Jackie Gleason: American Scene Magazine

I remember this program very well. It aired on Saturday nights and it was one program that the entire family enjoyed. I was only 8 when I first saw this program and since this series is not available on DVD (and was never available on VHS), which is downright criminal, I am limited to memories that are over 45 years old, so details may be vague if not downright erroneous.

The series followed pretty much the same format, which worked like a charm. The show began with Jackie Gleason drinking a cup of coffee, and boy, it must've been one cup of coffee judging by the way he praised it! Then came the dancers whose numbers were quite a spectacle. Next, came the skits and numbers with Jackie Gleason and his guests. The show closed with a scene with Jackie Gleason portraying his role as Joe, the bartender tending bar. In came Crazy Goggenheim, plastered to the gills, (played by Frank Fontaine)with his jokes which were always hilarious! He never failed to leave us all in stitches! Joe would then yell "C'mon, sing us a song!" which he did. As the title of one of Frank Fontaine's albums stated,"Frank Fontaine sings like crazy!" And he did! But it was Frank Fontaine's "Crazy Guggenheim" that I enjoyed the most!

C'mon! Release the series on DVD, or at least release a "Best of..." compilation so we could once again enjoy the comic brilliance of Crazy Guggenheim, one more time!