Ventriloquist Central - A Tribute To Ventriloquism

Saturday April 5th was not only a long awaited beautiful sunny spring day in Crystal Lake, IL, it was also the long awaited Nothin’ Up My Sleeve at Raue Center For The Arts. In it’s 6th year Nothin’ Up My Sleeve is primarily a magic show with a couple other unique (and equally magical) acts like ventriloquism, juggling, fire-eating to name a few.

The show is an annual benefit for the Raue Center and geared toward families and boy did we have the families. This year’s show was sold out with 750+ people witnessing an amazing line-up of magic, comedy, bubbles, grand illusions and most notably our host for the night, ventriloquist Mr. Bob Isaacson and Speedy Wheeler.

I was glad to secure Bob (and Speedy) for this year’s show. We first brought ventriloquism into the show 5 years ago with Bob Rumba and Chuck Field. The following year we had the lovely Stephanie Johnson. The next year we tried something completely different – Bozo the Clown joined our cast. Bozo was a big hit with both the parents and kids but the ventriloquism was greatly missed. Last year we brought Chuck Field back with his Wooden-American friend Ziggy to emcee the show. It was a huge hit! People are still talking about it and what a great job Chuck Field did.

BINGO! We had a formula that works – VENTRILOQUISM – front and center stage. I personally have a growing love for the art and have been thrilled to share it through these top-notch ventriloquists. In addition to these vents, last summer I brought ventriloquist Dale Brown and Chip Martin in to the Raue for a special vaudeville show and just 2 months ago we had Tony Award Winner Jay Johnson perform - The Two and Only. This year I was honored to be part of Bob’s act, as he asked me to come out on stage and do the “Riddle Fiddle” bit with them.

Although I did not see Bob and Speedy’s entire act because I was back stage, I knew that the audience loved it by the continuous laughs and applause. Bob also did a great job at the front of the show by telling the history of the Raue and vaudeville entertainment as only a guy like Bob can do. Besides Bob and Speedy we had magician Misty Lee in from California, bubbleologist Geoff Akins, magician/whip cracker John P. Hopkins, illusionist Mike DiDomenico and magician/producers Nino Cruz and me. Fortunately this was all captured on tape and I look forward to watching the final DVD. With Bob’s permission I hope to also share some of his act here on Ventriloquist Central – stay tuned.

See you all at the Vent Haven ConVENTion in July!

Glenn Chelius

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As everyone knows I am an eBay-a-holic. I search that site constantly for ventriloquist figures and I have to admit that for the past few months it seems that there has been very little to surface in the way of really nice figures. There have certainly been some repeat listings of figures that have been posted more than once and those as well have gone un-purchased. I find it most interesting that right now the conversion figures seem to be ruling the roost for eBay sales with amazing prices.

As everyone knows I really have a hard time with the conversion figures being sold as pro figures but I do believe there is a definite place for them in the trade. I certainly think that they are worthy of mention because a great amount of time is put into converting them from a toy and into a “Semi Pro Figure”. A set of eyes with moving mechanism must be inserted, sometimes raising eyebrows and of course a head stick. A wig must be cut and attached too. Then a body must be fabricated to fit the new pro style head. And of course repainting to try and give them a more pro look. Over sculpting will change the face but be careful not to take them from one temperature to another or leave it in your hot trunk. When the over sculpt cracks off you just might find the toys original face. What gives me the most problem is looking at the figure and seeing Juro’s Charlie McCarthy face or Howdy Doody’s face or Groucho Marx’s face but now being called a pro figure? As I have said in the past a toy is a toy and a new buyer in the trade should be informed up front about what they are purchasing. And most of all the pricing should be in line with what the item really is.

You can purchase many books about building ventriloquist figures and then go to www.braylu.com you can get all the parts you need to convert one of these toys yourself. I believe you can even purchase one of these toy heads already converted for you for less than $100.00 right on this site. Braylu also sells some terrific bodies with vacu-form fronts done on solid wood frames with the routed head hole already done for very little money.

My biggest problem right now is that I have seen some of these conversion figures recently sell on eBay for over $1300.00…. YES… that is a correct price. Seems like a fortune for a toy to me but what do I know. I am just a collector. For this type of money a wonderful antique vent figure can be purchased or one of many other REAL pro figures can be found.

Anyway as the old saying goes let the buyer beware and you should always contact the seller of the figure you are about to purchase on eBay, and ask in no certain terms what you are buying.

I know this will cause a fire storm but I just could not help myself and had to talk openly about my feelings on this subject.

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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All writings here are copyrighted by Dan Willinger and Ventriloquist Central. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts.

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