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July 2012 Newsletter

 
 

 
 
Comments from Dan
 

Ventriloquism History – The Ventriloquist Figure

We get all kinds of emails here at Ventriloquist Central asking all kinds of interesting questions. Some are about ventriloquist figure builders, who built this or that, historical information and many other questions.

I had a young fellow contact me and was asking me about the origins of the ventriloquist figure as we all know it today and I thought this was a great question and here is how I answered this particular subject.

Back in the late 19th century and into the 20th century a ventriloquist named Fred Russell decided to make the art of ventriloquism a bit easier and eliminated the stage covered with a family of ventriloquist figures by entering the stage and sitting center stage with just one figure which he placed on his knee, therefore becoming the first knee sitting ventriloquist figure.

This figure’s name was Coster Joe and was a cheeky boy figure. Fred Russell was a huge success and from this he became known at the father of modern ventriloquism.

If you follow this link to the Ventriloquist Central Tribute to Ventriloquism section, you can see some pictures of Fred Russell and his side kick Coster Joe and also read all the information on this great ventriloquist.

Click here for Fred Russell & Coster Joe

I have to say questions like this are great and I love to help young and new folks coming into this art and will always try to answer questions for you either publicly or in private.
 

Enjoy the rest of the newsletter.

 

 
 

 

VentriloquistCentral.com Tee Shirts

Available NOW!!!

 

I can’t believe it but the Vent Haven ConVENTion is only a few days away. If you are a follower of Ventriloquist Central you know we do a photo of all those with our tee shirts at the big photo shoot at ConVENTion.

Right now I have a supply of extra large Tees for you to purchase. I can’t guarantee I will have them for the ConVENTion so if you have been thinking about getting a Ventriloquist Central Tee do it now.

Ventriloquist Central Videos | VentriloquistCentral.com Tee Shirts
 

 

Ventriloquist Central Videos | VentriloquistCentral.com Tee Shirts

 

VentriloquistCentral.com Tee Shirts

 

 

 
 

 

Learn Ventriloquism

Discover the "Secrets of Ventriloquism with the Most Comprehensive
Online Ventriloquism Course Ever Created!!!

 


“This is a great course… You have done a fantastic job of capturing what is difficult to describe.  Well thought out. Well presented.”

David Crone, I’mNoDummy Productions
 

 

Learn Ventriloquism | Secrets of Ventriloquism | How To Be a Ventriloquist

Get Five FREE Lessons

 

REPLAY – Ventriloquist Central Telephone Talk Interview with Tom Crowl

 


“GREAT! This is going to help new vents sooooo much. Well done!”

Margaret Davis, TalkingHand LLC
 

 

 


"The incremental lessons are brilliant because they get
impatient students like myself to focus on the foundations.
Tom really knows his subject and more importantly, knows how to teach it.”

David Pitts, MrPitts.com
 

 

 


“I loved Tom’s course! There is nothing like this out there.
Beginners will learn the art of ventriloquism properly from the ground up, and experienced vents will be able to refresh their basics. With the extras and bonuses, Tom is offering a real valuable resource to the vent community and beyond!”

Neale Bacon, Neale Bacon and His Crazy Critters
 

 

 

NOW – THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO LEARN VENTRILOQUISM

 

SecretsofVentriloquism.com/learnventriloquism 

 
 

 
Blogs You May Have Missed On Ventriloquist Central
 
The Making of Basset Hound Ted Part I

Tom Dahl of Florida had been thinking about a Basset Hound puppet a few years ago. At the 2010 ConVENTion, Tom met my partner Steve and “Charlie Dawg”. As Tom puts it, “I thought Charlie was terrific.” At this point, Tom decided to move forward with his idea for a Basset Hound puppet.
 
The Making of Basset Hound Ted Part II

This is part two of Tom Dahl’s story about the making of his Basset Hound, Ted...
James Manalli Ventriloquist Figure Carving

Here are more pictures from James Manalli and his ventriloquist figure. As you can see, he’s coming along nicely.
Ventriloquist Rey Ortega and the Making of DUH WAYNE

Rey builds all the characters he uses in his performances. I thought you might enjoy seeing this.
 
Ventriloquist John Pizzi Presents His Newest Creation

If you saw ventriloquist John Pizzi on America’s Got Talent, then you saw he was using some new technology. Here’s a great little video of John explaining his Virtual Ventriloquist © 2012 John Pizzi.
 
Ventriloquist Jay Johnson’s “Two and Only” to be a Feature Film

If you haven’t heard by now, ventriloquist Jay Johnson’s “Two and Only” is going to be a feature film. For more, here’s an email sent out by Bryan W. Simon and producer Marjorie A. Engesser...
 
Ventriloquist Nina Conti and Russel Howard’s Good News

Here is a great clip of ventriloquist Nina Conti with a person from the audience using a “mask”. This is a funny video.
 
Candice Bergen Talks About Her Dad Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy

Here’s a short video interview with Candice Bergen talking about her Dad, ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy.
 
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. 

June Archives

 
 

 

 

Missed one of the monthly Ventriloquist Central Newsletters? 

Here are the Archives!

 

 

 

 

The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Own Ventriloquist Figure, Vol 1

“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
 

 

 “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

 

 

 

 


"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
 

 

 


"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
 

 

“The ULTIMATE Guide To Building Your Own Ventriloquist Figure, Volume 1”

 

 
 Just For Fun
 

 

Bob’s Vlog – Jay Reads His Script at The Beverly Hills Hotel

Click here to this video

 
 

 
Ventriloquist Marketplace
 

The Ventriloquist Marketplace
 

 

 
We have had quite a 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."

 

The Ventriloquist Marketplace  The Ventriloquist Marketplace  The Ventriloquist Marketplace

 

Here are a few items that have been added in the past few weeks:

Mouse Puppet

Frankenstein Ventriloquist

Hairybrow Man Ventriloquist

Awesome Dummy Rupert from Tim Selberg for Sale

Davenport figure

Paul Winchell's Knucklehead Smiff

Ventriloquist Mask

Ventriloquist Toby Jug

Sinbad the Sailor Ventriloquist Figure

 

Be sure to check these and other items on the....

 

Ventriloquist Marketplace
 

 

 
 


 

Ventriloquist Central Videos

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.

VentriloquistCentralVideos.com

 

 
Videos From Ventriloquist Central
 
Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series – English Style Figure Head  Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series – English Style Figure Head

Here is a video of an English style ventriloquist figure head.

 
Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series – Tiny Frank Marshall Ventriloquist Figure  Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series – Tiny Frank Marshall Ventriloquist Figure

Here is a video of this very nice tiny Frank Marshall figure. He has slot jaw, side to side self centering eyes and right eye winks. He has the chop stick lever for the mouth but this guy has a ball to pull for the winker. These controls are all original as to how Marshall did them. No changes or repairs. Even the cords are original.
 
Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series – Paul Winchell’s Toy Jerry Mahoney  Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series – Paul Winchell’s Toy Jerry Mahoney

Here’s a video showing a toy Jerry Mahoney that Paul Winchell used to produce.
 
Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series – Frank Marshall Figure Used by Roy Catell  Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series – Frank Marshall Figure Used by Roy Catell

Here is a video showing you a Frank Marshall ventriloquist figure that was used by Roy Catell. Roy Catell ” International Singing Ventriloquist” , that’s what his card says, used this Frank Marshall ventriloquist figure.
 
Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series – Earliest Frank Marshall Ventriloquist Figure   Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series – Earliest Frank Marshall Ventriloquist Figure

This is the earliest Marshall figure in my collection. He dates around 1928 and he is in pretty remarkable condition. His paint is all original as well as his crepe hair and beanie cap.
 
Ventriloquist Central Motorcycle Video  Ventriloquist Central Motorcycle Video

Even though this really has nothing to do with ventriloquists or ventriloquism, I’ve had people ask me to do a video about my 1999 Kawasaki 1500 Vulcan Drifter motorcycle.
 

 
 

 

 

"What Would You Do If Your
Ventriloquist Figure Were
Stolen Or Destroyed?"

Here's The Best Way To Protect Your Investment

 

 
 
 

 

For Those Interested In The Art Of Ventriloquism

 

 

“The Ventriloquism Historical Information Collection, Volume 1.”

 
 

 


One of the things that ventriloquists say they have a hard time doing is

writing scripts and being funny.....

Well now YOU can!!!

 

 

Learn the SECRETS to writing comedy with the Comedy Writing System!

 

ComedyWritingSystem.com

 
 

 
 

 
Final Thoughts


With the Vent Haven ConVENTion right around the corner, I was reminded of this blog I wrote a couple of years ago and thought I would share it with everyone in this newsletter.

We all know how good a figure maker Frank Marshall was and we all know he did many repairs on figures but I had no idea how accomplished he really was until I read the following except as a news flash from W.S Berger in the 1953 January issue of the Oracle Magazine. I have it here for you all to enjoy!!

Flashes From The Vent Haven
By W.S. Berger

FLASH-My visit to Frank Marshall’s shop for one week was very colorful. For a little relaxation from the daily grind at the Vent Haven, decided to go to Chicago, primarily to devote some time with my warm friend F r a n k Marshall, to secure names for the Directory of Ventriloquists and to have an intricate repair job made on a McElroy figure.

Frank turned his files over to me, and a number of new names were found for the Directory. As to the cranial operation on the figure, it looked like a jig saw puzzle, since several controls were disconnected from the intricate mechanism, but Frank finally wound up with a complete and most satisfactory job.

Dr. Joseph Sonntag and his charming wife invited us to their home for dinner, which we enjoyed immensely . . . even a baked apple was served. Mrs. Sonntag is a very good cook and is in competition with Muzz.

After dinner we were entertained with a series of colored slides of vents and others, which were projected on a screen. We were also amazed at the fabulous collection of playing cards, which they have collected over a period of years. Anyone having playing cards, should contact the doctor at 215 E. Chestnut Street, Chicago.

It was a thrill to meet many of the vents that came in unexpectedly, at Frank’s shop. Here they are, Stew Gilliam, Jay Jaxon (he came in twice from Plano, Ill.) Great Chesterfield, Herman Winters, Milt Rowland, Paul Stadelman, Les Lester and wife, Lester Marshall, Jr., Lynn Drew, of
Evanston, Ill., who signed up in the IBV.

Talked over the phone with Stanley Burns from Pittsburg, and George Marks, of Detroit. Both were after their jobs that Frank had in process.

Finally, Frank rearranged his shop for a professional photographer to take some shots to be used in his new catalog, that is in process, and of course Frank insisted that I be in this photograph. I enjoyed being office boy and typist for the duration of my stay, and hope to repeat the procedure again. I was surprised at all the details that are associated with this vent figure making business.
 

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at the ConVENTion!

Till next time,
Dan
 
 

©2012 VentriloquistCentral.com