The 1950s
THE HONEYMOONERS, (CBS, 1955 to 1956). THE HONEYMOONERS has the rare distinction of being skit within existing shows before it became a show in its own right. The series began as a skit on CAVALCADE OF STARS in 1951. It was soon a regular feature of THE JACKIE GLEASON SHOW as well.
The series starred Jackie Gleason (Ralph Kramden); Art Carney (Ed Norton); Audrey Meadows (Alice Kramden) and Joyce Randolph (Trixie Norton).
Ironically, the Kramdens and the Nortons were anything but honeymooners. Both couples had been married a long time and fought constantly. Despite Gleason's trademarks statement, "To the moon, Alice" it was obvious that Ralph would never hit his wife Alice.
Ralph was a bus driver and Ed worked in the City's sewer system. Both couples lived in run-down apartments in Brooklyn. Despite their living conditions, however, both couples truly did love each other. For more information on THE HONEYMOONERS check out http://www.honeymooners.net/main.html
The 1960s
THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW, (CBS, 1961 to 1966). Widely considered one of the funniest and influential comedies in television history, THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW was also one of the most romantic. The series starred Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore. Van Dyke played Rob Petrie, a comedy writer for the fictional ALAN BRADY SHOW. Moore played his stay-at-home wife Laura.
THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW was one of the first sitcoms to portray a wife who had a mind of her own. Though loyal to her husband, Laura often expressed her own opinions and wasn't afraid to disagree with her husband. The two stars had a natural on-screen chemistry together and, though they were not married, it was easy to believe that they could be married in real life. The series often featured the couple kissing and/or holding hands with each other type.
Despite network policy which had the married couple sleeping in separate beds on the show, the couple somehow managed to conceive a child. Rictchie Petrie was played by Larry Mathews.
