[Dixielandjazz] More on Gleason/Spear

[Hal Vickery]

Not quite all the regulars from "Cavalcade of Stars" made the move from
Dumont to CBS.  Pert Kelton, who played Alice Kramden in "The Honeymooners"
sketches was replaced by Audrey Meadows.  The story is that Gleason told her
at her audition that she was too beautiful for anyone to accept as Alice.
So she came in later dressed and made up way down.  Gleason saw her and
said, "That's her."  Only then did he find out that it was the same person
he'd rejected earlier.

Oh...somebody else mentioned Jack Lescoulie.  He also did sports on the
"Today" show back in the Dave Garroway days and did voice work for Warner
Bros. cartoons.  He did an excellent impersonation of Jack Benny and can be
heard in several WB cartoons doing that voice.

Hal Vickery

-----Original Message-----
From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
[mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of Steve barbone
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 1:18 PM
To: DJML
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] More on Gleason/Spear

Forgot to mention that Sammy Spear & Orchestra were on "The Cavalcade of
Stars" programs circa 1951 for the DuMont network. Jackie Gleason, Art
Carney, Georgia Gibbs, June Taylor Dancers et al. This was the precursor and
model for the "Jackie Gleason Show" started in 52 when Gleason moved to CBS
and bigger budgets. All of the regulars came with him.

Sammy Spear did a lot of the arrangements for both shows and in fact
arranged the theme for "The Honeymooners" sketches played by Bloch.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone


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