Here’s a video of showing Johnny Main’s Waldo figure created by Frank Marshall. He was Carved by Frank Marshall in 1959 for Johnny Main.
This was one of Johnny’s main figures in the early to late 60’s. He has slot jaw, side to side self centering eyes, winkers/blinkers and raising eyebrows. A great character!!
To most folk who do ventriloquism the term pitch point doesn’t mean much. As matter of fact they more than likely don’t know what pitch point means. So I thought I would share this with you.
Pitch point refers to the mouth movement of the ventriloquist figure. When a figure builder makes his figure he or she must cut out the mouth from the head. After it is cut out walls must be made on the inside of the head and on the sides of the mouth that has been cut out. Then this new mouth palate must be fitted back into the head. This is where the pitch point comes into effect.
Here’s a video of a girl ventriloquist figure built by Foy Brown. Foy Brown was not only a figure builder but he was also a performer.
His two Revello Petee figures are presently in the Ventriloquist Central Collection but this is the final figure that Foy used for performing. Her name is Suzie and this little cowgirl is about as cute a figure that Foy ever created.
Here’s a video that our regular contributor, Bob Abdou/Mr.Puppet with a puppet control stick idea.
As strange as it may seem I keep getting asked why I dress my figures in the two tone suits. I must admit that kind of became an obsession with me. I scour the used clothing stores and go on line looking for those suits all the time.
I think the answer is because of my love for the Frank Marshall figures and Paul Winchell. My first recollection of ventriloquist figures is Jerry Mahoney and of course he was dressed in the 2 tone suit.
Then when I purchased my first all original Nosey figure by Frank Marshall it too was dressed in the original clothing which was a blue two tone suit. So after that I just had to find those suits.
