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JACKIE GLEASON SHOW, THE {EXCERPT} {THE HONEYMOONERS: THE HONEYMOONERS' CHRISTMAS PARTY} (TV)

Summary

One in this comedy/variety series starring Jackie Gleason. This excerpt of the program features an early sketch of "The Honeymooners" that originally aired in 1953. This series of sketches concerns Ralph Kramden, a blustery bus driver, his long-suffering but understanding wife, Alice, and their neighbors, Ed and Trixie Norton. In this sketch, the Kramdens prepare to celebrate the holidays on Christmas Eve, and Alice has decorated the apartment to prepare for any party guests that may drop by. Ralph brings home the wrong kind of potato salad, so Alice sends him back out to a different store to get the correct kind. While Ralph is gone, the Nortons drop by, and they receive visits from some of Gleason's characters, including Fenwick Babbitt, Joe the Bartender, the Poor Soul, Rudy the Repairman and his sidekick, Whitey, as well as Reggie Van Gleason III, who brings a band and dancing girls with him to celebrate the holidays. They also receive a visit from an old vaudeville pal of Trixie's, Frances Langford, who sings "Great Day" and "I Love Paris," while Ed introduces a "boy from the neighborhood," six-year-old Eddie Hodges, who sings "Walking My Baby Back Home." After being so occupied with guests, Alice finally realizes that Ralph has been gone too long. As the sketch concludes, Gleason asks the cast, crew, and audience to join in singing "Silent Night." Includes commercials, with Bill Nimmo, Jimmy Blaine, and Jonathan Winters. (This story was originally featured in a "Honeymooners" sketch on "Cavalcade of Stars" on Dec. 21, 1951, with different guest stars and Pert Kelton as Alice.)

(Series title varies; "The Jackie Gleason Show" from 1952-1961 and 1966-1970; "Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine" from 1962-1966. "The Honeymooners" spin-off replaced the variety series 1955-1956.)

Details

  • NETWORK: CBS
  • DATE: December 19, 1953 Saturday 8:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:46:00
  • COLOR/B&W: B&W
  • CATALOG ID: T:06665
  • GENRE: Comedy/Variety
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Christmas
  • SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1952-1970
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - Nescafe coffee
    • TV - Commercials - Scheaffer's Snorkel Pen
    • TV - Commercials - Schick electric shavers, with Bill Nimmo

CREDITS

  • June Taylor … Choreographer
  • Ray Bloch … Music (Misc. Credits), Musical Director
  • Jackie Gleason … Theme Music by, Theme song, "Melancholy Serenade," by
  • Jack Lescoulie … Announcer
  • Jackie Gleason … Cast, Ralph Kramden
  • Art Carney … Cast, Ed Norton
  • Audrey Meadows … Cast, Alice Gibson Kramden
  • Joyce Randolph … Cast, Trixie Norton
  • Frances Langford … Cast, Herself
  • Eddie Hodges … Cast, Himself
  • Frank Marth … Cast, the Policeman
  • Jerry Bergen … Cast, Whitey
  • June Taylor Dancers, The … Dance Company
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