My partner and webmaster, Steve Hurst, has been working on Miss Arkansas Alyse Eady’s ventriloquist figure, “Rocky”. If you recall, he got damaged during one of her flights.
Steve decided to chronicle his work on fixing Rocky and this is his first installment.
A past contributor to Ventriloquist Central, Bill Smith sent in this great old ventriloquist ad from 1902.
Here’s his email:
This prime example is done in a cheeky boy style and has great character appeal. His functions are slot jaw, side to side moving eyes, winkers/blinkers/ stick out tongue.
His paint is in great condition and except for the cracked leather under his chin he is perfect. He also has a wonderful wig which makes his hair appear as if it is growing out of his scalp. A terrific Spencer figure.
Frank made bodies using the standards he learned from the Macks but over the years he developed his own style which in my opinion actually gave the figure the best shape. I talked many times about the shaped shoulder boards and his carved out neck hole for the ball and socket but his covering of the body I don’t think I have mentioned.
Everyone who has any interest at all in ventriloquism today knows who Charlie McCarthy is and if not then they live under a rock and haven’t ventured into the light of day for half a century.
But all kidding aside we all know Charlie but most of us have never seen the early Charlie McCarthy in color. That is because most every picture you find of him is an 8 x 10 photo of which Mr.Bergan took many. They are all black and white. Also the films were all in black and white.
