The Honeymooners Mama Loves Mambo (1955–1956) Online

BEING another cog in the unbelievably top notch, outrageously funny episodes of Jackie Gleason's legendary series, THE HONEYMOONERS, 'Mama Loves Mambo' was both contemporary and sort of a change of pace. Tapping the security of well known subject areas, this half hour episode is at once familiar and yet sort of a departure.

TO be sure, the production team makes fine use of Mr. Gleason's talents as swell of those of second banana, Ed Norton (Art Carney), Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph. The interjection of more than the usual number of supporting players into the story made for a more complicated story; which it basically was. Even if the actors weren't on the screen for that long a time, their inclusion was pivotal.

THIS extended players list included Zamah Cunningham (Mrs. Manicotti), Louis Sorin (Mr. Manicotti) and Anne Seymour (Mrs. Stevens). The inclusion of special guest star, Mr. Charles Korvin (Carlos Sanchez) provided an excellent contrast and counterpoint to the others; his character's being a professional dancer stands out in bold relief to the others' blue collar, common everyday folk.

BUT just when one thinks that they have this one figured out, they throw us a last minute curve. What seemingly should end up after some business involving Ralph and his temper, followed by a sudden epiphany where Kramden, Norton and Mr. Manicotti all see the light (thanks to Carlos); soon turns into a little morality play about being thankful about what one has.

THE Production Team does manage to do a very fine job of getting a lot into the same time frame as they had for all of the other HONEYMOONERS editions. With the ground the story covered, they could have used up a whole hour.

ONCE again "the Great One", Mr. Herbert John Gleason has put us in an impossible situation. I mean, just how does one rate a HONEYMOONERS episode? Which is the best? Would it be this one, or 'The Bensonhurst Bomber'? How about 'The $99,000 Answer' or 'Chef of the Future'?

SEE what we mean?

WELL, anyway both me and Schultz put this right up near the top. What else is a guy to do?

POODLE SCHNITZ!!

one of my favorite one liners next time make 2 trips. this was a favorite I also liked when Ralph tried to skate and danced the Huckle Buckle and the one when Ed Norton mixed up the lines of A play " a string of polaponies " that is Polo Ponies I know that this show would be considered politically incorrect but we laugh at it to show how ridicules it was to be so sexist.

A handsome middle aged Mambo instructor moves in next to the Kramdens. When Ralph and Ed find out he is truly handsome and polite, they fear he wants to commit some dalliance with their wives. One afternoon, our tubby bus driver comes home and all the neighbor women are dancing in their apartment. Carlos, the dancer, is instructing them. They become downright hostile, but he has some interesting words for them, involving respect. But the writing is good and things end up with a unique twist. Gleason gets to dance the mambo which to him is that strange kind of prancing about that he does. We are given a picture of how important women are to these men and what chauvinists they truly are.

Pretty good entry. Ralph gets caught up in the mambo fad of the mid-1950's, much to his chagrin. That's because slick Latin-American Sanchez (Korvin) moves into the building and charms the wives with his courtly politeness, good looks, and professional dancing. Soon the wives, Alice and Trixie included, are taking mambo lessons from him in the Kramden apartment. You can imagine Ralph's reaction when he walks in to find the slickster and the ladies shimmying to a mambo beat. But what may be worse for Alice is when Ralph tries to become a gentleman himself—watch out for the breakfast he fixes.

Actor Korvin is familiar to geezers like me from his many appearances in movies and on TV. He's well-cast here. Also, watching the wives of various shapes bopping to the beat remains a hoot. All in all, it's a typically amusing half-hour from one of comedy's great teams.