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PEOPLE

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Jackie Gleason

'The Honeymooners' star was one of PGA Tour's first celebrity hosts.

BY JOEL BEERSPublished: November, 2009

Gleason lent his name to the Inverrary Classic during the 1970s (COURTESY: Bob Hope Classic).
Claim to fame: Gleason catapulted to fame with “The Jackie Gleason Show,” which debuted in 1952. A sketch from that show, “The Honeymooners,” became its own sitcom in 1955. He continued to work in film, TV, stage and the musical world through the 1970s.
Golf expertise: The rotund Gleason became an avid golfer in his 40s, even convincing his network to move the set of his show from New York to Miami so he could be closer to his home course. What he lacked in skill he made up for with a contagious gusto.
What he meant to the game: In the early 1970s when many PGA Tour events were struggling, Gleason lent his name to the Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic (today’s Honda Classic) and served as host from 1972-1980. In 1975, President Gerald Ford played in the pro-am along with Gleason, Bob Hope and Jack Nicklaus, the first time a sitting president had played in a pro-am.
Quotable: “First you address the ball.” — Gleason’s Ralph Kramden character explaining the proper golf setup. “Hello, ball.”
— Art Carney’s Ed Norton character simply doing what he was told.


FAMOUS COMEDIANS IN GOLF:

Will Ferrell  |  Larry David  |  George Lopez  |  Jackie Gleason  |  Bob Hope
Kevin James  |  Ray Romano  | Kevin Nealon  |  Ellen DeGeneres  |  Bill Murray




ALSO SEE:

Laughing Matters — four of the funniest golf comedies