Ventriloquist Mike Robinson Visits The Ventriloquist Central Collection

Posted on September 8, 2009 by Webmaster

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Ventriloquist Mike Robinson & Terrance

 

I always smile when I get the call from Mike Robinson letting me know his ship has docked in Boston. I ran into Boston and picked him up to come for a visit.

This time Mike surprised me because he had his case with him when I found him. He said after we eat breakfast and he gets a haircut then we would go back to my house and he would reveal to me the figure he had in the case. I was sooooo excited.

Once back here I could not wait and he opened his case to reveal one of the finest figures I have scene to date by a modern maker. This is Mike’s new figure Terrance made by the very talented Lee Dunn. Lee’s first figure is in the Ventriloquist Central Collection and you can see him here.

This new Terrance is a McElroy style figure with multi function such as: Slot Jaw, Upper Lip, moving eyes, winker, blinkers, raising eyebrows and wiggling ears and stick out tongue. His head stick has the McElroy style box and also the McElroy style cradle. Simply a marvelous work of art and functionality.

I told Mike any time he is tired of Terrance and wants to retire him he is welcome at the Ventriloquist Central Collection.

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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 Figure (Dummy) Makers, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures | 2 Comments

Frank Marshall Style Clothing "Rock a Billy"

Posted on September 7, 2009 by Webmaster

I am asked all the time about the suits that I dress the Ventriloquist Central Collection Frank Marshall figure in and the truth is that these suits were readily available in all the major department stores in the boys department back in the day. They were suits that were done in wool or gabardine and were two tone in design.

I try my hardest to find the original suits of the period circa 1940 to 1950 but they are increasingly hard to find and so they sell for a small fortune. They are gobbled up by clothing fanciers. Yes there are collectors for everything. The term the clothing collectors call these suits is “Rock a Billy.”

I decided to make them available to all of you who read my blog. I took an original suit, went to a fine seamstress and have reproduced these suits in fabric from the period. I have even had a finished slit done in the back of the suit coat so that you don’t have to cut a jagged hole that frays.

The cost for one of these suits is $135.00 and that is less than you would pay for a tailor to make you one. I got a deal from mine. So contact me if you want one. I have 3 on hand at the moment and they are pictured here.

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

A Special Mexican Ventriloquist Figure

Posted on September 5, 2009 by Webmaster

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When it comes to ventriloquist figures not many people think of Mexico but in fact there have been some special ventriloquist figures that did in fact come from Mexico. One such figure was made by a carpenter named N. Cruz. This figure was based on a character by cartoonist Miguel Angel Gomez. This figure was used by a famous ventriloquist named Paco Miller.

Click here to see Paco Miller

Click here to see videos of Paco Miller

I was happy to find a figure that I believe was made by the same maker and I have him pictured here. This figure is from the 1940’s or 1950’s and is in original condition. The hair moustache and beard are done in crepe. The head is paper mache and the body and hands are done in wood.

As you can see this fellow has the bulging eyes which are painted and do not move. He has raising eyebrows, drop jaw and what appear to be real teeth and a smoker. He has an unusual way of making the movements function: The controls strings come out of the bottom of the neck and attach to an L shap on the bottom of the headstick. This forms a triangle shape. If you pull the string in towards the head stick the function works. Separate strings for the mouth and the eyebrows. You can move them together or separately as you like.

Click here to see Special Mexican Ventriloquist Figure

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 Figure (Dummy) Makers, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures | 7 Comments

Great Books on Ventriloquism History

Posted on September 4, 2009 by Webmaster

What to read to find information about the history of ventriloquism? This is a question I get all the time and of course the first thing I tell folks is peruse my site. There is so much information that even if you spent weeks you will not see or read everything.

My second choice for reading and learning the history of ventriloquism is the book that was written by Stanley Burns “Other Voices”. Unfortunately it is no longer in publication but it is available sometimes on Amazon.com and also on eBay. It is quite possibly the most complete work on ventriloquism dating from, as the cover states, B.C to T.V.

Click here for “Other Voices“

The other publication that is high on my list is “I Can See Your Lips Moving” by Valentine Vox. This too is a wonderful book and covers the same history of ventriloquism but from another’s point of view. I love both of these books and refer to them all the time.

Click here for “I Can See Your Lips Moving“

There are many many other books devoted to this great art and you will have to do some digging to find them but I hope this gives you a start!!

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 Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central | Leave a comment

A Rare Louis Grannat Ventriloquist Figure

Posted on September 3, 2009 by Webmaster

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It is so great when you get pleasantly surprised and this was one of those times. I purchased an antique ventriloquist figure which I originally thought was an English figure because of his look and the fact that he had the English style leather mouth. (Living mouth as it is called today was coined by Craig Lovik)

Upon his arrival as I unpacked him I got very excited because instead of being made from paper mache he was all carved wood with original carved wood hands and great wooden body. He stands 30″ tall and his head is unusually large for the size body. He is dressed in his original Edwardian attire.

I had to do some digging in all my books and on the Internet but I do believe that I have found this figure was carved by Louis Grannat of Brooklyn N.Y and was done in the late 19th to the turn of the 20th century. This makes him an actual antique. True definition of antique is 100 years old except for automobiles which is 25 years old.

I know of only 2 other Louis Grannat figures and both of them are in the Vent Haven Musuem. The first is called Tommy Baloney and was the very first figure purchased by W.S. Burger and it was one of his favorite four figures. (click here to see Tommy Baloney)

The second in the Vent Haven and is called Wynnychuck Boy. Unfortunately if you do not know of this figure you will not be able to see him as I do not think he is visible on the Vent Haven site. He looks very similar to the figure You see here in the Ventriloquist Central Collection. The Tommy Baloney figure is a different face.

So I hope you enjoy looking at this wonderful addition to the collection.

Click here to see this Rare Louis Grannat Ventriloquist Figure

 

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, Vent Haven, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figure (Dummy) Makers, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures, W.S. Berger & Vent Haven | 1 Comment