Vernon Stent asked:




The first television sets were part electrical and part mechanical, consisting of spinning discs that replicated the action of a larger spinning disc in the studio. The first moving images - of a ventriloquist’s dummy - were transmitted by Scot John Logie Baird in 1925.

In 1927 the first tv show was aired. It was a demonstration by Bell Telephone
Labs and AT&T with contributions from various executives of these companies
and a speech by the secretary of commerce, Herbert Hoover.

This was followed by many ad-hoc broadcasts from Whippany, N. J. These were
experiments and were picked up by just one tv set - at Bell Laboratories, New
York City. These broadcasts consisted of images transmitted using radio waves
and sound transmitted via cable. They were not entertainment shows - just
a few engineers and scientists testing out the new medium.

The first shows that aired to the public were those of WRGB (known officially
as W2XB but popularly known as WGY’s Television). Broadcasts were
beamed locally to Schenectady, N.Y. This happened to be the home town of
television (and radio) pioneer Ernst Alexanderson. Schenectady was also the home
of just four television receivers. The early WRGB broadcasts usually consisted of a
person sitting in a chair not doing very much except the odd hand or face
movement or a drag on a cigarette. In fact, watching people smoke cigarettes
seems to have been the main feature of early tv test transmissions!

The first scheduled tv shows, and from what I can make out, the world’s first
regular tv shows were farming and weather bulletins aired twice a day, 3 days
per week on WRGB. These broadcasts were simply extensions of the output of radio
station WGY. The first remote location broadcast, or outside broadcast, took
place in 1928, once again by WRGB. The subject of this broadcast was Governor Al Smith’s
acceptance speech of the Democratic nomination for office President of the United States.
Due to inclement weather, the ceremony was switched from outside to an indoor
location and the short notice didn’t allow enough time to test the lighting and
equipment. Hence the resulting live pictures were of poor quality. Meanwhile, in
Wheaton, Maryland, Charles Jenkins’ W3XK transmitter started tests followed by
regular programs in July 1928.

These broadcasts were never really meant or designed for wide public consumption,
however, some enthusiasts managed to build crude receivers and got to enjoy the
output. Charles Jenkins’ estimated that W3XK had an audience of 20,000.

Many incorrectly quote the BBC’s The Man with the Flower in his Mouth from
1930 as being the first broadcast play, but it was actually The Queen’s Messenger,
written by J. Harley Manners and directed by Mortimer Stewart. This was aired on
WRGB in 1928.

It must be noted that in those early days television screens were about 3
inches by 3 inches. So small, in fact, that most output consisted of a person’s
upper body. “Radio with pictures” is what it was called, and that was
not far off! The images consisted of varying shades of pink or brown, depending
on the illumination used. The presenters and performers would often need to wear
dark lipstick and green makeup so that their features would not be bleached in
the extremely bright studio lights. True color television came later. The
spinning discs were eventually replaced by all-electric systems. All tv shows,
including dramas, were live to air - there was no videotape or digital recording
in those days!

These pioneering broadcasts were effectively experiments (and were licensed
as such by the federal government). Most viewers were either wealthy and curious
or were hobbyists. It is unlikely that television had any real worth as an
entertainment or information medium in these early days. The extent to which
television could expand and could be networked was severely hampered by a lack
of a national standard for telecasting. There were also many technical
difficulties not least with the revolving disc system. It wasn’t until the
forties when these issues had been ironed out that tv took off in earnest.

The rest, as they say, is history, but a very rich history indeed. Have a look
at bygonetv.com and you see what I mean.

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Joseph Then asked:




A simple birthday party for toddlers is all about simplicity. At this age your child is not going to notice that things are not perfect or expensive or even that they are better than someone else’s. All they care about is that the party is fun, so that is all you should care about, too. If you keep in mind that the main goal is that your toddler and his or her guests have a good time, then you will find planning the party to be quite easy.

You should start by choosing a simple theme. Go with something your child will recognize. Think about your child’s interests. If they have a favorite character or something they are interested in then that would be a great idea for a theme. Try to choose a theme that will be easy to work with. Avoid something complex that will require a large amount of work. Remember you are trying to keep things simple.

Once you have a theme you should choose decorations and party supplies that match your theme. Again, keep this simple. For decorations you can use some streamers and balloons. You should choose food that is age appropriate and not too messy. Try using cupcakes instead of cake, since they are easier to serve and easier forth kids to eat.

Age appropriateness should be a main consideration throughout the planning. Besides thinking about age appropriate with food, you should also think about it when planning decorations, games and other activities. Additionally, you should plan for adult help for supervising children at the party. You want to make sure everyone has fun and if someone gets hurt the fun stops. So, be ready and prepared ahead of time.

Toddlers enjoy a variety of things and like to keep busy. Think about activities that will cause limited mess, though, because you will have to clean it and the children up. Choose simple activities that will require little help, so you do not have to have an adult to help every child. If you are doing something that could be messy be sure to have smocks or aprons for the children to wear so they do not mess up their clothing.

Planning a simple birthday party for toddlers should not be complex. It should be something that can easily be put together. You want to just make sure that everyone has fun. It is easy to have fun without spending a fortune or coming up with some elaborate idea. Your child is sure to love their party as long as they have a good time. To most toddlers having their friends over to play and getting some gifts and cake is enough to delight them.

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A. H. Scott asked:




1. What is one thing every Ventriloquist must do? Make sure you practice. Make sure you are good at your craft before you perform for money (if you do). Do as many shows as you can for free if necessary to “practice” and hone your ventriloquist skills before performing for money. Magicians and ventriloquists are a rare breed….if you see a bad magician or ventriloquist, for some reason it reflects badly on all.

2. What is one thing every Ventriloquist must avoid? Avoid discouragement. Some people will think you are strange and make fun of you, while others will be intrigued and yet they still try to “bring you down.” Never let this happen.

I recommend: 1) Practice, Practice, Practice…so that you know you are good; and 2) Never give up, no matter what anyone says. Believe in yourself. Seek out those who DO believe in you too.

3. Is this Ventriloquist stuff something that is here to stay? Absolutely!!!! I come from a different mindset. In the past few years, you hear too many ventriloquists (and non-ventriloquists) talk about ventriloquism being dead. Poppycock! It’s not dead….in fact even before this last year (with David Letterman’s Ventriloquism week and the popularity of Jeff Dunham), there are many ventriloquists out there.

The problem is that ventriloquism is not in “mainstream” media (TV, radio, newspaper). But it’s always been around and always growing. Probably the biggest boost in ventriloquism has been in the gospel and ministry area. Just because you do not see it every day on television (like you did in the 50’s & 60’s) does not mean it is not out there.

In fact, the Internet has helped in proving that ventriloquism is everywhere. I remember the early days of the Internet, in 1995, when you typed in “ventriloquist” into a search engine. The results of that search: the phrase “ventriloquist not found…are you sure you spelled it correctly?” Now type ventriloquist into Google and you get almost 1.5 MILLION searches. Does THAT sound like something that is dying? I do not think so.

4. Can someone work successfully as a Ventriloquist if they are in a crowded niche? Of course (and this really does not just apply to Ventriloquists…but to anyone in any business). It just takes the right kind of marketing… (I have over 25 years in sales and marketing, so this is a subject near and dear to me).

However, I do see many ventriloquists going about marketing themselves all wrong. First, they are “copying” other ventriloquists and doing the “same ole thing.” The easiest marketing advice I could give to anyone is….look at what everyone else is doing….then do NOT do it. You’ll have more success if you “stand out.”

5. What has Ventriloquism done for you? In recent years….it has allowed me to meet many wonderful people who are involved in ventriloquism. At this point in my life, it’s also allowing me to be involved with something I immensely enjoy doing.

6. What trends to you currently see in Ventriloquism? If current day ventriloquists “embrace” today’s technology….I can see ventriloquism growing more than anyone can imagine. With the Internet and the capabilities of video and audio ON the Internet, the opportunities and ways a person can promote themselves are endless (of course, this comes from me being a webmaster and marketer).

7. What was your first job? WOW…that’s a toughie. I started ventriloquism at the age of 14…did lots of “free” stuff during Junior High and High school. But, then I got married…life happens and was out of ventriloquism for years. I think I was about 35 when I got back into it…on a part-time basis. I refer to myself as an “on again, off again” ventriloquist (basically a part-timer).

The first time I recall performing was in one of my classes in Junior High…one of the students in the class worked for the school newspaper, so she took a picture of my dummy and me and wrote a little article. Wish I still had the article (although, now that I think about it…my Mom may still have it….I’ll have to ask her).

First paying job….would have probably been in 1995, when I was doing quite a few birthday parties. I just don’t recall which exact one was the first.

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Eddie Hope asked:




Ventriloquism is a difficult art to master because the ventriloquist must be able to be several characters and different voices in one performance while creating the illusion that the voice is coming from sources other than them e.g. from the ventriloquist figure, from a trunk or even from the ceiling.

A basic definition of ventriloquism (also known as throwing your voice) is that it is the art of creating the illusion that the voices come from various places and distances from the actual speaker. To be able to master the art of the ventriloquism you will need to possess a good strong voice along with a good ear for sound.

There are 2 fundamental parts to ventriloquism - Near Ventriloquism and Natural Ventriloquism. A ventriloquist will normally add the associated art of polyphony to their repertoire.

Near Ventriloquism
Near ventriloquism is the easier part for ventriloquists to learn. It is used when the ventriloquist is in dialogue with ventriloquist figure (also known as a dummy). A caricature voice is normally employed to add effect to the dummy’s character. The illusion is effected by the ventriloquist speaking the dummy’s voice, keeping their facial muscles still and manipulating the dummy’s mouth to look like it is speaking.

A ventriloquist can deliver great performances with this part alone, for example to win America’s Got Talent Terry Fator used only near ventriloquism. A great singing voice may have played a part in it!

Natural Ventriloquism
Natural ventriloquism is where the ventriloquist creates the illusion that the voice is coming from some distance away from them (throwing your voice). The ventriloquist to help the illusion will look in the “direction” of the voice. They also modify their voice so that the sound and quality of it is the same as if it were heard from a distance away.

This is most commonly seen on TV when the ventriloquist figures voice appears to be coming from a trunk or bag. The ventriloquist modifies their voice so it has the same muffled quality it would have if it was actually coming from inside the trunk.

Polyphony
Polyphony is the art of imitating of sounds other than speech, such as the humming of bees, the bleating of sheep, noises made by sawing, pouring a glass of soda etc. Many of the noises can’t be made ventriloquially and no deception is attempted as to the source.

The ventriloquist combines polyphony with ventriloquism for variety and comic effect. For example, the ventriloquist can imitate the sound of an imaginary mosquito flying around a dummy’s head and great fun can be made of it while they try to catch it.

Ventriloquism is fun and entertaining (and in some cases informative) for an audience and the ventriloquist. With some effort there is the possibility of extra pocket money for the successful exponent. Anyone who possesses an average voice and a good ear that can sense impressions will be able to master the fundamental parts of ventriloquism.

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Sarah Todd asked:




Titled “Welcome to the Dead House”, the book was an instant bestseller and became the first in the highly successful “Goosebumps” series. “Welcome to the Dead House” tell the story of a town called Dark Falls, a place hiding a secret - all the residents are the living dead, and need fresh blood to sustain their “lives”. Whenever a new family arrives in the sound they move to The Dead House. The heroes, Josh and Amanda, learn this secret and proceed to save their parents, send the townspeople back to their graves and escape Dark Falls.

Author Robert Lawrence Stine wrote 62 books in the series, as well as a number of spinoffs. Stine, who’s been called “The Stephen King of Children’s Literature”, has said a lot of his books were inspired by classic science fiction and horror stories, with influences also drawn from classic fairy tales. “Night of the Living Dummy” is a variation on the “Pinocchio” theme - twin sisters Lindy and Kris find a discarded ventriloquist’s dummy, and Lindy decides to keep him. As she develops comedy routines with the dummy Kris obtains her own dummy. One night the girls go into their room, finding the dummies lying on the floor, the new dummy’s hands around the older dummy’s neck. Coincidence? No - the younger dummy is alive, and malicious. After a string of unpleasant events the girls manage to dispose of the dummy, but then discover the other one is also alive.

Christopher Pike is another successful children’s horror story writer. He includes references to Egyptian, Hindu and Greek mythology in his novels, and quotes authors like Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, Agatha Christie and Stephen King among his influences. His “Spooksville” series of 24 books includes one titled “The Wicked Cat”, in which Adam and his friends find a black cat during a walk in the local woods. Strange things begin to happen in the town; a house burns down and a tree suddenly falls down. At every strange occurrence the cat is in attendance, watching everything with its strange green eyes. Then it turns its supernatural powers on Adam and his friends…

Another noted children’s author is Lee Striker, the pseudonym of Australian Children’s author Margaret Clarke. She chose her name after hearing about Stine’s “Goosebumps” series, and decided she wanted her children’s horror fiction placed next to his books on the bookshops. She has 12 books in her “Hair-Raiser” series, which contains titles such as “The Revenge of the Vampire Librarian” (remember to get your library books back on time…) and “Curse of the Mummy”, where a man brings back a new wife after a business trip to Egypt. But what kind of MUMMY is she, because she smells odd and uses a lot of bandages and band aids, and cats behave strangely when she is near.

Children’s horror writing is not a new concept, and it didn’t start with fairytales. Originally fairytales were not originally intended to be read by children. The Brothers’ Grimm’s writing was aimed at adults, and met the then increasing demand for literature based around local folklore in the early 19th century. Anyone who has seen the film “The Brothers’ Grimm” will probably back me on this - that film is most definitely NOT for children! As the Horror genre evolved “Dracula” and “Frankenstein” made the average fairytale appear somewhat childish, so the different stories were reworked and rewritten by adults so they would be more suitable for children. By the Victorian era the average Grimm fairy tale was far less graphic and violent than the original, and Disney’s handling of the stories has “tamed” them still further.

While the Grimms were compiling their collection of adult fairytales other writers were already producing children’s stories, many of which contained elements of horror. Hans Christian Andersen’s “Tales Told For Children” was published in 1835, and some of the stories in that book are excellent references for children’s horror literature:

“The Red Shoes” are a pair of beautiful, cursed slippers which force their wearer to dance continually. A vain young girl slips them onto her feet, and finds herself unable to stop dancing. So bad is the problem she cannot go to church, and is unable to attend her adoptive mother’s funeral because she cannot stop dancing. Condemned by and angle to dance forever as a warning to all vain children, she begs an executioner to cut off her feet. For the rest of the story she is haunted by the animated shoes, which dance before her as she moves on wooden feet with the help of crutches.

“The Little Mermaid”, yearning to be with a handsome human prince with whom she has fallen in love, gives a witch her tongue in exchange for a potion that turns her tail into legs. She must get her prince to marry her to give her a soul, and she sets out to find her love, even though every step she takes is as painful as waking on sharpened knife blades. Even though she is mute the prince does fall in love with her, and is enchanted by the way she dances for him, never knowing the agony she suffers at every step. The course of true love never did run true, and the prince marries someone else. The heartbroken mermaid throws herself into the sea and turns into foam.

“The Little Match Girl” sells matches on the icy streets to keep warm. One New Year’s Eve, she lights her matches to keep warm. In their light she sees wonderful warm banquets with tables full of wonderful food and a sparkling Christmas tree. Looking up she sees a shooting star, and remembers it means someone is about to die. Lighting her last match she sees her grandmother, the only person who ever treated her kindly. Her grandmother has come to take her to Heaven, and the following morning her frozen little body is discovered, surrounded by burnt out matches.

Charles Kingsley’s “The Water Babies” features a chimney sweep named Tom, who meets a young girl called Ellie at her house. After he is chased away he falls into a river and drowns. He is turned into a water baby, and experiences several adventures while learning life’s lessons under the tutelage of the fairies. Once a week he is allowed to see Ellie, who had the misfortune to fall into the river just after Tom. Eventually he proves himself worthy to return to human form, and lives a full life. He is reunited with Ellie, but they never marry.

Children’s horror writing is a challenging genre, and although the stories may have changed slightly over the years there’s still a demand for these kind of books from a young, enthusiatic audience. It’s a genre that’s going to be with us for many years to come.

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Colin Dorman asked:




Chucky is a modern horror icon slashing his way through film after film with a growing body count and a growing family and has become as iconic and “famous” as horror figures like Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers, although at times the series has become quite tongue in cheek and anything but serious. The Child’s Play films started off in 1988, telling the tale of a Good Guy doll gone very, very bad.

So how did this twisted tale of a psychotic, homicidal and murderous doll begin? Stumbling into a toy store, mortally wounded and desperate, knowing that he’s going to die, he performs voodoo (black magic) on himself transferring his soul into one of the nearby “Chucky” dolls.

In accordance with the spell he has cast upon himself, Charles Lee Ray, who is now a doll, needs the body of the person who first witnesses him speak in order to become human again, and if he fails he is destined to remain trapped inside the doll forever! The success of Childs Play led to two sequels, Child’s Play 2 in 1990 and Child’s Play 3 in 1993. But it was Child’s Play 3 that became infamous when it was linked to the Bulger killers in the UK.

It was subsequently banned despite already having received a BBFC 18 rating. And you know what they say, there’s no such thing as bad publicity. Since then however the Child’s Play 3 ban has been lifted (though the video is still deleted in the UK) but its notoriety had already been established by then and the series has since gained cult status among horror fans.

The last two in the series are probably the most bizarre and breathed new life into the franchise with Chucky going way beyond desperation. In Bride of Chucky, he is brought back to fighting form by his long lost girlfriend Tiffany who intends to give him a little “payback” for all the years she has waited for him.

Finally comes the Seed of Chucky. Somehow Chucky and his equally murderous bride, Tiffany managed to have a child who has grown up in a cage as part of a heavy-metal ventriloquist act in England. But after escaping his employment in a freak show, Glen travels to Hollywood to resurrect his parents, who are now props in an upcoming killer-doll slasher film (sound familiar?)

Everything ends when Tiffany becomes human again and gives birth to fraternal twins and Glen, in a blind rage, successfully tears Chucky into spare parts.

Seed of Chucky is a disturbing and often chaotic movie which could easily have bombed at the box office but, credit to Chuckey’s creators; they were successful in making an unusual horror film series.

Oh, and by the way, be prepared and when your shopping for the kids this holiday season because rumor has it Chucky is back, looking for a host.

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Shawn Chua asked:




What is a party without decorations? While decorations can range from the simple to the very elaborate (and expensive), the one thing all decorations have in common is that they require planning and thought.

Here are some tips to get your creative juices flowing:

Plan your party decorations according to the party layout that you have in mind. You can focus on decorations for the performance area (or cake cutting area), dining table, and general areas. The activities area and food area should be kept relatively free of decorations to allow children and guests to play or get their food in a hazard-free environment.

Decorations you can get include: banners, streamers, balloons and centerpieces. Allow your birthday child to get involved by letting him/her choose the colours of the balloons, or even, if you wish, the theme of the party decorations. It is after all, his/her special day!

The backdrop is a very important element for party decorations. This should be placed at the performance/cake cutting area. If you’re holding the party at a function room, this should be on the stage backdrop. You can get a colourful banner as the center of the backdrop and get birthday flags and streamers to add to the backdrop. If you have balloons, add balloons at the side of the backdrop.

The backdrop can be themed, elaborate or simple - it is really up to you. Having the backdrop at the performance/cake cutting area, also allows you to get beautiful pictures of the cake cutting moment with a fantastic backdrop.

General Areas

Helium balloons are a favorite of children and are great for decorations. The balloons can be used to decorate the general areas. You can use colours that your child or you have chosen. Try to use more colourful balloons so as to add to the party atmosphere. If the party is themed, you could use printed balloons, or even aluminum foil balloons that go with the theme.

Keep in mind though, that children will tend to grab the balloons, so ensure that there are still enough balloons for decoration even if the children decide to get the balloons for themselves. Alternatively, get streamers for the general area as well to add colour and vibrancy to your party. This also ensures that even if the children do grab the balloons for themselves, the general areas are still decorated.

Dining area

The dining area should be decorated but still kept generally clear so that your guests can enjoy the food. The most ideal decorations that can go on the dining tables are centerpieces. They can simply be a bunch of balloons that go on the middle of the table. This allows a continuity of the party decorations and still ensures your guests can enjoy the food without the decorations getting in their way.

If your party is a themed party, you can consider getting printed plates, utensils and napkins. These add to the general theme and look good as decorations on the whole.

Entrance Area

Besides the performance/ cake cutting area, the dining area, and the general areas, you can consider adding decorations at the entrance for your party too! The decorations can be just a simple greeting banner that welcomes your guests to the party, or you could have some balloons at the entrance to the party. This not only makes the whole party look more fun right from the start, but also has the added advantage of letting your guests know that they have reached the right venue for the party!

Do keep in mind that while simple decorations like these can be cheap to get, you will need time to put them up as well. Remember to plan your time properly so you have time to decorate the venue before your guests arrive! Or simply, you can save yourself some time and hassle, by getting the decorations done at an affordable price from professionals!

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A. H. Scott asked:




1. What is one thing every Ventriloquist must do?

The most important thing a ventriloquist must do is PRACTICE every day! The best way for me to practice is in front of a mirror. Work on manipulation, lip control, memorizing your script, and especially just get comfortable with your puppet! Practice while sitting in front of the TV, a great way to learn how to ad lib. For lip control, I practice in the car without moving my lips! I sometimes sing along with the songs without moving my lips.

2. What is one thing every Ventriloquist must avoid?

Each ventriloquist is different. Individuals who want to become ventriloquists must avoid copying the ones they see.

I recommend: (1) Find out what is right for you. Search for information and talk to people asking specific questions. What are YOU comfortable with? What type of figure do you want to use - a hard figure or a soft puppet? There are advantages to both!

(2) Once you decide, get going! Never let anyone discourage you! Start practicing. You can even practice with your hand! Think about your character. It’s a big decision! Write a bio for your puppet. Ask it questions and get to know it!

3. Is this Ventriloquist stuff something that is here to stay?

Absolutely! Ventriloquism has been around for a long time and will be here for a long time. I go to the ConVENTion in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, and there are over 400 people attending every year, an amazing number of people interested in ventriloquism to attend a convention in the middle of summer! Many young people attend these conventions as well.

Sales of Jeff Dunham’s video last year exceeded expectations. More people watched a ventriloquist in their home than possibly ever before. Dunham appeared on Comedy Central in his own special. No TV station is going to give a ventriloquist a special show unless they believe it will be watched repeatedly.

Dunham’s second DVD will be released soon and Comedy Central will be airing his second special in September 2007. Terry Fator, the winner of the television show, “America’s Got Talent,” is a ventriloquist which is quite impressive because there were thousands of different types of acts. Many families enjoyed great ventriloquism in their homes!

4. Can someone work successfully as a Ventriloquist if they are in a crowded niche?

YES! You need to find what’s right for you. Remember not to copy anyone else. Practice consistently and master your craft.

Have your own characters and your show ready to go! It is easier said than done but it can be done. Many professional ventriloquists work full time in their craft. They worked long hours to achieve success.

5. What has Ventriloquism done for you?

Ventriloquism has allowed me to take what I do professionally and combine ventriloquism with it. I work with children with cancer. I am able to take my puppets into hospitals and outpatient clinics to work directly with these children. Some of the children do not want to talk but many times they will talk to a puppet I bring in. The parents love it as well since they know how much the children love the puppet play.

Certain puppets and I have been able to stay with the children during painful treatments which comforts them. I also carry other puppets the kids get to use. Oftentimes the siblings join the fun as they also have many fears. The puppets occasionally have spent the night in the hospital. For example, I remember a 13-year old girl who had endured an extremely difficult surgery. She was angry and would not talk with anyone. I brought in a six foot dodo bird. She talked to the bird and asked if it could stay with her over night. I happily granted her request. Her mom said her daughter talked through the bird puppet and her talk was happy. In the morning the girl was ready to be herself again.

I also have bald ventriloquist figures and wigs to cover their bald heads if needed. Many of the kids love seeing puppets can be just like them!

6. What trends to you currently see in Ventriloquism?

I see ventriloquism being used in many different areas! I see it in comedy as well as in churches, birthday shows, magic shows, singing, and hospitals.

7. When did you first become interested in Ventriloquism?

I loved puppets when I was a child! When I was earning my Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education and Child Life (working with hospitalized children), I performed a complete program for a nursery school, teaching them about doctors and hospitals. This is when I used my first plastic ventriloquist figure who had a broken arm and a cast I put on the figure. We talked about what it was like going to the hospital. The kids loved it as did the other teachers and parents. It was great.

My first real job was putting together a program for school because it was the time of year for kids to return to school; that concept needed to be explained to the class. I developed a program with a couple of puppets and performed with a buddy which the class, teachers, and parents loved. I now perform an abbreviated program for smaller groups with one girl figure talking about cancer and how it affects life.

It’s great being able to do what I do!

Angela Scott

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Dan Willinger asked:




In the world of collecting one of the most important factors in the valuation of an item is originality. Just because a ventriloquist dummy has a head, body, hands and legs does not always mean you are buying a complete figure. As with any other collectible if parts have been changed or replaced with parts from something else devaluation occurs. If you have a Frank Marshall dummy and then the head is placed into a Finis Robinson body automatically you have a devaluation which occurs. Yes it is a complete ventriloquist dummy but not correct.

If you purchase a Jaguar automobile but replace the Jaguar engine with a Chevrolet engine, yes the car may run much better, but it will never be worth what it was prior to the engine swap. Now in the automotive world when a car gets reupholstered, new paint, new chrome, and engine rebuild etc., you certainly bring back the value and sometime, more often than not, the vehicle will become more valuable than the actual value of the antique car. With ventriloquist dummies just the opposite occurs. When you take an original dummy’s paint and redo it you will lose value automatically. Originality is the key to greatest value. A ventriloquist dummy with original paint, wig, body, hands even clothing will command the highest prices in return.

I have myself purchased a ventriloquist dummy that was stored away in a basement and when you touched it, the dummy literally fell apart. It had to be totally disassembled and put back together and is now a wonderful example of a Mack figure, but is it worth the same as a totally original figure? In most cases the answer is no. This particular Mack figure is such a premium figure that after the restoration it still has a great value but the restoration costs far exceeded the value of the figure. This is also a fact you must take into consideration. Restoration cost by a real pro can be very costly and take a lot of time. You must make sure that the ventriloquist dummy is worth the cost and time before you proceed.

All this kept in mind will bring you a clear understanding of the true collector’s aspect of buying antique ventriloquist dummies. Not everything you find for sale is correct and to make the dummy a correct representation of the original builder can sometimes be a real challenge. But the love of the hunt is the same for ventriloquist figures as for any other true antique. By the way, the true definition of antique is 100 years old with the automobile being the only exception. It is 25 years and then it is an antique. Most of us in, the vent collecting world, will consider any ventriloquist dummy made prior to 1970 an antique although it truly is just collectible.

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It takes a great deal of time and patience to learn ventriloquism. You must be willing to practice a few hours a week to master your skills. It is also helpful to seek the knowledge of a professional ventriloquist. As with any interest, having a mentor will greatly increase your learning curve verses learning on your own. You may be wondering how to get in touch with a ventriloquist who will be willing to help you get started. Read on for tips on where you can find a ventriloquism teacher.

The Internet

This is probably the best place to start when looking for a professional ventriloquist to learn from. There are forums, message boards, and websites dedicated to the performing arts, and it is likely that you will find a few ventriloquists lurking there. If you are having trouble coming across someone, check out the books and programs that are available as an instant download to get your started in your venture. A guide written by a professional ventriloquist is the second best tool in learning ventriloquism if you cannot find one in person.

Attend Shows

Go to any featured ventriloquist shows in your area. These are usually held in comedy clubs, but may also be in hospitals and schools. After the show, many professional ventriloquists will hang around and speak with the audience. That is your chance to share your desire to learn ventriloquism, and see if he/she would be willing to help teach you the methods.

Hire A Ventriloquist

Maybe your child has an upcoming birthday or school party that you could hire a ventriloquist for. This would give you an even better chance to talk face-to-face with him/her, since you will need to be there to pay them for their services. You may try to strike up a conversation about your interest, and see if he/she is interested in helping you get started.

It is possible to learn ventriloquism without the help of a professional, but like anything, educating yourself on what works best is always better than just trying to pick it up on your own.

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