"Trixie was married to a sewer worker and I guess she considered herself a little better than the character of Ed Norton. But she was just a housewife - she and Alice didn't have jobs. They stayed home all the time, which was kind of amazing, but the husbands didn't want them to work. But twice during the course of all of our years it was mentioned that probably Trixie had been in burlesque. They never expanded on that, but mention was made that she could have been a dancer in burlesque."

    About This Interview

    In her two-hour interview, Joyce Randolph (1924-2024) discusses her early years as an actress on the stage and speaks of her first appearance on television in 1946 -- on experimental station WRGB in Schenectady, NY. She outlines her roles in early television on the DuMont network, on shows Martin Kane, Private Eye; The Plainclothesman; and The Famous Jury Trials. She describes her first appearance on The Cavalcade of Stars in a dramatic role, before landing the part of "Trixie Norton" in the show's "Honeymooners" sketches, opposite Art Carney's "Ed Norton." Randolph then details her appearances in the "Classic 39" episodes of The Honeymooners, when the sketches were launched as a 30-minute sitcom series for the 1955-56 season, and shares what it was like to work with Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows. She chronicles her continued appearances as "Trixie" on The Jackie Gleason Show (which ran through 1959) and her return to the role for an episode of the 1991 television series, Hi Honey, I'm Home. Michael Rosen conducted the interview on October 27, 1999 in New York, NY.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Joyce Randolph

    Joyce Randolph on being cast as "Trixie" for a "Honeymooners" sketch on Cavalcade of Stars

    01:20
    Thumbnail of Joyce Randolph

    Joyce Randolph on her role as "Trixie" on The Honeymooners

    01:00
    Thumbnail of Joyce Randolph

    Joyce Randolph on her favorite episodes of The Honeymooners

    00:55
    Thumbnail of Joyce Randolph

    Joyce Randolph on the media blitz surrounding the lost episodes of The Honeymooners

    01:33
    Thumbnail of Joyce Randolph

    Joyce Randolph on how The Honeymooners impacted television

    01:21
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On her childhood and early influences; on growing up in Michigan; on wanting to be an actress in New York; on her favorite radio programs growing up; on attending the Expression School of Speech and Drama; on getting into the Catholic Theater Group in Detroit; on joining the Actors Equity Union; on getting to New York

    12:09

    On her first impressions of New York; on touring the country with stage shows for "Stage Door," and "A Goose for the Gander;" on touring with "Good Night, Ladies;" on living in LA for fourteen months and returning to New York

    06:23

    On the first time she saw television; on doing experimental television for GE in Schenectady, NY; on acting in several half hour dramas for early live television; on doing summer stock theater; on appearing in Martin Kane, Private Eye, Rocky King, Detective, and The Plainclothesman; on differences between working for NBC, CBS and Dumont; on The Famous Jury Trials

    10:03

    Chapter 2

    On working on Buck Rogers and several detective shows; on appearing on an early ABC show, I Cover Times Square; on working in live television; on theater folk not respecting television; on early commercials

    09:49

    On acting methods on 1950s television; on working on Texaco Star Theater; on working on The Colgate Comedy Hour; on Danny Thomas, Martin and Lewis, and Eddie Cantor

    05:56

    On Calvalcade of Stars; on being cast as "Trixie" for a "Honeymooners" sketch on Cavalcade of Stars; on playing "Trixie"; on differences between the Kramdens and the Nortons on The Honeymooners ; on working with Audrey Meadows

    12:07

    Chapter 3

    On how she met Audrey Meadows; on working with Audrey; on working with Art Carney; on the June Taylor Dancers on The Jackie Gleason Show  

    11:52

    On the first show of the "Classic 39" episodes of The Honeymooners; on getting married; on ad-libbing to stretch the show; on guest stars and producers on the show; on the "TV or not TV" and "Sleepwalker" episodes of The Honeymooners; on her favorite episodes of The Honeymooners; on the end of The Honeymooners

    15:19

    Chapter 4

    On why she didn't continue playing "Trixie Norton" in later incarnations of The Honeymooners; on appearing on The U.S. Steel Hour; on life after The Honeymooners; on stage work and being a mother; on the Lambs Club 

    05:36

    On the media blitz surrounding the lost episodes of The Honeymooners; on appearing on HBO's Comic Relief and on Hi Honey, I'm Home; on advice to aspiring performers; on how The Honeymooners impacted television; on how she'd like to be remembered

    07:15

    B-roll of pictures throughout her career: headshots and cast shots from The Honeymooners

    05:31

    All in the Family

    Joyce Randolph on how The Honeymooners impacted television

    01:21

    Cavalcade of Stars

    Joyce Randolph on being cast as "Trixie" for a "Honeymooners" sketch on Cavalcade of Stars

    01:20

    Joyce Randolph on working on Calvalcade of Stars

    12:07

    Joyce Randolph on the cast of The Honeymooners

    04:21

    Colgate Comedy Hour, The

    Joyce Randolph on working on The Colgate Comedy Hour

    03:51

    Comic Relief Specials

    Joyce Randolph on appearing on HBO's Comic Relief with Audrey Meadows and Art Carney

    00:56

    Famous Jury Trials

    Joyce Randolph on appearing on Famous Jury Trials

    01:03

    Joyce Randolph on a photo of her on the set of Famous Jury Trials

    00:51

    Flintstones, The

    Joyce Randolph on how The Honeymooners impacted television

    01:21

    Hi Honey, I'm Home

    Joyce Randolph on appearing on Hi Honey, I'm Home with Audrey Meadows 

    00:34

    Honeymooners, The

    Joyce Randolph on being cast as "Trixie" for a "Honeymooners" sketch on Cavalcade of Stars

    01:20

    Joyce Randolph on working on The Honeymooners

    08:20

    Joyce Randolph on working with Jackie Gleason on the "Classic 39 episodes"

    05:24

    Joyce Randolph on the cast of The Honeymooners

    07:01

    Joyce Randolph on the "Classic 39" episodes of The Honeymooners

    15:19

    Joyce Randolph on later incarnations of The Honeymooners

    01:31

    Joyce Randolph on the media blitz surrounding the lost episodes of The Honeymooners

    01:33

    Joyce Randolph on photos from The Honeymooners  

    03:15

    Jackie Gleason Show, The

    Joyce Randolph on working with Jackie Gleason on the "Classic 39 episodes"

    05:24

    Joyce Randolph on the cast of The Honeymooners

    07:31

    Martin Kane, Private Eye

    Joyce Randolph on appearing on Martin Kane, Private Eye

    00:40

    Plainclothesman, The

    Joyce Randolph on appearing on The Plainclothesman

    02:15

    Rocky King, Detective

    Joyce Randolph on appearing on Rocky King, Detective

    00:30

    Texaco Star Theater

    Joyce Randolph on working on Texaco Star Theater

    00:58

    United States Steel Hour, The

    Joyce Randolph on appearing on The U.S. Steel Hour

    01:15

    Characters & Catchphrases

    Joyce Randolph on her role as "Trixie" on The Honeymooners

    00:30

    Comedy

    Joyce Randolph on the "TV or not TV" episode of The Honeymooners

    00:49

    Joyce Randolph on the "The Sleepwalker" episode of The Honeymooners

    00:26

    Joyce Randolph on the "Better Living Through TV" episode and other episodes of The Honeymooners

    01:14

    Joyce Randolph on her favorite episodes of The Honeymooners

    00:55

    Hollywood Blacklist

    Joyce Randolph on Audrey Meadows replacing Pert Kelton in the cast of The Honeymooners

    00:42

    Industry Crossroads

    Joyce Randolph on Audrey Meadows replacing Pert Kelton in the cast of The Honeymooners

    00:42

    Pop Culture

    Joyce Randolph on her role as "Trixie" on The Honeymooners

    00:30

    Technological Innovation

    Joyce Randolph on doing experimental television for GE in Schenectady, NY

    02:08

    Television Industry

    Joyce Randolph on Audrey Meadows replacing Pert Kelton in the cast of The Honeymooners

    00:42

    Actress

    Joyce Randolph on joining the Catholic Theater Group tour and eventually getting to New York

    02:38

    Comedy Series

    Joyce Randolph on The Honeymooners

    12:07

    Joyce Randolph on the "Classic 39" episodes of The Honeymooners

    15:19

    Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

    Joyce Randolph on appearing on Martin Kane, Private Eye

    00:40

    Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

    Joyce Randolph on the cast of The Honeymooners  (on Calvalcade of Stars and The Jackie Gleason Show)

    11:52

    Fred Allen

    Joyce Randolph on working with Fred Allen

    00:28

    Jack Benny

    Joyce Randolph on guest stars on The Honeymooners

    00:11

    Milton Berle

    Joyce Randolph on working on Texaco Star Theater

    00:58

    Eddie Cantor

    Joyce Randolph on working with Eddie Cantor

    00:37

    Art Carney

    Joyce Randolph on working with Art Carney

    00:51

    Joyce Randolph on Art Carney's physical comedy on The Honeymooners

    03:41

    Joyce Randolph on appearing on HBO's Comic Relief with Audrey Meadows and Art Carney

    00:56

    Joyce Randolph on a promotional photo for The Honeymooners

    03:15

    Joyce Randolph on a photo for The Honeymooners

    02:33

    Joyce Randolph on photos from a Jackie Gleason party

    01:10

    Joseph Cates

    Joyce Randolph on being cast as "Trixie" for a "Honeymooners" sketch on Cavalcade of Stars

    01:20

    Jackie Cooper

    Joyce Randolph on appearing on The U.S. Steel Hour

    01:15

    Harry Crane

    Joyce Randolph on auditioning for Calvalcade of Stars

    01:16

    Joyce Randolph on writers on The Honeymooners

    01:34

    Barbara Bel Geddes

    Joyce Randolph on appearing on The U.S. Steel Hour

    01:15

    Jackie Gleason

    Joyce Randolph on working on The Honeymooners

    10:21

    Joyce Randolph on The Jackie Gleason Show  and The Honeymooners

    22:50

    Joyce Randolph on later incarnations of The Honeymooners

    01:31

    Joyce Randolph on a promotional photo for The Honeymooners

    03:15

    Joyce Randolph on photos from a Jackie Gleason party, and on stage

    02:09

    Pert Kelton

    Joyce Randolph on Audrey Meadows replacing Pert Kelton in the cast of The Honeymooners

    00:42

    Jerry Lewis

    Joyce Randolph on working with Martin and Lewis on The Colgate Comedy Hour

    00:29

    Dean Martin

    Joyce Randolph on working with Martin and Lewis on The Colgate Comedy Hour

    00:29

    Audrey Meadows

    Joyce Randolph on Audrey Meadows replacing Pert Kelton in the cast of The Honeymooners

    01:27

    Joyce Randolph on Audrey Meadows

    00:39

    Joyce Randolph on how she met Audrey Meadows and working with her

    02:02

    Joyce Randolph on appearing on HBO's Comic Relief with Audrey Meadows and Art Carney

    00:56

    Joyce Randolph on appearing on Hi Honey, I'm Home with Audrey Meadows

    00:34

    Joyce Randolph on a photo of her on the set of The Famous Jury Trials

    00:00

    Carroll O'Connor

    Joyce Randolph on meeting Carroll O'Connor

    00:33

    George Petrie

    Joyce Randolph on working with George Petrie on The Honeymooners

    00:45

    Leonard Stern

    Joyce Randolph on writers on The Honeymooners

    01:11

    Gloria Swanson

    Joyce Randolph on working with Gloria Swanson on Broadway

    00:18

    June Taylor

    Joyce Randolph on the June Taylor Dancers on The Jackie Gleason Show

    00:59

    Danny Thomas

    Joyce Randolph on working on The Colgate Comedy Hour

    01:10

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