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March 2012 Newsletter |
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Comments from Dan |
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My partner/webmaster Steve and I have
great discussions all the time about the use of new ventriloquist
figures over the old figures. I do believe that most folks today are
really not interested in using figures that came from the golden era
of ventriloquism. You know the ones that you see in the
Ventriloquist Central Collection.
You see the appeal of the old looking figure today just doesn’t fit
the modern day bill. The older figures. if left in original
condition, have paint that is not fresh and can and does make a
figure kind of creepy.
Now I myself find nothing creepy about the older look and youngsters
that have not been told they are creepy like them fine, but most
need to see the figure in a modern paint scheme I of course look at
the figure from the collector’s point of view and would never change
the originality of same. Steve always yells at me that today’s
ventriloquist could care less about the old paint and want the
figure to look brand new.
I know that most of today’s new figure makers paint the figures in
very soft paint as compared to the old. Tim Selberg and Albert
Alfaro do that and folks love their figures. That soft look is just
not for me. Then you have Bill Nelson who goes to the other extreme
with very theatrical paint. Those really pop on stage but could be
problematic for a close up audience.
Well give me the old unrestored original condition figures and I am
very happy.
Just the thoughts of a ventriloquist figure collector.
Enjoy the rest of the newsletter.
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VentriloquistCentral.com Tee Shirts
Available NOW!!!
VentriloquistCentral.com Tee Shirts
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Learn the "Secrets of Ventriloquism"
Now YOU can learn the
Art of Ventriloquism with this truly remarkable new course,
“Secrets of Ventriloquism.” This course combines the
secrets of the past by one of the great ventriloquist with current
thoughts and ideas of modern day ventriloquists.
"I've been listening to
it and there are some things on it I've not heard from
any other source. Anyone who wants to know some true
secrets will probably want to consider getting this
one."
David Thrasher
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www.SecretsofVentriloquism.com
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Blogs You May Have
Missed On Ventriloquist Central |
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David Turner Ventriloquist Figure Maker
David Turner is a great builder of
figure and I met him and have showcased him a couple times from the
Vent Haven ConVENTion showing his carved characters. I love his work
because his style is his own and I love the fact that on many of his
figures he uses the natural coloring of the wood and does not paint
his figures. |
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Ventriloquist Figure Maker Frank Marshall Plaster Sculpture
Frank Marshall was talented for
sure. He even sculpted in plaster. This piece of sculpture was done
for Earl Estenson and it was a rendition of his original figure
named Eddie O’Connor which was made of plastic wood.
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Ventriloquist Toys
I have been asked by a lot of folks
why I don’t show toy ventriloquist figures on Ventriloquist Central.
I must say if you go to the
Tribute of Ventriloquism pages there is a whole section devoted
just to the toy ventriloquism figures. But that doesn’t answer the
question that I have been asked....
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The Giant and the Ventriloquist Marketplace
Wow!!! Can you imagine selling your
ventriloquist figure then being told by the largest selling venue in
the world that you can’t have your money until you ship your figure
to the buyer and then the buyer must leave you a positive feedback?
Once the feedback has been left they will release the funds to you.
This make no sense to me at all.
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REPLAY-Ventriloquist Central Telephone Talk with Mark Wade
We had a great time talking with Mark
Wade on our Ventriloquist Central Telephone Talk. Mark told us about
the new venue for the Vent Haven ConVENTion, what to expect, the
shows and so much more. If you missed the call, you missed a great
time.
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| Of course we had many
other blogs last month, so be sure to check them
all out, just in case you might have missed one.
February Archives
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Missed one of the monthly Ventriloquist Central
Newsletters?
Here
are the Archives!
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“The ULTIMATE Guide To
Building Your Own
Ventriloquist Figure, Volume 1”
"Steve's course is very
good too! You can actually see projects being worked on
and see how he handles them instead of just reading
about it (not that the books aren't worth having too!)."
Gary Koepke
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“The ULTIMATE
Guide To Building Your Own Ventriloquist Figure, Volume 1” is a
step-by-step system from start to finish, so you can create your
very own ventriloquist figure. Now you can become a
ventriloquist figure builder. This guide will answers all your
questions, show you all the short-cuts, and give you a quick and
easy paint-by-the-numbers way to making your own ventriloquist
figure-- even if you don’t think you can do it.
"Hi Steve,
I purchased the “The ULTIMATE Guide To Building Your Own
Ventriloquist Figure, Volume 1”, from you last year and
have finished my dummy now.
It has not taken that long to do but I have only been
able to do little bits to it here and there so thats
where the months have gone.
I would love to take this opportunity to thank you for
putting this course together. Building a dummy has been
a long term ambition of mine right from child hood when
I used to make cardboard dummies.
Now all I need to finish the one I have made from your
course is to clothe him. As soon as I have clothes for
him I will send some photos for you to see.
Any way thanks again and look forward to hearing from
you in the future."
Regards
Shane West
www.unclezoobee.co.uk |
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"The DVD course is
everything your advertisement claims it to be! It is
truly worth much more than the amount asked! Thank you
very much."
Theo Roos
South Africa
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"Steve, I purchased
your Ultimate Guide To Building Your Own
Ventriloquist Figure Vol.1 DVD's just over five
months ago. Let me first say, these are a MUST HAVE! I
have always wanted to build my own figure and your DVD's
gave me the confidence to get started as well as
valuable information with the whole process! I took your
advice on using the Fast Mache' method and it works!
That advice in itself saved me a lot of frustration
since this was my first time at figure making. I now
know I can begin my second figure and it will be even
more exciting than the first one. The information in the
Ultimate Guide DVD's are invaluable! I enjoy watching
them over and over again to gain more insight on figure
building. I can't wait to get into the mold making
process and duplicate one of my own figure heads! The
Ultimate Guide DVD's were exactly what I was looking for
and needed! Thanks so much for creating them. You truly
are an inspiration to me with all the nuts and bolts of
information you share in order to produce a
ventriloquist figure."
Thanks Again!
Ron Cataldo
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“The ULTIMATE Guide To Building Your Own Ventriloquist Figure,
Volume 1”
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Ventriloquist
Marketplace |
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The Ventriloquist Marketplace |
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bit of activity on the
Ventriloquist Marketplace. In fact, one figure I listed
sold within a couple of hours of listing it, so be sure you keep
checking it out.
"Our Ventriloquist Marketplace works
and works consistently when items are priced right."
Ventriloquist Marketplace |
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Pictures of Figures Added to the Website |
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Effanbee Charlie McCarthy Toy Ventriloquist Figure
The only true Charlie McCarthy that
was made as a doll or toy, licensed by Edgar Bergen are those that
were made by the Effanbee Co. They released the Charlie McCarthy
figure in two sizes a twenty inch and a fifteen inch. They were all
marked on the back of the neck Edgar Bergen's Charlie McCarthy an
Effanbee Product.
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Ventriloquist Central Videos
Here you can view videos of ventriloquists of all kinds
from the amateur, the semi pro and the pros. Just about
anything to do with ventriloquists and ventriloquism,
you’ll find here at Ventriloquist Central Videos. |
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www.VentriloquistCentralVideos.com
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Videos |
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Ventriloquist
Central Video Collecting Series – Kangaroo by Frank Marshall
I’ve had some people email me to see a
video of the Kangaroo ventriloquist figure that was built by Frank
Marshall, so here it is…enjoy!
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Ventriloquist
John Pizzi and Swami Riva
Steve and JET from
The Dummy Shoppe sent us
this video of ventriloquist John Pizzi using one of their puppets,
Swami Riva. It’s a funny routine and thought I’d share it with you.
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Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series – Ring Pulls on a
Frank Marshall Figure
I received emails from some of you who
wanted to see a video of the Frank Marshall figure with ring pull
strings.
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Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series – Sailor Joe, A Ken
Spencer Figure
Here is a video of Sailor Joe a
wonderful Ken Spencer ventriloquist figure that is totally original
never having been restored in any way by anyone.
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Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series – Frank Marshall
“Happy Guy”
Here is a nice little Frank
Marshall ventriloquist figure I call “Happy Guy”. He’s 95% original
and in great shape.
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"What Would You Do If
Your
Ventriloquist Figure Were
Stolen Or Destroyed?"
Here's The
Best Way To Protect Your Investment
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For Those Interested In
The Art Of Ventriloquism
“The
Ventriloquism Historical Information Collection, Volume 1.”
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Ventriloquist Central
Cartoon |
Created specifically for Ventriloquist
Central by the very talented Austin Phillips.
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Final Thoughts |
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Over the past few years I have spoken about collecting and how once
you get bitten with the collecting bug it does overtake you and
nothing will get in your way when in search for the elusive items
for your collection.
This again is true, as I have said, about anything which you collect
be it coins, stamps, cars or ventriloquist figures.
I also have been challenged quite a number of time by others that
say I have taken the ability of any one else from owning an antique
figure. Unfortunately those that think that way are totally wrong.
If you want an old ventriloquist figure bad enough you are going to
go out there and find one to fill that particular need.
On another venue there was a talk about mentors and I chimed in
because even though I do not perform ventriloquism I have taken WS
Berger as my mentor posthumously. He also was not a REAL performer
but collected and he too was talked about by some as cornering the
market on used (the figures were not antique at his time) figures
and so no one else could get one.
The Ventriloquist Central Collection has over 160 figures now (and
still looking for more) so I guess he really didn’t get them all.
Go to this blog and check out this great ad that Mr Berger, my
mentor, had in the grapevine news back in 1948 and he went a few
steps beyond me because he wanted everything , paper, books
broadsides and of course figures.
Till next time,
Dan |
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©2012 VentriloquistCentral.com |
