Guest Blog – Bob Abdou – Vacation, New England & Birthday

Dear Ventriloquist Central Guests,

My birthday wish came true last week during our vacation to the New England states, especially in Boston, Mass. Besides my wife, there are 3 things that I really love in life, Ventriloquism, Baseball and Friends (ok really 4, I love Swedish fish candy). I got to experience the first 3 on my birthday last week thanks to the hospitality from Dan and Helen Willinger.

Everybody knows that Dan has an incredible collection but what really got my full focus is that Dan tells a story on each one. For the most part, Dan knows the original ventriloquists name, what they did, where they performed, what happened to them once they passed away. What made me cry ( I feel like weeping as I write this now) is seeing the dummy that Johnny Main Sr. was still holding in his hand the moment he took his last breath and died. The history that each dummy has and the way Dan tells it, is like listening to a master storyteller. The day of my birthday, Dan, Helen, my wife June and I got to visit Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. The history at this ballpark made me become a Red Sox fan (still a Met Fan but don’t say that too loud in Boston).What fun we had when we both imitated Carlton Fisk’s homerun trot and being on top of the Green monster wall where the Fisk Foul pole is. That visit was a week ago and I still have my wrist band on my arm, I told my wife that I will never take it off unless it comes apart. Helen got me a Boston baseball shirt that is great to wear.

Having Ventriloquism and Baseball in my life can only be complete with Friends The night of my birthday we all went out to a special seafood restaurant with some of my wife’s friends from Lowell, Mass and having everybody together was a big treat for me. Especially when I had a 3-1/2 lb lobster (see photo).

I am a firm believer that “association is vital for growth” and our visit with the Willinger’s has made me appreciate their love for the vent community. As I write this and eating some Swedish fish candy, I want to Thank you Helen and Dan for the best birthday present ever, your friendship.

boston 355 boston 387 boston 394 boston 397


Peace,
Bob and June

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

Thanks, Bob. You and your lovely wife, June are welcomed back anytime.

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 2008 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 | Leave a comment

It’s time for another Long Island Ventriloquist and Puppetry Gathering!

Sheree Brown-Rosner sent this in for us to share and get the word out:

It’s time for another Long Island Ventriloquist and Puppetry Gathering!

Please Join Us on November 5th,2008 at The Best Western Hotel in Rockville Centre, 6pm-9:30pm Meet and Greet Planning session to see where peoples interests are!

There is a Restaurant/Bar area we will meet… bring along a figure, puppet, photos or any related material to share and talk about at the meeting.

Reasons for the Gatherings…
To share the Love of the Art.
To learn more about The Art of Ventriloquism and Puppetry
To bounce ideas off each other
To practice our Ad-Lib skills maybe having an open chat using figures and puppets only?
To maybe do a show to raise money for a Museum or Charity? (Vent Haven Museum)?
Or None of the above since we will only be in the planning stage now.

PLUS there will be a visit from Pete Micheals!

Please feel free to invite others you think might be interested.
For more info call Sheree at 516-523-1295 please RSVP email OK
sheree@smilephoto.com

Here is a link to the Location

 

Thanks, Sheree.

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 2008 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 | Leave a comment

Ventriloquist Bob Abdou’s Special Visit

Bob Abdou, also known as Mr. Puppet, made a trek north from Texas this past week and ended his trip with 2 days at my home here in the Boston Area.

Bob told me he has been in Boston previously about 8 years ago when he performed in Danvers MA, but had not been back since. It was my and Helen’s pleasure to have him come and spend some time here with us and it was especially fun because he was here with his wife June, a wonderful woman, and it was his birthday as well. We all had a great time and celebrated the whole weekend.

Bob is a very talented performer and treated me and Helen and Jason, my son, to some wonderful ventriloquism using some of the figures in my collection. He was able to bring life to a few figures and believe me I think they were very happy because they had no spoken for quite a few years.

Thanks Bob for coming and making such a wonderful weekend happen.

By the way, Bob is one of the owners of Ventriloquist Central’s Frank Marshall Nosey Style Replica figures and I was able to do a video of him using the figure and thought you all would like to see it so take a look!!

[flashvideo filename=http://ventriloquistcentral.com/dan-bobabdou-080930/dan-bobabdou-080930.flv /]

 

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 2008 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 | Leave a comment

An Exclusive with Ventriloquist Central

I am so excited to let everyone know that we at Ventriloquist Central are able to offer to the public something about the History of Ventriloquism that is over 3 decades in the waiting.

This is something very special and I know anyone who has any interest in ventriloquism is going to be thrilled. Be prepared to partake in one of the best exercises in the Art of Ventriloquism endorsed by possibly the most famous of all ventriloquists.”

Click here for more details

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 2008 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 | Leave a comment

Ventriloquist Mike Robinson Live

Ventriloquist Mike Robinson happened to dock again in Boston, while performing on the Holland American ship Maarsden, and gave me a call so I went and picked him up and we spent a few hours together. He just loves to come and play at my house.

While he was handling the figures I asked if he would do a little ventriloquism for me and he agreed. He didn’t know that I was ready with my camcorder to grab it for the web site. When I told him this he floored me by letting me know that I am the first and only person he has every allowed to record him doing ventriloquism.

I was truly honored by that fact. I can also say he is a consummate pro because in an instant he brought life to Lee Dunn’s Johnny figure and to me it looks like they have been a team forever.

What do you think??

 

[flashvideo filename=http://ventriloquistcentral.com/dan-mike-09-27-08/dan-mike-09-27-08.flv /]

 

Again thanks Mike for allowing me to be first to record you and make sure to drop by again next time you are in Boston.

 

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 2008 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 | 8 Comments