My 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. Let me know your comments below.
Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com
***************************************************
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 2012 by Dan Willinger
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
I collect old wood fishing lures, some with through wire constuction, all brightly painted, using the mustad treble hooks, and with glass eyes, all little puppets on a string. I got to meet the folks at Creek Chub, in Garrett, Indiana, an over 100 year old company before it went out of business. The main ones, Creek Chub, Heddon and Arbogast , all either sold out or otherwise went to cheaper plastic baits.
In my collection my favorites are the old beat up baits that look like they were used a lot, and the same thing goes for ventriloquist figures although I don’t collect them.
Here are some of the wood plugs never fished.
Creek Chub http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/22245-old-creek-chub-wood-pikie-8-black-ve
Heddon http://compare.ebay.com/like/360432181297?var=lv<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y&cbt=y and Arbogast Jitterbug http://www.lurenet.com/brands/arbogast-lures/arbogast-wooden-jitterbug
I enjoy the historic as well as the new figures. They both have a place in our ever growing community. I see new vents with old figures and old vents with new figures. I think it is an individuals choice in what they use or prefer. I admire the unique look that each figure maker has that identifies the piece as their work.
So many figures…. so little space!