Phil Nichols and his sister Melissa put on a play called “Murder for Dummies.”
Melissa sent us clips with descriptions from the play.
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Ventriloquist Central Collection Video Series – Early 1920’s Mack Ventriloquist Figure
Here’s a video of a very early Mack figure circa 1922 which is virtually identical to the Mack figure that greets you as you enter the first building of the Vent Haven Museum.
Walt Botley English Ventriloquist Figure Maker
One of the unsung ventriloquist figure makers from England was Walt Botley. He produced Ventriloquist Figures, Punch and Judy puppets and novelty items too.
His ventriloquist figures were done in paper mache much like the Len Insull figures and had the leather mouth. Botley figures are extremely hard to find today and his figures seem to go unnoticed by the ventriloquist community.
Sellers of Len Insull Figures
Len Insull was a great promoter of his ventriloquist figures on his own right but in the mid 1960’s he decided to let Davenport’s Magic Shop in London sell his products.
Len Insull would deliver the figures to Davenport where they would then stamp the bottom of the neck and the head stick with their name. I have seen this stamp on the bottom board of the body as well. When you find an Insull figure which does not have this marking you know the figure was sold by the master maker himself.
Ventriloquist Central Collection Video Series – Frank Marshall Nosey, Little Eddie
This is a most wonderful Marshall Nosey which was owned and used by ventriloquist Jimmy Jedry. He is 100% original everything from his paint to the clothing just as he was delivered by Frank Marshall to Mr. Jedry.
Here is a video of “Little Eddie”.
