Ventriloquist Central - A Tribute To Ventriloquism

Many people have differing views about Edgar Bergen and his ventriloquism techniques. But none can argue with his marketing abilities.

Back in 1949 this picture and article appeared in publication to promote the Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarthy radio series. I thought you might enjoy seeing it.

UNITED DUMMIES OF AMERICA

Charlie McCarthy organized his wooden-headed friends into the “United Dummies of America” at a recent dinner meeting in Hollywood, for the purpose of demanding “a decent amount of security throughout our lives, from the forest to the fireplace.”

Fed up with his skimpy 75-cent-a-week allowance from Edgar Bergen, McCarthy rallied his brothers-under-the-bark with the battle cry, “Dummies of the world, unite-you have nothing to lose but your voice.”

“Ventriloquists,” he added, “are a dime a dozen-but only God can make a tree! “

Bergen was finally permitted to reply to Charlie’s ringing speech, although a number of the dummies including Charlie-yelled, “throw him out.”

“Friends,” Bergen began, “money isn’t everything.” His words were lost in a chorus of boos from the assembled dummies.

Finally, Bergen broke down and offered–on behalf of the ventriloquists a revision of their basic wage scale. Instead of the prevalent six-bits a week, Bergen offered $3 a month.

Tumultuous cheers went up from the dummies. Swiftly they voted a resolution approving the offer.

It was only after Bergen had left that Charlie got his multiplication table to working sufficiently to discover that they had been gypped and the meeting broke up in an uproar.

The unique conclave of dummies was, of course, designed as a publicity springboard for the opening of the new Edgar Bergen-Charlie McCarthy radio series for The Coca-Cola Company. The press turned out in strong fashion, outnumbering the ventriloquists and dummies.

Newspaper radio editors, columnists, fan magazine writers and photographers, wire photo men, radio commentators, and Hearst newsreel cameramen were among those attending assuring wide national coverage of the event.

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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I rarely post two blogs in one day, but I just received this email and thought I should share it with everyone on Ventriloquist Central:

Hi Dan,

I wanted to alert you to a fantastic new autobiography, all about one of the most famous little people in the entertainment industry….Jerry Maren. Of course, Jerry is most known as the Lollipop Munchkin in the legendary classic film, “The Wizard of Oz”, but this new book explores his entire career with a great portion about his time with Edgar Bergen and “portraying” Charlie McCarthy in films. The book is titled “Short and Sweet: The Life and Times of the Lollipop Munchkin” (Cumberland House) and it has just arrived. There is amazing, rare photography of Jerry with Edgar and Charlie on the set and in behind the scenes photos never before published.

This is a book which will enlighten, inspire, and just plain amaze anyone who loves pop culture and motion pictures. What an extraordinary career and life Jerry Maren, a legendary little person, has lived.

As autobiographies go, this one is exemplar, with amazing color photography throughout. A link for the book on amazon.com is below. They currently offer a great discount.

Thank you

Steve Cox

Click here to see the book on Amazon

And thank you, Steve, for sending us this information.

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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

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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The third and only remaining “Charlie McCarthy,” Edgar Bergen’s historic co-star, will find a happy new home.

One “Charlie” is at the Smithsonian, a second in Chicago’s Museum of Broadcasting and the third “Charlie” has been resting in the business manager’s office of the Edgar Bergen Foundation all these years.

Now there’s a great reason for him to come to life.

On Oct. 26 the Thousand Oaks Library Foundation gala will announce plans for the American Radio and Archive Museum and theater. And to make that dream come true, the Edgar and Frances Bergen Foundation is donating one million dollars for its construction. The priceless shows of radio’s history — of course including the “Charlie McCarthy Shows” — will be saved, protected in a climate-controlled facility forever.

Guest Blog - Joe Lopez

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