Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412140032
SECTION: BOOKS PAGE: F-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: REVIEWED BY LYNN ECKMAN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Manhattan in the 1950s - exhilarating, fast-paced, even glamorous - was home to the new world of television and to its superstars. One of the most flamboyant personalities of the day was Jackie Gleason, whose popularity continues via reruns of his shows, particularly the skits called "The Honeymooners." His on-air wife, Audrey Meadows, has written a love letter to Gleason that should lay to rest any rumors of his being a drunk, a slob or a martinet. Having worked with him for years, she should know what he was like and she has nothing but high praise for him as a person and as an actor.
In a breezy, conversational style, Meadows recounts their days of glory and of great fun. Rehearsals, always short, never prevented the spontaneity or the snags that inevitably erupted on a live broadcast. Part of Gleason's genius consisted of sharing mistakes with the audience and turning them into minor miracles of comedy.
Audrey Meadows, born in China of missionary parents, found Gleason a gentleman in his private and public personas. Yes, she writes, "Jackie drank. Jackie drank lots. Lots and lots," but never while working. He also encouraged talent and rewarded ingenuity whenever and wherever it popped up. Generous of spirit, gifted, lavish with praise for others, Gleason never flaunted his success but remained a loyal friend even as his fame and his eating made him bigger than life.
In these days of celebrity bashing, it is refreshing to come upon this treasure of laudatory anecdotes, which should dispel other less kind portraits of The Great One. Audrey Meadows has done a service to the memory of Jackie Gleason and to her readers as well. Nothing like Alice Kramden, she was and is a lady in the old fashioned sense of the word.
Lynn Eckman recently retired from teaching at Roanoke College.
by CNB