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Ally Sloper and His Wife – LeMare Ventriloquist Figures

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

These great ventriloquist figure heads were made by Alfred LeMare somewhere around 1890 and have survived the century because the were, as told to me by the antique dealer in London, wrapped in blankets and the put into a trunk and left in an attic for the better part of 100 years until he got them.

I was certainly happy to be the one that acquired them and now I can present them for you to look at as well. I did a video showing the heads as well which you can also view on the figure page as well.

Ally Sloper was a comic strip character so you can look him up and read all about him. He was popular in England from the 1860’s to the 1930’s. There is a great story on him in Wikipedia:

Click here for Wikipedia on Ally Sloper

These are large heads about the same size as a real human head. The Male character Alley has slot jaw, spitter, smoker one eye winks and both eyes blink. Mrs Sloper has moving mouth only!!

Click here to see Ally Sloper and His Wife – LeMare Ventriloquist Figures

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

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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Posted in Dummy Collecting, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figure (Dummy) Makers, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures | No Comments »

John Schaibley’s Great Granddaughter, Jade Visits The Ventriloquist Central Collection

Friday, August 27th, 2010

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.

jade01

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

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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Posted in Dummy Collecting, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figures | 1 Comment »

Frank Marshall Ventriloquist Figures are Rare but…..

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

My good friend from the Philippines Ony Carcamo just sent me this and I wanted to share it with our community. It shows that Frank’s creations are still out there to be had but you do have to keep your eyes peeled and be ready to step up when they do appear.

Hi Dan, my friend…

Being a Marshall fan and expert that I know you are, I believe you’ll be interested in this. I attached some pictures of the newest figure in my dummy family.

He also appeared in the last part of this television comedy sitcom segment (aired nationally) where I recently guested with my figures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrPWVaZ-u0A

Have a great day!

Ony Carcamo, Ventriloquist
www.onycarcamo.com

Conrats to you Ony on your newest member of your ventriloquist figure family.

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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Posted in Dummy Collecting, Frank Marshall Figure (Dummy), Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figure (Dummy) Makers, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures, Ventriloquist Videos | 4 Comments »

Tessie or Jerry Mahoney Ventriloquist Figure

Saturday, August 21st, 2010

This is a wonderful figure and a must have if you love Jerry Mahoney. These full size replica figures do not show up very often so buy this one while you have the opportunity to do so now.

This is an original authorized Jerry Mahoney which was built by Steve Meltzer with the copy write by Paul Winchell on the back of the neck. This figure has side to side self centering eyes, fabulous shell winkers and of course slot jaw. The head is on a true copy of a Frank Marshall body with his signature shaped shoulder board, old quilted fabric covering the spine, exact Frank Marshall hands and the muslin arms and legs are also done exact to Frank Marshall. We used this exact body on the Nosey figures we sold on Ventriloquist Central.

I have pictured this figure just as I originally got her as Tessie Mahoney but I wanted to show you that Jerry is just the clothing and wig away. If the purchaser wants he can choose either dress. Male or Female.

I almost forgot….this stands a full 40″ tall. The mechanics are super smooth and very quiet. Just a pleasure to use.

Click here to find out more about this Tessie or Jerry Mahoney Ventriloquist Figure

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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Posted in Paul Winchell, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figures | No Comments »

Workings of a Ventriloquist’s Dummy’s Dummy

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

I don’t know why but over the past week or so I have had quite a few asking me about the ventriloquist’s dummy’s dummy and how they work.

First let me say this is not a new concept and the dual figures have been used by many and a younger Jeff Dunham did a great routine with a dummy’s dummy.

To understand how this works you must first visualize the control stick on the small figure. It is a standard head stick but it makes a right angle with a tube which runs through a hole in the body of the larger figure.

On the small figure in the place where the control lever would be it is replaced with a pulley and the control string rides around the pulley and through the tube into the larger figure.

With the string now inside the larger figure a pull on the string will actuate the mouth on the small figure. This is a very deceptive device and with a bit of practice looks very convincing.

Another method is to use the bladder control for the mouth similar to the way the Mack figures did early in the 20th century or the way the Insull pocket figures worked in the middle 20th century. The tube with the bulb is inside the larger body and when squeezed the small figures mouth moved.

I did discuss this with figure maker Ray Guyll and he confirmed to me both of these methods. He did say he has also made this type figure with remote control as well. That might be the best way because then there are no controls inside the larger figure to operate the smaller figure.

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

Like this blog post? Buy me a coffee or send me a tip!

Posted in Ray Guyll, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figures | 1 Comment »