This question was sent in by ventriloquist Tom Crowl:
Dan,
Hoping you can help me. I remember seeing video of an old time ventriloquist who’s puppet (a person) ran off stage at the end of the act. Problem is, I can not remember who it was. Would you have any ideas? Appreciate any help!
Tom
Tom Crowl
www.ComedyVentriloquist.com
If you can help Tom out with this question, please answer in the Comment section below.
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
Copyright 2009 by Dan Willinger
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THat vent was Clifford Guest; his figure was called Lester, a smaller marshall fig. Guest was from Australia
Hi Tom,
Sammy King also did a bit like that, but it was not a figure, but a child in a full face vent figure mask. Whoever that kid was, they did a GREAT job! I really thought it was a figure till Sammy told him to take a bow, & he jumped off the stool, took a bow, & left the stage. INCREDABLE!! This is on the video I bought of him at the conVENTion last year. Clifford Guest was on one of the two hbo vent specials back in the 70’s, so this may be where you saw it. I used to have both specials, but my machine ate the tape! My best to you, Bill
I do not know if Guest was the vent in question but a flier used by Guest called figure Leslie, http://ventriloquistcentral.com/blog/page/35/ but he may have had a Lester too.
And I believe that Leslie was Clifford Guest’s middle name.
Thanks for the info. It turns out the clip was Sammy King. I’ve seen Guest’s video and his manipulation was incredible – but Sammy was the man. Appreciate the help everyone!