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

The honeymoon is still going strong.

Seventy years after “The Honeymooners” made its debut, fans of this legendary sitcom affirm its lasting presence in pop culture and its significance in the Big Apple.

Catchphrases such as “to the moon, Alice,” “baby, you’re the greatest,” and “hey Ralphie boy” are instantly recognizable, ensuring the Brooklyn-set, black-and-white comedy captivates audiences even today, decades after its premiere on October 1, 1955.

The lasting appeal of the series is something Jackie Gleason, the show’s late star and creator, explained through his stepson’s words in a recent interview.

“Jackie put it simply: They stand the test of time because they’re funny,” shared Craig Horwich, the son of Gleason’s widow, Marilyn Taylor. “And that truly is the timeless answer.”

<p“The Honeymooners” ran for just one season and produced 39 episodes, yet the comedic adventures of bus driver Ralph Kramden (Gleason), his perpetually exasperated but understanding wife Alice (Audrey Meadows), and their neighbors, the Nortons, have continued to resonate through prime time syndication and are even featured in annual New Year’s Eve reruns.

The duo of Gleason and co-star Art Carney — who portrayed Ralph’s clumsy, sewer-worker best friend Ed Norton, widely regarded as television’s first and best quirky neighbor — was pivotal to the show’s success, according to experts. Also in the main cast was Trixie, Ed’s wife, played by Joyce Randolph.

“They had a unique ability to react and listen to one another on stage, creating a connection with the audience,” Horwich noted, who now co-manages Jackie Gleason Enterprises with the late actor’s two daughters. “Art Carney could perform with anyone and still captivate viewers.”

The characters were developed over the years, starting as a sketch on the variety show “Cavalcade of Stars” in October 1951, featuring a different Alice (Pert Kelton) and Trixie (Elaine Stritch). The concept evolved further when Gleason transitioned in 1952 to the hour-long “Jackie Gleason Show,” solidifying the beloved ensemble and the show’s core essence; its simplicity allows it to be enjoyed in any order.

Author and scholar David Sterritt, who examines “The Honeymooners” in his book as part of the TV Milestones series, noted that the “Classic 39” episodes exemplify a familiar structure akin to a classic rock song or sonnet. The recurring catchphrases and memorable moments serve to define the series, he remarked.

“A series like ‘The Honeymooners,’ with its musicality in language and rhythm, possesses an allure similar to music itself, making it enjoyable to revisit repeatedly,” Sterritt, who grew up watching the show on Long Island in the 1950s, told The Post.

While known for its humor, the show envelops deeper emotional layers in its storylines and characterizations. Ralph and Ed consistently concoct ambitious schemes, yet they often unravel, leaving Ralph’s domineering nature at odds with both his wife and friends, ultimately leading to reconciliations and a return to their starting point.

The narrative unfolds primarily in a modest one-room apartment in Bensonhurst, inspired by Gleason’s childhood home, where he’d later express familiarity with many characters like the Kramdens and Nortons, according to his stepson. A major element of the show’s staying power is that its characters are relatable — they confront loud arguments, grapple with financial woes, and hold down working-class jobs.

“There’s a dark undercurrent woven through the show, but it remains a comedy, allowing us to appreciate it because that darkness isn’t threatening,” Sterritt reflected.

Though Gleason passed away in 1987, he lives on through his character Kramden, represented by a statue at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan. This statue still draws admirers and curious bystanders, like Rick Witkowsky, who took a moment for a photo with the statue while visiting New York from Virginia with his wife, Deb.

“When we left our hotel to go to Central Park, my wife noticed the statue, and I exclaimed, ‘Oh wow! We need to stop for a picture on our way back because I just love Ralph,” Witkowsky, 72, expressed, referring to the show as “so quintessentially New York.”

Plumber CJ Matos, 32, mentioned that he uses the statue as a convenient meeting point while waiting for friends headed back to New Jersey.

“I always tell my friends, ‘I’m here next to my buddy Ralph. Ralphie boy,” he said. “It feels fitting since we’re plumbers. Remember, Norton was in the plumbing business too. He dealt with the sewers!”

Bryan Farrell, 52, an exterminator from Levittown, described the show as “a fantastic, timeless piece of television,” as he reminisced about various memorable plots from the episodes.

“No other show has matched its humor — it holds universal appeal,” he commented.