Ventriloquist Central – A Tribute To Ventriloquism

I am offering today a wonderful original 1937 Effanbee Charlie McCarthy which displays perfectly for any collector of Charlie McCarthy. He stands 20″ tall has his original pull string ( band needs to be replaced) and monocle and his face paint is very fine.

He has the usual age crack staring at the mouth corner but virtually no other cracking. His hair was touched up at one point but looks great. He is still in his original tuxedo which does have a couple holes but as I said displays great (it can be stitched up, but I like leaving things original).

I am also including a top hat and an Effanbee (reproduction) pin back on his collar. These were sold back in the 1930’s and caused all the other toy companies to sell dolls that were kind of like Charlie but this was the only one sold with Edgar Bergen’s endorsement which imprinted on the back of the neck.

He was sculpted by Virginia Curtis Austin and was made out of wood composition. The price is a very reasonable.

Click here to see the 1937 Effanbee Charlie McCarthy

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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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

When Edgar Bergen was out in Hollywood performing in movies with Charlie McCarthy it was no problem for him to have Charlie attired in the best of cloths as they were all custom made for him. I can’t say for sure that Edgar was able to keep all the clothing but I assume he would because who else would have been able to wear the costumes. I do know he had a room in the house which just had Charlie’s clothing so the wardrobe must have been extensive.

His top hat was made by Barrons of Hollywood and they are still in business today and I have recently been told they sell the top hat that fits Charlie McCarthy for $350.00. Considering that the hat has to be hand made I don’t think that is too bad a price.

Charlie’s head wore a size 6 1/4 which to find an existing silk top hat in that size is a near impossibility today. That is a child’s size hat and a child would only have had this type hat if he was from a very well to do family. Not many were produced hence the rarity of this size especially in the United States. Over in Europe there is a much better chance of finding one as there were many more aristocratic families there with children that would have been formally attired.

I have seen many size 6 7/8 which can be used but a piece of foam must be placed inside around the brim to take up the extra room. That is what Bob Isaacson did to make the top hat fit on the Charlie now residing in the Ventriloquist Central Collection.

A Reminder:

Don’t forget, tonight is is my interview with ventriloquist Pete Michaels on BlogTalkRadio at 6pm eastern, 5pm central, 3pm pacific. For more information go to:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ventriloquistcentral

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

It seems one of the most frequently asked questions I receive is if I can help identify a Charlie McCarthy figure made by Effanbee Co. I always respond yes to those who ask but I will again make this easy for anyone who happens to find a Charlie Figure and think it is an Effanbee.

The Effanbee Co was the only doll company that was licensed by Edgar Bergen to sell figures with the likeness of Charlie. They produced them in two different sizes 15″ tall and 20″ tall. The figures were available in a number of different costumes but the most popular and most common is the black tuxedo.

All true Effanbee Charlies will be marked in raised lettering on the back of the neck which reads ” Edgar Bergen’s Charlie McCarthy an Effanbee Product”. If your figure does not have this embossing on the lower back of the neck …..IT IS NOT AN EFFANBEE.

There were other companies, Freundlick, K&S, Regal that all made figures and they even put monacles and tuxedos on them but those were NOT Charlie McCarthy.

I have done a few videos on these figures and also previously did a blog about this and here is the link to that blog with pictures.

Click here to see blog about Effanbee Charlie McCarthy

Click here to see video of Effanbee Charlie McCarthy

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