# YeEEESSSss! Who was this guy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 8, 2000, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965 "2000-07-08T18:15:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zarathustra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/898d66/32.png) [@Zarathustra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zarathustra)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/1 "2000-07-08T18:15:22Z")
At least 15 or 20 years ago, I would occasionally see this guy featured on TV commercials or in cameo spots on sitcoms. He had a moustache, and his trademark was apparently to say a long, drawn out “yes”. I can’t reproduce it here very well in plain text, but he actually said it like, yeh-AAAY-hesss!!! I saw him in an episode of Sanford and Son, playing either a jeweller or a banker, and his demeanor was very sarcastic (telling Lamont and Rollo to turn around so that the security camera could take their pictures). He also did a brief stint as a spokesman for McDonalds, IIRC. I haven’t seen or heard of him anywhere since the very early 80s. Who was this guy? ---
**Author:** ![jb\_farley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/2 "2000-07-08T18:23:58Z")
he had a really throaty voice, right? and he almost said it like ‘myyyyyyyee[weird voice break]EEEEESSsssss?’ i don’t for the life of me know the guy’s name. i pretty sure he was a regular on the jack benny show. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/3 "2000-07-08T18:53:36Z")
I remember a guy like this too, but I’m thinking he was also in Eve Arden’s TV show. A Jack Benny search turned up the name Artie Auerbach playing a regular character called Mr. Kitzel. But there were no pictures or soundtracks to check out. I’m going to search some more. You’ve given me a Saturday-afternoon-waiting-for-hubby-to-get-ready-to-go-out-for-dinner something to do. ---
**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/4 "2000-07-08T19:03:52Z")
I _think_ you’re referring to Harold Peary, who played [The Great Gildersleeve](http://www.softcom.net/users/gildersleeve/) on the radio and in movies. You can hear him reading fairy tales [here](http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/fred_berney/records.htm), but I couldn’t find a recording of his “yeh-AAAY-hesss”. IIRC, he also did commercials for Faygo Red Pop. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/5 "2000-07-08T19:11:12Z")
I’m pretty sure you’re talking about The Great Gildersleeve who started out on radio’s **Fibber McGee and Molly**. [Great Gildersleeve Home Page](http://members.tripod.com/ethomsen/gildy.html) ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/6 "2000-07-08T19:23:32Z")
Or are you thinking of Gale Gordon, from _The Lucille Ball Show_? He played Mr. Mooney, the bank manager. I’m trying to find a sound clip, but no luck yet, and I have to go out. AuntiePam? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/7 "2000-07-08T19:45:35Z")
Yeah, I guess I **was** thinking of Gale Gordon. 'scuze me while I clear my head, I’ve been back in the 50’s. I didn’t realize there were so many middle-aged mustachioed actors – besides Mr. Mooney, there was Mr. Quigley on Dennis the Menace, and Clifton Webb, and Mr. Whipple from the Charmin commercials. I think My Little Margie had one too, but I don’t know for sure. That must have been a popular “look” back then. Just looks kinda creepy now, like the uncle whose lap you don’t want to sit on. I’m finding some amazing stuff. Did you know there’s a site with info on all the theme music from old TV shows? Amazing. ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/8 "2000-07-08T20:15:22Z")
Pam: What’s the TV theme music site, please? I’m looking for a theme that’s too obscure to “make the cut” of those TV TUNES theme CDs. Thank you, thank you. BTW, though Gale Gordon certainly did the snooty, sarcastic bit, I’m certain he’s not the YEEEEEEESSSS guy you seek. That guy was smaller and more weasley (sp?). He did some cartoon voices and was always popping up on I Love Lucy – but not as a regular. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/9 "2000-07-08T20:35:22Z")
[http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/tvSeriesList.shtml](http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/tvSeriesList.shtml) Well, I can see it’s not clickable – but you get the drift. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/10 "2000-07-08T20:36:52Z")
Oh wow, it **was** clickable! Cool! Wonder why it didn’t show up that way in the preview? ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/11 "2000-07-08T22:50:38Z")
Frank Nelson: [http://www.crosswinds.net/~fnelson](http://www.crosswinds.net/~fnelson) Tipped off by a user comment on imdb. He died in 1986. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/12 "2000-07-09T02:02:14Z")
Thanks, **Yabob**. It was fun searching for the right guy, but I’m glad you settled it. It was gonna be one of those things to keep me awake at night. And it isn’t even my thread! I suppose you realize that this is going to make you the resident expert on obscure characters. Expect **lots** of action. ---
**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/13 "2000-07-09T03:31:26Z")
Wow - I thought Frank and the Gildersleeve guy were one and the same! Good work, **yabob!** (Even though I was wrong, I still think I should get some style points for matching answers with **tomndebb**.) ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/14 "2000-07-09T03:33:20Z")
Thanks, yabob and Pam! It would have kept me awake too! ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/15 "2000-07-09T07:21:47Z")
Frank Nelson! I remember him as the voice of Spiffy on “The Oddball Couple,” a mid-'70s cartoon with an “Odd Couple” theme: neat cat and sloppy dog. My little brother used to imitate that “Yesss!” sound. ---
**Author:** ![Zarathustra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/898d66/32.png) [@Zarathustra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zarathustra)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/16 "2000-07-09T09:29:57Z")
Thanks to all, for an example of General Questions at its best. One of these days, I’m going to go through one of Warner Brothers’ old celebrity cameo cartoons from the 1930s-40s, and ask who each and every one of those guys (and gals) were. At a party, someone asks: _You boys having a good time?_ (table surrounded by a half dozen grim-faced actors respond in an extremely deadpan voice): _Yes._ Zarathustra ---
**Author:** ![zebbmx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/958977/32.png) [@zebbmx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zebbmx)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/17 "2000-07-09T17:03:10Z")
i think he guest satrred on the simpsons as the bus driver at the end of the simpsons episode where they goto the super bowl and you hear john madden talkin and then the bus driver says something like myyyyyyyyyeeahhhhhesssssss ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/18 "2000-07-09T17:23:22Z")
**Aseymayo** , I still think Gildersleeve did the Faygo ads. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/19 "2000-07-09T18:32:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zebbmx \* > \*\*i think he guest satrred on the simpsons as the bus driver at the end of the simpsons episode where they goto the super bowl and you hear john madden talkin and then the bus driver says something like myyyyyyyyyeeahhhhhesssssss \*\* That was supposed to be Vincent Price ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965/20 "2000-07-09T18:38:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Thanks, Yabob. It was fun searching for the right guy, but I’m glad you settled it. It was gonna be one of those things to keep me awake at night. And it isn’t even my thread! > > I suppose you realize that this is going to make you the resident expert on obscure characters. Expect lots of action. Thank you, but I’m not sure I want the “expert” status … this sort of stuff is more fun from the peanut gallery. Besides, the reference to go to is [http://www.imdb.com](http://www.imdb.com) Their database includes full data on some astonishingly obscure performers, and includes TV as well as movies. I personally remembered the bit from the “Jack Benny Show”, and the imdb entry on that show had a user comment giving Nelson as the “yes” guy. Imdb actually does have a full filmography on him as well, plus the link to the fan site I provided (there’s also fan sites for astonishingly obscure performers). BTW, he couldn’t have done “The Simpsons” - that show started in 1989, and Nelson died in 1986. Here’s his entry: [http://us.imdb.com/Name?Nelson,+Frank+(II)](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Nelson,+Frank+(II)) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeeeesssss-who-was-this-guy/24965.md?page=2)