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September
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September 28,
2007
Bill DeMar's
Joke Page
Dan @9:47am
One of the great funny men
of the ventriloquist world is Bill DeMar. He has been a
ventriloquist for over 50 years and has come up with some great
material over the years. I am happy to say that Bill has his own
joke page now on Ventriloquist Central so please have a look. You
just might find a joke or two that you can adapt to your own act.
Thanks Bill for joining us at Ventriloquist Central with your great
humor.
Click Here For the Bill DeMar Joke
Page
Comments welcomed.
Dan
Comments
0 Comments> > >
September 27,
2007
Paul Winchell
Dan @6:51am
In an effort to continually
bring you fresh items of interest in ventriloquism, I am happy to
announce that today Rick Tolomei kindly donated to Ventriloquist
Central this wonderful original script for one of Paul Winchell's
early 1960's shows.
As you know Paul Winchell
was a true genius and so to be able to view one of his original
scripts with his own markings is a real treat. You will be able to
see how his talent was not just in the performance of ventriloquism
but in the actual production of the art.
Thanks Rick for sharing this with me and the vent community and I
hope you all enjoy reading this fine script.
Click
Here To See Paul Winchell's script
Comments welcomed.
Dan
Comments
0 Comments> > >
September 26,
2007
Can You
Believe It?!!!
Dan @11:57am
Can you believe it, we have
just about reached the one year old mark for Ventriloquist Central.
When I started this with my webmaster Steve, it was primarily to
showcase my collection. Little did I know that this site would
blossom into the place you now have at your disposal. My love for
the art of ventriloquism and of the figure makers has taken us into
the forefront of the ventriloquial world and I want everyone to know
we are here to stay.
I want to personally thank every one of the contributors to the site
because without their generous help and donations this would not
have taken place. On that note please remember we need YOU to keep
this site growing so keep sending in those articles, pictures and
videos for us to share,
Now as a gift for everyone, in celebration of our first anniversary,
I have decided to suspend the fees for everyone to list items
(figures, videos, memorabilia, etc) for sale on the Ventriloquist
Marketplace.
Lately the Marketplace has
been doing rather well and some nice figures have sold, so here is
your chance to take advantage and sell your ventriloquial items that
you no longer use or have grown tired of. Give the Ventriloquist
Marketplace a try.
Click Here For the Ventriloquist Marketplace
So with that I say..... Happy Anniversary to all of us!!
Comments welcomed.
Dan
Comments
0 Comments> > >
September 23,
2007
Correction -
Bob Wallace Catalogue
Dan @7:37am
Doug Preis member of the
Bergen Foundation sent in this information for us so that everyone
would have the correct information !! His response:
"The only figures made
by Bob Wallace ever used by Edgar Bergen were: Frowning
Charlie...Sleepy Charlie (later turned into Old Man Charlie) and a
"regular" Charlie...that Bergen used very rarely...and mostly for
photo shoots.
Wallace never "finished off"...nor did Edgar ever animate...or use
the Mortimer...or Effie from Bob Wallace. They remain solid blocks
of wood to this day. The Bergen Foundation owns them. Other copies
do exist. The Wallace family has a "set" as they were duplicarved.
The photos in the Wallace "brochure" are misleading...as the only
figure pictured that was carved by Wallace...is the separate larger
shot of Charlie with his mouth open. The other photos are
pre-existing publicity shots of Bergen with his original figures.
NOT Wallace's work."
Thanks Doug for the
information.
Dan
P.S Don't forget to
catch Jeff Dunham's "Spark of Insanity" tonight on Comedy Central.
Comments
1 Comment> > >
- I saw Jeff's special
Sunday. as usual, he was great. I also saw Jeff live in Prescott,
AZ Saturday night, in person he is even better!
Comments by Tony Silveus -
September 24, 2007 @9:32pm
September 22,
2007
Bob Wallace
Wood Carver
Dan @10:21am
One of the great mysteries
that we all know about, and the actual answer that will always elude
us, is who made the original Charlie McCarthy. It is known that
Bergen of course purchased it from the Mack's shop but Marshall more
than likely worked on it. How much work Marshall did we will never
know. We do know that Marshall later on made a few Charlie heads
that were close. One of the more famous ones is the figure that
Stanley Burns used that had crossing eyes. It was a real close
example of a Charlie head.
Edgar Bergen did, later on in his career, have duplicates of his
famous trio remade by a wood carver named Bob Wallace. He was from
Los Angeles so he was not far from Edgar who was living in
Hollywood.
Wallace was a carver of
store displays and his talent was superb. He did a great job of
reproducing Charlie, Mortimer and Effie and in Edgar's hands you
would have never known that they were not the original figures. Of
course if you had the original figures side by side to the new
carved figures there were differences.
Most of the reproduction Charlie heads that you will see for sale
privately or publicly will be from castings off the Bob Wallace
carved heads.
Since Ventriloquist Central is an informational web site, I am happy
to share with the vent community the Bob Wallace Catalogue which
shows the three Bergen characters along with some other amazing
carving done by this talented man.
I want to thank Ray Guyll for sharing this great piece of
Ventriloquist history with the vent community. I do hope you all
enjoy looking at this amazing catalogue.
Click Here
For Bob Wallace Catalogue
Dan
Comments
0 Comments> > >
September 21,
2007
Appraisal...Yes or No
Dan @11:45am
As a collector it is always
asked if insurance is needed. My answer is that in most cases
insurance is a must. A collector can certainly become insurance poor
but key items in any collection must be appraised and then insurance
taken. Those key items are usually irreplaceable.
A working ventriloquist also has to take insurance into
consideration because as a tool your figure is the one thing that
makes your income possible so you most certainly need insurance to
cover any loss that may be incurred either by damage or theft.
In light of this I have decided that starting today,
Ventriloquistcentral.com will offer you the opportunity to get an
appraisal of your ventriloquist figure for you to use to obtain
stated value insurance on your figure. It is an easy process so
please follow the link below and I will guide you through a few
steps to make this a possibility for you and your figures.
Click Here For Ventriloquist Figure
Appraisal Information
Dan
Comments
0 Comments> > >
September 19,
2007
Natural
Gas....Part 2
Dan @6:49am
I was very lucky to have a
dear friend of mine, George Boosey, donate some great videos for me
to share with the rest of the ventriloquial family. This is the
second of those videos.
What you are about to see
is a 31 year young Bob Isaacson with his pal Speedy in an
educational series on Natural Gas. These were filmed back in 1966
and you get to see how great Bob is as a ventriloquist and you also
see his wonderful Frank Marshall figure Speedy Wheeler. I know you
are going to enjoy this so sit back for a few minutes and watch.
Click Here For Bob
Isaacson video Part 2
Dan
Comments
0 Comments> > >
September 18,
2007
Jeff Dunham:
Spark of Insanity - Today's the DAY!!!
Dan @6:31am
Today is the day that Jeff
Dunham's "Spark of Insansity" DVD is available. This DVD
promises to be even better than "Arguing With Myself".
Get yours today.
Click Here for "Spark of Insanity"
Dan
Comments
0 Comments> > >
September 14,
2007
W.H.J. Shaw
Figure
Dan @6:25am
Today I am happy to show
you all one of the true rarities in ventriloquist figures. This
figure was made between 1890 and 1910 by a figure maker named
William Henry James Shaw. He was from Victoria Missouri and was a
mannequin and window display maker. He also produced mechanical wax
figures like the type figure you would see in Tussaud's Wax Museum.
His catalogue also boasted that he made the world's best
ventriloquist figures. These were made of wood and paper mache. His
black figures were called " Laughing Negro" of course the Negro
minstrel shows were going very strong so this was not out of place.
This example that you see is all original but the tar baby paint has
been touched up. The body, head stick and clothing are all original
and period to this figure. He has a wonderful free floating head
with a great locking mechanism to hold it in place but yet allow the
free float. Side to side self centering eyes and moving leather
mouth. You will look far and wide to find a better example of this
type ventriloquist figure.
Click Here To See
W.H.J. Shaw Figure
Dan
Comments
1 Comment> > >
- Thanks for showing this
Shaw figure. As you know Great Lester's loss of his two Shaw
figures is what lead him to find the Mack wood workers to get them
to make him a figure. Since I've been historically interested in
Lester for a long time it is interesting to see what a Shaw looks
like. And you're right this is a fine example.
Comments by Joe Lopez -
September 14, 2007 @9:39am
September 12,
2007
Natural Gas...
Dan @6:27am
I was very lucky to have a
dear friend of mine, George Boosey, donate some great videos for me
to share with the rest of the ventriloquial family. This is the
first of those videos.
What you are about to see
is a 31 year young Bob Isaacson with his pal Speedy in an
educational series on Natural Gas. These were filmed back in 1966
and you get to see how great Bob is as a ventriloquist and you also
see his wonderful Frank Marshall figure Speedy Wheeler. I know you
are going to enjoy this so sit back for a few minutes and watch.
Click Here For Bob
Isaacson video
Dan
Comments
2 Comments>
> >
-
Thank you for
sharing this! Very smooth performance. That fact that it was done
with multiple takes made it a seamless production.
Comments by Paul - September 12,
2007 @10:55am
-
That was
GREAT! If I am not mistaken, we were shown that video back in my
third grade class.
Comments by Chuck & Dante -
September 12, 2007 @9:22am
September 11,
2007
Guest Blog
"You're
Horrible" !!!
By Bob Abdou
As performers, we
live to hear audiences laugh and clap. Sometimes the money is not
the important thing ( note: sometimes) especially when you have the
audience eating out of your hand. This feeling comes often to some
entertainers and to some, it is
an occasion that only happens in a lifetime. Whenever it happens to
you, cherish it cause it doesn't happen every time.
This brings me to my point,
what would you do if you did a show and the client told you that you
were 'horrible" and they told you why? What would be your response?
1) Apologize and give a discount
2) Apologize, take the check and leave quick
3) Don't apologize, demand a check, leave quick and don't look back
4) Don't apologize, demand a check, leave quick and spit on their
lawn as you leave
5) Apologize, ask for the check, leave quick, don't look back and
never let anyone ever tell you those 2 words again
This actually happened to me many ( many many ) years ago but I
learned a valuable lesson from that show..... I might not be as good
as I think I am. Have you ever thought about that before??? I have
and I think about improving after every show. It saddens me when I
watch a new vent ( what is worse someone who has been doing vent for
many years) at the convention performing on open mic or the senior
contest and they are not very good. After their performance the
audience claps as a kind gesture, but what goes thru the vents mind
when they hear the clapping after a poor performance??? You can draw
your own conclusion but I won't sit and watch a vent think about
continuing a poor performance. I will approach this vent and maybe
give some suggestions or even write some funnier material for
him/her. They don't have to take my advise, that is their decision
but I make it my business to try and help them realize that after
the convention comes the "real world" and the 'real world" will not
clap when they watch a poor performance. A poor performance is
followed by no clapping, booing or even worse someone tells you that
you were "horrible"
I often think about the many many vents that have dropped out of the
business, do you think this is one of the reasons??
There is nothing worse then hearing "You're Horrible" after a
performance, well maybe that you're dog died and your 1st wife wants
a divorce. That actually happened to me but that is another story.
My point is this, watch for these key points to see if your
performance is worth watching. (this suggestions are for comedy
vents)
1) the audience laughs when you bring out your puppet and you
haven't said one word yet
2) You are into 3 minutes of your routine and the audience still has
not stopped laughing yet
3) You are smiling, giving eye contact to the audience and love
performing for them and they realize that
4) After the show all you hear is how "terrific" you were and want
to book you for a party!!
My response was #5 above and if you saw me spit, I had to cause I
had a cold :)
|
Bob Abdou performing one of his stage shows
|
Peace,
Bob Abdou
www.mrpuppet.com
Comments
0 Comments> > >
September 10,
2007
More About
"McElroy Magic"
Dan @10:14am
I was very thrilled that
Greg Claassen allowed me to offer this fantastic book to the vent
community through Ventriloquist Central. My Webmaster Steve
nor myself have profited a single cent in this venture. We truly
believe that every person interested in the art of ventriloquism
should have this book so to make it a special thing we gave our
bonuses with it. Every dollar that was paid through this web site
went directly to Mr. Claassen and he deserves every penny. I think
you must have this book and if you don't you are really missing out.
So order yours today and find out what the magic is all about.
We have surpassed the 15 books " McElroy Magic" by Greg Claassen
which we originally offered when the book first became available.
That means you will no longer get the "Ventriloquist Central Website
Photo CD's" but if you purchase the book through
Ventriloquist Central you will still receive a couple extras
including the audio interview of Greg and myself (a 46 minute
interview) and the CD containing the McElroy pictures. These are
available no where else and you get them just for purchasing the
book through this site.
So order yours today and
find out what the magic is all about!!!
Click Here For Information About "McElroy Magic"
Dan
Comments
1 Comment>
> >
-
Dan, I am very
happy that I ordered the book through you. I was in the process of
ordering it (the book) from another web site when I received your
email about the free stuff. I did not realize that you all did not
profit from the deal, so for that I say thank you! I really enjoy
looking over the cd's, your collection is amazing! Thanks again.
Comments by Chuck & Dante -
September 10, 2007 @5:49pm
September 7,
2007
More Figures For
Sale
Dan @3:25pm
I have added a couple
figures from my collection to the Ventriloquist Marketplace.
First is an extremely fine
rendition of a Marshall "Cheeky Boy" done by Conrad Hartz. I have
had quite a few of Conrad's figures but this one to me is the best I
have seen so far of this style figure made by him. Incidentally Mr.
Hartz has retired this style figure so you can no longer purchase
one directly from him.
Second, is a Tim Selberg,
who is notably one of the premier figure builders today.
Unfortunately for all of us to get a figure from Tim today is a
challenge to say the least. You will wait a very long time. Here is
your chance to purchase one of the best style figures Tim has done.
Click here for the Ventriloquist Marketplace to see figures
Dan
Comments
0 Comments> > >
September 6,
2007
Collecting
Ventriloquist Figures
Dan @6:44am
I have recently received a
few emails as well as a couple live conversations concerning the
acquisition of ventriloquist figures especially Frank Marshall
figures and the fact that they are not going into the hands of
people that would make good use of them. I was kind of shocked to
say the least by these questions because in today's ventriloquial
world, for the most part, the use of soft puppets has taken over.
Now I am a firm believer
that a ventriloquist should use a hard figure but that is just my
personal opinion. I grew up as a child watching Paul Winchell and
Jimmy Nelson so for me the consummate ventriloquist uses a hard
figure.
Lets get back to Marshall figures. It was brought forward to me that
I am cornering the market so that no one else can have a Marshall.
Well that just is not the truth. There are still plenty of Marshall
figures out there and if you turn over enough stones you will find
one. Then you must be ready to pay the price because they are no
longer an inexpensive figure and certainly too much for a beginner
to spend.
A beginner today would be
much better suited with a figure made by the likes of Dan Payes,
Albert Alfaro, Kem Poyner or Tim Selberg. If the person wanted
a wood carved figure then Conrad Hartz or Brandt Gilmer would be the
way to go.
Marshall figures today are now in the world of real art and to me
they should not be used and abused. An original Frank Marshall
figure should be lovingly cared for and displayed and carefully
shown to people, explained to the novice about how he (Frank
Marshall) created and watched the vents of his time perform and how
he chose to progress to the point where his figures were the figure
of choice by all the greats in ventriloquism.
Now there are still a couple ventriloquists that use Marshall
figures today. Kenny Warren and Bill DeMar both still use their
Marshall's and they are great ventriloquists. But how many others
are still out there performing with them.
Not too many.
I decided that when I started Ventriloquist Central that I would
share my collection with everyone and anyone that would like to see
what the old figures look like. There is no other site, that I know
of, that makes figures available individually so that you can see
them up close. I give complete descriptions and multiple shots of
every angle of these great figures so that you can see exactly what
they are all about.
I want to give as much to
the vent community by sharing my figures with everyone. Granted you
can make an appointment and go to the Vent Haven Museum and have a
great time looking at the figures, but here you can come anytime, 24
- 7 and look at them in all their glory.
We have been very busy on the web site but I will tell you there are
more figures that are in the collection that will be coming soon for
you to see. That is a promise.
Do I have enough figures as was said by one person?
The answer is a big NO.
As a collector you will
never have enough. I hope that someday I will become this century's
W.S. Burger and judging by his example I am on the right track, but
I do have a long way to go. I just do not have enough.
I hope to acquire more so,
when you tire of that figure please drop me a note. They should be
with my collection so that I can share them with the world !!!
Dan
Comments
3 Comments> > >
- Dan, add Jimmy Nelson,
Dave Fleming, Jerry Goodspeed and Bob Isaacson to the list of
ventriloquists still using Marshall figures. I'm sure there are
others. These are the ones that come to mind.
Comments by Al Stevens -
September 7, 2007 @7:12pm
- Dan, Using an antique
figure in a performance today still has that special nostalgic
feel. Though I have modern wood figures, whenever I use my circa
1918 Mack figure (painted by Frank Marshall) I feel I'm
transported back to that period when vaudeville was the hottest
thing in entertainment. I maybe one of the only few who still use
old figures now, but I tell you it really feels great giving life
on stage to a classic Mack figure this new century.
Comments by Ony Carcamo -
September 6, 2007 @3:56pm
- Dan, Very good post.
Those that say you are cornering the market are just jealous. If
people wanted to use a Marshall to perform, they would, period.
Hence, the examples you indicated of those folks performing today
with their Marshall figures.
I love working with my Dan Payes figures and who know someday,
they may become collectible.
Comments by Larry Harris (ComicVent)
- September 6, 2007 @7:58am
September 5,
2007
Figures For
Sale
Dan @11:31am
As a collector of
ventriloquist figures every so often it gets to the point where you
must sell to be able to keep buying. I have reached this plateau at
the present time. I have therefore decided to sell a couple figures
from my collection.
The first is a Super Len Insull figure with a rare face. He is a
loaded figure with side moving self centering eyes, winker/blinkers,
wiggling ears, upper lip and lower lip movement. He is dressed in a
great blue pinstripe suit. A must figure for the collector or he
could be used to perform.
The next figure I have for sale is a Kristin Peterson figure ,
Oddballs and Orphans, which is just a sweet little fellow. He has
only a slot jaw movement but his face is so cute he would be an
instant hit. He comes completely dressed too. Kristin's figures are
very hard to come by and this little guy is just as cute as can be.
Click here for the Ventriloquist Marketplace to see figures
Click here to see the figures on eBay
Dan
Comments
0 Comments>
> >
September 1,
2007
"McElroy
Magic"... Audio Clip
If you order your copy of
"McElroy Magic" through Ventriloquist Central, you will receive TWO
fantastic Bonuses! One of which, is an interview (more like a
conversation) with Greg and myself.
Click Here and listen to a brief audio clip of that interview
Dan
Comments
0 Comments>
> >
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