The Honeymooners (1955–1956)

A bus driver and his sewer worker friend struggle to strike it rich while their wives look on with weary patience.

Stars:

Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows

Won 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 7 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Jackie Gleason	...	Ralph Kramden (39 episodes, 1955-1956)
Art Carney	...	Ed Norton (39 episodes, 1955-1956)
Audrey Meadows	...	Alice Kramden (39 episodes, 1955-1956)
Joyce Randolph	...	Trixie Norton (39 episodes, 1955-1956)
Jack Lescoulie	...	Announcer (39 episodes, 1955-1956)

Storyline

Ralph Kramden is a New York bus driver who dreams of a better life. With his eccentric good friend, Ed Norton the sewer worker, he constantly tries crackpot schemes to strike it rich. All the while, his exasperated wife, Alice, is always there to bring him down to earth or to pick him up if he beats her to it. For as much as they fight, even dunderhead Ralph knows that she is the greatest and vice versa.

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Plot Keywords:

sewer | bus driver | marriage | friendship | money scheme | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Family

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 October 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Los recién casados

Filming Locations:

Adelphi Theatre, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jackie Gleason Enterprises, Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (39 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White (original version) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The apartment building's address was 328 Chauncey Street in Brooklyn, New York City. This was Jackie Gleason's childhood address and the apartment he grew up in served as the model for the set. Although it is stated that the characters live in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn the address is actually in Bushwick. Gleason believed that Bensonhurst sounded more like a Brooklyn neighborhood to viewers outside of New York City.

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Goofs

The background in the Kramden's window changes. Sometimes there are windows and fire escapes. Other times the fire escapes aren't there. This happens within episodes, not just from one episode to another.

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Quotes

[repeated line]
Ed Norton: Sheesh. What a grouch.

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Connections

Referenced in The Simpsons: How the Test Was Won (2009)

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Soundtracks

"You're My Greatest Love"
Written by Jackie Gleason and Bill Templeton

User Reviews

A classic

I saw these shows when I was a kid and they were first-run on TV. This show made the working-class Kramden a king in his own castle with Alice as the real power behind the big throne. Archie Bunker and Al Bundy are in the same general pattern, but this was the beginning of all-American worker comedy on TV. Even though the shows are in b&w and look a bit worn, the comedy is still grand.