Love, Alice: My Life As a Honeymooner [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Robert O'Keefe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 13, 1994

Meadows calls this work, "a love letter to my television husband, Ralph Kramden . . . a recollection of rare, fun, nutsy days and nights." 2 cassettes.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Jackie Gleason originally rejected Meadows as too glamorous to pass as a Brooklyn bus driver's wife. When she "dressed down" to be Alice, he reversed himself and cast her in The Honeymooners. There are stories about Norton (Art Carney) and Trixie (Joyce Randolph), but the star of this book is Gleason, who could out-eat, out-drink and smoke more-up to six packs a day- than anybody. But he was also a brilliant actor and comic, a practical joker and, according to Meadows, a loyal and financially generous friend (in the last matter, Meadows runs counter to the contentions of most Gleason biographers). Gleason's penchant for the big hit or miss extended as well to the bottom line, where he could make the big score, like rediscovering the "lost" episodes of The Honeymooners, and let the big one get away, as when he turned down a 50% share in a young singer named Elvis Presley. Filled with anecdotes that capture the time (the 1950s) and the place (New York City), Meadows and freelancer Daley have written a book that will send fans of Ralph, Alice, Norton and Trixie straight to the moon. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Meadows details life behind the scenes of The Honeymooners.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Random House Audio; Abridged edition (September 13, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679436553
• ISBN-13: 978-0679436553
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,996,686 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE book for Honeymooners (and comic acting) into:, September 6, 2001

By 

Joel L. Gandelman (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Love, Alice (Hardcover)

The late Audrey Meadows was in some ways an underrated talent. True, she won an Emmy for her role as Alice on Jackie Gleason's classic The Honeymooners, which ran alternately as a sketch and for one season as an actual sitcom. If you ever want to see a TOP NOTCH comic actress at work see if you can get the Jack Benny Program (available on VHS)episode where Benny and his crew recreate the Honeymooners -- with Meadows playing Alice. No matter what the substitute cast does, she stays 100 percent in character as Alice.

This WONDERFUL book is chock full of info about her special chemistry with The Great One Jackie Gleason (to younger readers: he was the inspiration for Fred Flintstone and she was the inspiration for Wilma) both on and off the screen. This delightful book gives glimpses of the Honeymooners' stars lives on and off the screen, ,recounts key happenings on epidodes and traces the history of the show's various revivals in the late 60s and 70s.

HOWEVER: I strongly disagree with those who view this kind of book as nostalgia. It has valuable tips for anyone interested in acting and comedy. Gleason seldom rehearsed and she had a host of body language signals to help him with a line or move in a certain direction. As an entertainer (I'm a ventriloquist) I have always found one thing she said and writes here vital information for someone in a comedy team (even if your partner is wooden): When Gleason was doing key lines she generally froze. She reacted but kept movement, etc. to a minimum to keep the focus on him. Another tidbit: she was initially rejected by Gleason for the part of Alice (too pretty) so she had her picture taken when she woke up, without make up, and when it was submitted to him he KNEW this person (who he forgot he had seen and would not have recognized anyway) was his Alice.

You can sense her awe of and fondness for Gleason from start until she recounts his sad cancer death (she later died of cancer as well). She also sketches other cast members such as Art "Ed Norton" Carney so they come alive on paper. You sense the unappreciated professionalism of this actress who made doing these classic comedies actually done "by the seat of the pants" seem so easy, effortless and rehearsed.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top of the Line, December 7, 2002

By 

Donald J. Wurzelbacher (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Love, Alice: My Life as a Honeymooner (Hardcover)

Audrey Meadows gave a five star performance for her writing in this impossible to put down book. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed every moment of her stories of years ago. Ms. Meadows is a gifted actress as well as author. Her anticdotes are as hilarious as the series. And it's good that she respected all of her fellow actors and actresses while writing her beautiful tales of what went on behind the scenes during the run of the "Honeymooners".

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gushing but quite interesting and entertaining, December 27, 2002

By 

jenbird "book and classic movie fiend" (Havertown, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Love, Alice: My Life as a Honeymooner (Hardcover)

Ms. Meadows tells fascinating stories of her years working with Jackie Gleason, although sometimes she heaps the praise on a bit thick. Nevertheless, this autobiography is an absorbing read and a must for any "Honeymooners" fan.