In the world of classic television, few shows have had the enduring impact of "The Honeymooners."
With its memorable characters and timeless humor, it has kept audiences laughing for
decades.
An integral part of the show's magic was Joyce Randolph, who masterfully portrayed the sweet
and sensible Trixie Norton.
Behind the scenes, however, Randolph harbored a secret carefully tucked away from the public
eye while filming this iconic sitcom.
In this video, we peel back the curtain to reveal the secrets only a few knew existed.
So buckle up as we delve into the untold production stories held by Joyce Randolph from her time
on "The Honeymooners."
How she became part of the Honeymooners
"The Honeymooners" started as a series of short sketches on the DuMont Network's "Cavalcade
of Stars."
But it later became a regular feature on "The Jackie Gleason Show" on CBS.
Randolph's journey to "The Honeymooners" was entirely unexpected.
Before landing the role, she had starred in a commercial for breath mints.
Then, one day, she received a call from Jackie himself, who was searching for a "serious
actor" to audition for his skit. Little did Randolph know that he would end up playing
the role of a sewer worker's wife and become a part of one of the most iconic TV shows
ever.
Despite the meager pay and her character being overshadowed by the other three, she was grateful
for the opportunity to work.
As if struck by a bolt of lightning, Gleason realized that the comedic chemistry between
himself, Carney, Meadows, and Randolph was pure gold.
With a stroke of genius, he transformed "The Honeymooners" into a half-hour sitcom that
took the world by storm, airing for 39 episodes from 1955-1956.
The Adelphi Theater in Manhattan was buzzing with excitement as the show was filmed with
a live audience.
Surprisingly, the cast and crew opted for minimal rehearsals, adding an element of spontaneity
to the performance.
While Jackie despised the idea of rehearsing and preferred impromptu performances, Art,
Audrey, and Randolph would gather every Saturday morning to meticulously review the script.
He was the master of his domain, answering to no one and calling all the shots.
His talent was simply remarkable, and despite his size, he moved with the grace of a feather
while performing comedy.
Randolph, Art, and Audrey embarked on a thrilling roller-skating adventure in the heart of New
York City to perfect their moves for a roller-skate skit.
Jackie, however, was a mysterious figure when it came to his practice routine, as no one
had ever caught a glimpse of it.
Regardless, he emerged onto the ice with a graceful glide and left the audience in awe.
Fast-paced production As soon as Jackie Gleason's polished shoe
hit the set of 'The Honeymooners,' the air around him would morph into a whirlwind of
professionalism.
Randolph vividly remembered how "The Great One" burst onto the scene with a frenzied
energy that never waned.
Randolph revealed that tension was high on the set.
Newcomers, who were only on the show for a week, often struggled to adapt to the rapid
pace.
She even recalled a time when an actor vomited in the wings due to nerves.
The experience was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions, both thrilling and terrifying.
Amidst the plethora of scenes with the legendary actor, the Trixie Norton actor was impressed
by the remarkable abilities of her co-stars, Audrey Meadows, and Art Carney, to keep up
with Gleason.
She acknowledged that they carried the show, and while her part was generally smaller,
she was always excited when it was more extensive.
However, she admitted that it was challenging.
She praised Art, calling him a genius and describing him as wonderful.
During the filming of the inaugural episode of the show, Randolph shared an interesting
anecdote about her co-star's emotional state.
She explained that Gleason's rule of rehearsing only once was challenging for everyone on
set.
She remembered Audrey expressing astonishment at the minimal rehearsal time and that Audrey
had told her she was in tears during the first show.
However, she praised Audrey's brilliance for helping her overcome it.
Randolph detailed how Audrey devised a rehearsal strategy that didn't breach Gleason's rule,
mainly because it didn't involve him.
She observed that Audrey had an impressive ability to memorize all the lines in the script,
regardless of who said them.
After their single rehearsal with Jackie on Saturday afternoons, they would all head up
to Audrey's dressing room.
Audrey's manager would read Jackie's lines, which, according to Randolph, greatly helped
everyone as they could rehearse several times in this manner.
Her exit from "The Honeymooners."
Randolph described Gleason as an unusual individual who was not particularly affable and often
displayed mood swings.
She mentioned that he was not one to engage in casual conversation.
She praised Audrey's professionalism, noting that she would memorize the entire script
and would help Gleason get back on track whenever he forgot a line.
She characterized Art as a quiet individual with a well-known history of alcohol-related
issues, yet noted his wonderful personality and remarkable talent.
Contrary to fans' imaginings of the sitcom stars from their favorite show hanging out
after work hours, this was not the case with the cast of "The Honeymooners."
Randolph clarified that they didn't spend time together after filming.
At nine o'clock, when they concluded filming, everyone would go their separate ways.
When Gleason moved to Florida and brought back "The Honeymooners" in several TV movies
and in another show from 1966-1970, Randolph revealed that she wasn't included.
She recounted an encounter with Audrey years later, who informed her that Gleason had searched
for her but had been unable to locate her.
Randolph dismissed this as nonsensical, stating that Gleason had chosen to employ his long-time
friend Jane Kean to play Trixie.
However, she was fine with this decision, as she had no intentions of relocating from
New York, where her husband worked, and she was contentedly raising their son.
Now as the only surviving cast member of the original series, the 98-year-old actress remains
associated with the show.
She acknowledged that despite her extensive work in theater and early TV, she is still
recognized as Trixie, expressing her surprise at the show's enduring popularity.
Her approval of the Honeyzoomers The pandemic-era series "The Honeyzoomers"
received positive remarks from the last surviving cast member of the renowned sitcom "The Honeymooners."
Randolph had heard about "The Honeyzoomers" and expressed her belief that it was an excellent
concept, wishing the team good luck.
The web series, developed by playwright Charles Messina, has released 39 episodes online.
This equals the number of "Classic 39" half-hour episodes of "The Honeymooners," which served
as inspiration for Messina's black-and-white comedy series, filmed during the COVID lockdown.
The actors participated remotely from their homes, with their scenes later edited together.
Randolph revealed to the Daily News that she had watched a New Year's Eve "Honeymooners"
marathon and relished reruns of the show, which aired from October 1955 to September
1956 and continues to amuse newer generations of fans.
While Randolph has a soft spot for "The Sleepwalker" episode—where Carney's character grapples
with sleep problems—she finds it challenging to choose a favorite.
She humorously stated over the phone from her Upper West Side home, where she's resided
for 60 years, that any episode where she had more than four or five lines was a favorite.
Randolph also explained that it was never an option to ask Gleason to provide her character,
Trixie Norton, with more lines.
She mentioned that communication with Gleason was minimal, and asking for anything was out
of the question, as he was not much of a talker and disliked rehearsing extensively.
She also stated that she mostly stays home and watches television, likely continuing
this routine.
Aside from her pioneering sitcom, Randolph commended "I Love Lucy" and "Seinfeld" as
comedy programs that have aged well.
However, she confessed that she had never anticipated that people would still be discussing
"The Honeymooners" in 2021.
Although Randolph fondly recalls Jackie Gleason for his charismatic and flamboyant persona,
let's delve into some fascinating tidbits about the mastermind behind "The Honeymooners."
Jackie Gleason was a philanthropist.
According to Jim Bishop's book, The Golden Ham: A Candid Biography of Jackie Gleason,
the legendary comedian had a heart of gold and was dedicated to giving back to others.
Bishop revealed that Gleason was quite generous and often extended financial support to a
diverse range of organizations and individuals.
His heart shone like gold, as he selflessly gave to a diverse array of causes.
From supporting the Boy Scouts to cerebral palsy campaigns, churches, aspiring writers,
and struggling actors, he was a true champion of those in need.
In Bishop's memory, he vividly recalls the moment when Gleason stumbled upon a news article
about a janitor who tragically took his own life.
Despite her illness, his wife outlived him and continued to carry on his legacy.
In a heartwarming gesture, Gleason reached out to the news publication with a noble intention
- to cover the expenses of the janitor's funeral.
Bishop also shared another intriguing story about a promising young man who was dedicating
his life to the priesthood.
In a plea for help, the man reached out to Gleason, expressing an urgent need for a fresh
set of dignified vestments.
In a swift and generous gesture, Gleason promptly dispatched a check worth $450.
Jackie Gleason reportedly paid generous salaries.
Although Gleason maintained a composed and businesslike attitude while filming, he made
sure to generously compensate his team.
Back in the day, Gleason's payment was deemed a hefty sum of cash.
Bishop revealed that the comedian's valet was living the high life with a weekly salary
of $100, plus the added perks of meals and housing.
The secretary was also raking in a cool $12,000 annually, while the talented scriptwriters
were earning a respectable $750 per week.
Gleason's motivation for paying his employees more than they were worth was deeply personal.
According to Bishop, Gleason's financial struggles led to a humbling moment when he had to split
a bill for a 59-cent dinner with two fellow actors who were also struggling financially.
Gleason was well aware of the instability of success, and thus, he was determined to
avoid becoming self-absorbed.
He believed in keeping his feet firmly on the ground and not letting his accomplishments
get to his head.
Bishop reveals that Gleason was aware of the stories of actors who attained the height
of their success only to experience a sudden and unexpected dry spell.
Their eagerness for employment was so intense that they felt overjoyed to secure a brief
appearance on Gleason's program.
Gleason was well aware of the possibility that such a fate could befall him.
Despite the success in his career, he couldn't shake the nagging worry that someday his fame
might dwindle, leaving him to hustle even harder for future job opportunities.
That motivated him to maintain his sense of modesty.
There you have it.
It's now time to hear from you.
Are you a fan of the classic "Honeymooners" TV show?
Let us know which scenes or episodes were your favorites.