Lost 'Honeymooners' episode uncovered in Peabody Awards archives

<p>It's news that would make even Ralph Kramden shout out his trademark "And away we go!"</p><p>A lost episode of the classic 1950s television show "The Honeymooners" has been uncovered in the Peabody Awards Archive at the University of Georgia.</p><p>The episode, titled "Love Letter," originally aired on Oct. 16, 1954, on "The Jackie Gleason Show," said Ruta Abolins, director of the Peabody Award Archives.</p><p>"It does not exist in another archive and is a unique 'lost' episode in 'The Honeymooners' history," she said.</p><p>The episode was discovered by archivist Margaret Compton during a preservation review of the archives' kinescopes and videotapes. She said plans are being made to release the never-before-rebroadcast episode on home video.</p><p>"The Honeymooners" was first introduced on Oct. 5, 1951, during Gleason's first variety series, "Cavalcade of Stars," broadcast live on the DuMont Television Network. "The Jackie Gleason Show" ran on CBS from 1952 to 1955. "The Honeymooners" also ran as a CBS situation comedy in the 1955-56 season, and "The Jackie Gleason Show" returned as a variety program in the 1956-57 season.</p><p>A re-performance of "Love Letter" aired during Gleason's 1956-57 series, but the Peabody Awards Archive holds the only known copy of the original sketch from the earlier variety show, Compton said.</p><p>The Peabody Awards, considered among the most prestigious and selective prizes in electronic media, recognize excellence and meritorious work by radio and television stations, networks, webcasters, producing organizations and individuals. Gleason won an individual Peabody in 1955.</p><p>The awards' archives hold more than 40,000 titles, including radio programs dating from 1940 and television from 1948.</p><p>---</p><p>On The Net:</p><p>HASH(0x2866474)</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/9/160284