Ventriloquist Central Blog

Vent Haven ConVENTion And Ventriloquist Figures

Posted on July 14, 2009 by Webmaster

As I type this, in a few short hours I’ll be heading to the airport and flying to the Vent Haven ConVENTion. I’m excited about seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

In the past I ran a pre Vent Haven ConVENTion ventriloquist figure sale but this time I am going to do it in reverse. I am hoping to come home with so many treasures that I will be forced to sell. I have said it before with the vent figures I only sell when I have purchased something so I am keeping my fingers crossed that some gems show up that can become part of the Ventriloquist Central Collection.

We’ll be doing things slightly different for the Ventriloquist Central blog during the next few days. We have quite a few exciting things planned. We know that not everyone can make the ConVENTion, so we’ll try to keep you informed.

Instead of doing one daily blog, we may have many additions throughout the days ahead. If our technology works, we plan on having some audio updates that you can hear along with videos for you to watch. In fact, here’s an audio example:

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So, to stay on top of everything that’s happening at the ConVENTion, keep checking back often to see the latest on the Ventriloquist Central blog.

If you are going and bringing figures to sell make sure you let me know. Also bare in mind I look for hard figures and the older the better. Also condition is not an issue. I want figures in any condition and of course Frank Marshall figures just drive me wild so if you really want to see me dance bring a Marshall for me.

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

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 Figures, W.S. Berger & Vent Haven | Leave a comment

Dave Pendleton Visits Ventriloquist Central Collection

Posted on July 13, 2009 by Webmaster

I just wish we had more time to spend together but Dave was booked on a Cruise out of Boston and so his window of time was only about 4 hours this Friday evening. He arrived in Boston and was whisked to the hotel , Double Tree Suites, where I went and picked him up along with his beautiful wife Linda and their two sons Joshua and Jacob.

We met Helen, my wife, at the Dockside restaurant and all had supper then came back to the house where we spent the rest of the evening perusing and playing with the figures in the collection.

The great treat was that Dave brought Mc with him and so we were able to have Happy Hazzard and Mac Elroy here together and it is possible that was the first time they were together since they were both at the McElroy brother’s work shop. We did take so nice pictures as well as some video and I will get all that up for you to view as soon as I possibly can.

It was a great visit but time flew by and the Pendletons had to be up early to go catch the cruise ship so I I shot them back into Boston at about 11:30 pm and I am sure they were all asleep soon after.

Just remember if you are in the Boston area make sure you let me know so that you can come and visit me and the Ventriloquist Central Collection.

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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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 Figure (Dummy) Makers, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures | Leave a comment

A Few Days Till Vent Haven ConVENTion

Posted on July 12, 2009 by Webmaster

Only a few days till all the fun begins at the Vent Haven ConVENTion. I am so excited that the ConVENTion is finally upon us. It will be so nice to again be among the crowd of people that has the same thing on their mind as me. Ventriloquism !!!

Most of the time around here at home in Boston when ever I comment or my wife Helen comments that I collect ventriloquist figures people look at me like I have 2 heads. They look at my wife and say” Ventriloquist Dummies?” how strange……So being able to be with everyone who has the same love as I do is something I really look forward to.

I love everything about the ConVENTion too. The workshops give you insight into the art itself, the shows from the junior to the professionals are just fantastic and of course for me the dealer’s room is the best. I of course will be hunting for the antique figure that makes me say “Scotty watty doo doo daa !” so if you are coming to the Vent Haven and bringing your figure to sell make sure you look for me. I will be the one in the tee shirt that says Ventriloquistcentral.com.

We have some big plans for everyone to keep you all informed as to what is happening as it happens. I know everyone can’t be there so this way you all will have the chance to kind of partake of the ConVENTion.

If you are going to the convention be sure to look me up. It will be a great time again I am sure and I truly can’t wait to see everyone.

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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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 Figures, W.S. Berger & Vent Haven | Leave a comment

Figure Movements

Posted on July 11, 2009 by Webmaster

I got to thinking about functions in ventriloquist figures and what movements have been done and what has not been done. I have gone over and over this in my mind and I just can’t come up with anything that has not already been done.

Just looking at my own collection of figures I can list the following , side to side eyes, self centering eyes, up or down movement eyes, crossing eyes all of these being done with levers, all around pendulum weight eye movement by movement of the head, raising eyebrows, lowering eyebrows, lever operated also the same function with weight movement, winkers, blinkers lever operated, wiggling ears lever operated, upper lip movement lever operated, stick out tongue lever operated, open mouth and stick out tongue together same lever, whistling effect by lever, mouth movement by way of pneumatics allowing you distance from the figure, fright wig lever operated, light up nose, wiggling nose lever operated, spitter, smoker, smoke out of the ears, crying eyes, hand shaker, crossing knee, kicking leg, walking and hat lifter. Quite a selection of functions but I also know of a few more functions that are not in my collection.

Ray Guyll produced a figure that the upper lip will raise on one side or the other to give the Elvis Presley style look, and it can also smile by pulling upwards at the corners of the mouth. Very ingenious lifelike movement.

So after reading this list of functions can you come up with anything that has not been done? Most of these functions have all been done since the 1920’s so nothing is new. Something interesting to think about.

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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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, Ray Guyll, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figure (Dummy) Makers, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures | 6 Comments

Bob Abdou – Marionette Video

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Webmaster

Hey Dan,

That was a great video from Steve Meltzer from the Santa Monica Puppet theatre, Steve and I have the same entertainment style of performing, we both do marionettes and ventriloquism. Steve was a great mentor for me early in my career and we still continue to be friends. I bought my first professional marionette from Steve back in 1995 and still use it as my opening act for the majority of my shows to this day. Here is a promo video of my marionette acts, all these acts are being performed in front of a live audience. If you think the general public loves ventriloquism, they REALLY love marionettes!! enjoy

Bob Abdou/Mr.Puppet
www.mrpuppet.com

Thanks, Bob for sending us this video.

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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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 Puppetry, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Videos | Leave a comment

Vent Haven ConVENTion And Ventriloquist Figures

Dave Pendleton Visits Ventriloquist Central Collection

A Few Days Till Vent Haven ConVENTion

Figure Movements

Bob Abdou – Marionette Video

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