The Actor who used to Stretch his words

[socksoff]

Does anyone know the name of the comedian from the mid 1900's who used to stretch his words out when he shouted "WWWEEEEEELLLL!!!!" (well)and "YYYYEEEEESSSSS!!!" (yes)?
He's been spoofed on The Simpsons as the maitredee at the restaurant.
Homer:"Do You have a table for the mayor?"
Maitre:"YYYYEEEESSSSS!"
Homer:"Why are talking that way!?:
Maitre:"I had a SSTTTRROOOOOOKE!"

 

[venray]

Frank Nelson. Nelson's character never had a name and he never had a steady job. He would just pop up wherever the storyline took Jack Benny that week. If the plot called for Jack to go to a department store, Frank Nelson worked in the department store. If the plot called for Jack to go get his driver's license renewed, Frank Nelson was the guy behind the counter giving the eye exam. One time, the story had Jack dreaming of being a condemned criminal walking the last mile. The executioner turned out to be...well, you've got the idea by now.

The best part of every Frank Nelson appearance was the "reveal." Benny would approach a clerk whose back was turned. Jack would say "Excuse me" and the man would whirl around and be revealed as Frank Nelson. And the audience — this is the Benny TV show I'm talking about now, obviously — would get hysterical in anticipation of what was to come. They were rarely disappointed.


On radio, Nelson couldn't spin around and be revealed so he was, instead, identified by his signature line...he'd say, with a huge, phony smile, "Yesssssssss?" He said it on TV, too. And in movies. And almost anywhere else people hired him.

http://povonline.com/cols/COL053.htm

 

[featherfingers]

Awe, Venray had to go find it before me! Anyway, here's more info about Frank Nelson... by the way, while looking up Frank Nelson in the 'character actors' website, I was saddened to find out that David White, who played Larry Tate on 'Bewitched', had passed away in 1990. I always wondered what happened to him... now I know.

http://www.dougmacaulay.com/kingspud/sel_by_actor_index_2.php?actor_first=Frank&actor_last=Nelson

 

[socksoff]

Now I can go and find him on "Find a Grave"!
I'm not goulish,I just like finding last resting places of these great character actor.
Thanks Venray 1!!🙂

 

[featherfingers]

Here's that weblink to the character actors site. You'll be amazed at who you'll see here... and you'll be amazed at the number of them that have passed away. Most of us folks who grew up in the 50s, 60s and 70s will remember a lot of these people:

http://www.dougmacaulay.com/kingspud/ks_index_gca.html

 

[socksoff]

Thanks Featherfingers - I actually have that site in my favourites but I've not been there in awhile and it looks like he's updated his site with pictures now - which is great!

I think there was 2 other comedians who had developed deliveries in speech that made them unique.One guy kind of reacted to a panic-ed question by sputtering out a response of ie.("eta ota eta ep...oooooooooo! You'd better do something about that!").(Like Frank Nelson),this comedian's voice was used in several Flintstones episodes.One was a doctor treating Barney.
The other comedian would kind of make waddling,waffling noises with his voice to try and stall for time or if he was nervous.
Any Ideas as to their names?

Of course,a 4th comedian with speech comedy would obviously be Charlie Callas.I believe he's still alive too!

 

[Oddjob0226]

Another speech comedian was that guy from the 1970s, Ray Jay Johnson..... "You can call me Ray, and you can call me Jay... and you can call me...." Although he's been mentioned on The Simpsons, too, I'm really kind of surprised that in this retro/nostalga age of Jack in the Box back on the tube and Twinkie the Kid emblazoned on t-shirts that he hasn't popped up somewhere more recently.

Joe E. Ross had his "Ooo..oooo" of course. And although he wasn't a speech comedian really, Huntz Hall back in the days of the Bowery Boys shorts had his very distinct character, inculding his little whistle-and-point-with-his-thumb gimmick which I've seen copied in the occasional animated cartoon.

Going WAY back, and yes, courting a little controversy (hey, were all adults here) the Shorty the Barber character from the Amos and Andy radio show did a really good stuttering-sputtering routine. Racial issues and stutterer acceptance aside, good comedic timing is a rare and valued commodity.

Then there was the Fed Ex speed talker guy, who made a really healthy career out of that talent.

While by no means obscure, Chico Marx wasn't too much more than a dialect comedian (albeit one of the best) when his musical talents were't being engaged. More obscure was a dialect comedian named El Brendel, who always played funny talking, befuddled Swedish characters, although I don't think I've ever actully seen a film he's done. His catch phrase was "Yummpin' Yimminy!" - apparently, the "Wassup?!" of the day....

 

[socksoff]

Excellent additions Oddjob226!!!

 

[drew70]

I loved Frank Nelson! Yes, the "reveal" was always a critical moment!

I remember a particular Flintstones episode in which Frank voiced the character of a sporting goods salesclerk. Fred was returning a new bowling ball he'd bought earlier that day. Naturally, the salesclerk was less than cooperative.

"Weelll, what's wrooonng with it?!" he demanded.

"The...uh...holes are too small," Fred replied. "I can't get my fingers in them."

"Well you might if you waaaashed them!!" was the ascerbic reply.

Absolutely hilarious guy.