This is one of the Marshall figures that I have
not yet premiered on Ventriloquist Central but he has been a part of
the Ventriloquist Central Collection for some time.
He is a most unusual figure and was created late in Frank Marshall's
career although he has one thing that is a throw back to his earlier
creations. He has the leather under his chin but it does not attach
as the leather did back in the 30's and forties. It is shaped and
allows the mouth to really open wide yet you do not see the hole
under the chin.
The ears on this Marshall are also extremely detailed and his
nostrils are also carved out very deep. I do not have another
Marshall with nostrils like this.
The ball and socket neck is rather large but the head is also a bit
bigger than normal but the total height of the figure is the
standard 40" tall. The head is secured with the normal screws though
the top sides of the head and also the lower back of the neck. The
center lower screw secures the head stick.
His wig is original and is a bit thin and as you can see it has a
perfect part just like the hair style of the time. The card inside
his head is from the Loomis Blvd address so I would date this fellow
from the late 1950's to early 1960.
His lever and head stick are original but the lever is not the
common chop stick but rather a dowel . I have seen this before on
Marshall's work. He only has mouth movement but Bernie has a great
look and in the right hands I am sure would crack people up. I only
wish Johnny Main was still alive so that he could have used Bernie a
bit. It would have been great. I hope you enjoy seeing Bernie up
close and personal.
|