Jack Benny and Frank Nelson the Travel Agent

[david423]

The two weeks in Toronto, if it is true, would have been for Benny's

appearance at either the Canadian National Exhibition Grandstand

show in the evenings.

For many years, major stars had a two-week engagement at the

CNE-- Bob Hope, Danny Kaye, Red Skelton, Phil Silvers among

others.

The reference to little old ladies in Pasadena probably makes a joke

of the Beach Boys' hit about the Pontiac GTO and how does one get

it out of second gear.

[lilmanl5]

The way he bent that corner talking about "how do you dooooooo?" Hilarious

[AngeloNiklis]

That last joke flew over my head like an airplain with fuel made by little old ladies in Pasadena.

[bfdhvcnvvbjdn]

Little Britain totally borrowed from this scene with the computer says no/travel agent sketches.

[0peppers]

Hoooooow do you doooo?

That always cracks me up

[RDBeatnik]

He had a strooooooke!

[Kmannz21]

@RDBeatnik

hahahahaha

[TheGustaveOon]

0:15 - 0:17 If only we all loved our jobs that much.

[blackadder3]

Frank Nelson was the MAN!!!

[dcspaced]

I loved Frank Nelson. But the best skits were when Jack Benny would go into a store or restaurant and Frank Nelson would be behind the counter with his back turned. Jack would say uh, mister, uh mister ... and Jack Nelson would turn around and say Yessssssssssss!?? Jack would look at him like oh no, not that guy again. But everywhere Jack would go there he was. It was a great running joke.

[WoodymanTHEJ]

jack benny's shows would have been better if he didnt keep looking at the audience every 3 seconds XD but it's absolutely brilliant when benny & nelson come together - like orange juice & lemonade come together to make a henry :D

[haljohn2814]

@WoodymanTHEJ That is his routine.....he always involved the audience.

[WoodymanTHEJ]

@haljohn2814 maybe that's how it's done in america, i dunno. i obviously know these things, being english :L

[WSenator1]

@WoodymanTHEJ - The looks to the audience were part of his timing. The audience had time to savor the joke that had just been made, and they also laughed at the look itself, which was an expected part of his repetoire. If you're familiar with Laurel and Hardy, Oliver Hardy achieved the same effect when he looked into the camera after Laurel did something that frustrated him.

[dancebandleader]

I met Mr. Nelson in 1984 at an Old Time Radio convention in New Jersey. He

was friendly and approachable, and I had a chance to tell him how much I

enjoyed his work, At the gathering he also participated in a few re-creations

of shows, including a gag hair tonic commercial (funny) and even a straight

dramatic role (equally great). He is missed.

[Antagoinist89]

@dancebandleader Wow that's really cool. I wish I met Mr. Nelson.

[BrooklynJackBlue]

God, imagine if Frank had gotten his own sitcom or radio show...

[peevishly]

OOOOOOOOOOOHHH AM I!!!

[49bobbyk]

Frank Nelson was a character that will always be remembered. His voice, his timing, his sarcasm. All of it classic.

[sailin1934]

does anyone know why phil harris didn't come with jack when he made the transition from radio to t.v.?  phil would have been a riot on jack's show.

[dancebandleader]

@sailin1934 Good question. What I know is that I read that Phil Harris left the Benny show

around 1952, a matter mainly of economics, according to the Oxford Press book "Encyclopedia of Old

Time Radio" Since Benny was not doing weekly television in 50-52 it's possible Harris might have made

a few isolated appearances. Acoording to what I've read, Harris was busy with his own show (with Alice Faye

co-starring) which lasted into 1954. Harris probably welcomed the reduced workload.

[burtmurdoch]

legend...

[singhdaddyF]

Now I found out where that long saying of the word Yayyyssssss comes from,,,, from Frank Nelson, man,, he is funny.....funnier than others who does with the goofy voices....

[zyxquark]

Once in about 1976 I was sitting at a bar and everybody sitting at the bar was staring at an episode of sanford and son. red fox calls the waited, "hey, hey mister," and (you guess it) frank nelson turns and says, "Yeeees?" half the people at the bar did a spit-take (spit their beer out)--we hadn't seen him in fifteen years. Everybody there knew him. what a magical moment. It was the last time I ever saw him (in current time). I love him.

[Juicefani11]

Ooooooh.... Am i? :D

[wilmoer]

Frank Nelson was a genuine comedian, and an original. He didn't have to imitate anyone else, and he didn't have to use foul language, politics, or insujlts to make people laugh.

[Astraldragon1]

Frank Nelson was great, th best in the bussiness and a legend. I agree with Frank Nelson was a Comedic genius.

[slashingraven]

"Wait a minute. You've only got me staying in Toronto one night. My show is supposed to play there for two weeks! Didn't you see my schedule?"

"I also saw your show."

[ACDC392333]

all he ever does is look to the audience... revolutionary at the time... boring now

[DeserTBoB93535]

@ACDC392333 maybe to you....because you have no brain?

[fromthesidelines]

Frank Nelson (along with Mel Blanc) was an integral part of Benny's supporting cast, appearing in "small roles" as early as 1934. It wasn't until the mid-'40s that his "character" was eastablished- the "rude" train station clerk, floorwalker, travel agent, et. al., who was ALWAYS nasty to Jack [but never to anyone else].

[melollylolly]

mr nelson-a great talent

[Juliaflo]

@melollylolly I second that.

[melollylolly]

i like this guy; i think he was a voice of one of the characters in the 70's cartoon --"the oddball couple"

[PittCairn1000]

I read that Frank hated that he was pigeon-holed as this character.

[pammyinlp]

As far as I'm concerned Frank Nelson was underrated. What a wonderful voice and delivery he had!

[Spadey1]

Hahahahaha.

[mickey160455]

homer simpson called him that Jerk thas says YEAASSS!!!!!!!

[arsenefan]

If you watch the compilation, there's one scene in The Simpsons where he has a carnation on his jacket and he's sniffing it.

I believe that's a reference to the Jack Benny Christmas Special where he's a floor walker wearing a carnation. Look up "Frank Nelson Torments Jack Benny" and "Jack Benny Buys a Watch" They should be in related videos to the right.  It's a nice little nod by The Simpsons to Frank Nelson and a great Jack Benny episode. Mel Blanc was the best on the christmas special.

[rarebutgreat]

Brilliant stuff. The Good thing about the Jack Benny Show was that the punchlines were never hogged by the star which makes it even funnier

[SpiderDrummer24]

there needs to be way more frank nelson clips on youtube

[trossk]

i agree

[railcar123]

"And I always thought you did'nt like me"

"I dont....but shes 52 and shes desperate!" LOL! 1:33

Really funny Jack and Frank Nelson

[JubalCalif]

Frank Nelson was a HUGE comedy talent....as seen by his many appearances on shows like "The Jack Benny Program" and "I Love Lucy". Thanks for sharing this hilarious scene with us! :)

[Taughtology]

Great timing on this cast. Now the directors handle most of the nuance in comedies.

[dharmaseed]

oooOOOooooh!!! Am I!!

[CrumpledPaper101]

Frank Nelson was a hoot! RIP, Mr. Nelson.

[Ferrarie100]

this is some old funny stuff

[franklindavid]

Great to have, two wonderful talents come together.

[coolsnickers]

re; ziggytim & cthomer 5000 and the end bit:  pretty sure this JB show predates LOL/Pas single, and was a Benny catch-phrase.

[evfich]

i had a strooooke

[pandaeyes42]

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees?!?

[lebow1]

FRANK NELSON'S THE BEST!!!!!!!!

[sirstrongbad]

yeeeeeees!.. and if you look for more vids of the same guy he actually says it, too.

[heroinmyfriend]

hahah roflmao ooooohhhhamI?

[ziggytim]

so the end bit is reference to the beach boys song right?

[cthomer5000]

that song is actually by "Jan And Dean" though it is frequently mistaken for the Beach Boys, and understandably so.

[ziggytim]

oh, i did not know that.

[ACcountryFan]

actually, at the beginning of this episode, I have it on DVD, two older ladies from Pasadena, I believe from the fictional Jack Benny Fan Club, give Jack a bottle of wine...when Jack opens the bottle, smoke starts to drift out, indicating that the wine is strong and Frank's joke is a reference to the wine being strong enough to fuel the airplane, hence the "new fuel" that's been discovered by two old ladies from Pasadena.

[ACcountryFan]

The Jan and Dean song was a hit in 1964 and I believe this episode is either from the 1961/1962 or 1962/1963 TV seasons.

[ACcountryFan]

I found out that the episode I have on DVD was produced in 1963. It's the episode called "Jack Rents His House" because he wants people living there renting off of him while he's on vacation.

February 6, 1963 to be exact.

[bradley825]

Frank Nelson also made some appearances on Sanford and Son, and on Mcdonalds commercials.

[worthlessprotoplasm]

My brother's name is Frank, and our last name is Nelson. Thats kinda cool.

[KarloR27]

WOOOOOW! same name and surname yeeeees! aw sure I've the same name and surname as my father. I wonder does your brother says yeeeees!. All the best.

[worthlessprotoplasm]

He doesn't say "Yeeeeeeees!" I wish he did though.

[KarloR27]

Yeah he could of done an impression of him.

[schunkeone]

Easily the most recognizable voice in classic television....and brilliantly funny.

[VMKCapn]

Jack Benny: Didn't you see my schedule?

Frank Nelson: I also saw your show.

I almost died laughing.

[NYVoice]

Frank Nelson rocked! He was simply hilarious.

[edinburghborn]

jack benny is a genius! great vid.

[Matty4]

correct me if im wrong but is the yes guy from the simpsons based on frank nelson?

[TomBarrister]

Yes, indirectly.

[nsj1979]

Why, YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS­S!!!

Sorry, I couldn't resist it! LOL!

[trossk]

i love his radio shows and always wondered what the other guy looked like, thans for showing

[dharmaseed]

ooooOOOOOoooohhhhh, am I!

[ruantengyi]

thank god he's back in the simpsons.

[Danuet]

Woooo am I !!!!

[donkeyballsf0rk]

yessssssssssssssssssssss i had a strrrrrrrrrrrokkkkkkkkkke

[futboldsdarg]

i had a stroke

[donkeyballsf0rk]

yessssssssssssssssssssssssss i had a strrrrrroke

[exipnosgiorgios]

Now, cut that out!!!

[archontic]

Frank Nelson, Jack Benny, Mel Blanc, Eddie Anderson..

They all had chemistry of the Gods between eachother.

[digital2500]

You can add Phil Harris, Dennis Day, Don Wilson and Mary Livingston to that list. This may have been the greatest cast in all of broadcasting!

[MuscleMikal]

Frank Nelson was a comedic genius. His voice was priceless!

[Granitoons]

Yyyyyyeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssss!­!!!

[bobszvetics1]

@MuscleMikal YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS­SSSSSSSSSSSSSS