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HONEYMOONERS THE FIRST TRIXIE NORTON

With the recent death of Joyce Randolph I revisited my own Honeymooner's collection. I had Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows, Joyce Randolph, Pert Kelton, Sue Ann Langdon, Shelia MacRae and Jane Kean. I knew I was missing two others. I had all the Alice's but I need two more Trixies. Patricia Wilson had played Trixie Norton on a 1962 Jackie Gleason Show Honeymooners skit "The Kramdens get a TV set." I do not have her but do have Alice as played by Sue Ane Langdon. I was also missing the lady that played the very first Trixie Norton.

Jackie Gleason hosted a show on the Dumont network entitled The Dumont Cavalcade Of Stars. That show was the birth of the Honeymooners in a skit called "Bread" that aired live on October 5, 1951, with Pert Kelton playing Alice. There were no Nortons in that show, however Art Carney appeared as a policeman.

The first time the Nortons appear was in the sketch "The Television,” that aired on November 12, 1951. Art Carney plays Ed Norton and theater star Elaine Stritch plays Trixie Norton. She appeared only in that one episode since Elaine's Trixie was a bit too rough around the edges and Gleason decided a softer version was needed. Her replacement was the wonderful Joyce Randolph.

Elaine Stritch (1925-2014) was a stage actress throughout her career. She did television both American and British. Her film roles included Mavis LaBreche in the Jack Lemon and Walter Matthau movie Out to Sea (1997). In England she had her own television comedy Two's Company 1975-1979. This is a page from a lined notebook belonging to Harvey Kuflik.

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Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on March 16, 2024 at 11:33am

ELAINE STRITCH as Trixie Norton on far left with Pert Kelton, Jackie Gleason and Art Carney.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on March 16, 2024 at 12:02pm

Thanks Scott. From humble beginnings..."Bread" was just a few minutes long! I remember meeting Stritch - I'm sure I told you - she did not remember playing Trix! Here is my now sold Kelton album page. to go with the Stritch.

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Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on March 16, 2024 at 1:42pm

Thank you for posting that is a great vintage Kelton. I have an ALS and 8x10 have to get scanned. I can believe Stritch did not remember I think it was early in her career and television at that time was looked down upon. I liked her in Out to Sea and loved the British comedy Two's Company. Have you seen a Patricia Wilson? She is not high on my list but I do not recall seeing one.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on March 16, 2024 at 2:37pm

Why do I know that name Scott?

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Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on March 16, 2024 at 2:54pm

She played Trixie when Sue Ann Langdon was Alice in 1962 sketch on the Jackie Gleason Show (American Scene Magazine) she was pretty much a bit part player. She did have two episodes as the same character on Designing Women. She was pretty active although never did many repeats. Her last work was in a 2020 thriller called Reunion. I have never seen anything in the way of autographs for her.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on March 16, 2024 at 2:58pm

Aha! Limited Alice!

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Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on March 16, 2024 at 4:29pm

JACKIE GLEASON here is my Jackie Gleason figured I would add him and Art Carney.

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Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on March 16, 2024 at 4:37pm

ART CARNEY this is 1960s Art Carney from the John Verzi Collection I got from Tom Kramer a few years ago.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on March 16, 2024 at 6:17pm

These are both incredible examples. I think that Gleason is a fuller felt tip from the 1970s!

That Carney is hard to pin down as his signature never really changed. Verzi I see. :-)

Superb!

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on March 16, 2024 at 6:21pm

There is not much change here over 40=some years.

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Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on March 16, 2024 at 6:35pm

Thank you, Eric that means a lot. I bought the Gleason several years ago and paid what I thought was a lot for it then. I liked how bold the signature was that I chose it over a ballpoint that normally I would have taken. Yes, Carney was one of those who was very consistent over the years if I remember right it was dated on the back. I have an Audrey Meadows from the Verzi Collection too. The picture of Carney I wonder if it was a TV Guide photo from when he was in the made-for-tv movie Harvey. Your Art Carney is great.