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| Original Honeymooners: Jackie Gleason and Pert Kelton |
The great Jackie Gleason was the primary star of the classic variety series, Cavalcade of Stars, which ran for four years. He replaced Jerry Lester as the host of the show in 1950. The greatest contribution of this classic series was "The Honeymooners," which began as an approximately six minute sketch with Gleason as dyspeptic bus driver Ralph Kramden and Pert Kelton [Meet the Boyfriend] as his long-suffering wife, Alice. Art Carney showed up in the first sketch as a cop, but he appeared as Ed Norton for the first time in the sketch entitled "The New TV Set." Trixie was played for the first time by none other than Elaine Stritch, but she was never to repeat the role, being replaced by Joyce Randolph in "The Ring" sketch (meaning Randolph actually appeared in The Honeymooners before Audrey Meadows did). Meadows first appeared in "The New Bowling Ball," which may be the first time Ralph says "Pow. Zoom. Right on the kisser!" (Ralph's earliest catch-phrase was "Don't steam me, Alice, I'm steamed!") Apparently the blacklist, which primarily affected Pert Kelton's husband, Ralph Bell (who later appeared in Zelig) forced her out of the series when it metamorphosed into The Jackie Gleason Show, and she was replaced by Meadows, who was a more than creditable Alice but who was a less realistic partner for Ralph/Gleason. These early Gleason/Kelton sketches were certainly well-acted and funny, but they also had an undertone of pathos to them that were arguably missing from later episodes. Ralph's mantra "baby, you're the greatest!" replaced scenes of genuine love and affection between him and Alice. As good as Meadows and Sheila MacRae were playing Alice Kramden, for my money Kelton made the best Alice, and her performances have all been preserved on DVDs of the "Lost Honeymooners" episodes.
Verdict: Pert Kelton as Alice is simply terrific. ***.
Wow, Bill, was not aware of evolution of the Honeymooners until reading your series of blogs on the history of this amazing series. That it started as a series of sketches is reminiscent of how The Family sketches on Carol Burnett in the 1960s and 70s evolved into the Mama's Family series in the 80s and 90s.
ReplyDeleteFirst time I ever heard that Stritch played Trixie! Wow, that gal was a pro and what a prolific career. I had the privilege to see her perform her biographical one woman show At Liberty and do all her famous numbers, from Zip to Ladies Who Lunch etc. As well, she is always popping up in interesting supporting film roles--from Rock Hudson's nurse in the glossy 1950s Ross Hunter version of Farewell to Arms to a mean lesbian opposite Sal Mineo in the 60s exploitation pic Who Killed Teddy Bear?
Your blog is a delight on so many levels for us hardcore film and pop culture fiends! Thanks as always!!
-Chris
Thank you, Chris, for your kind words!
ReplyDeleteElaine Stritch was a one-of-a-kind performer, and very talented lady. I saw "Teddy Bear" years ago and have the video somewhere, so one of these days I'll revisit it, and her interpretation of "Ladies Who Lunch" is classic. Sorry I never saw her one-woman show. The late Barbara Cook knew and worked with Stritch and has some interesting, not necessarily flattering things to say about her in her memoirs, finding her totally self-absorbed, one of many people who live primarily for their art and work and little else, but on the other hand, they have a great gift to exploit and provide delight to a lot of fans.
You're right about "Mama's Family." Perhaps the only other time a series of sketches on a variety show evolved into a prime time sitcom. Those sketches were wonderful; the sitcom somewhat less so, but then there was no Burnett. I'll never forget Harvey Korman saying of Vicki Lawrence on a reunion special "Who knew she'd be the only one working?"