1930's Frank Marshall Ventriloquist Figure

Posted on August 16, 2010 by Webmaster

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We showed this Frank Marshall figure in a video and I was asked to please display some pictures of him so here they are.

This figure is an all original figure except for the leather under the chin, which I replaced and painted to match and also his wig which was missing when he arrived in the collection.

He stands 40″ tall, has slot jaw and one eye winks. His paint is a superior job again by the master. Frank really knew how to get the paint just right. He is also clothed in original period suit and shoes.

 

Click here to see 1930’s Frank Marshall Ventriloquist Figure

I hope you like him.

 

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

Posted in Frank Marshall Figure (Dummy), Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figure (Dummy) Makers, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures | Leave a comment

Spanish Ventriloquist Francisco Sanz

Posted on August 15, 2010 by Webmaster

A frequent contributor to Ventriloquist Central, Marcelo Melison, sent us this email along with pictures:

 

Hello Dan & Steve,

Some time ago I sent you a little information on Spanish ventriloquist Francisco Sanz (click here to see the information Marcelo sent in a few months back). I found some more material which I think could interest you and the readers of your blog.

There is a poster announcing Sanz’ shows, it’s very interesting to read the very last line: “Son hombres o muñecos?”; “Are they men or dolls?”.

The greatest goal a Hispanic ventriloquist of those days wanted to achieve was to create a perfect automata, a “robot”, a figure with very realistic and human looking movements. It’s my feeling that this Sanz guy didn’t care much about his lip control, because in these clips from a record he made exactly one hundred years ago in Spain, you can listen to him very clearly and it’s obvious that he is not using any substitute sound for the labial consonants; he was able to hide his lip movement with his monstrous moustache…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTJCrXlDPWQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4bkhhkVNOA

Sanz would travel all over Spain and South America, and in his company he always had at least two artisan mechanics to help him to keep the figures in working order. Their mechanisms are just amazing, moving not only every possible movable part in their faces, but arms, hands, fingers, legs, shoulders, waists, hips, etcetera, too. Very, very cleverly created mechanisms indeed.

I thought you would fin this information interesting.
Marcelo Melison

 

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Marcelo, this is great information. Thanks for sharing it with everyone.

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

Posted in Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Videos | 2 Comments

Ventriloquist Todd Oliver & Friends Bring New Show to the Jim Stafford Theatre

Posted on August 14, 2010 by Webmaster

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Collector Dan Willinger & Ventriloquist Todd Oliver

 

Another one of the highlights, of the Vent Haven ConVENTion for me, was my meeting and chatting with Todd Oliver.

Todd and I have known each other for quite some time, have done some dummy business, but we had never met in person until this ConVENTion.

It is now my pleasure to share this information on Todd and his great show in Branson.

Todd Oliver & Friends Bring New Show to the Jim Stafford Theatre

 

 

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

Posted in ConVENTion, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central | Leave a comment

Shoes for Ventriloquist Figures

Posted on August 13, 2010 by Webmaster

Up until the 1990s most ventriloquist figures all wore leather shoes. Even the very old figures that I have found when still dressed in original clothing the feet had leather shoes. Some were even button side shoes. But with the changing of the times the use of leather shoes had gone by the wayside and have been replaced by sneakers.

Funny it seems that we as real people have also lost the use of leather shoes and they have been replaced with sneakers. Oh yes you certainly can still purchase leather shoes like Bostonians ( old fashion style) but the really nice dress shoes I used to love have all but disappeared for canvas and rubber foot wear.

I guess I am really old school because for me sneakers were gym shoes and lived in my gym bag in my locker. I used them to play sandlot baseball on Saturday morning and my school shoes were leather. I still do wear leather shoes and don’t own a pair of sneakers. I actually wear western boots for the most part. My figures ( 97%) wear leather shoes. I just can’t see these wooden fellows with their sport jackets and white shirts and bow ties wearing anything other than leather.

If you want leather shoes for your figure it is not an easy find but you can try the old style shoe stores and some do still have the old children’s shoes in the basement. This is where I have had some luck!!!

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

Posted in Dummy Collecting, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figures | 1 Comment

Mark Wade, America's #1 Ventriloquist, Delivers 'Oceans of Fun' at the Library

Posted on August 12, 2010 by Webmaster

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Last week I did a blog about being able to meet up with Mark Wade, Excutive Director of the Vent Haven ConVENTion. We were able to chat at great length about all aspects of the ConVENTion and ventriloquism in general. (Click here if you missed that blog)

Mark and his team work hard at putting together the ConVENTion, but no sooner is it over that he is out working and doing his vent shows.

Here is a great little article about Mark’s library show.

Mark Wade, America’s #1 Ventriloquist, Delivers ‘Oceans of Fun’ at the Library

 

 

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

Posted in ConVENTion, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central | Leave a comment