Don Frijole Gets New Clothes

Posted on October 19, 2009 by Webmaster

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My friend Marcelo Melison let me know that the Mexican figure I purchased for the Ventriloquist Central Collection was dressed all wrong and needed to be dressed in a Charro outfit. This prompted me to go on a quest to find Don Frijole his new outfit. I found many web sites on the net that sell Charro suits but found out they are not inexpensive. So I kept looking and I finally found this Charro suit with the original hat which was perfect for my Mexican fellow.

Here he is redressed in all his Mexican glory!! Thanks Marcela because you were correct. He looks soooo much better now!!

Click here to see Don Frijole

 

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 2009 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

Effanbee Pinback Button for your Charlie McCarthy Doll

Posted on October 18, 2009 by Webmaster

I have loved the original 1937 issue Charlie McCarthy dolls that were put out by Effanbee and when they were first sold they came in a beautifull paisley design white box with Bergen’s label on one end. The doll came in standard form 20″ tall dressed in a black tuxedo with a top hat, cape and a small pinback stating this is an Effanbee product. These pinbacks are extremely hard to find today and that is because the owners would remove the pins and wear them back in the 1930’s because of the popularity of Charlie McCarthy.

In the world of antiques a good reproduction is commonly priced at 25% of the real price for an item. The original pinbacks that came with these Charlie McCarthy figures sell today from $85.00 and up and I myself have purchased them in that price range. One day I decided to make a reproduction of this pin to make it available and affordable to anyone who has one of these Charlie dolls. If you haven’t seen one click here.

I have sold about a dozen of these and have not had any complaint until yesterday when I received an email saying the pin did not look good compared to an original this person had. I of course made the gesture of refunding his money because I want no one to be unhappy but…..this is a reproduction and is very good quality and DOES in fact look terrific on the lapel of the Effanbee figure. Here are pictures of two Charlies one with the original pin and one with my reproduction. I think you will agree the reproduction looks great!!

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charlie-pin-01

 

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 2009 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 Edgar Bergen, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central | 3 Comments

Ventriloquist Nina Conti and Monk Play the Galway Comedy Festival

Posted on October 17, 2009 by Webmaster

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Nina Conti and Monk

Here’s a great little article about ventriloquist Nina Conti and her cute little sidekick, Monk.

Everybody’s got something to hide except me and my monkey

 

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 2009 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 | 1 Comment

How Many Ventriloquist Figures is Too Many??

Posted on October 16, 2009 by Webmaster

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Small portion of the Ventriloquist Central Collection

As I sit and look over my collection of ventriloquist figures I think about the fact that I have some examples of figure makers and there is only one figure made by him and then I have others that I have multiples of figures made by them. Of course I have more Marshall figures than any other maker but I really concentrated on collecting his figures.

At one point I thought all I really needed was one example but as the Ventriloquist Central Collection has grown it has become important to me to acquire multiples of makers figures because each one is truly different and of course they may not have the same functions which changes them as well.

The fact that 99% of the collection is carved wood also makes each one different. Even when a head is done on a duplicarver the finishing touches have to be done by hand which will make the face different. Remove some cheek or change the shape of the nose, add dimples larger ears etc, etc. This makes each one unique. Because of this I have decided I need multiples of the different makers. This is what constitutes a true collector.

It is very hard to say that about figures that are made from a mold. They are all the same face even with different functions they still retain the same face. That is not to say that some of the molded figures are not collectible because they are. Ray Guyll figures which are cast are exceedingly hard to find and are therefore very collectible. Selberg figures and Semok figures are also collectible but with all these makers the faces are the same and do not vary. Just some of my thoughts!!

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 2009 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, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figure (Dummy) Makers, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures | 8 Comments

A Great Edgar Bergen Story

Posted on October 15, 2009 by Webmaster

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Today I was talking with Rick Sapphire www.RickSaphire.com a booking agent who in fact represents Mallory Lewis and he imparted a really nice story about ventriloquist Edgar Bergen that I just had to share with everyone.

Back around 1972 or 1973 Rick had booked Edgar Bergen for a performance in the Cherry Hill N.J. area and during the couple days stay with Rick, Edgar asked if there were any antique shops in the area. One of the largest in the world is Renninger’s Antiques. (I myself use to go there every so often. I never found any ventriloquist figures there.) Well Rick took Mr Bergen there and Mr Bergen purchased a dozen or so pair of Pince Nez glasses for Effie Klinker.

About an hours time had passed and the buzz was all over Renninger’s that Edgar Bergen was there and the people started bringing their Charlie McCarthy treasures out for him to autograph. As it was told to me a fellow came up to Mr Bergen and said “I have had this spoon since I was a lad and all I would like is for you to just hold it for a few moments.” Mr Bergen accommodated this fellow and when the fellow had left Mr Bergen told Rick that he really didn’t want to hurt the fellow’s feelings but…..the spoon was a Howdy Doody and not Charlie McCarthy.

This just struck me in the heart showing how nice a fellow Mr Bergen was and I just had to share the story.

 

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 2009 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 Edgar Bergen, Ventriloquism Course, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist | 1 Comment