Here are 10 fun facts about everybody’s favorite bus driver, Ralph Kramden from The Honeymooners
Ralph Kramden’s apartment was intentionally make to appear plain and dull, with very few furnishings.
Jackie Gleason, drawing from his gritty Brooklyn upbringing, skillfully crafted the show’s sets.
Despite earning the same salary as Ralph, Ed Norton’s apartment was noticeably more upscale.
This contrast stemmed from Ed’s willingness to buy on credit, a practice Ralph staunchly avoided.
Please leave your comments in the “Leave a Reply” section at the bottom of this page
#2 – Jackie Gleason nearly sued The Flintstones’ producers over the strong resemblance between Ralph Kramden and Fred Flintstone but decided against it after being advised that being known as the person who ended Fred Flintstone would harm his reputation.
#3 – Mr. Gleason, after much deliberation and reflection on the show’s trajectory, ultimately decided to pull the plug on Ralph Kramden after one season, feeling that the writers had explored every possible angle and dimension of the character.
He believed that the storyline had reached a point of stagnation, and that continuing further would not do justice to the humor and depth that the character initially presented.
Instead of prolonging the inevitable decline in creativity, he opted for a graceful exit, hoping that this would allow both the audience and the writers to fondly remember Ralph Kramden‘s entertaining escapades rather than witness a faded version of the charm that had captivated viewers from the start.
This decision was not made lightly; it stemmed from his deep commitment to the show’s quality and legacy.
He also wanted Ralph and friends to go out on a high note. Remember, back then nobody had any clue about a thing called syndication or residuals
“The biggest thing you ever got into was your pants” – Alice Kramden
#4 – Ralph worked for the WPD shoveling snow. That’s where he met his future wife Alice Gibson. Alice was the girl who handed out the shovels
“Ralph: [to Ed] Hey, what does ‘icky’ mean?
Ed Norton: I don’t know, why?
Ralph: Alice just said I was icky.
Ed Norton: Must mean ‘fat.’”
#5 – The Gotham Bus Company of New York City employed Ralph as a bus driver, although Ralph was never shown actually driving a bus on the show
#6 – Ralph Kramden’s salary for driving a bus was $62 per week
#7 – Ralph Kramden, along with his buddy Ed Norton, was a member of The Loyal Order of Raccoons. If you pay close attention in a few episodes, you can see on the blackboard behind him that his dues are in arrears
Ralph Kramden : Norton, let’s face it, I’m a man with big ideas, and sooner or later, one of those ideas is going to catch on, and when they do, I’m gonna be a big shot. And do you know what happens to people who become big shots?
Ed Norton : Yeah, they forget their relatives
Ralph’s Dad
#8 – Ralph’s father was mentioned in only one episode where a cornet he gave Ralph was described as junk, leading Alice to suggest he throw it away.
Click the image below to read about Ralph’s Mambo Adventure
#9 – An 8-feet-tall statue of a Ralph Kramden in his bus driver’s uniform was erected in 1999 in front of Manhattan’s midtown Port Authority Bus Terminal
#10 – The Ralph Kramden character was given honorary membership in the New York City bus drivers’ union (Local 100 of the Transport Workers Union)
Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just discovering the show for the first time, these fun facts about Ralph are sure to deepen your appreciation for one of the most enduring characters in pop culture history.
So why not settle in with a classic episode of The Honeymooners today and see why Mr. Kramden remains a beloved figure to this day?
About Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason was a famous American actor, comedian, and producer, born on February 26, 1916, in Brooklyn, New York.
He began his career in the 1930s in vaudeville and became widely recognized for his role as Ralph Kramden in the 1950s sitcom The Honeymooners.
Gleason starred in The Jackie Gleason Show and appeared in over 50 films, earning an Academy Award nomination for The Hustler.
He was married three times, had two children, and passed away on June 24, 1987.
Gleason was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame posthumously in 1989 and is remembered for his comedic genius and influence on modern comedians.
Leave a Reply
