'The Honeymooners' and Jackie Gleason remembered fondly 70-years after iconic sitcom's debut

"The honeymoon ain't over. It's been 70 years since the debut of "The Honeymooners" but fans of the iconic sitcom say it's still ingrained in pop culture - and in the fabric of the Big Apple. Catchphrases like "to the moon, Alice," "baby, you're the greatest" and "hey Ralphie boy" are immediately recognizable as the Brooklyn-based black-and-white comedy keeps people watching over and over again decades after its Oct. 1, 1955, premiere."

"The reason why the episodes are so durable was best explained by the show's late star and mastermind Jackie Gleason, his stepson said in a recent interview. "Well, Jackie answered that quite simply: Because they're funny," said Craig Horwich, the son of Gleason's widow Marilyn Taylor. "And that really is the perennial answer." "The Honeymooners" lasted only one season - but the exploits of bus driver Ralph Kramden (Gleason), his always frustrated but ever-forgiving wife Alice (Audrey Meadows)."

"Much of the success of the show hinged on the comedic skills of Gleason and co-star Art Carney, who played Ralph's goofy sewer-worker best buddy Ed Norton - TV's first and arguably best wacky neighbor, experts said. Rounding out the main cast was Ed's wife, Trixie (Joyce Randolph). "They knew how to react to other performers. They knew how to listen," said Horwich, who now co-runs Jackie Gleason Enterprises with Gleason's two daughters."

The Honeymooners premiered Oct. 1, 1955, and remains ingrained in pop culture and New York life seventy years later. Catchphrases like 'to the moon, Alice,' 'baby, you're the greatest' and 'hey Ralphie boy' remain recognizable. Jackie Gleason attributed the show's durability to its humor. The series ran one season, but episodes lived on through prime-time syndication and annual New Year's Eve marathons. The show's success relied on Gleason's and Art Carney's comedic skills portraying Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton, supported by Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph. The performers' timing, reactions, and audience comfort helped sustain audience attention.

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