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TONY ADAMS
England. |
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RAY ALAN
Born: 1930. Figure: Lord Charles. Popular
from 1950s to 1980s. Toured with Laurel & Hardy.
LINKS
www.imdb.com/name/nm0015943/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Alan
Alan appeared on the BBC programme The Good Old Days
regularly, and created the character of Ali Cat for the HTV series
Magic Circle (1977).
See Ray Alan and Lord Charles in video clips from their 1960s travel series,
Britain By Jove, at British Pathe (www.britishpathe.com
).
Alan also operated Mikki the Martian in an early TV
production.
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DAN BARTH
www.angelfire.com/biz4/danbarthshows/
Magician & ventriloquist. Figure: Max. |
|
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ROY BAUMGART
Figure: Lucky
Performed with the Will Rogers Jr. Show in
Sacramento, California, in 1965. |
|
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LEN BELMONT
From London, England. Appeared on television
in an episode of The Avengers in 1968 (packed with
gags from beginning to end, this episode constitutes a tribute to
the stars of vaudeville comedy. Also included Monty
Python’s John Cleese playing the functionary in charge of
recording each clown’s make-up on a collection of eggs). |
|
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TERRY BENNETT 1930-1977
Figure: Red Flannels, created by Frank Marshall.
At WBKB (Chicago) Bennett created, produced, and wrote
Jobblewocky Place (1950s), where he introduced to his young
television audience a stable of ventriloquial and hand puppet
characters including Timothy Timber ( a sailor character and another
Frank Marshall creation); Uncle Louie ( a talking picture); Mr. Head
(a box with a voice); Mr. Engineer; Bertram Turtle (the largest and
sleepiest turtle); and Rusty Hinges (an angry little boy), also a
Frank Marshall original. Airing weekday mornings from 8 to 9, the
preschool program earned several awards including three nominations
for Emmys.
Click here for
More |
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EDGAR BERGEN 1903-1978
GO
TO THE
EDGAR BERGEN
|
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WILLIAM S. BERGER 1878-1972
An
amateur ventriloquist, Berger is known for establishing a museum of
ventriloquist figures, Vent Haven Museum.
Read the lavishly illustrated article
about him that appeared in a 1957 issue of
The Courier-Journal Magazine. Additional
information about Berger after his death was printed in a 1973
Associated Press Article .
W.S.
Berger Article from "The Oracle" |
|
 |
RON BLASKETT
Figure: Gerry Gee.
Performed when he was in the Australian army. Gerry Gee was
Australia's answer to Jerry Mahoney and had his own TV show during
the 1960s.
You, Me & Gerry Gee - A 60 Year History of Australian
Showbiz is an illustrated autobiography by
Ron Blaskett.
Available at
www.beamentertainment.com .
LINK to VIDEO CLIP:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip7ZFkgAd_A
LINK to INTERVIEW:
www.abc.net.au/rn/arts/ling/stories/s352815.htm
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BILL BOLEY
1935-2000
bellsouthpwp.net/g/k/gkoepke/ivent.htm
Figures: Freddy,
Aunt
Fanny, Willie, Jose the Crow, Timex the Dog. Boley was a real
Kentucky colonel. He is also widely known for his gospel
script booklets that are still available today.
|
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JOHN BOUCHIER
www.car-ter.freeserve.co.uk/ventrilo.htm
Bouchier used a coquettish mermaid figure named Miranda as well as a
cheeky boy figure. |
|
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GEORGE BOYLE
From Ireland. Author of I Must be
Talking to Myself:
www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1900913089/
Boyle had appeared on TV in the USA before the Irish Television
service began at the end of 1961. His performance on the
opening night of transmission led to his weekly children's TV show
which ran for very many years. |
|
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PETER BROUGH 1916-1999
GO TO THE
PETER BROUGH
PAGE
|
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FOY
BROWN Ventriloquist & Figure-Maker from
Kansas. Picture: Brown poses in 1946 with figures B. O. Baily and
Lon Lundy. |
|
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DICK BRUNO 1901-1986
Also known as Monsieur Brunard, the faux Frenchman, beginning in
1947. Figure: Joe Flip, made by Frank Marshall. Bruno is also known for coaching Shari Lewis
for a short time. |
|
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TREVOR BURCH
From England. |
|
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STANLEY BURNS 1919-1998
Ventriloquist and Magician from New York. Figures: Bruce, the redhead; Cecil, his small
sidekick; Dr. Lichi, who moved by remote control; sexy Lulu;
Uncle Sam.
Burns has worked with Woody Allen and
Madonna. He was also a Vent Historian and Author of Other Voices:
Ventriloquism from BC to TV. Read a New York Times
article about Burns by Dan Barry entitled "Puppet in Lap, and
Audience in His Palm" (2003):
BURNS (Members Site: Free Membership).
|
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LORING CAMPBELL
1905-1979 Also known as The Great Alexander.
Primarily a magician. Figure: Jerry. |
|
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KAY CAROLE
Figure: Tommy,
made by Frank Marshall. Tommy was a master of insults.
Kay remained mostly silent during the performance.
Two Kay Caroles??? |
|
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KAY CAROLE
Figure: Tommy. Photo from 1967 LP. |
|
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JOHNNY CARSON 1925-2005
The popular late-night talk-show host began his show
business career as a teenage magician and ventriloquist. |
|
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DAVE CASTLE
Also author of If the String Breaks. |
|
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DAWSON CHANCE
Chance starred in 1970s kids' show Dawson's
Funny Old Farm and also Take A Chance (UK, ITV
-- Thames), a children's sitcom in 1980-81 that was a spin-off from
the daily weekday pre-school series Rainbow. |
|
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JACK COATS 1931-1973
Ventriloquist and figure-maker. Coats made figures during the
late 60s and early 70s for Paul Stadleman, Jimmy Nelson, and many
others.
Click Here
For More Information |
|
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BUCK CODY
Col. Buck Cody and his figure Freckles. Circa
1950s. He was voted into the Hall of Fame by the Country Music
Associations of America. Magicians and Ventriloquists
also honored him with Hall of Fame Inductions. |
|
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ROGER DE COURCEY
www.rogerdecourcey.co.uk
Puppet: Nookie Bear
Roger was born in London and started in show business as an Opera
singer. He has appeared at the London Palladium
and at O'Keefe Centre in Toronto, Canada. he has also
performed in Las Vegas. The irrepressible
Nookie Bear first delighted viewers in the TV Series
New Faces
in 1976.
|
|
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CRISS CROSS
American vent who also performed a risqué routine with a life-sized
female figure. |
|
 |
BILLY DAVIS
Figure: Li'l Maxie (made by Frank
Marshall). For additional photos of Maxie, go to the
Ventriloquist Central
Collection page.
Billy
Davis was a full time working ventriloquist that worked in every
major city in the United States and in Canada. He performed with
Sally Rand in her Broadway Show which ran directly accross the
street from New York's famous Palace Theatre. Billy also did many
commecials which included his figure Danny Dollar in the Syracuse
Savings Bank, an eight year run doing commercials for King Corn, and
the use of Lil Maxie in the Russer's Meat add. Billy performed from
the 1950's through the 1980's and used a remote controlled Marshall
figure in a comedy mind reading routine. Billy was a great add
libber and performed ventriloquism as his sole means of support.
|
|
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LEE DEAN
From Kentucky, Dean appeared with Ken n' Del
on KWTX and KBTX TV network for Waco and Bryan, Texas, in 1961.
In 2003 Dean made a figure called Krïket with 20
control effects, and in the process discovered new controls for
rolling eyes, varying brows, and other features by variable
controllers. Dean revealed his creation to many figure makers
at the 2004 Kentucky ventriloquist convention. For further
info about Kriket, see the following: Kriket.
www.KriketPuppetShows.com |
|
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BILL DEMAR
Figure: Chuck Norwood
LINK: Buy Demar's videos (Bill
DeMar: Upside Down and Backwards on Ventriloquism or The Bill
DeMar Show Video) at
www.cornellpublications.com/products/videos.htm |
|
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HERBERT LEE DEXTER
1905-1991
Came
from Australia to the US and had his own television show for children
that lasted for 14 years. Bertie the
Bunyip
appeared on TV in Philadelphia. |
|
 |
SHIRLEY DINSDALE
1926-1999
latvlegends.com/JudySplinters/JudySplinters.html
www.imdb.com/name/nm1589018/
www.imdb.com/title/tt0405556/
Dinsdale and her puppet pal Judy Splinters both
started out on a radio station in San Francisco at the age of
fourteen in 1940.
"Judy Splinters" (1949) -- first aired live as a
local program in Los Angeles in 1947. The show later moved to
Chicago in June 1949 and then to New York where it ran as an kids
afternoon program for nine months in 1949-50.
In 1949 she accepted the very first Emmy award ever given out. It
was for "Most Outstanding Personality".
In 1953, after a six-year television career, Shirley left
broadcasting.
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DOC DOUGHERTY
Figure: Willie O'Neal, made by Frank Marshall. Performed
throughout the US from 1945 to 1956. |
|
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ROY DOUGLAS
Douglas used a 2-headed figure built by John Carroll. |
|
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PHIL D'REY
New Orleans comedian and ventriloquist from England.
Died: 1970. Figures: Gangrene, the talking gorilla; Drunken
Hines, a life-sized figure that walked. D'Rey was also a
musician who played piano in silent movie theatres.
Special Feature: D'Rey's
Silent Vent Act
from Ireland's 1955 Year Book. What's a silent vent
act? Open the file and find out! |
|
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NORM DYGON
Figure: Mister Chips. Circa 1950s.
Appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. |
|
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BOB EVANS
Figure: Jerry O'Leary, made from the Willie Talk toy of the 1940s. |
|
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BOBBY FAY
Ventriloquist from Massachusetts in the 1970s.
Figure: Melvin Mystuff. Fay also played accordion and piano. When
people asked him what he does for a living, Bobby Fay replied, "I
talk to myself a lot and work with a bunch of dummies." |
|
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CHARLIE FOWLER 1923-1994
Fowler was also known as Chuckles The Clown.
Figure: Bumpsy the Clown, made by Frank Marshall. Before the
figure was a clown, he was called Ikey McGregor. Ikey was
presented with a purple heart medal for damage received in the South
Pacific during WWII. Charlie was in the Navy, and as an
entertainer he did shows throughout the world. |
|
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WILLIAM "PRETTY BOPP"
FRANKLIN
1931-1984
Franklin was from St. Louis
Missouri and was born on Oct.12, 1931. He started out as a comic and
was with the Larry Steele "Smart Affairs Show" and arrived in
Chicago with them. Black promoter Pervis Spann discovered Bopp and
put him to work in all the top black clubs in Chicago.
Pretty Bopp decided to do
ventriloquism in 1976 after seeing a black vent who called himself
Alan & Wall Eyed. Bopp was self taught and purchased his first
figure from Magic Inc. He called his side kick June Bug and this
figure was made by Danny baker and then reworked by John Arvites.
You could see Bopp and June Bugg working the streets of Chicago
especially on the State Street Mall.
Unfortunately William Pretty Bopp Franklin passed away at the young
age of 53 and even though he worked tirelessly with the city of
Chicago in Human Resources and later with the Belmont Police in the
task force to deal with fire, rape and crime victims he remains for
the most part an unknown vent.
For More About Pretty Bopp, click here |
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ARTY FREDA
Figures: Luigi and unknown. Both figures were made by Len Insull. |
|
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FREDDIE
Figure: Grady. Or is Grady the ventriloquist
and Freddie the figure? |
|
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JIM FROMEWICK
Leader of the Ventriloquist Dummy Choir on Late Night
with Conan O'Brien during the 1990s. |
|
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FRANK GABY
Died 1945. |
|
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MIKE GERSTENECKER
members.tripod.com/~jmgerst/vent.htm
Magician, Clown, and Ventriloquist from St. Louis
area. Died: 2005. |
|
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GREENE
Figure: Dooley. |
|
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CLIFFORD GUEST
Born in Australia, Guest performed in both the US
and England. Figure: Johnny, made by Frank Marshall. In
his act, Guest would chase Johnny around the stage. |
|
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TERRY HALL
poll.imdb.com/name/nm0356149/
British ventriloquist popular in the 1960s.
Puppet: Lenny the Lion.
Lenny the Lion Show ran from 1956 to
1963 on BBC TV. Lenny was
one of the first animal
puppets on children's TV and one of the first to have arm movements.
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DWIGHT K. HAMBORSKY
Dwight K. Hamborsky learned the
art of ventriloquism while he was living in Detroit Michigan. He
ordered a ventriloquist figure in 1938 from the world renowned maker
Frank Marshall.
Dwight worked his way through
Wabash College and then University of Michigan Law School doing
ventriloquism and magic. He performed in both Indiana and Michigan.
In 1943 he entered the Army Air Corps flight school in San Antonio
Texas and he took his ventriloquist figure with him. He had named
his figure " Joe Doaks".
After the was Dwight finished Law
school and over the years performed with Joe for various community
events. Joe was a great swami and fortune teller.
Click here to
see "Joe Doaks"
|
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DWIGHT K. HAMBORSKY JR.
Dwight Hamborsky Jr. born in 1944
had a Danny O'Day figure and would on occasion join his Dad and
would work on some events together. Dwight Sr. Passed away in 1973
and Dwight Jr. continued the tradition performing with Joe for
community events and for the neighborhood children on Halloween.
Click here to
see "Joe Doaks"
|
|
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KEITH HARRIS
www.thebubbleburst.co.uk
www.imdb.com/name/nm0364934/
www.slot32.co.uk/bigindex/
Born in 1947, UK. Puppets: Orville the Duck and Cuddles the
Monkey. The Keith Harris Show -- BBC TV
Show, 1982-1990 TRIVIA: There is only one Orville and
he is insured for £100,000.
TRIVIA: Orville was named
after Orville Wright, one of the famous Wright brothers who together
achieved the first controlled flight of an aeroplane. |
|
 |
JIM HENSON 1936-1990
Puppeteer
(not a ventriloquist) best known for his Muppets.
1955-1961 Sam and Friends
(TV Show)
1968 Hey Cinderella!
(made-for-TV movie starring the Muppets)
1969-2005 Sesame Street
(TV Show)
1971 Tales from
Muppetland- The Frog Prince (made-for-TV movie starring the
Muppets)
1972 The Muppet Musicians
of Bremen (made-for-TV movie starring the Muppets)
1976-1981 The Muppet Show
(TV Show)
1982 The Dark Crystal
(Movie)
1986 Labyrinth
(Movie)
LINKS
Bio
www.geocities.com/Hollywood/
Bio
jim-henson.biography.ms
IMDB
www.imdb.com/name/nm0001345/bio
Jim Henson Company
www.henson.com
Jim Henson's Creature Shop
www.creatureshop.com |
|
 |
FRANK HERMAN
1916-2000
Also known as Skipper Frank -
Host of Cartoon Carousel, For Kids Only,
and Magic Party in Los Angeles during the 1950s and
1960s. Skipper Frank performed magic tricks and ventriloquism with
his wooden sidekick Julius.
|
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ALEX HOUSTON
www.williamclare.com/stars.html
Figure: Elmer. Houston
has been entertaining for more than 50 years, beginning in 1954. He
has appeared with many stars, including Elvis, Red Skelton, Patsy
Cline, and Jimmy Dean. His act includes parodies of country songs.
|
|
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ROD HULL
1935-1999
www.thebubbleburst.co.uk
povonline.com/cols/COL236.htm
www.tvacres.com/birds_emu_emu.htm
www.imdb.com/name/nm0401467/
Puppet: Emu.
Emu was born in a props
department on an Australian Saturday morning TV show that Roy
presented in the 1960s. 1970: In Britain Hull became
a TV star. Late 1970s: Hll starred in the TV show "Emu's
Broadcasting Company".
1980s: Hull starred in the TV
shows "Emu's World" and "Emu's (Brand New) Pink Windmill Show" which
also featured the character of Grotbags.
|
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BILL HUME
www.pbase.com/csw62/hume
Born in 1916 and primarily known as a cartoonist,
Hume performed as a ventriloquist during and after World War II.
His figure, Rosita, was a Panamanian beauty.
In the early 1950s, while stationed in Japan, Hume
created the cartoon character "Babysan," a beautiful Japanese
girl in Western clothes who spoke broken English. |
|
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JAY JAXON
Also known as The Great Jaxon. Figure: Jerry Jordan.
|
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JAY JOHNSON
BORN: July 11, 1949
FAME:
writer, comic, cartoonist, poet, puppeteer, ventriloquist
CHARACTERS: Squeaky, Bob
LINK: www.thetwoandonly.com
LINK: www.monkeyjoke.com
LINK:
www.imdb.com/name/nm0425318/
1977:
Soap (television): In this prime-time sitcom (1977-81),
Johnson played Chuck Campbell, a slightly schizophrenic man who used
his dummy Bob to express off-color opinions towards his family.
2004:
The Two and Only (live one-man show)
LINK:
"Jay Johnson: The Two and Only" Radio
Interview on Boston NPR
here-now.org/shows/2006/07/20060728_17.asp
|
|
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KEN KARTER
USA
www.funnydummystuff.com
www.sharpeworld.com/hal_morris_museum/ |
|
|
BOB KING
FIGURE: Tiny, made by Frank Marshall. Other
figures also made by Marshall.
Performed circa 1940s. |
|
|
KOLBY KING
Author of
Ventriloquism Made Easy. |
|
|
NEVILLE KING
Used an
old man dummy that he would substitute with a midget. Also
proficient at distant voice ventriloquism. |
|
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KRIS KIRBY
Australian ventriloquist.
Figure: Terry. |
|
|
TED KNIGHT 1923-1986
The actor
best known for his performance of Ted Baxter on the hit TV series
The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-77) tried his hand at
ventriloquism early in his career. |
|
|
DON KNOTTS 1924-2006
Don Knotts was born Jesse Donald
Knotts on July 21, 1924 in Morgantown, West Virginia.
His first stint as an entertainer was as a ventriloquist. He briefly
attended college at West Virginia University, but when World War II
engulfed America, he enlisted in the Army. The 19-year-old soldier
was assigned to the Special Services Branch where he entertained the
troops. Apparently, those in charge insisted that most of his work
be with Danny, his dummy. Knotts had other plans; so, when they
sailed from Manos Island, he left Danny on the beach and reported
him missing in action.
Knotts was cast in Andy Griffith's TV series about a small-town
sheriff in the role that would make him a legend. For playing Deputy
Barney Fife, Don won nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Supporting
Actor five times from 1961 to 1967, winning each time.
Knotts also tasted big-screen success, starring in "The Incredible
Mr. Limpet" (1964), "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" (1965), "The
Reluctant Astronaut" (1967), "The Shakiest Gun in the West" (1968),
"The Love God?" (1969) and "How To Frame A Figg" (1971).
|
|
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KARL KRUG
Appeared as Uncle Frank
with his figures, Tiny and Chocolate, on Story Time and
Sing Time during the 1950s in Canada (CKNX in Wingham/Owen Sound on Channel 8
--a CBC affiliate). |
|
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TOM LADSHAW
Figure: Stanley. |
|
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LIZ LaMAC
Figure: Little Joe.
Circa 1980s. |
|
|
ROBERT
LAMOURET
French ventriloquist
circa 1950s. Puppet: Duddles. |
|
 |
ROY LANGER
Langer was on the
Horn and Hardart Children's Hour (NBC-TV) from the
late '50's through the '60's. He was also the winner of the
Paul Winchell Best Young Vent in America contest in the '50's.
His picture is in Winchell's original "Vent for Fun and
Profit" book. In addition, he also won the Edgar Bergen Best
Vent in NY contest. Figure: Mickey Malarkey.
Langer currently lives in Miami, Florida, and does voice and speech
coaching for executives.
|
|
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JERRY LAYNE
Ventriloquist &
Figure-Maker. See page on Makers of Dummies & Hard Figures. |
|
 |
RICKIE LAYNE 1925-2006
www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=8929
Figure: the Yiddish Velvel, a dummy with a Jewish dialect. Velvel was a modified version of
the Willie Talk toy that became popular during the 1940s.
Layne appeared on The Ed Sullivan
Show in 1956 with the help of Nat King Cole. That was
the first of 48 appearances.
ANECDOTE: Clean-shaven in the 1950s, the team filled out, grew their
hair and sported mustaches by the late 1970s. "I was up in Reno in
1978 and I did a gag with the dummy where he had a mustache," Layne
says. "I’d say, you’re just jealous because your mustache is bigger
than mine, and Velvel would answer, ‘Anything I have is bigger than
yours.’"
SPECIAL FEATURE: Read about Layne in an article from the
Los Angeles Times: Rickie Layne.
|
|
 |
CY LEONARD
Cy Leonard was the first ventriloquist ever to
appear on Canadian television in a CBC-TV show called The Big
Revue (1952) and was in what was probably the first
situation comedy show made in Canada called Tugboat Annie.
His TV work covers everything from appearances on one of Canada’s
early situation comedies, Troubles of Tracy to a
number of guest spots spots on the Tommy Hunter Show
which ran on CBC-TV and the Nashville Network in the U.S. plus many
years on CTV’s Uncle Bobby Show as ventriloquist and
puppeteer.
Figure: Happy -- has 10 moving parts including the ability to stick
out his tongue, go cross-eyed, wiggle his ears and flip his hair.
Over ten years ago Cy was offered $10,000 U.S. for Happy and he is
probably worth close to $20,000 now.
Click Here For
More Information |
|
|
SHARI LEWIS 1933-1998
GO TO THE
SHARI LEWIS
PAGE |
|
|
FRED MAHER 1896-1952
Figure: Skinny Dugan, built by Glenn and George
McElroy. Founder of Maher Studios. |
|
 |
JOHNNY MAIN 1938-2003
Figures: Gutters McGraw; Archie, made by Frank Marshall. TV personality during
the 1970s and 1980s. Voted best
ventriloquist in the world in 1981.
Main also made figures, including Gutters.
For additional photos, go to the
Dan Willinger
Collection page.
Tribute to Johnny Main
|
|
 |
JAY MARSHALL 1919-2005
Chicago magician and ventriloquist performing for over six decades
with his wiseacre dummy rabbit ,Lefty.
Marshall appeared with Lefty on the Ed Sullivan Show 14 times and
was the opening act for such performers as Frank Sinatra, Milton
Berle, and Liberace. He was also the owner of Magic Inc. in
Chicago's North Side since 1962.
While on Army duty during World War II, he brought Lefty to life
with a khaki Army glove.
|
|
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ANGELA MARTIN
Figures: Angel, Tiny. Got her start on TV during the early days of
television. |
|
|
GEORGE McATHY
Ventriloquist, Magician, and Figure-Maker.
1940s-1960s. His shop was located in Burbank, California. |
|
|
BOB McELROY
Figure: Tommy Knots, made by Frank Marshall.
For a photo of one of Bob McElroy's Marshall figures, go to the
Ventriloquist Central
Collection page. |
|
|
MEGUMI
Japanese ventriloquist. Studied with Noda. Figure:
Taka-Chan. |
|
|
DON MESSICK 1926-1997
Messick performed in over 100 animated programs,
providing voices for numerous cartoon characters on television,
including Astro and Rudy on "The Jetsons," Bamm Bamm on "The
Flintstones," Boo Boo and Ranger Smith on "Yogi Bear and Friends,"
and Scooby Doo.
At age 13, Messick was performing a ventriloquist
act with his dummy, Kentworth DeFrost. Two years
later, Messick was on the air with his own weekly radio show.
During WW II Messick performed before the troops with his
ventriloquist dummy, now named Woody DeForest, who wore a uniform
for the occasion. |
|
|
TED V. MIKELS
Circa 1949 |
|
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PACO MILLER
Mexican ventriloquist. Figure: Don Roque.
He was born in Ecuador in 1909 (or 1908) as Edmundo Jijon Serrano,
but he became famous in Mexico, where he died in 1997 after an
incredibly long and successful career as an artist and impresario.
The movements of the figure are jaw and raising
eyebrows, a strange combination, but a standard one in Mexican
figures, believe it or not. Don Roque was designed by cartoonist
Miguel Angel Gomez and carved by carpenter N. Cruz.
|
|
 |
BOB NELLER
Died: 1989. Figure: Reggie, made by the
McElroy Brothers, had 12 different mechanical movements.
Neller toured with Rudy Vallee and was the first
ventriloquist to appear on TV: he appeared on NBC on June 9,
1939.
More
Information About Bob Neller |
|
 |
JIMMY NELSON
BORN: December 15, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois
FAME: Ventriloquist of Nestle TV Commercials
CHARACTERS: Danny O'Day, Farfel
LINK:
www.tvparty.com/lostny2nelson.html
LINK:
www.imdb.com/name/nm0625466/
LINK:
www.talkingcomedy.com/SI-Vent-2005/legends-siVENT05/JN-LGND-siVENT05.html
1950:
Holland's Happiness House (local TV show in Chicago)
1950:
Texaco Star Theater (Milton Berle's live variety TV show)
1955:
Spokesman for Nestle Chocolate TV Commercials
1960:
Studio 99 1/2
(local TV show in New Jersey)
|
|
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REV. ICHIRO
NODA Japanese
ventriloquist. Also ran a ventriloquism school. |
|
 |
HOWARD OLSON 1910-1992
Figure: Cowboy Eddie. For 11
years Olson hosted Circus 3, a TV show for kids
in Madison, Wisconsin . It ran daily throughout the 1960s.
During the late 70s and early 80s, Olson made ventriloquist figures
and conducted ventriloquism workshops.
Trivia: (1) Howard Olson is the son of The Great
Chesterfield (see Vaudeville page). (2) Cowboy Eddie is being used
by contemporary vent Jacki Manna. (3) Olson performed under
the name of Chester Leroy until 1957.
LINK: TV party
article:
tvparty.com/lostwisc.html
LINK: 2006 article:
www.channel3000.com/anniversary/9280473/detail.html
LINK: 1986 video clip:
www.c3ktogo.com/video-player.php?id=4012
LINK: 1990 video clip:
www.c3ktogo.com/video-player.php?id=3548
Olson Quote:
"It all began in 1911 at Mack Brother’s Furniture and Wood
Carving Shop on Clarke Street, in Chicago. I was a year old when my
Dad purchased the red-wigged figure that for over 50 years has been
my constant companion. The price: $11.00. His name: ‘Reddy’." [Reddy
was later renamed Cowboy Eddie]
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JOHN OSBORNE
www.magicentprod.com/ventriloquists.html
From Canada. |
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CECIL PARKEE
Chinese ventriloquist who settled in Australia. Figure: Dim
Sim. |
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SANDY POWELL
Provided a parody of ventriloquism -- the world's
worst ventriloquist. |
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GEORGE PUTNAM |
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WILLIE REED
Also performed under name of Chilly Willie and Rosco. Reed
performed in the Ventriloquist Dummy Choir on NBC's Conan
O'Brien Show. |
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DANIEL REMY |
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PETER RICH
Figure: Rawhide. Rich began performing circa
1945. |
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GEORGE RISSEN
UK. Died: 2005. |
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DAN RITCHARD
Appeared on television in a documentary called
The Art of Ventriloquism in 1979: see IMDB
www.imdb.com/title/tt0426916/.
Author of Ventriloquism for the Total Dummy. |
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TERRI ROGERS
1935-1999
Performed in numerous television shows in England. |
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RICHARD SANFIELD
Figure: Willie. Adult humor. |
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JOHN R. SCHAIBLEY
Author of Memoirs of a Ventriloquist. |
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GEORGE SCHINDLER
Magician and Ventriloquist. Author of
Ventriloquism: Magic with Your Voice (1979). |
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REV. PHILIP SCOFIELD
The first ventriloquist to use a puppet in the pulpit (in 1948).
Figure: Johnny. |
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TOMMY SCOTT
www.imdb.com/name/nm0779682/bio
AKA Ramblin' Tommy Scott. Singer, Actor,
Entertainer, Medicine Show Performer. The western "Trail of
the Hawk" (1935) features the music and comedy of Tommy and his
Hollywood Hillbillies. Scott also hosted two of television's
first country music shows: "The Ramblin' Tommy Scott Show" and "The
Smokey Mountain Jamboree." |
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ALAN SEMOK
Also Maker of Hard Figures/Dummies. |
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JOE H. SHULTZ
Figure: Jake. |
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CANFIELD SMITH
Figure: Snodgrass. "1950. Original Theatre
Programme ... from the Chiswick Empire for STAND EASY ... First Time
Here, The Famous American Recording Star, Rose Murphy, the Chee Chee
Girl ... second billed is Canfield Smith, The Sensational American
Ventriloquist with his almost human Snodgrass, and supporting
variety, billed to appear Monday August 21st. 1950."
In 1953, Canfield lived at 6613
Kindred Street, Philadelphia, PA.
Canfield T Smith was born January 1906. He died March 1990
Click Here for
more information |
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DENNIS SPICER
Figure: Jimmy Green
Performed circa 1950s and 1960s. Appeared on
the Ed Sullivan Show.
ANECDOTE: "There was a brilliant ventriloquist called Dennis
Spicer who sadly was killed in a car crash. In the wreckage the
police found a pair of small shoes and they assumed there must have
been a child in the car, but that was not the case - they were the
doll's shoes that had been ripped off in the crash.
Once I was in Newcastle doing a show with Ted Ray
and others at Tyne Tees Television, and Dennis, who was also
appearing, arrived very late. He finally entered the dressing-room,
apologizing profusely and talking about the traffic, and put a case
down on the table. He opened the case, took out a small doll and
hung it on a hook on the wall. Then he said, 'I must have a pee, I
must have a cup of tea, I'll be back in a minute, sorry about all
this,' and left the room. He'd left the case unfastened, and the lid
was ajar, so Ted Ray said, 'Oh, let's have a look' and he opened the
lid of the case, and there was a frog with rolling eyes and all
sorts of interesting props and bits and pieces in there, and then
Ted said, 'We shouldn't be doing this.' He closed the lid, and when
Dennis Spicer entered the room the doll on the wall said, 'He's had
a look in your case, Dennis.'" from Barry Cryer, "Pigs Can
Fly"
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PAUL STADELMAN
dickensndave.bravehost.com/stadel1.htm
Figure: Windy Higgins, made by Charlie Mack.
Stadelman started as a magician in the late 1930s. He also
began the first school for ventriloquism in the US.
HEAR Paul Stadelman:
Sound Clip
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TODD
STOCKMAN |
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ASTA SVEN
Figure: life-sized and lecherous Senator Birch. Performed
during the 1940s. |
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JAMES TATTERSALL
1917-1999
James (or Jimmy) Tattersall was both a ventriloquist
and maker of life-sized dolls. Among his figures he had a life-sized
drunk doll and an old lady who traveled across the stage by remote
control and landed in the old man's arms. Tattersall was well-known
for the figures he made with big eyes and big expressions.
During the 1940s Tattersall performed as "Tattersall
and Jerry'" (upper photo). He also also used a figure named
Tony, a Liberace-like pianist (lower photo).
Tattersall performed in a children's series on Scottish TV,
Mr. Fixit, which featured puppets Rosabell and Hoppy. There
was one human in the show, Mr. Fixit, who was played by Roddy
McMillan or Roy Kinnear.
Click here for more information about James Tattersall
Click here to see Tattersall Figure in
Ventriloquist Central Collection |
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VICKI TAYLOR
Married ventriloquist Roy Douglas and began to perform a double-act
with him. After the birth of their son, they divorced. Vicki
went on to perform solo successfully and was known for being able to
produce two voices at once, as reported in Ripley's "Believe It or
Not."
Click here for more information |
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MAX TERHUNE 1891-1973
BORN: February 12, 1891 in Amity, Indiana
FAME: Movie Star, 1/3 of the Three Mesquiteers
CHARACTERS: Elmer Sneezewood
LINK:
www.surfnetinc.com/chuck/terhune.htm
LINK:
www.imdb.com/name/nm0855579/
LINK:
www.talkingcomedy.com/SI-Vent-2005/movies-siVENT05/EBMT-MOVIES-siVENT05.html
1936:
Republic Pictures, Three Mesquiteers (21 Films)
1940:
Mongram Pictures, Range Busters (24 Films)
1950:
Alibi's Tent Show (television show)
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BUB THOMAS 1911-1997
Charles David "Bub" Thomas:
Entertainer. Barbershop Quartet Singer. Ventriloquist. |
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GEORGE TIZZARD
Ventriloquist, Writer, and
Musician. Originally from England. Lived in New York City.
Began performing circa 1938. |
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GEORGE TROXEL
Figure: Danny O' Grady. Troxel was a
Country Music Star & Ventriloquist circa 1947. |
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WILLIE TYLER
BORN: September 8, 1940 in Alabama
FAME: TV & Las Vegas Ventriloquist
CHARACTERS: Lester
LINK: www.willieandlester.com
LINK:
www.imdb.com/name/nm0878939/
1970:
The Merv Griffin Show (television)
1971:
The Flip Wilson Show (television)
1972:
Laugh-In (television)
VIDEO LINK:
Vegetable Soup -- Time to a Story:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjAZDiw_dfI
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JIMMY WALLIS
jimmywallis.com
Figure: Wally.
Wallis began performing in the late 1950s. |
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WALTER WALTERS, JR.
Son of vents Walter and Emily Walters. Known
for the "crying baby" routine that his parents originated. |
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JIMMY WELDON
jimmyweldon.com
www.tvacres.com/puppets_ventril_jimmy.htm
Puppet: Webster Webfoot, the sassy, talkative little
duck on the The Webster Webfoot Show in 1954-55, a
game show for children broadcast from Hollywood.
TRIVIA: Jimmy Weldon's "quacky" duck voice which he used with
Webster Webfoot later inspired the 1960 Hanna-Barbera cartoon
character Yakky Doodle. |
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SENOR WENCES 1896-1999
BORN: April 17, 1896 in Spain
FAME: Talking Hand, Head in a Box, Surreal
Ventriloquism
CHARACTERS: Pedro, Johnny, Cecilia
LINK:
www.tvacres.com/puppets_senorwences.htm
LINK:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0920777/
1947:
Mother Wore Tights (motion picture)
1948:
Texaco Star Theater (Milton Berle's television show)
1949:
The Ed Sullivan Show (Wences appeared 48 times on this
television show)
1978:
Crazy Horse Saloon in Paris
1980:
The Tonight Show (Johnny Carson's television show)
More photos
Bill Smith's Flickr page
Bill Smith's Facebook photo page
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DICK WESTON
Figures: Clarence & Aunt Martha. Weston, a
popular Las Vegas entertainer, built the two ventriloquist dummies
himself and would conduct clever debates between the two. |
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NANCY WIBLE
In 1951-1952 Wible performed in a successful TV show
in Los Angles called Candy's Playhouse with her doll
Candy Sugarpine. Wible also was a professional singer and
voice artist for several animated cartoons, including The
Flintstones and Gumby. |
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PAUL WINCHELL 1922-2005
GO
TO THE
PAUL WINCHELL
PAGE |
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RITA WINCHELL 1929-2011
Sister of famed
ventriloquist Paul Winchell
GO TO THE
RITA WINCHELL
PAGE |
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TOMMY WINDSOR
Author of
Do Ventriloquism the Easy Way. |
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KEN WOOD
Wood
began performing in the 1960s in England and also performed in
Australia and New Zealand with the Black & White Minstrels. |
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ARTHUR WORSLEY
1920-2001
www.imdb.com/name/nm1242865/bio
www.turnipnet.com/radio/arthurworsley.wav
Worsley and his talkative dummy Charlie Brown
appeared regularly on British television from the 1950s to the
1970s.
"Charlie Brown ... dominated the
act with his forceful personality. He would criticize Worsley's
appearance and jibe him with remarks such as 'Turn me round son!'
and 'Look at me when I'm talking to you!'"
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