Great Frank Nelson Story

[Maxwell]

Finding this web site right around the time Chuck Schaden has his annual Jack Benny month in Chicago on WDCB radio has really re-sparked my interest in Jack and his cast of characters. So today I decided to do a little web search on one of my favorite minor players in the Benny ensemble, Frank Nelson. The first site I came across had a great story about Nelson in his later years doing some cartoon voice work in the '80s (I'd estimate) when the producers were looking for a "Frank Nelson type."

If you haven't read it (and for all I know everybody has), you might enjoy it. It is found at http://povonline.com/cols/COL053.htm. If you haven't read it before, I hope you'll like it.

[River Phoenix]

That's a great read; I love the part about Nelson doing the "yes thing" when his name was called at auditions

[David47Jens]

Mark Evanier, the guy who writes the http://www.povonline.com/ site, and its "sister" site, http://www.newsfromme.com, has worked as a writer for roughly 35 years, and in that time has met almost anybody you could name in show business, comics, and other related fields. Both websites are filled with scads of informative and entertaining articles, anecdotes, etc. about these subjects (and more!), and I would give his websites my highest recommendation!

If you do decide to visit, both sites have search engines. Quick searches for topics like "Jack Benny," "Mel Blanc," "Fred Allen," "George Burns," "Johnny Carson," etc. will keep you reading for hours!

[LLeff]

One of the high points of my career as IJBFC President came early (1984 or 85), when I interviewed Frank Nelson. Twice I was able to give him the feed line of "Oh, Mister, Mister!" and have him respond with "YESSSSSSSS?" The second time he said, "YESSSSSS? Well, look who's here! It's Laura Lee!"

It still gives me goose pimples, even if that's not my name any more.

[shimp scrampi]

I think I might levitate and die a happy man if I had Frank Nelson verbally assault me!

On a much less cool note, before I discovered Jack Benny, must have been 82 or 83 (4th-5th grade for me), I remember Frank Nelson doing commercials for McDonalds (wearing some kind of train conductor suit? My memory is foggy on that...), and I would go around imitating his OOOOOOooooooo! squeal much to the annoyance of my family. As I recall, it REALLY hurts your throat!

[LLeff]

On a much less cool note, before I discovered Jack Benny, must have been 82 or 83 (4th-5th grade for me)

You were 82 when you were in 4th grade? You and Phil Harris...

I remember Frank Nelson doing commercials for McDonalds (wearing some kind of train conductor suit? My memory is foggy on that...), and I would go around imitating his OOOOOOooooooo! squeal much to the annoyance of my family. As I recall, it REALLY hurts your throat!

Yup, I remember those as well. And I think I have to claim guilt on going around doing the OOOOOOOOOOOOooooooo myself. Around when I was in first grade, I somehow got hold of Kitzel's "Hoo hoo HOOOOO" and used to prefix answers to questions with it (e.g., "Do you like ice cream?" "Hoo hoo HOOOOO of course I do!"...of course Frank Nelson's "OOOOOOooo do I?" would have worked as well).

[shimp scrampi]

You were 82 when you were in 4th grade? You and Phil Harris...

I Was 23 and NEVER MIND! We had a tough 'hostess' and it was hard to concentrate with Remley under the desks, distracting us all the time!

LOL. I had a group of kids come visit my work once when I was a few years into grad school, one of them asked me what grade I was in, and had to calculate before coming up with, "I guess I'm in the 21st grade!", the kid almost started crying at that prospect

[scottp]

Ever try using the "I dunno" routine on somebody? (That was Joe Besser, wasn't it?)

For some reason I can never get farther than the second plain "I dunno" so I can pull the third (big) "I DUNNO!"

[shimp scrampi]

Ever try using the "I dunno" routine on somebody?

I dunno.

That was Joe Besser, wasn't it?

I dunno.

What was that last bit you always wanted to do?

[LLeff]

Ever try using the "I dunno" routine on somebody? (That was Joe Besser, wasn't it?)

Joe Besser or Benny Rubin. I've usually seen it with Benny Rubin.

[Maxwell]

Ever try using the "I dunno" routine on somebody?

I dunno.

That was Joe Besser, wasn't it?

I dunno.

What was that last bit you always wanted to do?

When my son was little (early 1980s), Fred Rogers had about a week's worth of shows in which the Neighborhood of Make Believe was visited by a donkey which, when you pulled the string in his back answered every question by saying "I-I-I-I-I Kno-o-o-o-o-w." I wonder if Mr. Rogers was inspired by the "I Dunno" bit....

[LLeff]

What was that last bit you always wanted to do?

*Dennis Day imitation* A hamburger...I'm hungry.