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Old-time radio actor · 1911–1986

Frank Nelson

The "Yeeeesss?" man on The Jack Benny Program.

We have him in 199 episodes of 21 series, 1936 to 1960, and 14 of our live channels play them around the clock, free.

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About Frank Nelson

Frank Nelson, portrait, about 1950
Frank Nelson, about 1950.Photo: author unknown, about 1950. Public domain in the United States (copyright not renewed). Wikimedia Commons
Hear him

"Yeeeesss?" from The Jack Benny Program, Last Show of Season - Introducing Cast, May 29, 1949: Benny goes looking for him to introduce him to the audience.

Hear all 199 Frank Nelson episodes, and every episode of every show, on demand: Potato Plus, $5 a month.

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Frank Nelson (May 6, 1911 to September 12, 1986) was an American comic actor, best known as the put-upon foil to Jack Benny and for his drawn-out "Yeeeesss?". Source: Wikipedia

He started young: in 1926, at 15, he played a 30-year-old man in a series broadcast from KOA in Denver. Source: Wikipedia

He moved to Hollywood in 1929 and worked in local dramatic broadcasts, usually as the leading man. His first sponsored show heard nationally was Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel (1932 to 1933), with Groucho and Chico Marx. Source: Wikipedia

He began turning up on Jack Benny's radio show in the late 1930s in all sorts of parts. His nameless clerk, polite to every customer except Benny, took shape around 1942. Source: Wikipedia

Benny would ask something ordinary, such as whether the shirts came in a medium, and Nelson would bellow, "Oo-oo-oo-ooh, DO they!" Source: Wikipedia

On January 8, 1950, announcer Don Wilson read Drew Pearson's name as "Drear Pooson". Later in the broadcast, without Benny knowing, Nelson was told to use it: when Benny asked, "Pardon me, are you the doorman?", Nelson came back with "Well who do you think I am, Drear Pewson?", to long laughter and applause. Source: Wikipedia

Away from Benny he worked all over Hollywood radio, Fibber McGee and Molly among them, and kept taking dramatic parts into the late 1950s, on Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar and other shows. Source: Wikipedia

When Jeff Regan, Investigator came back to CBS in October 1949, with Frank Graham as Regan, Nelson took over the part of Anthony J. Lyon, who runs the International Detective Bureau that Regan works for. Source: Wikipedia

He was national president of AFTRA, the radio and television performers' union, from 1954 to 1957. Source: Wikipedia

On television he played the quiz-show host Freddie Fillmore on I Love Lucy, and he did the clerk for Benny on television from 1950. Source: Wikipedia

He died in Hollywood on September 12, 1986, at 75. Source: Wikipedia

Listen live: the channels that play Frank Nelson

Free 24/7 stations. These play the episodes below, in rotation with the rest of their shows.

Illustrated cover for Lux Radio Theatre: a 1930s Hollywood theatre stage before a closed gold curtain, a single ribbon microphone in a spotlight

The series' own channel

Lux Radio Theatre

63 of his episodes: Lux Radio Theatre (63)

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Illustrated cover for Our Miss Brooks: an empty 1940s high-school English classroom, a blank chalkboard

The series' own channel

Our Miss Brooks

10 of his episodes: Our Miss Brooks (10)

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Illustrated cover for The Whistler: a lonely rain-slicked city street at night

The series' own channel

The Whistler

3 of his episodes: The Whistler (3)

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Illustrated cover for Suspense: a single desk lamp in a dark room, a revolver and a telephone off the hook on the desk, long shadows across the floor

The series' own channel

Suspense

1 of his episodes: Suspense (1)

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Illustrated cover for Opening Night: the front of a 1930s art-deco movie palace on premiere night, crossed searchlight beams in the sky

Mixed channel

Opening Night

76 of his episodes: Lux Radio Theatre (63), Screen Directors Playhouse (5), Family Theater (4), Screen Guild Theater (2), Hallmark Playhouse (1), On Stage (1)

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Buster Pratt, the host of Laugh Track

Mixed channel

Laugh Track

68 of his episodes: The Adventures of Maisie (24), The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show (13), Our Miss Brooks (10), The Jack Benny Program (9), The Burns and Allen Show (3), My Favorite Husband (3), The Life of Riley (2), The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (2), The Harold Peary Show (1), Fibber McGee and Molly (1)

Now Tuning in…

Sal Vitale, the host of Gumshoe

Mixed channel

Gumshoe

50 of his episodes: Jeff Regan, Investigator (31), Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (19)

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Marshal Ramrod, the host of Dry Gulch

Mixed channel

Dry Gulch

1 of his episodes: The Roy Rogers Show (1)

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Frank Nelson’s shows on Stupid Potato

SeriesYearsEpisodes
Lux Radio Theatre1936 to 193963
Jeff Regan, Investigator1949 to 195031
The Adventures of Maisie1950 to 195124
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar1953 to 196019
The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show1947 to 195413
Our Miss Brooks1949 to 195710
The Jack Benny Program1946 to 19529
Screen Directors Playhouse1950 to 19515
Family Theater1947 to 19574
My Favorite Husband1948 to 19513
The Burns and Allen Show1947 to 19483
The Whistler1949 to 19543
Screen Guild Theater1945 to 19462
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet1951 to 19522
The Life of Riley1946 to 19472
Fibber McGee and Molly19541
Hallmark Playhouse19481
On Stage19531
Suspense19541
The Harold Peary Show19501
The Roy Rogers Show19541

Frank Nelson episodes: 5 free to hear

Each one names Frank Nelson on the air, in its cast list or in the show itself. Each title opens the episode’s page: what happens, the transcript from the moment he is named, and listens from any line.

  1. Last Show Of Season - Introducing CastThe Jack Benny Program · May 29, 1949 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line
  2. Christmas Shopping - Shoelaces For DonThe Jack Benny Program · December 8, 1946 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line
  3. BurlesqueLux Radio Theatre · June 15, 1936 · Episode guide · Whole and free in the podcast
  4. ChainedLux Radio Theatre · July 27, 1936 · Episode guide · Whole and free in the podcast
  5. The Vagabond KingLux Radio Theatre · August 17, 1936 · Episode guide · Whole and free in the podcast

Hear all 199 Frank Nelson episodes, and every episode of every show, on demand: Potato Plus, $5 a month.

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All 199 Frank Nelson episodes, by show

The 194 marked Potato Plus are for members: join to hear every one of them, whole, from any moment.

Lux Radio Theatre 63 episodes, 1936 to 1939
  1. BurlesqueJune 15, 1936 · Episode guide · Free
  2. ChainedJuly 27, 1936 · Episode guide · Free
  3. The Vagabond KingAugust 17, 1936 · Episode guide · Free
  4. One Sunday AfternoonAugust 24, 1936 · Potato Plus
  5. Cheating CheatersAugust 31, 1936 · Potato Plus
  6. Is Zat SoSeptember 7, 1936 · Potato Plus
  7. Saturdays ChildrenOctober 26, 1936 · Potato Plus
  8. The Grand Duchess and the WaiterDecember 7, 1936 · Potato Plus
  9. Madame Sans-GeneDecember 14, 1936 · Potato Plus
  10. The Gilded LilyJanuary 11, 1937 · Potato Plus
  11. The Criminal CodeJanuary 18, 1937 · Potato Plus
  12. GraustarkFebruary 8, 1937 · Potato Plus
  13. Brewsters MillionsFebruary 15, 1937 · Potato Plus
  14. DesireMarch 15, 1937 · Potato Plus
  15. A Farewell to ArmsApril 5, 1937 · Potato Plus
  16. Alibi IkeApril 19, 1937 · Potato Plus
  17. Hands Across the TableMay 3, 1937 · Potato Plus
  18. Under Two FlagsMay 24, 1937 · Potato Plus
  19. British AgentJune 7, 1937 · Potato Plus
  20. The Front PageJune 28, 1937 · Potato Plus
  21. A Star Is BornSeptember 13, 1937 · Potato Plus
  22. DodsworthOctober 4, 1937 · Potato Plus
  23. Stella DallasOctober 11, 1937 · Potato Plus
  24. Up Pops the DevilOctober 18, 1937 · Potato Plus
  25. A Free SoulNovember 1, 1937 · Potato Plus
  26. The Petrified ForestNovember 22, 1937 · Potato Plus
  27. Peg O My HeartNovember 29, 1937 · Potato Plus
  28. These ThreeDecember 6, 1937 · Potato Plus
  29. Alice AdamsJanuary 3, 1938 · Potato Plus
  30. Enter MadameJanuary 10, 1938 · Potato Plus
  31. ClarenceJanuary 24, 1938 · Potato Plus
  32. Green LightJanuary 31, 1938 · Potato Plus
  33. Anna ChristieFebruary 7, 1938 · Potato Plus
  34. Brief MomentFebruary 14, 1938 · Potato Plus
  35. The BossMarch 14, 1938 · Potato Plus
  36. The Man Who Played GodMarch 21, 1938 · Potato Plus
  37. Mary Burns FugitiveApril 11, 1938 · Potato Plus
  38. The Prisoner of Shark IslandMay 2, 1938 · Potato Plus
  39. My Man GodfreyMay 9, 1938 · Potato Plus
  40. A Dolls HouseJune 6, 1938 · Potato Plus
  41. Theodora Goes WildJune 13, 1938 · Potato Plus
  42. Seven Keys to BaldpateSeptember 26, 1938 · Potato Plus
  43. That Certain WomanOctober 31, 1938 · Potato Plus
  44. Kid GalahadDecember 19, 1938 · Potato Plus
  45. Perfect SpecimenJanuary 2, 1939 · Potato Plus
  46. Front Page WomanJanuary 16, 1939 · Potato Plus
  47. Cardinal RichelieuJanuary 23, 1939 · Potato Plus
  48. The Arkansas TravelerJanuary 30, 1939 · Potato Plus
  49. Stage DoorFebruary 20, 1939 · Potato Plus
  50. Ceiling ZeroFebruary 27, 1939 · Potato Plus
  51. It Happened One NightMarch 20, 1939 · Potato Plus
  52. A Mans CastleMarch 27, 1939 · Potato Plus
  53. Silver DollarApril 3, 1939 · Potato Plus
  54. Bullets or BallotsApril 17, 1939 · Potato Plus
  55. Broadway BillApril 24, 1939 · Potato Plus
  56. Lady for a DayMay 1, 1939 · Potato Plus
  57. TovarichMay 15, 1939 · Potato Plus
  58. Angels with Dirty FacesMay 22, 1939 · Potato Plus
  59. Prisoner of ZendaJune 5, 1939 · Potato Plus
  60. The Ex-Mrs BradfordJune 19, 1939 · Potato Plus
  61. Mrs MoonlightJune 26, 1939 · Potato Plus
  62. The SistersOctober 9, 1939 · Potato Plus
  63. If I Were KingOctober 16, 1939 · Potato Plus
Jeff Regan, Investigator 31 episodes, 1949 to 1950
  1. The Lady by the FountainOctober 5, 1949 · Potato Plus
  2. Man in the ChurchOctober 12, 1949 · Potato Plus
  3. Lady From BrazilOctober 19, 1949 · Potato Plus
  4. Wanted to LiveOctober 26, 1949 · Potato Plus
  5. Little Man's LamentNovember 9, 1949 · Potato Plus
  6. Two Little SistersNovember 16, 1949 · Potato Plus
  7. Five Hundred Santas from MexicoNovember 30, 1949 · Potato Plus
  8. Some Enchanted CarhopDecember 21, 1949 · Potato Plus
  9. The Man on the HookDecember 28, 1949 · Potato Plus
  10. A Thousand Violins - AlmostJanuary 4, 1950 · Potato Plus
  11. A Streetcar Named SchultzJanuary 18, 1950 · Potato Plus
  12. The Barefoot Boy with Shoes GoneJanuary 25, 1950 · Potato Plus
  13. The Gorilla That Always Said Yeh-ahFebruary 22, 1950 · Potato Plus
  14. Lo the Gentle Earth WormMarch 15, 1950 · Potato Plus
  15. The Hollywood StoryMarch 22, 1950 · Potato Plus
  16. A Tree Grows in EncinoApril 5, 1950 · Potato Plus
  17. The Smell of MagnoliasApril 19, 1950 · Potato Plus
  18. It All Comes Back to Me NowApril 26, 1950 · Potato Plus
  19. A Cure for InsomniaMay 3, 1950 · Potato Plus
  20. Oil for the Lamps of BurbankMay 12, 1950 · Potato Plus
  21. A Claw, A Corkscrew, A Coffin, A CrabMay 19, 1950 · Potato Plus
  22. This May Hurt Just a LittleMay 26, 1950 · Potato Plus
  23. They've Got More Than Coffee in BrazilJune 18, 1950 · Potato Plus
  24. No Sad Clowns for MeJune 25, 1950 · Potato Plus
  25. If I Knew You Were Coming I'd Have Wrecked a Train (1950July 2, 1950 · Potato Plus
  26. She's Lovely, She's Engaged, She Eats Soy BeansJuly 9, 1950 · Potato Plus
  27. All His Sisters, His Cousins, His Uncles & His Aunts (AFJuly 16, 1950 · Potato Plus
  28. A Fire for RomanoJuly 30, 1950 · Potato Plus
  29. There's Nothing Like a Pork Chop When Supper Rolls ArounAugust 6, 1950 · Potato Plus
  30. Gentlemen Prefer HorsesAugust 27, 1950 · Potato Plus
  31. The British are Coming!September 3, 1950 · Potato Plus
The Adventures of Maisie 24 episodes, 1950 to 1951
  1. Designing a BridgeJanuary 5, 1950 · Potato Plus
  2. The Room ClerkFebruary 2, 1950 · Potato Plus
  3. Maisie Has Law TroubleFebruary 9, 1950 · Potato Plus
  4. Green Suit JobFebruary 16, 1950 · Potato Plus
  5. Sales ContestFebruary 23, 1950 · Potato Plus
  6. Maisie Confessesto Jewel RobberyMarch 23, 1950 · Potato Plus
  7. The CostumeApril 13, 1950 · Potato Plus
  8. The Ex-ConvictAugust 3, 1950 · Potato Plus
  9. The Money ManagerAugust 17, 1950 · Potato Plus
  10. The OrphanageAugust 24, 1950 · Potato Plus
  11. Birthday PresentAugust 31, 1950 · Potato Plus
  12. Helping a Working GirlSeptember 21, 1950 · Potato Plus
  13. Eddie Sells InsuranceNovember 2, 1950 · Potato Plus
  14. Birthday GiftNovember 23, 1950 · Potato Plus
  15. The OrphanageDecember 14, 1950 · Potato Plus
  16. Hotel Social DirectorFebruary 8, 1951 · Potato Plus
  17. Mortons DreamsMarch 8, 1951 · Potato Plus
  18. Aunt HattieMarch 15, 1951 · Potato Plus
  19. The Spicy NovelMarch 22, 1951 · Potato Plus
  20. Write CupidMarch 29, 1951 · Potato Plus
  21. Social DirectorMay 3, 1951 · Potato Plus
  22. Harry AdamsOctober 11, 1951 · Potato Plus
  23. The Spicy NovelOctober 18, 1951 · Potato Plus
  24. Efficiency ExpertNovember 22, 1951 · Potato Plus
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar 19 episodes, 1953 to 1960
  1. The Emil Carter MatterJune 16, 1953 · Potato Plus
  2. The Shayne Bombing MatterJuly 14, 1953 · Potato Plus
  3. The Howard Arnold MatterOctober 27, 1953 · Potato Plus
  4. The Markham MatterNovember 18, 1956 · Potato Plus
  5. The Rasmussen MatterDecember 16, 1956 · Potato Plus
  6. The Kirbey Will MatterFebruary 3, 1957 · Potato Plus
  7. The Suntan Oil MatterMarch 10, 1957 · Potato Plus
  8. The Melancholy Memory MatterApril 28, 1957 · Potato Plus
  9. The Mason-Dixon Mismatch MatterJune 9, 1957 · Potato Plus
  10. The Dixon Murder MatterJune 16, 1957 · Potato Plus
  11. The Poor Little Rich Girl MatterSeptember 1, 1957 · Potato Plus
  12. The Silver Belle MatterOctober 13, 1957 · Potato Plus
  13. The Time and Tide MatterFebruary 16, 1958 · Potato Plus
  14. The Durango Laramie MatterFebruary 23, 1958 · Potato Plus
  15. The Wayward Money MatterApril 13, 1958 · Potato Plus
  16. The Village of Virtue MatterApril 27, 1958 · Potato Plus
  17. The Midnite Sun MatterMay 25, 1958 · Potato Plus
  18. The Lake Mead Mystery MatterMarch 22, 1959 · Potato Plus
  19. The False Alarm MatterMarch 27, 1960 · Potato Plus
The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show 13 episodes, 1947 to 1954
  1. Phils HobbyNovember 30, 1947 · Potato Plus
  2. Concern About Contract RenewalJune 26, 1949 · Potato Plus
  3. Helping Alice With The Household BudgetFebruary 4, 1951 · Potato Plus
  4. SongwritersApril 1, 1951 · Potato Plus
  5. Selling Rca Victor Television SetsApril 8, 1951 · Potato Plus
  6. Phils Easy Chair Must GoDecember 16, 1951 · Potato Plus
  7. How Long Will The Genius Of Phil Go UndiscoveredNovember 6, 1953 · Potato Plus
  8. Birthday GiftNovember 20, 1953 · Potato Plus
  9. An English Dinner For A New YearJanuary 8, 1954 · Potato Plus
  10. Build It Yourself Television SetFebruary 5, 1954 · Potato Plus
  11. Job HuntingMarch 5, 1954 · Potato Plus
  12. Phils Pain In The SideApril 9, 1954 · Potato Plus
  13. Trouble With Honest FredMay 28, 1954 · Potato Plus
Our Miss Brooks 10 episodes, 1949 to 1957
  1. Stretch Has a ProblemFebruary 27, 1949 · Potato Plus
  2. The Hair-DoMarch 6, 1949 · Potato Plus
  3. Clay City English TeacherMarch 27, 1949 · Potato Plus
  4. Mr. Boynton's ParentsMay 8, 1949 · Potato Plus
  5. Stretch to TransferOctober 2, 1949 · Potato Plus
  6. Baseball UniformsMarch 26, 1950 · Potato Plus
  7. Stretch Has Girl TroubleFebruary 14, 1954 · Potato Plus
  8. Mr. Travis' Three Acre LotJanuary 30, 1955 · Potato Plus
  9. Deacon JonesJuly 3, 1955 · Potato Plus
  10. Stretch Has a Problem (Rerun of February 27, 1949)February 24, 1957 · Potato Plus
The Jack Benny Program 9 episodes, 1946 to 1952
  1. Ed Sullivan gives Jack an award - Last show of the seasonMay 26, 1946 · Potato Plus
  2. Christmas Shopping - Shoelaces For DonDecember 8, 1946 · Episode guide · Free
  3. MargieJanuary 26, 1947 · Potato Plus
  4. Goodbye 1947 Hello 1948 with Alice FayeDecember 28, 1947 · Potato Plus
  5. Winner Of Walking Man ContestMarch 14, 1948 · Potato Plus
  6. Last Show Of Season - Introducing CastMay 29, 1949 · Episode guide · Free
  7. Sagebrush Soap contestMarch 12, 1950 · Potato Plus
  8. Last show of season - Jack introduces the cast - everyone sings the commercialJune 3, 1951 · Potato Plus
  9. Down on the FarmMay 18, 1952 · Potato Plus
Screen Directors Playhouse 5 episodes, 1950 to 1951
  1. It Had to Be YouJanuary 27, 1950 · Potato Plus
  2. It Happens Every SpringApril 14, 1950 · Potato Plus
  3. Miss Grant Takes RichmondMay 19, 1950 · Potato Plus
  4. Mrs MikeNovember 30, 1950 · Potato Plus
  5. Lucky JordanFebruary 8, 1951 · Potato Plus
Family Theater 4 episodes, 1947 to 1957
  1. Little Boy BlueJune 26, 1947 · Potato Plus
  2. The Golden TouchJanuary 17, 1951 · Potato Plus
  3. The Golden TouchMay 23, 1951 · Potato Plus
  4. Genie With the Light Green HairFebruary 6, 1957 · Potato Plus
My Favorite Husband 3 episodes, 1948 to 1951
  1. Learning To DriveNovember 13, 1948 · Potato Plus
  2. Reminiscing (aka Liz and George Reminisce)July 1, 1949 · Potato Plus
  3. Iris Lizs EasterMarch 24, 1951 · Potato Plus
The Burns and Allen Show 3 episodes, 1947 to 1948
  1. Beating The High Cost Of LivingSeptember 25, 1947 · Potato Plus
  2. Gracie Buys George An Easter OutfitMarch 25, 1948 · Potato Plus
  3. The 1918 Stutz BearcatApril 29, 1948 · Potato Plus
The Whistler 3 episodes, 1949 to 1954
  1. Brief Pause for MurderSeptember 11, 1949 · Potato Plus
  2. ProsecutorOctober 19, 1952 · Potato Plus
  3. ProsecutorDecember 12, 1954 · Potato Plus
Screen Guild Theater 2 episodes, 1945 to 1946
  1. Model WifeOctober 15, 1945 · Potato Plus
  2. Junior MissSeptember 30, 1946 · Potato Plus
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet 2 episodes, 1951 to 1952
  1. Have a CigarJune 1, 1951 · Potato Plus
  2. Too Much ChangeApril 25, 1952 · Potato Plus
The Life of Riley 2 episodes, 1946 to 1947
  1. Riley Finds a Silver Fox Fur CoatApril 6, 1946 · Potato Plus
  2. Riley the Gentleman - New ChairMarch 29, 1947 · Potato Plus
Fibber McGee and Molly 1 episode, 1954
  1. Unloading Forty Thousand MagazinesApril 23, 1954 · Potato Plus
Hallmark Playhouse 1 episode, 1948
  1. Mrs Union StationJune 17, 1948 · Potato Plus
On Stage 1 episode, 1953
  1. Man of Independent MindJuly 9, 1953 · Potato Plus
Suspense 1 episode, 1954
  1. The Guilty Always RunMarch 22, 1954 · Potato Plus
The Harold Peary Show 1 episode, 1950
  1. Decides He Wants to Lose the ElectionNovember 1, 1950 · Potato Plus
The Roy Rogers Show 1 episode, 1954
  1. Song - The Streets of LaredoMarch 4, 1954 · Potato Plus

Who Frank Nelson worked with most

Named in the same cast lists, counted across the episodes above.

The supporting cast of old-time radio: every actor · Every series, A to Z

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