph, Jane Kean |
| Plot | Ralph, a bus driver, and his sewer worker friend Ed try to strike it rich while their wives look on with weary patience |
| Tone | Comedic, but also addresses serious issues such as women's rights and social status |
| Availability | Streaming on Pluto TV for free with ads or can be purchased as a download on Amazon Video |
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What You'll Learn
The show's portrayal of working-class married couples
The Honeymooners was one of the first American television shows to portray working-class married couples in a realistic, non-idyllic manner. The show revolves around Ralph Kramden, a bus driver, and his wife, Alice, who live in a neglected Brooklyn apartment building. Ralph's best friend, Ed Norton, and his wife, Trixie, are also a significant part of the show.
The show is set primarily in the Kramdens' kitchen, reflecting the reality of working-class couples' lives in the 1950s. The characters' struggles and schemes are often portrayed in a comedic tone, but the show also addresses more serious issues such as women's rights and social status. The early sketches of the show, which first appeared in 1951, were notably darker, with Ralph and his wife, Alice (then played by Pert Kelton), exhibiting great bitterness and frustration in their marriage.
The show's portrayal of working-class married life was considered groundbreaking at the time. The characters' living situation, financial struggles, and occasional domestic disputes reflected the realities of many working-class families. While some viewers found the show entertaining and relatable, others criticised it for normalising Ralph's occasional yelling at his wife and his "monster" behaviour.
The show's creator, Jackie Gleason, described the couple as having their fights but ultimately loving each other. This dynamic was a key element of the show's appeal, and the title ""The Honeymooners" was chosen to reflect this ongoing love despite their arguments. The show's portrayal of working-class married life, while controversial in some aspects, contributed to its popularity and enduring legacy in American television history.
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![Honeymooners: Classic 39 Episodes [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41NH3To00+L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The characters' get-rich-quick schemes
The Honeymooners is an American television sitcom that aired from 1955 to 1956. The show 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. The show is set mostly in the Kramdens' apartment, specifically in their kitchen in a neglected Brooklyn apartment building.
The characters often get involved in various get-rich-quick schemes in their day-to-day lives. Ralph, the main character, is portrayed as an underdog who is always trying to improve his and his wife's life but ultimately fails due to his own shortcomings. He is known for his poor choices and judgmental attitude, which often lead to absurd dilemmas that are presented in a comedic tone.
- Ralph and Norton want to buy a hot dog stand in New Jersey, but they need $600 first. They borrow the money from a bank, but their plans are dashed when they learn that a Howard Johnson's restaurant is being built down the road from their stand.
- Ralph wants to win a $100 gift certificate in a local furniture store's contest by guessing how many jellybeans are in a jar. He buys thousands of jellybeans and a similar jar to practice his guess. He wins, but the prize is a $100 gift certificate redeemable only after buying $1,000 worth of furniture.
- Ralph and Norton form a partnership to invest in a candy store, but neither of them has the money. They hear about a find-the-missing-money contest with a $1,000 prize and try to find the money in an automat across from Grand Central Station. They don't find the money and are arrested for creating a disturbance.
- Ralph plans to sell an all-purpose kitchen gadget with Norton's assistance and demonstrate it during a live TV commercial. However, Ralph's stage fright may ruin the commercial.
- Ralph wants to become a songwriter after learning that a professional songwriter was paid $100 to write a theme song for the Raccoon Lodge. He recruits Norton to help him write songs, but they are unsuccessful. They take a melody they wrote to a publisher, who wants to bring in a professional songwriter to write lyrics to Norton's music. Ralph steps aside for Norton's sake.
- Ralph finds a suitcase full of money on a bus and starts spending it all without turning it in.
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The original comedy sketches
The Honeymooners was an American television sitcom that aired from 1955 to 1956. It was created by and starred Jackie Gleason, based on a recurring comedy sketch of the same name that had been part of Gleason's variety show. The original comedy sketches first aired on the DuMont network's variety series Cavalcade of Stars, which was hosted by Gleason. The show followed the lives of New York City bus driver Ralph Kramden (played by Gleason) and his wife, Alice (played by Audrey Meadows), as they navigated various schemes and absurd dilemmas in their daily lives.
The Honeymooners sketches first appeared on Cavalcade of Stars in 1951, with the role of Alice originally played by Pert Kelton. When Gleason's contract with DuMont expired, he moved to CBS, where he continued to feature The Honeymooners sketches on his new show, The Jackie Gleason Show. Due to blacklisting, the role of Alice was recast for the CBS show, with Audrey Meadows taking on the part.
The Honeymooners sketches on Cavalcade of Stars were typically six minutes long and drew upon familiar domestic situations for their material. The sketches often featured the couple arguing but ultimately showing their love for each other. The characters of Ralph and Alice Kramden, a poor husband and wife living in Brooklyn, were portrayed in a realistic and non-idyllic manner, showcasing the gritty reality of working-class married life.
The Honeymooners sketches gained immense popularity, leading Gleason to rework them into a filmed half-hour series that debuted on CBS on October 1, 1955. The show became a ratings success, facing stiff competition from The Perry Como Show on NBC. The final episode of The Honeymooners aired on September 22, 1956, but Gleason sporadically revived the characters for sketches and specials until 1978.
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The show's revival and specials
The Honeymooners is an American television sitcom that first aired from 1955 to 1956. The show centres on the lives of New York City bus driver Ralph Kramden, his wife Alice, Ralph's best friend Ed Norton, and Ed's wife Trixie. The show was created by and starred Jackie Gleason, based on a recurring comedy sketch of the same name that was part of his variety show.
The Honeymooners ended in 1956, but Gleason sporadically revived the characters until 1978. The show was one of the first U.S. television shows to portray working-class married couples in a gritty, non-idyllic manner. The final episode of The Honeymooners aired on September 22, 1956, but the characters returned in various revivals and specials over the years.
In 1967, the show was revived, with references to Alice being one of 12 children and her father as never working. In 1973, Gleason, Carney, MacRae, and Kean reunited for a "Honeymooners" sketch titled "Women's Lib" as part of a Gleason special on CBS.
Four final one-hour specials aired on ABC from 1976 to 1978, with Meadows returning as Alice and Kean as Trixie. These specials marked the final performances of the classic Honeymooners characters. The first of these specials, titled "Second Honeymoon", saw Ralph plan to remarry Alice on their 25th wedding anniversary. However, the celebrations are overshadowed when Ralph believes Alice is pregnant, and Ed Norton steps in to teach him how to care for a baby.
The Honeymooners: Second Honeymoon received positive reviews, with many praising the cast's return to their beloved characters. The specials were noted for their nostalgic value, appealing to both old and new audiences. However, some viewers criticised the ageing cast, noting that the jokes and storylines seemed dated.
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The cast's salaries
The salaries of the cast of The Honeymooners varied significantly, ranging from $500 to $70,000. The show's star and creative mastermind, Jackie Gleason, earned the highest salary at $70,000 per episode, which is equivalent to $820,000 in today's money. However, it's important to note that Gleason had to pay all production costs out of his salary.
Art Carney, who played Ed Norton, Ralph Kramden's best friend, earned a weekly salary of $3,500, which is worth around $41,000 today. Audrey Meadows, who portrayed Alice Kramden, received a weekly salary of $2,000, or $23,000 in today's currency. Interestingly, Meadows negotiated a residuals clause in her contract, which has earned her estate royalties from reruns of the show over the years.
Joyce Randolph, who played Trixie Norton, earned a weekly salary of $500, which equates to approximately $5,900 in today's money. Randolph was the lowest-paid member of the cast, but it's important to note that The Honeymooners was not a full-time commitment, as the cast did not rehearse extensively.
The salaries of the cast of The Honeymooners reflected the show's success and popularity during its original run, and while they may not compare to the earnings of today's television stars, they were considered well-paid for their time.
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Frequently asked questions
The Honeymooners, an American television sitcom, aired on CBS.
The Honeymooners first aired in 1955 and ended in 1956. Four final one-hour specials aired on ABC from 1976 to 1978.
The Honeymooners starred Jackie Gleason as Brooklyn bus driver Ralph Kramden, Audrey Meadows as his wife Alice, Art Carney as their neighbour Ed Norton, and Joyce Randolph as Ed's wife Trixie Norton.
The Honeymooners followed the lives of Ralph Kramden, a bus driver, and his sewer worker friend Ed Norton, who tried to strike it rich while their wives looked on with weary patience.
