Cavalcade of Stars (Oct. 26, 1951, DuMont Network)

Gleason's guests are vocalists Georgia Gibbs and Arthur Lee Simpkins, and columnist Earl Wilson.
Jackie performs a comedy magic act. Reginald Van Gleason III performs with the ridiculous musicians at a charity bazaar. The June Taylor Dancers perform two numbers. Clem Finch (Carney) and Charlie Bratton (Gleason) appear in another lunchroom sketch. Gibbs sings "I'll Always Be in Love With You." Wilson recognizes Gleason for his charity work with an amputees foundation.

[@jimdrake-writer]

His mention of Marilyn Taylor, whom he referred to as “one of our showgirls” and said she was in the hospital, was an affectionate greeting to the woman he loved throughout his long separation and eventual divorce from his first wife. Marilyn Taylor, sister of Gleason’s choreographer June Taylor, became Marilyn Gleason when they were married in December 1975, after the death of her first husband. She and Gleason had met in 1946, when he was a struggling comedian playing small nightclubs. Marilyn Taylor Gleason survived Jackie Gleason by 32 years, dying in 2019 at age 93.

[@albrown1812]

Everything is on KZbin,one.of the greatest developments in tech!!

[@colinhalliley111]

The timing Art and Jackie had together was magic .

[@robmclean4352]

Fun fact: In 1996, the National Association of Retail Druggists changed its name to the National Association of Community Pharmacists.

[@suestephan3255]

I wonder if my Mom & Dad watched this. They had a small cabinet TV then. Married two years and I just turned 1.

[@michaelmaynard58]

The original and the best!

[@andyrose5616]

5:03 I read that there was only one cameraman at DuMont who was able to do this extreme close-up bit and keep Gleason in focus the whole time. He had his own method of pushing the camera with one arm while rolling his other arm across the focus wheel to make one smooth continuous motion. It took tremendous skill to time the rack focus properly and also make sure he could slow down the heavy camera in time so that it didn't slam into Gleason's face.

[@davedee4382]

You think this was exciting tv now it was outrageous then! Jackie took over the airwaves. He knew who to get the crowd going from nightclubs. He did sweat it like Berle and Caesar. He went on and had fun. Weight and age took his edge off. By 1968 he was visibly worn way out. But in the 50s he was light lightening.

[@LaptopLarry330]

It was great to see Arthur Lee Simpkins sing on this episode of "Cavalcade Of Stars". This African-American singer had a lot of courage to sing an Irish song on national television. Mr. Simpkins performed the song very well.

[@colinhalliley111]

He was known as the Black Enrico Carouso because he sang opera . He sang in many languages and styles of music.

[@Juliaflo]

@@colinhalliley111 He may have also been partly Irish.

[@jamesmiller4184]

Saw this live in Portland OR, and never forgot it. What thrill to catch it again some seventy-two years later. Yikes! Just after I think was Liberace in B&W !

[@scottsmith7419]

Wow! This ooold show is really funny!

[@allenjones3130]

And awa-a-a-y we go!!

[@teresahooks3746]

If it don't scream, I eat it!!😂😅😂

[@ewtnradiotp2171]

Shortly before he left DuMont for CBS, if I'm not mistaken.

[@wurlitzergroup]

And remember, these entertainers were performing under extremely bright and hot lights, and knowing that they were being broadcast LIVE, with no room for error.

[@puck30]

And away we go!

[@thejerseyj5479]

Wonderful entertainment with such characters. Really great fun.

[@sandy3482]

this one is so old Jackie can fit inside the box, also Pert Kelton the 1st Alice and even the "I'm with you" guy

[@BrianHornak]

The Great One...For Sure

[@CarlDuke]

So glad you posted this.

[@elwoodblues9613]

He's so thin!

[@APOCALYPSE_X-MEN]

I think he's probably around 215 here. By 1956, Gleason was 290 pounds.

[@davedee4382]

A lot of what he did was from burlesque!

[@iamathousandapples]

They really just had Gleason do the guy's bit because he no showed? The industry was crazy back then. You had to know other folks bits as well as your own!

[@anonUK]

It was music hall/ vaudeville, brought to you by the Druggists of America. These things happened, you had to pick up the slack, keep it on a roll.

[@susiepittman601]

It's weird to see Jackie Gleason at a normal weight.

[@brianarbenz7206]

I honestly like Jackie Gleason's work a lot more on this and The Life of Riley than as Ralph Cramden. I thought the Honeymooners was monotonous.

[@GoldwaterB]

Bet you're glad only 39 episodes were broadcast. ...and it's *Kramden.*

[@a.b.s_productions]

They did too much damn hollering in every episode and it almost all ended the same.

[@nealgordon3712]

I think it was after these episodes he started The Honeymooners bringing Art Carney,Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph. The show really sent a bad message to housewives of that time, " That the Man Was the King of his Castle" however on the show he always managed to not only put his foot in his mouth, but everything else he ( his character) that can fit in there as well. Always at the end of every show, trying to make up with Alice in the end. Proving he's not always right. Yes although its somewhat funny, but yes the show was very predictable and yet very tiresome to watch. The plot was always the same. Ralph gets an idea, lets Norton in on it the men agree, Alice disagrees then the insults come. A few years later Jackie gets his own show on CBS brings in his orchestra leader Sammy Spear and the June Taylor Dancers and Frank Fontaine ( the bar scene) but Frank in reality was a very talented singer in his time.