Bob Abdou & "Frankie" – Ventriloquist Central’s Frank Marshall Replica

Posted on February 22, 2009 by Webmaster

When we here at Ventriloquist Central decided to create a figure to sell, I wanted it to be a Marshall because of my love for his creations. Steve of course agreed with what I wanted to produce and then we also enlisted the help of Lee Dunn to help with the project. Our final result, in my opinion, is one of the best recreations of a Marshall figure done to date.

One of the purchasers of the figure was Bob Abdou and he so graciously sent in the following to share with everyone here on Ventriloquist Central.

 

Hey Dan, Steve and Lee,

What a fantastic job you guys did in re-creating a Marshall figure, it is so detailed and I can see why Paul Winchell picked the Nosey figure (hey, that’s funny), anyway…..I wanted to share part of my act I did for a social club meeting with my Marshall figure you created. I call him “Frankie” after Frank Marshall. Watching this video myself, I am captivated by how much the figure looks like Jerry Mahoney. And now, on with the show…….

Your Ventbro
Bob Abdou
www.mrpuppet.com

[flashvideo filename=http://ventriloquistcentral.com/bob-abdou-marshall-replica/bob-abdou-marshall-replica.flv /]

 

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. His collection of ventriloquist figures now numbers over 100 figures of which there are over 50 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), Paul Winchell, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figure (Dummy) Makers, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures, Ventriloquist Videos | Leave a comment

An Article – Ventriloquist Neale Bacon

Posted on February 21, 2009 by Webmaster

Ventriloquist Neale Bacon sent this article to us so that we could share it with everyone.

 

Click Here to see article about Ventriloquist Neale Bacon

 

If you have anything you would like to share with our readers, send the information to my webmaster, Steve….at:

webmaster@ventriloquistcentral.com

 

Thanks, Neale for sharing your article with us.

 

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

***************************************************

Dan Willinger is a ventriloquism enthusiast and ventriloquist figure collector. He has been collecting for over 25 years. His collection of ventriloquist figures now numbers over 100 figures of which there are over 50 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 Ray Guyll Masterpiece

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Webmaster

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Everyone in the ventriloquist community knows who Ray Guyll is….today’s master figure builder. Well he of course had to start somewhere and that was back in the late 1960’s when he was influenced by Jack Coats. Ray decided to build figures and did them first out of wood but then decided to try his hand at casting and the results were truly spectacular.

The ventriloquist figure which you will view today is the very first figure which Ray created using Fiberglass. He was contacted by female ventriloquist Evie Van Buskirk (then wife of ventriloquist Paul Van Buskirk) to create a Marshall style girl figure for herself and also a boy figure for her protege Tommy Pretto. Tommy was at the time somewhere around 12 years old.

Evie Van Buskirk did the sketches of the girl and boy for Ray Guyll to go by for creation of the two figures. Ray had to sculpt the heads in clay get them approved and then go on to creating the final completed figures.

Ray was scheduled as the first Lecturer at the 1975 Vent Haven Convention and when people walked into the lecture hall these two figures were proudly seated on stage for everyone to see including the new owners Tommy Pretto and Evie Van Buskirk. After the lecture the figures were delivered to them both.

According to Ray the figure for Tommy was his first Fiberglass creation and Evie’s girl was the second. Ray did make 2 more of this fellow but after that the mold was destroyed making this figure and the other two a very rare find. This figure sold at that time for the princely sum of $700.00.

This figure is a wonderful example of Ray’s genius and it was done in a McElroy style ( Ray Loves the Brother’s work) having a modified McElroy style body and McElroy hands. The head is equipped with the following functions: Slot jaw, side to side self centering eyes, raising eye brows, stick out tongue, winkers/blinkers, spitter and hand shaker. All in all just a wonderful ventriloquist figure.

Click here to see a Ray Guyll Masterpiece

 

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. His collection of ventriloquist figures now numbers over 100 figures of which there are over 50 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, McElroy Brothers, Personal, Ray Guyll, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figure (Dummy) Makers, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures | 1 Comment

Articles of Interest – Ventriloquist Val Hilliker

Posted on February 19, 2009 by Webmaster

Ventriloquist Val Hilliker from Canada, sent in these two articles to share with everyone.

 

MedicineHatFeb11-2009

 

Nantonfeb4-09

 

Thanks, Val, for sharing. Check out Val’s website:

www.valhilliker.com

 

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

***************************************************

Dan Willinger is a ventriloquism enthusiast and ventriloquist figure collector. He has been collecting for over 25 years. His collection of ventriloquist figures now numbers over 100 figures of which there are over 50 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 Puppetry, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central | Leave a comment

Comments About The Ventriloquist Marketplace

Posted on February 18, 2009 by Webmaster

We get lots of emails into Ventriloquist Central. This particular one is about the Ventriloquist Marketplace.

 

I purchased the Tony dummy from Chris Corlando that was listed on the Ventriloquist Marketplace. It was the dummy in the Superman costume.

I wanted to let you know this was a very pleasant experience. Chris packed Tony up carefully and was prompt on shipping. Also he helped me a lot on ideas for performing.

Very good hearted people frequent your site, thank you very, very, much!!! I will shop here again!

Gene Ellis
http://www.captaincharacter.biz

 

Check out the Ventriloquist Marketplace

 

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

***************************************************

Dan Willinger is a ventriloquism enthusiast and ventriloquist figure collector. He has been collecting for over 25 years. His collection of ventriloquist figures now numbers over 100 figures of which there are over 50 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, Ventriloquist Marketplace | 1 Comment