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Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 60 general entries. We are selecting 30 for display.
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Honeymooners
| Most people assume that Audrey Meadows was the first 'Alice Kramden.' In fact, the role was originated by another actress. Who was she? | The Insider's 'Honeymooners'
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Pert Kelton. Most people remember Pert Kelton as Ronnie Howard's and Shirley Jones' mother in the movie 'The Music Man.' She did, however, originate the Alice Kramden role when 'The Honeymooners' debuted as a skit on Gleason's variety show. She could not continue with the role for two reasons: she became suspect by the McCarthy Senate hearings and suffered a major heart attack.
He considered her 'too pretty' for the role. When advised by her agent that Gleason considered her 'too pretty,' Meadows arranged for a photographer to arrive at her apartment the next morning at 4:00am, and to take a series of pictures of her as she looked immediately upon waking up, without makeup, with puffy eyes, etc. Upon receipt of the photos, Gleason said, 'Any broad (sic) with a sense of humor like that deserves the part.'
| It was almost impossible for Gleason to attract guest stars to appear in 'The {Honeymooners';} the few who did never appeared again. Why? | The Insider's 'Honeymooners'
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Gleason refused to rehearse, even though the show was broadcast live. Gleason felt that rehersals destroyed the 'spontaneity' possible during the live performance. The most he would agree to do (though not always) was to show up for the 'blocking' (where each character was to stand when delivering his or her lines), but NEVER for a rehersal. Audrey Meadows and Art Carney would take the terrified guest star to their dressing room and have their own rehersal, and impart these words of wisdom '...just keep out of his way and never, ever, stand in front of him.'
| During the live performance, if Gleason forgot his lines (a regular occurance), he had a signal to the other actors to alert them to this fact. What was it? | The Insider's 'Honeymooners'
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He would rub his stomach. This is where Audrey Meadow's nickname 'The Rock' came about. A firm believer in rehersals, it took Meadows quite a while to get used to Gleason's no-rehersal policy. For her own level of comfort, Meadows would memorize the entire script, knowing each actor's lines, and was therefore ready to help any actor who went 'over the top.'
39. Until Gleason announced the existance of the 'lost episodes' of the 'Honeymooners' in 1985, just 39 original episodes were filmed.
1955-1956. These episodes were shot on film (a rare occurance for the time) as part of a complicated spinoff deal with Jackie Gleason Enterprises and the now defunct Dumont network.
| Jackie Gleason was undoubtedly the genius behind the 'Honeymooners' yet the industry failed to appreciate this fact. How was their lack of appreciation shown? | The Insider's 'Honeymooners'
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Almost every cast member EXCEPT Gleason won an Emmy award. Meadows, Carney and Randolph all won Emmys (Meadows and Carney won several), as did the writers....Gleason was totally overlooked.
| When 'The Honeymooners' was revived in the late 60s and early 70s in a musical format, which actress replaced Audrey Meadows as a singing 'Alice'? | The Insider's 'Honeymooners'
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Sheila MacRae . The opportunity to return as 'Alice' was offered to Audrey {Meadows;} she declined because she had just settled in Denver as the wife of Continental Airlines' President Robert Six, and she wasn't that comfortable with the musical format. MacRae brought to the role a somewhat rougher, coarser Alice that was Gleason's original idea for the part.
| One cast member was virtually ignored by Gleason after the filming of the original episodes. This was 'Trixie', Ed Norton's wife. The actress was never contacted for any reunion specials, part rivivals, anything. What was the actress' name? | The Insider's 'Honeymooners'
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Joyce Randolph . Randolph was angered that, when the 'Honeymooners' was revived in the 60s and 70s, she was never offered the part of 'Trixie.' Gleason instead went directly to Jane Kean and hired her on the spot.
| As has been stated, it was thought that the original 39 episodes was all that remained of the 'Honeymooners,' until the discovery of the 'lost' episodes. Were these episodes really lost? (ANSWER 'YES' OR 'NO') | The Insider's 'Honeymooners'
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NO. If you consider being locked in a temperature-controlled file cabinet in Gleason's basement 'lost.' No financial dummy, Gleason kept the episodes under lock and key until he felt the time to be right to strike a deal for their sale. He made millions.
| In one epsiode, Ralph believes that he is coming into a sum of money because he has inherited a woman's "fortune". What does "fortune" prove to be? | Gleason's "Honeymooners"
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A bird. Poor Ralph. He never quite hits the home run.
| In another episode, Ralph is a quiz show contestant. What is the area in which he is questioned? | Gleason's "Honeymooners"
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Music. Popular music - with a memorable "introduction" by the master of the piano, Ed Norton.
Kitchen utensil. Great episode. Live TV - and everything goes wrong.
Roller skating. "I don't even mind growing old - as long as we can grow old together".
Alice. Ralph wants the big break (again), but Alice is the one who gets noticed.
Bowling Ball. "The Gift of the Magi".
| Ralph is upset when a single male neighbor moves into his building. What is the neighbor's line of work? | Gleason's "Honeymooners"
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Dance Instructor. A continental man with charm and courtesy is "threatening".
| Ralph tries to win a costume contest at his lodge. Although he tries to dress up as a "man from space", the judges believe his costume to be a ...? | Gleason's "Honeymooners"
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Pinball machine. Home-made costume.
They flip a coin. "Heads I win, tails you lose."
| Ralph worries that Alice is fooling around - so he follows her when she leaves the apartment. What is Alice really doing? | Gleason's "Honeymooners"
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Baby Sitting. "Come on out, Harvey!"
Gibson. This is said when Ralph is recording a record to apologize to Alice.
Joe Lustig. "Slightly" is Ralph's opinion.
Cocker Poodle. Ed is allergic to the dog.
$40. He really only sold one iron.
728 Chauncey Street. They hire Thelma.
Maxie Rosenbloom and Kingfish Levinski. The show was called "Fights of the World."
165. He's weighed that for as long as he can remember.
$42. He needs the refund to pay for their vacation at Fred's Landing.
chocolate fudge cake. This is revealed in the mambo episode.
3. Alice's mother, the "blabbermouth" fulfills Ralph's prediction.
Herb Norris. Jay Jackson, who played Herb Norris, actually was a quiz show host during the 50s, on programs such as "Twenty Questions" and "Tic Tac Dough".
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