Ventriloquist Central Blog

For the most part the size of most full size ventriloquist figures run between 38 and 42 inches in length. I have found that the size of shoes that fit best with figures of this size are about seven inches in length from heel to toe. Flea markets and yard sales will turn up some great children’s shoes which work great. I myself really try to stay away from sneakers. Just my preference. I like leather shoes.

Many times once you put shoes on the figure and as you handle the figure the shoes will fall off and I know that can be frustrating to say the least. I have found that one of the easiest ways to remedy this problem is with velcro. You can purchase a strip of either black or white velcro at most craft shops like Michael’s or AC Moore or else at a fabric shop like Jo Anne Fabrics.

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Back in 1937 a woman named Martha McCown by way of her attorneys Mock & Plum filed with the US Patent Office the plans for a Ventriloquist’s Dummy. I found this most interesting to both read and look at the drawings.

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I was prompted to write this blog today comparing restoring and remaking a ventriloquist figure. You see there are those out there that do work on ventriloquist figures and use the word restore when in fact the restoration is the farthest thing from the true meaning of restore. This is the definition of the word restore from Merriam Webster’s dictionary:

: to bring back to or put back into a former or original state

Now that means you can’t change anything when doing the job. It must be done the way the original maker did the work. If you change anything be it add or subtract, such as a function or change the color paint, or the type of wig, or use a new body or new arms or legs, even though the ventriloquist figure may look the same or even function the same it is NOT restored it is remade or redone.

Does this affect the value of a ventriloquist figure? For the most part no one would ever know except a true collector like myself. But as a collector in any avenue of collecting Originality is the most important aspect of the item. I don’t care what that item happens to be, if it has been altered in any way from original it no longer holds the value.

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Here’s a video showing Frank Marshall’s “Freshy” mechanics. A great look inside the head.

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