Ventriloquist Central - A Tribute To Ventriloquism

Paul Winchell with Jerry Mahoney & Knucklehead Smiff

It is almost too hard to believe but today is the third anniversary of one of my hero’s death. Paul Winchell passed away on June 24th 2005. I am sure that many of you also miss this wonderful ventriloquist as much as I do but even though he is gone you can click on the link below and watch some great video clips I have posted here on Ventriloquist Central.

Click here for more about Paul Winchell

Paul, we miss you and we do not forget!!

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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Steve Meltzer from the Santa Monica Puppetry Center in California sent me this wonderful article which he wrote for the Puppetry Journal back in the spring of 1976. With his permission I am happy to share this nice article written about Paul Winchell’s life.

Mr Melter along with Kelly Asbury hosted the final performance that Paul Winchell did back on March 13, 2004. The picture you see (above) of Paul Winchell is one of the last pictures taken of him and Jerry Mahoney in performance mode (FYI…the Jerry that Paul Winchell is using was built by Ray Guyll). What a great treat to see this.

Thanks again to Steve Meltzer for sharing with of us here on Ventriloquist Central.

Click Here to See Article

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.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

 I grew up in the 1950’s so to me Paul Winchell was the man. I loved to sit in front of the TV and watch his show and dream of being in the audience. His shows always had such a variety of entertainment not only with guest singers or actors but even the commercials were entertaining. Then of course those great characters Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff. Boy those characters were great and for me, and most of the kids, they were really alive. A good reason for this is that Paul decided to have those characters animated. Even though he gave them their voices and did manipulate the head stick, the arms moved just like mine and yours. This really brought them to life. We can credit this to Mr Jay Lloyd. He was the person who was behind the scenes and worked the arms.
 
Mr Steve Meltzer from California, a wonderful puppeteer in his own right, sent in these wonderful pictures of Jay Lloyd with Tessie, plus some recent pictures with Jerry from behind the scenes.

Thanks Steve for letting us all see these very rare pictures of one of the reasons that made Jerry such a smash hit in the early days of television.

Click here to check out Steve Meltzer’s website

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.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

 In an effort to continually bring you fresh items of interest in ventriloquism, I am happy to announce that today Rick Tolomei kindly donated to Ventriloquist Central this wonderful original script for one of Paul Winchell’s early 1960’s shows.

As you know Paul Winchell was a true genius and so to be able to view one of his original scripts with his own markings is a real treat. You will be able to see how his talent was not just in the performance of ventriloquism but in the actual production of the art.Thanks Rick for sharing this with me and the vent community and I hope you all enjoy reading this fine script.

Click Here To See Paul Winchell’s script

Comments welcomed.
Dan

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