JACKIE GLEASON SHOW, THE {SHOW #1 RECONSTRUCTION
FINE EDIT} {PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The premiere of this comedy/variety series featuring
Jackie Gleason. This reconstruction of the original
episode was assembled by The Museum of Television &
Radio from various kinescopes and videotape elements.
(A list of segments not included on this tape
immediately follows this summary.) The program opens
with show preparations, bustling cast and dancers on
stage, which then segues into a number by the June
Taylor Dancers in which "CBS welcomes you to a great
new fall debut"; Gleason comes out to sing "I Love
Girls" surrounded by the dancers. Gleason's opening
monologue follows. Next, the Mayo Brothers perform an
acrobatic tap dance atop a box. Announcer Paul Luther
introduces a sketch where the Poor Soul (Gleason) is
prevented from painting a portrait of his dog in the
park by numerous passersby -- including a belligerent
man and his date, a cop (Art Carney), bicyclists riding
through his scene, and a marching band of Boy Scouts.
Eileen Barton sings "Come Rain or Come Shine" and the
Mexican-inflected "You Like?" Announcer Luther then
introduces "The Honeymooners" sketch, one of the series
about Ralph Kramden (Gleason), a blustery bus driver,
his long-suffering wife Alice (Audrey Meadows), and
their neighbors, Ed (Carney) and Trixie (Joyce Randolph)
Norton. (Meadows makes her first appearance in the role
of Alice.) In this brief episode, Ralph gets his thumb
stuck in a bowling ball on the night of the big
tournament. Next, Gleason introduces Louis Armstrong,
who plays trumpet and sings "A Kiss to Build a Dream
On," backed by his quintet. The whole ensemble
(including Cozy Cole on drums and Trummy Young on
trombone) next plays "That's a Plenty," with Gleason
joining in at the end playing his own trumpet. Luther
introduces the final skit in which the stuffed-shirt
Reggie Van Gleason III serves as a shoe salesman to a
grand dame (Cunningham); Carney appears as the worried
store proprietor.
(Segments not included: Truman gag featuring Art
Carney; opening title; goodnight featuring Jackie
Gleason; and closing credits.)
(This program contains minor technical problems. This
represents the best copy of this program currently
available to the Museum.)
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: September 20, 1952 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:59
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T:57100
- GENRE: Comedy/Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Dance; Music, popular (songs, etc.)
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1952-1959
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Schick "20" Electric Shaver
CREDITS
- Jack Hurdle … Producer
- Frank Satenstein … Director
- Harry Crane … Writer
- Marvin Marx … Writer
- Walter Stone … Writer
- Ray Allen … Writer
- Reuben Shipps … Writer
- Arthur Phillips … Writer
- June Taylor … Choreographer
- June Taylor Dancers, The … Dance Company
- Ray Bloch … Music (Misc. Credits), Musical Director
- Cozy Cole … Instrumentalist, Drums
- Trummy Young … Instrumentalist, Trombone
- Louis Armstrong … Guest
- Eileen Barton … Guest
- Mayo Brothers … Guest
- Paul Luther … Announcer
- Jackie Gleason … Host, Cast
- Art Carney … Cast
- Audrey Meadows … Cast
- Zamah Cunningham … Cast
- Joyce Randolph … Cast
- Bill Nimmo … Talent, Schick "20" Electric Shaver commercial