Brick Work Not For A Ventriloquist Collector

Posted on August 23, 2009 by Webmaster

I like to do some repair work and have done so on ventriloquist figures but there are just some jobs you have to let the pros do and one of those is masonry work.

It seems so simple to mix up some mortar and spread it on the two sides of a brick and then lay the brick in place and get the next. Well I tried it and let me just take my hat off to all you masons out there. Without a doubt not as easy as it looks.

I decided that the forty foot walkway connecting the front and back of my house was just not a job I am able to do on my own. Here are a few pictures of the work in progress to re do my walk way!!

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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 Personal, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures | Leave a comment

A Brian Hamilton McElroy Style Black Ventriloquist Figure

Posted on August 22, 2009 by Webmaster

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I was pleased as punch this past ConVENTion because a great figure made by Brian Hamilton was delivered to me there by Lee Dunn who did a top notch repair of this great figure.

This particular Hamilton ventriloquist figure was one of his very first McElroy style figures and was made in the late 1970’s more than likely around 1978.

This was when he was working directly under the direct influence of the McElroy brothers. This figure was built for William “Pretty Bop” Franklin who was a Chicago vent.

The head is cast in fiberglass and has the following functions: Slot jaw, upper lip movement ,winkers / blinkers and side to side moving eyes by weighted method. The body and hands are McElroy style and it does have the McElroy style cradle. The control stick is also set up like the McElroy figures.

A truly great figure!!

A Brian Hamilton McElroy Style Black 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 | Leave a comment

Walter Huntley's Book Dummy Bullets

Posted on August 21, 2009 by Webmaster

A couple weeks ago we reported on ventriloquist Walter Huntley’s 70th anniversary of his part in the Second World War and his retirement.

Click here for first story about Walter Huntley

Click here for second story and videos about Walter Huntley

He has written a great book titled, “Dummy Bullets” telling of his adventures in the armed forces as an entertainer for the troops in England with his ventriloquist figure which traveled in an ammunition box.

I was one of the first to purchase it and have now read same and must report that I was actually laughing out load at some of the funny incidents that Walter describes in this more than factual account of his time in the service during World War II. I can highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever been in the service and has had a specialty act which was able to get him some great duty.

Walter I would like to thank you for sharing these fantastic memories with everyone because this is the type of material we all need to see how people can survive and really LIVE even in the worst of circumstances and times.

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Here is the link again if you would like a copy of this great book!!

Buy Dummy Bullets

 

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 | Leave a comment

Unusual Carved BIG HEAD figure

Posted on August 20, 2009 by Webmaster

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As a collector sometimes you just have to buy even if you don’t know why and such is the case with this head I am going to show you today.

According to the fellow I purchased this head from, he was originally carved for a now defunct Las Vegas casino and was mounted so that he could talk to people as they passed by. I am not sure if he was over a doorway or on a wall or even possibly on the top of a machine, but his mouth was operated by a servo and electricity.

He is 13″ tall and 10″ wide and 8″ deep, Paint is all original,

The head is carved of basswood and when I saw him I knew I had to have him for the Ventriloquist Central Collection. He is just unusual enough to warrant membership in my special club.

Click here to see Unusual Carved BIG HEAD figure

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, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures | Leave a comment

Peekies or Kilroy is Watching

Posted on August 19, 2009 by Webmaster

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Back during the second world war a character appeared named Kilroy. He was the big nosed fellow that looked like he was peering over a fence. It was a very popular character and it got famed Ventriloquist/Entrepreneur Bob Neller thinking.

Somehow he decided to create a character of his own in the style of Kilroy and he called them Peekies. He set up a manufacturing plant in his barn and did all the sculpting , made the m olds and them made a plastic compound to cast them . He did not like celluloid which was popular at the time.

He made several models of the Peekies and today they are quite rare. I have pictured what we believe is to be a complete set of all his Peekie characters here.

The plastic compound Bob was using to make these figures was highly flammable and as luck would have it he one day had an explosion and fire and the barn in which he was making them burnt to the ground. He actually went bankrupt because of this,and went back into show business to remake his fortune.

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This is a picture of Dizzy Dugan , Bob’s Neller’s Marshall/McElroy , with an original Peekie looking out his breast coat pocket. Very Cool.

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I would like to thank Bob Neller’s niece Patricia for information and pictures for this blog.

 

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, Ventriloquist Figures | 2 Comments