- published: 19 Jan 2015
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Audrey Meadows (February 8, 1926 — February 3, 1996) was an American actress best known for her role as the deadpan housewife Alice Kramden on the 1950s American television comedy The Honeymooners.
Born as Audrey Cotter in New York City in 1926, the youngest of four children. Her parents, the Rev Francis James Meadows Cotter and his wife, the former Ida Miller Taylor had been Episcopal missionaries in Wuchang, China where her three siblings were born. The family returned to live in New York in 1921. Her elder sister is actress Jayne Meadows.
Audrey attended high school at the Barrington School for Girls in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
After high school, she moved to New York City and sang in the Broadway musical Top Banana before becoming a regular on television in The Bob and Ray Show.
She was then hired to play Alice on The Jackie Gleason Show after the original actress, Pert Kelton, who originated the role, was forced to leave the show due to the blacklisting, although the official reason given was that Kelton was suffering from a health problem. When The Honeymooners became a half-hour situation comedy on CBS, Meadows continued in the role. She then returned to play Alice after a long hiatus, when Gleason produced occasional Honeymooners specials in the 1970s. Meadows had auditioned for Gleason and was initially turned down for being too chic and pretty to play Alice. Meadows submitted a far different photo of herself, looking much plainer, the next day and won the role of Alice.[citation needed]
AUDREY MEADOWS (of Jackie Gleason's "Honeymooners" fame) ON PAT SAJAK SHOW, 1989 (35)
Fly Me to the Moon: A Tribute to Audrey Meadows
What's My Line? - Audrey Meadows (Aug 21, 1955)
Dean Martin & Audrey Meadows - Superman
Grave of Audrey Meadows
Joyce Randolph discusses "The Honeymooners'" Audrey Meadows - EMMYTVLEGENDS
Two News Stories on the Death of Audrey Meadows - Feb., 1996
SHADOE-DAVES WORLD-Mom (Audrey Meadows) Thinks Kenny's Gay
Hot Potato Mambo Jayne & Audrey Meadows
PASSWORD - Audrey Meadows & Tony Randall (May 27, 1965)
Actors: Sam Stone (actor), Saul Rubinek (actor), Arthur Holden (actor), Steve Adams (actor), Richard Jutras (actor), Jason Blicker (actor), Shawn Lawrence (actor), Brad Garrett (actor), Tony Calabretta (actor), Mark Camacho (actor), Michael Chieffo (actor), Joe Cobden (actor), Robert Higden (actor), Sam Stone (actor), Kevin Dunn (actor),
Plot: The story begins at the height of Gleason's career. He has it all: women, wealth, and extraordinary power. But he is haunted by memories of his childhood. Gleason spends his formative years entering amateur contests, performing in sleazy night spots. Along the way, he steals gags from the best comics in town and finds love with Genevieve, a dancer whom he marries. But Gleason isn't the ideal husband or even a responsible father as he abandons his family to answer the call of Hollywood. Brash, arrogant, and egotistical, he alienates his directors and the man who discovers him. When he ends up back in New York, Gleason gets one of those rare second chances in the new medium of television, creating some of its most unforgettable characters. But even as Gleason becomes the talk of the tube, his life - ruled by demons of rage, booze, and insecurity - unravels.
Keywords: brooklyn-new-york-city, character-name-in-title, comedian, irish-american, new-york-city, one-word-title, studio-logo-segues-into-film, television, womanizerI know a time called then
When we were only men
And to be alive
Just meant you hadn't died
Time can't erase
Heartbeats
Out of phase
And your empty eyes
Don't seem to want to realise
Oh! 2025
When we were still alive
Oh! 2025
When we were only simple men
And in the automat
!!! [sound effect]
And that was that
We didn't mess with time
Knock things out of line
Oh! 2025
When we were still alive
Oh! 2025
When we were only simple men
And in the dreamless night
I pulse
Out of sight
Am I the only man
No part of any plan
Before the age of clean
Before the power screen
Before the maser beam
Before my world was only me
Oh we were young and free
You can't alter me
So now you keep me here
Is this law
Or is it fear
Oh! 2025
When we were still alive
Oh! 2025
When we were only simple men