You know you're an OTR fan when.....

[Huxley]

I was watching 'The Aristocats' during the Disney hour with my kids last Sunday when I pointed out the tomcat character and said
"That cat's voice is provided by Phil Harris from the Jack Benny Program!" My wife rolled her eyes and said:
"Yes, dear. And he also did the voice for Balloo the bear from 'Jungle Book' and Little John from 'Robin Hood'. You've told us this before."
Not wanting to give up the last word, I said;
"Yeah, but did you know that skinny cat playing the guitar in the Jazz band there was probably based on his longtime sidekick, Frank Remly?"

I got a pillow in the head for that one....

[bboswell]

I would have to say my favorite supporting character would be Frank Nelson. I guess he would be considered a "minor" character... Hey, maybe someone who knows more than me about the actors could put a similar poll for favorite "minor" characters. My recommendations would be:
Frank Nelson (Oh mister, mister.... Yyyyyeeeeeessssss?)
Artie Auerback (Mr Kitzel, I think)
Sheldon Leonard (Racetrack Tout)
Mel Blanc as Professor LeBlanc
Mel Blanc as Sy
Mel Blanc as other
Actor? (the guy who is always at the information desk or whatever and always answers "I don't know") also, I think, was the clerk who sold Jack the nightgown with "da loops"

[Alan]

My vote is definately for Nelson....i could listen to him read from the phone book (well, for a while anyways...but you get what i mean)

Close second is Mel Blanc "Sy"-tho he has other awesome one-liners etc..

[Huxley]

When did Nelson first appear in the Show? I've haven't listened to episodes past the mid-forties yet so that's why I forgot to list Mel Blanc, but I don't remember Nelson. If I could edit the Poll I would, sorry.

[bboswell]

When did Nelson first appear in the Show? I've haven't listened to episodes past the mid-forties yet so that's why I forgot to list Mel Blanc, but I don't remember Nelson. If I could edit the Poll I would, sorry.

I am not sure when Nelson joined the cast, but you would certainly recognize him as a snobby floorwalker or clerk who was ALWAYS antagonistic to Jack Benny, whether he had reason to be or not! His entrance would always come in something like this:

Jack: Maybe this gentleman can help me. Oh Mister... Mister?
Nelson: "Yeeeeeeessssss"


I think your poll is totally legitimate, the people above are certainly the main supporting cast. I don't think it would make sense to put Frank Nelson and Mel Blanc in a poll with the main cast.

Also, do yourself a favor and listen to some later episodes when you get a chance. Great stuff!

[LLeff]

Actor? (the guy who is always at the information desk or whatever and always answers "I don't know") also, I think, was the clerk who sold Jack the nightgown with "da loops"

Two different people. Benny Rubin is the information desk guy who says "I dunno" and Elliiott Lewis is the "mooley guy" who played a lot of those sort of hamhanded, Brooklynesque guys who pronounce lingerie as "lin-ger-ee".

[bboswell]

Two different people. Benny Rubin is the information desk guy who says "I dunno" and Elliiott Lewis is the "mooley guy" who played a lot of those sort of hamhanded, Brooklynesque guys who pronounce lingerie as "lin-ger-ee".

Aha! There's no doubt about it, I need to get your new book 39 Forever asap. I need to have this kind of information at my fingertips. There's just a little bit of a cash-flow problem right now.
I encourage everyone who reads this to buy the book to put in their reference library. (In fact, buy TWO and send me one!!)

[Huxley]

Aha! There's no doubt about it, I need to get your new book 39 Forever asap. I need to have this kind of information at my fingertips. There's just a little bit of a cash-flow problem right now.
I encourage everyone who reads this to buy the book to put in their reference library. (In fact, buy TWO and send me one!!)

It that book sold at this site? Am I correct in assuming LLeff wrote it?

[bboswell]

It that book sold at this site? Am I correct in assuming LLeff wrote it?

Yes, check out this link:

http://jackbenny.org/biography/other/39_forever_second_edition_vol1.htm

[LLeff]

It that book sold at this site? Am I correct in assuming LLeff wrote it?

Sure did. It will also answer your questison on when Frank Nelson joined the cast. But I'll give you that answer as a free sample: 6/1/34 (believe it or not). However, that was a one-shot deal and he returned as a recurring supporting player on 6/20/37. However, you'd probably never recognize him on that show if you didn't know it was him.