Let’s appreciate for a moment that Frankie was 11 years-old here, he had recently been scooped off the streets of his native Philadelphia, ferried to New York City and plopped onto a national broadcast television show. Oh, and he did all of that in one continuous take! What a talent. Nerves of steel.
Thanks for posting this. Jerry Blavat passed away two days after you posted it. I was watching an interview with Blavat and Frankie Avalon. Frankie was talking about how he started as a trumpet player and played for Al Martino and his manager. They took him to New York where he was brought to play for Jackie Gleason. Jackie told his writers to write a scene for him - this must be the scene. Frankie also didn't know how to tap dance and had to be taught.
what a treat to see little frankie perform on the honeymooners! now is this segment from one of the "lost episodes" because i don't recall seeing it from any of the classic 39 ones.
Apparently there was a full orchestra in the Kramden apartment. The floor looks odd too, probably for the tap dance. As everyone knows, he became a heart-throb later in life. Very talented boy.
As Jeff Di Cesare points out: here is Frankie talking about this first break that he got on Jackie Gleason's show. th-cam.com/video/sAsxdYeMhpM/w-d-xo.html
In the old Hollywood system kids had to be skilled as well as cute. All the original Mouseketeers were skilled dancers and musicians and actors by the time Walt found them. It’s different today.
I can’t remember if this was East Coast or West Coast but wherever they filmed it at, they had to record it, so it could be re-transmitted to one of the coast that it did. I know I love Lucy would film her show and then they would overnight it to the East Coast so they could transmit for that time. This was one of Dizzy Lou ideas.
This is a Kinescope. Though performances were sometimes synced up with a prerecorded record especially in these early days, Frankie did in fact perform this live. They filmed a TV screen of the live local broadcast in NY with 16mm film for later airing in the other time zones because tape wouldn't be invented for another 5 years. They were actually not intended to be kept forever. Jackie Gleason (by some amazing miracle) kept almost all of his old Kinescopes for over 30 years until he finally released them in the mid to late 80s. It was in fact performed and broadcast live. These Kinescopes are all that exists of those live broadcasts. They were originally just skits of the Jackie Gleason show until CBS greenlighted "The Classic 39" episodes. Thankfully Jackie Gleason demanded that CBS film those 39 episodes in very high quality 35mm film. Because he did, they were able to be scanned, restored, and released in 1080p High Definition on Blu-ray. Today the classic 39 episodes look absolutely amazing. This broadcast however was years before that. Amazing that it even exists at all.
Let’s appreciate for a moment that Frankie was 11 years-old here, he had recently been scooped off the streets of his native Philadelphia, ferried to New York City and plopped onto a national broadcast television show. Oh, and he did all of that in one continuous take! What a talent. Nerves of steel.
*12 years old
Kryptonian from Philadelphia!
Original airdate was Saturday, December 20, 1952.
Just saw him last night in concert! They showed this clip! What a talent and still performing at 83! 🎶❤️🎶
Thanks for posting this. Jerry Blavat passed away two days after you posted it. I was watching an interview with Blavat and Frankie Avalon. Frankie was talking about how he started as a trumpet player and played for Al Martino and his manager. They took him to New York where he was brought to play for Jackie Gleason. Jackie told his writers to write a scene for him - this must be the scene. Frankie also didn't know how to tap dance and had to be taught.
Still a fan after all these years, Frank! Thanks for the memories. Blessings on you and your family.
So wonderful to see Francis so talented at 12 yrs. old🧡
what a treat to see little frankie perform on the honeymooners! now is this segment from one of the "lost episodes" because i don't recall seeing it from any of the classic 39 ones.
Yay,
the honeymooners marathon starts this Saturday 12 in the afternoon on catchy comedy network. I'll be watching
Apparently there was a full orchestra in the Kramden apartment. The floor looks odd too, probably for the tap dance. As everyone knows, he became a heart-throb later in life. Very talented boy.
Wow the real Frankie A.
Wow!,
Wow
❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉
As Jeff Di Cesare points out: here is Frankie talking about this first break that he got on Jackie Gleason's show.
th-cam.com/video/sAsxdYeMhpM/w-d-xo.html
In the old Hollywood system kids had to be skilled as well as cute. All the original Mouseketeers were skilled dancers and musicians and actors by the time Walt found them. It’s different today.
I think it's a tape. Maybe a tape of him, but he's not playing live, IMHO.
You might be right, however if it is he synced it up damn good.
I can’t remember if this was East Coast or West Coast but wherever they filmed it at, they had to record it, so it could be re-transmitted to one of the coast that it did. I know I love Lucy would film her show and then they would overnight it to the East Coast so they could transmit for that time. This was one of Dizzy Lou ideas.
This is a Kinescope. Though performances were sometimes synced up with a prerecorded record especially in these early days, Frankie did in fact perform this live. They filmed a TV screen of the live local broadcast in NY with 16mm film for later airing in the other time zones because tape wouldn't be invented for another 5 years. They were actually not intended to be kept forever.
Jackie Gleason (by some amazing miracle) kept almost all of his old Kinescopes for over 30 years until he finally released them in the mid to late 80s. It was in fact performed and broadcast live. These Kinescopes are all that exists of those live broadcasts. They were originally just skits of the Jackie Gleason show until CBS greenlighted "The Classic 39" episodes.
Thankfully Jackie Gleason demanded that CBS film those 39 episodes in very high quality 35mm film. Because he did, they were able to be scanned, restored, and released in 1080p High Definition on Blu-ray. Today the classic 39 episodes look absolutely amazing. This broadcast however was years before that. Amazing that it even exists at all.
The Trumpet performance certainly looks Live to me, even down to his Tap Dance segment.
That's why they call you BONEHEAD. You projected the weak talent of kids today onto Frankie.