‘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 Honeymooners” first hit the airwaves, yet the beloved sitcom remains a cornerstone of pop culture and an enduring symbol of New York life.

Catchphrases like “to the moon, Alice,” “baby, you’re the greatest,” and “hey Ralphie boy” are instantly recognizable as the Brooklyn-based black-and-white comedy continues to captivate audiences decades after its October 1, 1955, premiere. The late star and creative force Jackie Gleason once summed up the show’s lasting appeal, his stepson recalled in a recent interview.

The statue of Jackie Gleason’s character Ralph Kramden from “The Honeymooners” outside of the Port Authority Bus Terminal.Christopher Sadowski

The iconic New York City comedy turned 70 years old on Oct. 1.AP

“Well, Jackie answered that quite simply: Because they’re funny,” said Craig Horwich, son of Gleason’s widow, Marilyn Taylor. “And that really is the perennial answer.”

Although “The Honeymooners” lasted only one season, with 39 episodes, the adventures of bus driver Ralph Kramden (Gleason), his perpetually exasperated but loving wife Alice (Audrey Meadows), and their neighbors, the Nortons, have lived on through prime-time syndication and annual New Year’s Eve reruns on local TV.

Virginia tourists Rick and Deb Witkowsky posing with the Kramden statue.Kevin Sheehan / NY Post

Much of the show’s success came from the comedic talents of Gleason and co-star Art Carney, who played Ralph’s lovable, goofy sewer-worker friend Ed Norton—television’s first, and arguably finest, wacky neighbor. Completing the main cast was Ed’s wife, Trixie (Joyce Randolph).

“They knew how to react to other performers. They knew how to listen,” Horwich said. “They were very present and comfortable in front of an audience. Put Art Carney and almost anyone on a stage, and they could hold your attention.”

The characters had been honed for years before the series debuted. “The Honeymooners” originated as a sketch in October 1951 on the variety show “Cavalcade of Stars,” initially featuring different actresses as Alice (Pert Kelton) and Trixie (Elaine Stritch). When Gleason moved to the hour-long “Jackie Gleason Show” in 1952, the core cast was set, and the series’ essence had taken shape—a simple, repeatable premise that could be enjoyed in any order.

Gleason and Audrey Meadows in an episode of “The Honeymooners.”CBS /Landov

Author and scholar David Sterritt, who chronicled the series in his book on television milestones, likens the “Classic 39” episodes to well-crafted music. “A show like ‘The Honeymooners,’ which is so musical in its use of language and rhythm, has the appeal of music—and therefore can be watched over and over again,” he said.

While the show is celebrated for its laughs, it also carries a subtle undercurrent of pathos. Ralph and Ed are always chasing big dreams, only to see their get-rich-quick schemes crumble. Ralph’s domineering personality often sparks conflicts with his wife or best friend, yet reconciliation always follows. Set largely in a small, sparsely decorated Bensonhurst apartment modeled after Gleason’s childhood home, the series resonated because its characters were relatable—arguing loudly, managing tight budgets, and juggling blue-collar work.

Plumber CJ Matos and Davide Esposito use the “Honeymooners” statue as a meeting spot at the station.Kevin Sheehan / NY Post

“It’s a dark undercurrent, but it’s undercurrent, and the thing is still a comedy,” Sterritt said. “We can enjoy the darkness because it’s not threatening.”

Gleason passed away in 1987, but his legacy endures. A statue of Kramden stands at Manhattan’s Port Authority Bus Terminal, drawing fans and passersby alike. Rick Witkowsky, visiting from Virginia with his wife, Deb, paused to snap a photo.

Bryan Farrell told The Post the iconic sitcom is “timeless.”Kevin Sheehan / NY Post

“When we left the hotel for Central Park, my wife saw the statue, and I said, ‘Oh man! We have to come back on the way back because I just love Ralph,’” said Witkowsky, 72, calling the show “so New York.” Plumber CJ Matos, 32, uses the statue as a daily meeting spot for friends catching the train to New Jersey.

Seventy years later, “The Honeymooners” continues to be funny, familiar, and undeniably New York—proof that some classics never go out of style.

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