'The Head of the House" - The Honeymooners March 31st, 1956

This episode, titled "Head of the House", from "The Honeymooners" was first aired 56 years ago today. A lot of things have changed since then, but the silent battle of wits between men and women still rages. In this episode, Ralph, who has answered a question for the Inquiring Photographer in the daily paper about who is the "head of his house", sets out to prove that he is, indeed, "master of his own domain." What the boys don't know is that Alice has replaced the wine with grape juice. But that doesn't stop Ralph and Ed from getting drunk.

And, even as a kid, I was cognizant of the similarities between "The Honeymooners" and "The Flintstones." Both shows were about two working class guys, married to their sweethearts, and always in trouble with them nonetheless. In this "Flintsones" clip from 1961, Fred and Barney skirt their chores, only to be discoverd by their hardworking wives, Wilma and Betty. This was actually a private film made for Winston-Salem rather than for the show. The legendary team of Hanna-Barbera knew how to satirize, and in "The Finstones" they created a whole parallel world in fictional Bedrock, to that of Ralph and Ed in "real Life" Brooklyn.

"The Honeymooners" - Timeless Classics

I was watching "Raisin in the Sun" and decided to take a break and enjoy myself for a bit. So I reached for "The Honeymooners", the original 36 episodes, graciously provided to me by my friend J.W.

These shows were so ahead of their time that it always amazes me to watch them again. They continually explored the never changing world of male-female relationships. No kidding, these shows from 1955 and '56 are 55 years old and still relevant to the way men and women deal with one another. The competiveness and jealousies are still there. Some of the issues of womens equality still have not come to absolute fruition.

And that's what makes these shows so timeless. They show us a mirror of ourselves being foolish. Along with Trixie and Ed Norton, Ralph Cramden (much to the chagrin of his wife Alice), continues to pull them all along on his downward spiral of broken dreams. But all the while he manages to maintain their freindship and love.

I needed a break from reading and films, so this was a great pick for me tonite. If you see these at the library , or at the bookstore, they are well worth the price of owning. Since we don't change much in relation to the topic at hand, they are a handy mirror to keep around. Use them to take a look at yourself from time to time. You might be amazed at the bits of who you see!