An Interview With Doc Neller, Brother of Ventriloquist Bob Neller

Posted on August 28, 2009 by Webmaster

I hope you enjoy this wonderful interview with the youngest brother of ventriloquist Bob Neller, “Doc” Neller.

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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 Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central | 11 Comments

Doc Neller Younger Brother of Ventriloquist Bob Neller

Posted on August 27, 2009 by Webmaster

It is fun when you can dive into the past and get answers to questions you thought you could never have but for me that was answered when I recently had contact with James “Doc” Neller the younger brother of famed ventriloquist Bob Neller.

Doc, as he likes to be called, is now 95 years young and lives with his wife in California with his retirement from practicing medicine by writing. He has writen many stories and I am hoping that I will be able to share some of them with everyone in the near future.

Doc spent most of his informative years as his brother Bob’s side kick and traveled the country with Bob doing gymnastic exhibitions. These guys were superb athletes and were known all over the mid west for their acrobatic prowess.

Doc did go on to be his own person but he was always by Bob’s side watching and encouraging his older brother with the showbiz career. He tells of the incredible amount of time that Bob spent practicing to whistle in two parts at the same time. An incredible feat which Bob did become famous for accomplishing in his shows.

I just had the best time talking with Doc and learning about the man that originally owned Dizzy Dugan, one of the premier figures in the Ventriloquist Central Collection.

Stay tuned tomorrow for an interview with Doc Neller.

 

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 | Leave a comment

Frank Goldquist and His Mack Ventriloquist Figures

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Webmaster

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Frank Goldquist originally of Savannah Illinois was one of the most colorful people and yet not many of us know who he was. He was born in 1887 and lived until 1980 and in his lifetime he did some remarkable things.

He was the owner and operator of the Great Franquist Circus, he helped build the panama canal, he worked as a ventriloquist and as a theatre manager. He was an adept carver and always had something in the works.

I was very fortunate to be able to acquire Frank’s prized Theodore Mack ventriloquist figures. One is a black boy the other is a white boy.

Both are in superb original condition except for the clothing. The clothing that was on them when I got them was tee shirts and jeans from the 1960’s and totally wrong so they have been redressed as you see them for the Ventriloquist Central Collection.

Click here to see Mack Ventriloquist Figures

 

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 | 1 Comment

More About Pretty Bopp Franklin and June Bug

Posted on August 25, 2009 by Webmaster

A little over a week ago, I wrote a blog about William “Pretty Bopp” Franklin (click here to see blog).

Last Saturday, I showed you the Brian Hamilton figure that was built for “Pretty Bopp” Franklin (click here to see blog).

Here’s more of the story. At one point in the later 1970’s, “Pretty Bopp” Franklin commissioned Brian Hamilton to build him a Black McElroy style figure.

He received the figure and the eyes did not work right so he returned the figure to Brian Hamilton but Brian was notorious for not getting work done and in desperation Bopp sold the figure as it was, still in the hands of Brian Hamilton, to Marlowe Scholten.

Marlowe informed Brian that he now owned the figure. After much begging and screaming Brian brought the figure to Marlowe as it was in unfinished condition missing the eyes.

About a year ago I was contacted by Marlowe and I purchased the Hamilton figure from him. I commisioned Lee Dunn to fix the eyes and he surprised me by delivering this wonderful figure to me at the 2009 Vent Haven ConVENTion. It is a great figure and testament to Brians work.

 

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 | Leave a comment

Dirty Frank Marshall Ventriloquist Figure All Cleaned Up

Posted on August 24, 2009 by Webmaster

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Back a while ago I posted a blog showing a Marshall figure which I was lucky enough to purchase from an antique store. It was black with grime and I carefully cleaned him up then went about getting him all back together. Well now I am happy to say the job is done and he is ready for everyone to once again see in all his finished glory.

He is a smaller size figure standing 36″ tall and he has slot jaw, raising upper lip and right eye winker and of course his heat rotates 360 degrees. The neck is flat bottomed and sits on the shoulder board of his body. His paint is 98% original except for the paint on his new upper lip and on his leather winker.

The hair is the original crepe which is growing rather sparce. The head stick travels down, through his body and through the top of the wooden box on which he is seated, and the controls are accessed through the back of the box. This is an unusual set up but works perfect.

I love this fellows face and he just looks like he is a wisecracker!!

Dirty Frank Marshall Ventriloquist Figure All Cleaned Up

 

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, Frank Marshall Figure (Dummy), Vent Haven, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figure (Dummy) Makers, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures | 2 Comments