Ventriloquist Central - A Tribute To Ventriloquism » Edgar Bergen

1937 Effanbee Charlie McCarthy

Dan Willinger — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 09:07:00 +0000

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

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Ventriloquism: Return of the Dummy Run

Dan Willinger — Sun, 30 May 2010 09:10:00 +0000

Our long time friend and contributor George Boosey sent in another article he found on the Internet.

Since the passing of the great ventriloquist, Ray Alan, there have been a lot of different articles dealing with Ray’s career and the art of ventriloquism.

Click here to read Ventriloquism Return of the Dummy Run

Thanks George as always.

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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Top Hat for Charlie McCarthy

Dan Willinger — Thu, 20 May 2010 09:41:00 +0000

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

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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

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Ventriloquism and Marketing

Dan Willinger — Fri, 14 May 2010 09:27:00 +0000

Before I get started with today’s blog, I wanted to let you know that my webmaster and partner, Steve Hurst will be on TalkShoe (an Internet Talk Show format) on Sunday, May 16th at 8pm Eastern time. The program is called, “Ventriloquism…Hobby or Profession”. Be sure to tune in. Click here for more information

When it came to marketing ventriloquism Fred Maher was a true genius. He created an empire, so to speak, for his ventriloquism course back in the 1930’s through the 1960’s.

Fred Maher & Skinny Dugan

He advertised his ventriloquism course in just about every publication you would pick up and read. I myself remember seeing his ads in the Johnson Smith catalogue, Popular Mechanics and Boy’s Life. If you ever wanted to be a ventriloquist, he certainly made it available to everyone and everyone at the time knew the ad.

In the same vein of thought Edgar Bergen, or his handlers, also saw the genius of marketing his popularity in the 1930’s and beyond by having Charlie and Edgar endorse products such as Coca Cola, GE Light Bulbs, etc.

Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarthy, &
Mortimer Snerd

And then they marketed so many items with Charlie on them it is almost to hard to do a complete listing but I can give some great examples.

Effanbee Charlie Dolls of course come first, Charlie jewelry clips done in both metal and plastic also either moving or non moving mouths, Whitman Big Little books, Comic books, pencil boxes, Majestic radios, plastic walking Charlie, carnival plaster Charlie statues, Charlie McCarthy tin wind up toys, Charlie McCarthy silver ware …..well you get the idea. The list of items is endless.

Just the products that were available with Charlie McCarthy’s name made Edgar Bergen a very wealthy man and just think all this took place because of the Chase and Sandborn Radio show in which the duo appeared in voice only. I have to say they sure knew how to market.

Today Jeff Dunham is following suit with his array of toys depicting his characters.

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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Effanbee Charlie McCarthy Ventriloquist Figures

Dan Willinger — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 09:30:00 +0000

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

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Pinxy Charlie McCarthy Ventriloquist Figure

Dan Willinger — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:20:00 +0000

George Pinxy Larsen was a contemporary of Frank Marshall, Ken Spencer and the other ventriloquist figure builders of the golden era. All of the makers were influenced by the popularity of Edgar Bergen’s Charlie and Mortimer figures.

A while ago I showed you a wonderful Mortimer done by Pinxy (click here to see video)

Today I am happy to show you Pinxy’s rendition of Charlie.

This full size figure is a wonderful creation in the likeness of Charlie McCarthy and he has moving mouth and side to side glass eyes. I have this Charlie dressed in a sporting outfit instead of the usual tuxedo as we have all seen Charlie dressed in a multitude of outfits throughout his career.

I have him sitting with the Pinxy Mortimer and they certainly enjoy each others company.

I hope you like seeing this very rare Pinxy ventriloquist figure.

Click here to see Pinxy’s Charlie McCarthy

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd Comic

Dan Willinger — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 10:26:00 +0000

We all love Edgar Bergen’s Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. A regular contributor to Ventriloquist Central, George Boosey, sent in this cute comic featuring Edgar Bergen’s comic duo.

Charlie McCarthy & Mortimer Snerd

(Click image for larger picture)

Thanks, George for sharing with us.

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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Ventriloquist Central Figure Video Collecting Series-A Rare Effanbee Charlie McCarthy

Dan Willinger — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:15:00 +0000

In the past, I did a blog and video about an original Effanbee Charlie McCarthy (click here to see that blog).

Today’s video is a rare Effanbee Charlie McCarthy. Watch the video to see why he’s rare.

Let me know what other videos you would like to see.

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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My Favorite Ventriloquist Figures (and their “Offspring”)

Dan Willinger — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:16:00 +0000

After seeing the blog post about the Bob Isaacson Charlie McCarthy that is now in the Ventriloquist Central Collection (click here to see that blog), John Robinson sent me this email with pictures of his favorite ventriloquist figures:

Hi Dan, really appreciated the recent blog and pics of your Charlie; I am also a great fan of Bergen/Charlie (notice in pics who occupies “center stage” of the big three). What a fabulous Charlie figure you have – maybe we should trade? )

Thought you might enjoy these pics of my favorite figures and their “offspring” ha. You’ll note that Mack sits alone; yea, he’s kinda the bigshot in our house.

Thanks again for your great website and the service you render to vents. God bless, John R. in VA P.S. hope your dear wife is getting used to Charlie watching TV with you guys

As you can tell, John has some nice ventriloquist figures. Thanks, John for sharing with us.

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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Bergen and McCarthy, Old Time Radio Shows

Dan Willinger — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:30:00 +0000

In case you haven’t noticed, we have a new sponsor on Ventriloquist Central, “Old Time Radio Show Catalog.” I think they have every old time radio show (or so it seems) on this website at a very reasonable investment.

The last time I looked, under the “Comedy” category, the second most popular item is “Bergen and McCarthy” and they have 191 of their shows. Click the player button below for a sample.

Click here for 190+ episodes
of BERGEN & MCCARTHY
old radio shows on MP3 CD

If you want to hear some great old radio shows, I highly recommend you check them out.

Click here for Bergen & McCarthy on the Old Time Radio Shows

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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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

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