New Year’s Eve for me as a kid was sleeping over at my grandparents’ house in Orange. My grandmother would buy the plastic hats and noise makers. I would make my own confetti as long as I cleaned it up afterward. My grandfather would make his “special new year’s drink” which I found out later is called a Golden Cadillac (white creme de cacoa, galliano, and milk). I was allowed to have some. They had this calendar in their kitchen with movable sliding buttons to highlight the day, month, and number for the date. They would always let me change it on New Year’s morning. It was a special one because you got to move the month all the way up to Jan. and the number all the way up to 1. Now I have the calendar in my house. Just made of plastic, but priceless…
The Honeymooners aired about 25 years before I was born. I had no clue it even existed until my dad made me watch an episode when I was probably 13 or 14. It was his favorite show as a kid, and he still watched reruns every night at 11 back in the day. I’ve developed a tremendous appreciation for the show after learning more about it’s origin and creator, Jackie Gleason. Gleason despised rehearsing and more or less revolutionized improv. Rumor has it you can tell when Gleason was having trouble recalling his lines when he rubs his hand on his stomach. Check out the Man From Space episode when Ralph is looking for things around the house to make his own Halloween costume and you’ll see what I mean. Honeymooners marathon New Year’s Day on WPIX. Happy New Year.
