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Audrey Meadows said that Alice Kramden was ''probably television's first liberated woman''
"She was not going to be a doormat."
The Honeymooners holds a lasting impact in viewers' minds and hearts, and not just because it set a precedent for comedy in television.
According to an interview in the Tampa Bay Times, Audrey Meadows, who played Alice Kramden in The Honeymooners, revealed that she felt that her character was a trailblazer for women.
Meadows reasoned, "She was probably television's first liberated woman." She explained, "She stood up for herself and for her beliefs. She loved Ralph very much; there was never any question about that. She also understood him. But at the same time, she wouldn't let him get away with everything. She was not going to be a doormat." While Ralph and Alice Kramden seemed constantly at odds throughout the series, there's no doubt that some of the funniest moments in the series are when Alice makes a quick remark at her husband's expense, knocking the wind out of his overly confident sails.
Speaking of her character, Meadows enthused, "She was courageous. When it was necessary, she'd go out and get a job, even though Ralph wouldn't approve. She did what she thought she had to do." As well-loved as Alice Kramden is by Audrey Meadows, she's even more well-loved by the viewers, who Meadows said used to send in aprons and potholders for Alice.
It's a warm reception that Meadows felt was especially benefitted by the medium that The Honeymooners visited audiences on. Meadows stated that she believed television to be "the most intimate medium." She said, "The show comes into your home. You don't have to go out to see the actor. He or she is right there in your living room."
Meadows added that the intimacy of television provided a connection between the viewer and the character they were watching on screen. She said, "When you're on TV, people feel they know you. They don't feel that way with someone on the big screen whom they have to leave home to see."
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I would add to Meadow's comment however, that if Alice was the first liberated housewife, then Ralph was the first emotional abuser to be portrayed. Not that it wasn't a popular and fun Series. And he usually got his come-uppance. But few Shows of that time were as double sided as the Honeymooners. And some might argue, the forerunner of All in the Family.
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