Jackie
Gleason
(February 26, 1916 – June 24, 1987)
The
Florida Comedy Guide proudly pays tribute to the "Great
One". Born in 1916, no one could know at the time what
an effect John Herbert Gleason would have on the comedic world.
Best known for his classic character 'Ralph Kramden' on The
Honeymooners, Jackie actually had a much more diverse
career than many current audiences know.
Winning an amateur night contest at the Halsey Theater in
Brooklyn at the ripe old age of 15, he quickly was hired as
the emcee of the theater. Performing regularly in nightclubs,
Jackie was "discovered" while performing at Club
18 in New York by Jack Warner himself. Mr. Warner (yes, of
Warner Brothers) signed him to a contract that had him leave
New York for Hollywood. He made nine films in 1941-1942 in
his first stint in Hollywood, sometimes appearing as 'Jackie
C. Gleason'.
Returning
to Broadway, he appeared in several plays including Artists
and Models and Follow the Girls. He made his television
debut on Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town. After that,
he was Chester A. Riley on the short-lived series The Life
of Riley.
Shortly after the death of The Life of Riley, Jackie
hosted the Cavalcade of Stars, which was an immediate
hit. While part of that show, the character of Ralph Kramden
was created. In just a few years time history would be made
with his CBS contract for The Honeymooners in 1955.
Together with Art Carney and Audrey Meadows, Jackie Gleason
produced just one season of The Honeymooners under
his CBS contract providing shows that still resound with audiences
today. Even more remarkable is that the one season contained
39 episodes. That is far more than current series provide
per season showing just how prolific the team was. The characters
would continue to be revisited in the years following.
Jackie
began to receive critical acclaim as well. He was nominated
for an Academy Award for his work on The Hustler, and
won a Tony Award for Take Me Along.
In 1985, "Lost Episodes" of The Honeymooners
were released exposing a new generation to "The Great
One".
Jackie had strong ties to Florida, having moved to Miami in
the 60's so that he could play golf daily. Florida still has
strong ties to him, with one of the premier theaters in South
Florida bearing his name.
On June 30, 1988, the Fifth Avenue Bus Depot in Brooklyn,
New York was renamed "The Jackie Gleason Depot".
After having played a bus driver for so many years as Ralph
Kramden, now a whole bevy of bus drivers pay tribute to him
daily when they go to work.
Though his characters were always funny, it was Jackie Gleason
who always got us to laugh.
He was loved by millions and will not soon be forgotten.
Comedy in Florida: "How Sweet It Is!"
Jackie
Gleason Links
Find
Comedy In Your Area
More
information on the history
of improv is available on the Improv
Miami website and information on the history of stand-up
is available on our History of Stand-Up
page.
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