Ventriloquist Central – A Tribute To Ventriloquism

The world is certainly a very small place and as the Internet increases that becomes more and more evident. The proof came to me when I received an email from Jade Sylvan and she told me she was the great granddaughter of John Schaibley and she wondered if she could come and see her great grandfather’s ventriloquist figure and his journals. I of course said an emphatic yes to her coming to see the collection and her great grandfather”s very old ventriloquist figure. This figure was made by louis Grannat of Brooklyn New York somewhere around the turn of the 20th century and became John Schaibley’s very first figure in 1916.

You can check him out here

We arranged for her to come visit today Aug. 25th and at 10:00am sharp Jade arrived here at my home. This was a really nice meet and greet we had, she met my wife Helen and son Jason, Then Jade came into the Ventriloquist Central Collection room and was awed by the collection and by the fact that she was actually able to hold her great grandfather’s figure and journals.

I must explain that Jade is without question from that entertainer’s gene poole. She is a very talented poet, published writer and singer songwriter. She actually changed her name legally to Jade Sylvan, because of her stage work, but her birth name was Jennifer Schaibley and her brother is John Schaibley IV. Please take some time and check this talented woman out:

www.jadesylvan.com

Jade had a great time and so did I being able to share some of her families past with her and the best and most unusual fact is that she lives in Somerville MA, which is just down the road from me about 4 miles. As a matter of fact I am a Constable in the City of Somerville. So it just proves how by way of the Internet, she never would have found me and her great grandfather’s figure with out same, how small the world has really become.

Jade it was a pleasure having you over and I hope to see you again soon.

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

***************************************************

Dan Willinger is a ventriloquism enthusiast and ventriloquist figure collector. He has been collecting for over 25 years. He created the Ventriloquist Central Collection. It now has over 100 ventriloquist figures and over 50 of them are Frank Marshall figures. Because of his love for the art of ventriloquism, Mr. Willinger created the website Ventriloquist Central. For more information about the website, go to: http://www.ventriloquistcentral.com

Copyright 2010 by Dan Willinger

NOTE: You may use this blog article provided you run it with the bio box intact. Please email a copy of your publication with the blog article in it to: webmaster@ventriloquistcentral.com

Up until the 1990s most ventriloquist figures all wore leather shoes. Even the very old figures that I have found when still dressed in original clothing the feet had leather shoes. Some were even button side shoes. But with the changing of the times the use of leather shoes had gone by the wayside and have been replaced by sneakers.

Funny it seems that we as real people have also lost the use of leather shoes and they have been replaced with sneakers. Oh yes you certainly can still purchase leather shoes like Bostonians ( old fashion style) but the really nice dress shoes I used to love have all but disappeared for canvas and rubber foot wear.

I guess I am really old school because for me sneakers were gym shoes and lived in my gym bag in my locker. I used them to play sandlot baseball on Saturday morning and my school shoes were leather. I still do wear leather shoes and don’t own a pair of sneakers. I actually wear western boots for the most part. My figures ( 97%) wear leather shoes. I just can’t see these wooden fellows with their sport jackets and white shirts and bow ties wearing anything other than leather.

If you want leather shoes for your figure it is not an easy find but you can try the old style shoe stores and some do still have the old children’s shoes in the basement. This is where I have had some luck!!!

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

***************************************************

Dan Willinger is a ventriloquism enthusiast and ventriloquist figure collector. He has been collecting for over 25 years. He created the Ventriloquist Central Collection. It now has over 100 ventriloquist figures and over 50 of them are Frank Marshall figures. Because of his love for the art of ventriloquism, Mr. Willinger created the website Ventriloquist Central. For more information about the website, go to: http://www.ventriloquistcentral.com

Copyright 2010 by Dan Willinger

NOTE: You may use this blog article provided you run it with the bio box intact. Please email a copy of your publication with the blog article in it to: webmaster@ventriloquistcentral.com