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PRESENTING THE HONEYMOONERS COMPLETE VINTAGE CAST SIGNED PHOTO SET C. 1949-1958 Collected from 1978-2018

Hi All,

It all started with my dear old dad purchasing a Spears secretarial in a mall antique show about 1978-1980. I started buying these on my own in about 1998. My dad and I would watch The Honeymooners on Channel 11 at 11:30 pm in WPIX in NY, every night back in the 1970's.

I wish I could tell him about meeting Trixie Norton in 2009/10, and talking at length about making the old shows and her signing for me and kissing me. How Ms. Randolph said everyone, including the girl with the stopwatch for the DuMont Electronicam system, was dead, except for her. And how she said "...Mr. Gleason never signed anything...".

I have spent three years identifying the secretarials, now shown on this site by name, style and date. This set of true originals is now finished, quite recently, with this newly discovered and identified/authenticated (by me) C. 1950 Jackie Gleason ballpoint matte finish 5" x 7" SP (this very early pen and paper finish combination explain every occasional oddity). That is his hand - bold and strong.

It is the only Gleason SP I have ever seen of this pose/shot, vintage signed or otherwise, in over 20 years. Much care went into this - matching ink, size and all as best I could (all 3.5" x 5" with Gleason 5" x 7"). Most with salutations etc. Two are used postcards (Trix 1958 and Alice 1955 or '56) and were addressed by them on the Reverse, in one case actually trying to look like a secretary! 

I now present, for your pleasure, The Honeymooners Compete Cast Autograph Set of vintage signed photographs C. 1950-1958, followed by just a few original unpublished images from my collection — from Gleason's personal collection. ;)

NOTE: Re Gleason sigs. I do NOT think this is a new signing style, but rather a variant C. 1950 created by the use of a "new" ballpoint pen on a "new" matte finish photo, for perhaps the first time.

If anyone has a vintage set, or has a scan of a vintage set, please post it. I have never seen one...until now.

Tags: alice kramden, art carney, audrey meadows, ed norton, jackie gleason, joyce randolf, ralph kramden, the honeymooners autographed photos, trixie norton

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on May 19, 2019 at 1:54pm

Here is a link to the "other" Gleason thread with some huge scans of a heavily inscribed C. 1948(?) SP that support this signature. The "y" in my 5x7 can be found in several period inscriptions as well. The "snub-nosed" "Best wishes" on the 5x7 is also seen several times.

Large Gleason SP Scans

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on May 22, 2019 at 9:15am

BTW, I found a few more "snub-nosed" earlier Gleason "Best wishes", one on a Toot's menu, that I will post later today when I can get the file. Interestingly, the menu appears a flat fibrous finish - like the 5x7.

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on July 4, 2019 at 9:52pm

I have yet to find the Toots menu but here is yet another snub-nose "B":.

Click to enlarge:

I see images are still not up - will post tomorrow.

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on July 5, 2019 at 12:36pm

As promised - the snub-nosed "B":

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on May 27, 2019 at 7:39pm

Greg, I'd be interested in your comments on this thread and SP. Thank you. 

Permalink Reply by Gregory on May 28, 2019 at 5:33am

Hi Eric,

These photos and signatures are magnificent.  I love them all.  The Gleason signature is really early and hasn't quite settled into his usual, slightly sloppier version but all of his tell-tale signs are already present and accounted for, especially in the "Jackie" part.  It's a real beauty.  Great contrast on a beautiful image.  Many congratulations on assembling this fine set of autographs!

Greg

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on May 28, 2019 at 8:09am

Hi Greg, thanks so much for looking at this! Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could get these things together! I am really happy that you enjoyed them too! :) And I love your Gleason BTW. Maybe post it in the Gleason mega thread? It is a variant in style folks should see. Thanks again!!!

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