<P> Played by Jackie Gleason--a bus driver for the fictional Gotham Bus Company based in New York City . He never is seen driving a bus (except in publicity photos), but sometimes is shown at the bus depot . Ralph is frustrated by his lack of success, and often develops get - rich - quick schemes . He is very short tempered, frequently resorting to bellowing, insults, and making hollow threats . Well hidden beneath the many layers of bluster, however, is a soft - hearted man who loves his wife and is devoted to his best pal, Ed Norton . Ralph enjoys--and is proficient at--bowling and playing pool, and is an enthusiastic member of the fictitious Loyal Order of Raccoons (although in several episodes a blackboard at the lodge lists his dues as being in arrears). Ralph's mother rarely is mentioned, although she does appear in one episode . Ralph's father is only mentioned in one episode ("Young Man with a Horn") as having given Ralph a cornet he learned to play as a boy, and insists on keeping when Alice suggests it be thrown away . </P> <P> The Ralph character was given honorary membership in the union for real New York City bus drivers (Local 100 of the Transport Workers Union) during the run of the show, and a Brooklyn bus depot was named in Gleason's honor after his death . Ralph Kramden was the inspiration for the animated character Fred Flintstone . </P> <P> Alice (née Alice Gibson), played in the first nine skits, starting in 1951, and ending in January 1952 by Pert Kelton, and by Audrey Meadows for all remaining episodes, is Ralph's patient but sharp - tongued wife of roughly 12 years . She often finds herself bearing the brunt of Ralph's insults, which she returns with biting sarcasm . She is levelheaded, in contrast to Ralph's pattern of inventing various schemes to enhance his wealth or his pride . In each case, she sees the current one's un-workability, but he becomes angry and ignores her advice (and by the end of the episode, her misgivings almost always are proven to have been well - founded). She has grown accustomed to his empty threats--such as "One of these days, POW!!! Right in the kisser!", "BANG, ZOOM!" or "You're going to the moon!"--to which she usually replies, "Ahhh, shaddap!" Alice studied to be a secretary before her marriage and works briefly in that capacity when Ralph is laid off . Wilma Flintstone is based on Alice Kramden . </P> <P> Another foil for Ralph is Alice's mother, who is even sharper - tongued than her daughter . She despises Ralph as a bad provider . Alice's father is occasionally mentioned but never seen . Alice's sister, Agnes, appeared in one episode (Ralph jeopardizes his newlywed sister - in - law's marriage after giving some bad advice to the groom, but it all works out in the end). Ralph and Alice lived with her mother for six years after getting married before they got their own apartment . In a 1967 revival, Ralph refers to Alice (played by Sheila MacRae 1966--70 and once more in 1973) as being one of 12 children with her father never working . </P>

Who played the first alice in the honeymooners