Jackie Gleason (February 26, 1916 - June 24, 1987)

I have read different versions of how Gleason was given the title "The Great One." Some sources say that Orson Welles thought of it...other say Lucille Ball and Frank Sinatra...and a few even indicate Milton Berle.

It doesn't really matter I suppose because that is the nickname I'll give him.

Gleason's career on screen began in the 1940's in a handful of films including "All Through the Night" and "Larceny, Inc." During the 1949-1950 television season he starred as Chester A. Riley on the sitcom "The Life of Riley." He also played the role in a single episode of the radio version. As the 1950's went on he appeared on such programs as "Ford Star Revue", "Cavalcade of Bands", "The Colgate Comedy Hour", "The Kate Smith Evening Hour", "I've Got a Secret", "The Jack Benny Program", "What's My Line?", "Person to Person", "Studio One", "Playhouse 90" and "Toast of the Town."

His life changed though in 1950 when he was given the job of host on "Cavalcade of Stars" which was a low budget variety show on the struggling DuMont network. It was on this program that Gleason created memorable characters like Joe the Bartender, Reggie Van Gleason III, Rudy the Repairman and The Poor Soul. In 1951, Gleason went to the writers and shared with them an idea for a new sketch. Before long audiences were introduced to Ralph and Alice Kramden "The Honeymooners." In 1952 the CBS television network offered Gleason a million dollar sum to sign on and host his very own show called "The Jackie Gleason Show." The new series featured several "Honeymooners" sketches with Art Carney, Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph as the supporting cast. In 1955 Gleason and the network decided to convert "The Honeymooners" into a weekly half hour sitcom. The new contract called for 39 new episodes to begin in the fall of 1955. These episodes are now known as the "Classic 39." By the time the season ended "The Honeymooners" placed number 19 in the Nielsen ratings and Gleason decided to revert back to the hour long variety show. Finally though in 1957, Gleason threw in the towel...at least for a while. In 1961, he made a small attempt to host his own talk show but it was totally unsuccessful.

In the early 1960's Gleason made his large presence known on the big screen in such films as "Gigot", "Requiem for a Heavyweight" and "The Hustler". With the popular responses to these movie appearances CBS offered Gleason a spot in the 1962 fall line up. In September of that year "Jackie Gleason and his American Scene Magazine" debuted on CBS. The show featured the occasional "Honeymooners" sketch and also introduced other characters and settings. By 1966 Art Carney was back on the show as a regular and Jane Kean and Sheila MacRae were also regular performers. That same year Gleason moved the show to Miami Beach, Florida and renamed it "The Jackie Gleason Show." The lavish program began to cost money and Gleason refused to tone it down. The network also refused to increase his budget...so 1971 saw the end of "The Jackie Gleason Show."

In 1968, Gleason made a memorable cameo appearance as Ralph Kramden on the "Here's Lucy" episode "Lucy Visits Jack Benny." In 1969, his appeared opposite Bob Hope and Jane Wyman in the film "How to Commit Marriage" which also co-starred Leslie Nielsen and Tina Louise.

In 1975 Gleason and Lucille Ball finally fulfilled their desire to work together when they appeared on "A Lucille Ball Special Starring Lucille Ball and Jackie Gleason." Although the two stars were in fine physcial and comedic shape the script was not and the special was not received well by audiences.

In 1976, Ralph Kramden and company returned in a reunion special only to be followed by two more for the next two years. In 1977 Gleason became known to a whole new generation of fans when he played Sheriff Buford T. Justice in the film "Smokey and the Bandit" which starred Burt Reynolds. He appeared in boths sequels in 1980 and 1983.

In 1985 Gleason reunited with long time co-star Art Carney for what turned out to be their final acting job together in the TV movie "Izzy & Moe." The following year Gleason co-starred in the Tom Hanks film "Nothing in Common" which also starred Eva Marie Saint.

As the 1980's began to come to a close so did the Great One's wonderful journey through life.

Summer 1987....Jackie Gleason may have passed away but thanks to his extensive body of work and all the wonderful character he will never be gone. He helped to make phrases like "Bang...Zoom!", "To the Moon", "You are a regular riot" and "One of these days POW right in the kisser" part of pop culture.

So whichever of those great stars called him "The Great One" simply beat me to it.