Ventriloquist Figure Maker Revello Petee

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Webmaster

One of the rare American ventriloquist figure makers from the golden age of ventriloquism was Revello Petee. He made figures in the 1930’s and 40’s and his figures, he claims were used by some of the more famous ventriloquists of the time such as Max Terhune of movie fame and Tommy Wonder of Magic fame. He was a self taught carver but he did learn a lot from his father who was from France.

He put out a newsletter called “Double Talk” which was a typewritten four-page flyer and it talked about the current events and techniques of ventriloquism of that time (to see the very first “Double Talk” newsletter, check out ‘The Ventriloquism Historical Information Collection,Volume 1’).

Foy Brown said that the Revello Petee figures were the best ever made and even though Foy Brown himself was a figure maker he used the Petee figures in his own act as his main figures. Please click here to see the figures in the Ventriloquist Central Collection that Foy used.

Revello Petee figures were sold through the Kanter’s Magic shop from Philadelphia Pa. and I have added the add copy from that catalogue for you to see.

pettee pettee2

Unfortunately his figures today are very scarce and I only know of a couple examples and they are all privately owned and there are examples in the Vent Haven museum.

Revello did put his business card tacked inside the head like Marshall so you can identify them if you find one. Pricing on his figures is very hard since they are not too common but they don’t seem to go much over $1500.00 when you do find one.

I do hope you enjoy looking at the catalogue pages and reading some of his advertisement.

 

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 | 2 Comments

Gunner Jimmy, Ventriloquist Dummy Which Performed In Blitz, To Play Final Show

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Webmaster

I found this great little article yesterday about ventriloquist Sgt Walter Huntley and his figure Gunner Jimmy, who performed to civilians and soldiers across the UK during the Second World War as part of the army’s entertainment unit.

This is a very good and I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Ventriloquist Sgt Walter Huntley and Gunner Jimmy

 

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 | Leave a comment

Ventriloquist Figure Appraisal…Yes or No

Posted on August 2, 2009 by Webmaster

As a collector it is always asked if insurance is needed. My answer is that in most cases insurance is a must. A collector can certainly become insurance poor but key items in any collection must be appraised and then insurance taken. Those key items are usually irreplaceable.

A working ventriloquist also has to take insurance into consideration because as a tool your figure is the one thing that makes your income possible so you most certainly need insurance to cover any loss that may be incurred either by damage or theft.

In light of this I want to let you know that VentriloquistCentral.com will offer you the opportunity to get an appraisal of your ventriloquist figure for you to use to obtain stated value insurance on your figure.

It is an easy process so please follow the link below and I will guide you through a few steps to make this a possibility for you and your figures.

Click Here For Ventriloquist Figure Appraisal Information

 

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 Figures | Leave a comment

Ventriloquist Figures Raising Eyebrow Effect

Posted on August 1, 2009 by Webmaster

Quite a while ago I posted a blog about Frank Marshall and his eyebrows and I thought it would be a good idea to show the windshield style eyebrows and then talk about the fact that they really are incorrect when done on ventriloquist figures.

I decided to show you a picture of this Finis Robinson figure (below) with his eyebrows in the regular and raised position. As you can see they lift from the outside corners of the eye and the raise up from the center. This does give the effect of a raising eyebrow but in real life have you ever seen an eyebrow rise like that?? Of course not.

1 fin l 1 fin eb

Now look at this picture of a Frank Marshall figure (below) with the eyebrows in a regular and raised position. You will see that even though the pivot point for the eyebrow is in the same location as the Finis, it has been bent to a shape that allows the entire eyebrow to lift across the forehead just like the real thing.

7 m l 7 m eb

I have never liked the windshield eyebrows and do not understand why the makers today don’t take a tip from the Master and make them correct so they rise like the real thing. I think you are talking a difference of minutes more in time to get a much better look.

If I have offended any maker who is reading this I apologize right now. It is just my humble opinion.

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 Frank Marshall Figure (Dummy), Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figure (Dummy) Makers, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures | 3 Comments

The Tough Guy, Ventriloquist Figure By Conrad Hartz

Posted on July 31, 2009 by Webmaster

toughguy-017S

Now this ventriloquist figure carved by Conrad Hartz is truly a unique one of a kind figure and another I picked up at the Vent Haven ConVENTion for the Ventriloquist Central Collection.

I have owned and seen quite a few big nose and ugly bum style figures but to me this guy is again one of the best carved figures to come out of Conrad Hartz’s workshop.

This is not a new figure as I have found out that it was previously owned by Phil Jones (photographer for the Vent Haven ConVENTion) and that was about ten years ago and I am not sure if he was the original owner.

The figure stands 40″ tall and has only slot jaw. The carving on him is fantastic. The shape of the nose and the closed eye and furrowed brow are all indicative of Conrad’s masterful carving skill. Look at the different totally carved and positioned fingers on the hands!!

Just a great figure with many possibilities of performance.

See the Tough Guy here

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 Vent Haven, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figure (Dummy) Makers, Ventriloquist Figures, W.S. Berger & Vent Haven | Leave a comment