Ventriloquist Central Blog

Ray Guyll's First Ventriloquist Lecture at Vent Haven

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Webmaster

If you go to the Ventriloquist Central Collection and look at the Ray Guyll figure there is a nice story about his creating this figure and delivering it at the ConVENTion.

Click here to see the Ray Guyll figure

I am now happy to share this great picture, which Ray sent me, of him giving that first lecture. Along with the two figures Ray built, there is another very famous figure on the stage as well.

Boy it must have been great back in those days when some of the Vent Haven museum made its way over to the ConVENTion as well.

Anyway thanks Ray for sharing this great picture with Verntriloquist Central and all our readers.

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

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

Posted in ConVENTion, Dummy Collecting, Ray Guyll, Vent Haven, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figure (Dummy) Makers, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures | 2 Comments

Lieutenant Frank Travis, The Society Ventriloquist 1854-1931

Posted on September 14, 2010 by Webmaster

We were contacted by Justine, who was researching an article he was doing and wanted to know if we have more information about ventriloquist Frank Travis who is listed on the Tribute to Ventriloquism, “Ventriloquist Entertainers 18th and 19th Century.”

I told Justine that was all the information we had on Frank Travis. He proceeded to send us information and pictures that he had uncovered so that we might share them with everyone here at Ventriloquist Central.

Here is Justine’s email:

Hello Dan! I have got enough information now to supplement the reference to Travis, listed in your ‘Ventriloquist entertainers 18th and 19th century.

The photos I’ve attached, one of the photos is pretty grainy, I can date that 1 at 1884, and have had it restored as it was completely damaged, which is why one of the figures has no head!

What I have is

‘Lieutenant Frank Travis’
‘The Society Ventriloquist’
1854-1931

Born Francis Thackeray and gained fame in 1879 after a successful tour of the continent. He employed 7 ventriloquial figures which he would seat around a table singing and conversing which each in turn. It was claimed on his behalf that he was the originator of the feats of smoking and drinking while ventriloquising. Appeared on stage in a military uniform and was a huge favorite in Australia.

Justine

Justine thanks so much for sharing this information and photos with us. We have since updated the “Ventriloquist Entertainers 18th and 19th Century” web page with this information.

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

***************************************************

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

Posted in Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central | 2 Comments

The Talents of Ventriloquist Figure Maker Arthur Quisto

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Webmaster

Arthur Quisto lived from 1882 to 1960. His real name was Edwin Simms. He was known primarily for his Punch & Judy Shows, but Quisto also built figures for Tom Coram and Arthur Prince.

He used pneumatic devices and was the first to use electromagnetic devices to animate his figures.

I was contacted via email by Nick Hawkins from the UK for information about an advertising automaton. Since I had no such information about this, Nick was kind enough to send the following email along with pictures:

Hi Dan,

Thanks for your reply. Here are photos of the publicity automaton with Quisto’s name, which appears once inside the body panel and once in the wooden base. It’s part of a collection at a German auction (www.breker.com) on November 20, and was once owned by Jack Donovan, a well-known English collector who had a shop in the Portobello Road.

Before that he owned a hotel on the South Coast – I’m not sure where, but possibly it was also Teignmouth. He was collecting from the 1960s – 90s. t would be interesting (and probably now impossible) to find out whether he bought this automaton directly from Quisto and whether Quisto used it for advertising his shows.

Best wishes,
Nick

Nick thanks for sharing this information with us here at Ventriloquist Central.

I do have an all original Quisto figure in the Ventriloquist Central Collection.

Click here to see the Arthur Quisto ventriloquist figure

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

***************************************************

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

Posted in Dummy Collecting, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figure (Dummy) Makers, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures | 1 Comment

Ventriloquist Central Wishes Pete Michaels Good Luck

Posted on September 12, 2010 by Webmaster

If you hadn’t seen or heard about Pete Michaels being included in a music video with his posse of figures then you missed a good one but tonight the music video is up for an award. Check out this article and then be sure to watch the MTV music awards.

Click here to see: Island ventriloquist in video nominated for Best Rock Video

Good luck Pete. Steve and I from Ventriloquist Central hope the video wins.

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

***************************************************

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

Posted in Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central | 2 Comments

Scott Bryte's Ventriloquist Super Hero

Posted on September 11, 2010 by Webmaster

At the Vent Haven ConVENTion Pastor Scott Bryte unveiled a very fine wood carved figure which he called his super hero. It stands about 30″ tall is totally carved from wood (whole body and Head) he has slot jaw and side to side eyes.

This is a wonderful character and I know Scott was looking to sell him. I also believe the price to be a give away for the work involved.

Check out this video:

[flashvideo filename=http://vc-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/scott_bryte_superhero/scott_bryte_superhero.flv /]

If you are interested in this figure, you can contact Scott, here’s his email: pastorscottb@aol.com

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

***************************************************

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

Posted in Scott Bryte, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figure (Dummy) Makers, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures, Ventriloquist Videos | 2 Comments

Ray Guyll's First Ventriloquist Lecture at Vent Haven

Lieutenant Frank Travis, The Society Ventriloquist 1854-1931

The Talents of Ventriloquist Figure Maker Arthur Quisto

Ventriloquist Central Wishes Pete Michaels Good Luck

Scott Bryte's Ventriloquist Super Hero

Facebook Ventriloquist Central Fan Page

Archives

Ventriloquist Central Collection