In 1950 LIFE OF RILEY won an Emmy.  At this point the name Jackie Gleason was starting to become familiar.  Only after getting bit roles in movies, working carnivals and prizefights was Jackie Gleason about to get his big break.

The Dumont Network was approached by Milton Douglas to air a one-hour weekly variety show called, "Calvacade of Stars.'  The cost was $400,000 for a year's worth of programming.

Each week the show would feature a different host that would showcase their talents and possibly be a spring-board into bigger and better offers.  By 1950 it was agreed upon that the show needed a regular host; someone who could not only emcee but also perform in various sketches.  Jackie Gleason's name came up as a possibility after Peter Donald was approached and declined.

At first Jackie was offered 2 weeks at $750 per week.  Not being too thrilled with his first TV appearance (Life of Riley) he turned down the offer.  Dumont came back with four weeks and he 'reluctantly' accepted.

"Calvacade of Stars" was live, featured dancers, comedians and skits.  This was the perfect platform for Gleason since he was a man of all-trades and knew mostly all aspects of live performance (from costumes to lighting to props).

From Gleason's first conversation with the producers he made it known that his "four weeks" on the show would be done "his way".  If the show failed it would be his fault and his fault only.

The second week of the show introduced an up and coming actor/comic (unlike Gleason himself).  This actors' name was Art Carney.  Carney's first sketch was to play a photographer.  He was to photograph 'Reggie Van Gleason III" for a liquor ad.

For the third week Jackie and the writers decided on developing a sketch revolving around domestic situations.  The couple would be poor; something many people could relate to in the 1950s.

Writers Joe Bigelow and Harry Crane along with Gleason tossed around many titles for the skit.  Names that were tossed around were "the Beast".  With this title Gleason argued that the man was not a beast, the couple had arguments, but it always ended happily.  Another was "the Lovers", "the Couple Next Door" and then they happened upon "the Honeymooners" (which of course ended up being the title that stuck).

The first episode of the Honeymooners was only a couple of minutes long.  Norton and Trixie did not exist in this first sketch but Art Carney did appear; as a police officer.

It's legendary that Gleason never rehearsed.  Gleason was a contributor to Honeymooner's scripts and with the gift of having a photographic memory he felt no need to go over things he already knew by heart.

Whenever there was a Honeymooners sketch on Calvacade the ratings went up.  Jackie Gleason had started the show with a $5,000 loan and within two years was bringing in a $1500 a week check.

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Note: History of the Honeymooners compiled by Brother Norton from various sources including The Honeymooners Companion (by Donna McCrohan)