Ventriloquist Central Blog

Join us for our next BlogTalkRadio, Thursday, October 21st as we interview ventriloquist and figure builder, Gary Koepke.

Gary Koepke has been a ventriloquist and a musician since the age of 8 and a magician since the age of 12. He began performing working children’s birthday parties while still in elementary school and continued expanding his arenas of performance to corporate parties, civic events, and political fundraising before graduation from high school.

Since that time, he has continued performing in the corporate vein and also performed in restaurants, theatres, television, and clubs.

Gary has also known many interesting people dealing with the art of ventriloquism. Listen in as we talk about some of them such as, Bill Boley, Howie Olson, Paul Stadleman, Jack Coats, Conrad Hartz, Ray Guyll…just to name a few.

The time for the interview will be 8pm (Eastern), 7pm (Central) and 5pm (Pacific).

To ask questions or participate in the conversation, call (347) 850-8597.

Be sure to tune in to this great interview.

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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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 2010 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 received the following email from Frank Merklein:

Dan, I was a cameraman at NBC NY beginnin Feb 1948.I would like to send you a photo taken of Paul Winchell,Jerry and myself during a break in live show.
Frank

Here was my response:

Frank,
Please send me pictures and of course any story you would like to write which I can share with all that visit Ventriloquist Central. It would be greatly appreciated.
Dan

To my delight this was Frank’s response:

 

Dan,
This is the single photo I have of the show,It came from Studio G which was especially built for Toscanini.I was assigned to his program as well. Paul was a pleasure to work with over the few seasons he was on NBC. We moved to Studio 3B for his solo show after they dropped Dunninger. Paul embraced the audience and even integrated the crew into his routines. He was a year older than me.

We even addressed Jerry Mahoney in giving directions “Look left”,”Move your leg”,etc..I did the Howdy Doody program as well …talked to Howdy and even Shari Lewis with Lamb Chop (actually a sock over her hand)..Well it was better than talking to one’s self… Besides on the Winchell show we earned $48 weekly….Not bad after 4 years of war,then finishing school on $20 wk for over a year.

It is sad that we never communicated after Paul went west.I never did send him the photo and cannot recall if Jack made a copy for him at the time. Thanks for letting me reminisce.

PS..As a 14 year old I even tried my hand as a ventriloquist. My father worked in Fox Theaters.He brought home a Charlie McCarthy a full size promo piece ,for me.The interest faded,once the hormones kicked in.
Did you ever wonder how a ventriloquist could become a hit on radio?.

Enjoy the picture.

Thanks, Frank

Frank, thanks so much for sharing this wonderful story with us at Ventriloquist Central.

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 2010 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