WHETHER A McELROY PERSON OR NOT GET EM BOTH

Hi James
It was nice meeting you at the VH Con in July Your ideas are wonderful and I wish you lots of luck with your new company 'Ventriloquist Sideshows'. Please send me some information regarding your techniques and how the idea came about. This will be entered on my Blog along with your byline. E mail me so that I can enter it for you and remember I wholeheartedly agree with you in regards to the books, that unless you are going for the McElroy look and idea 'The magic' would work but if your idea is to enjoy making puppets of any style you need 'The Fun' book is your method. I will be sending this memo to the blog to prepare my readers for your sideshow information...again nice meeting you and look forward to meeting you again in July 2010...

In reply to:

I love "Figure Making can be fun". I own both books They are both very nice. "McElroy Magic" has very good mechanical drawings but I found the information in "figure making can be fun" is more practical and useful.The information in "figure making can be fun"is more easily adapted to any kind of puppet building, Not just ventriloquist figures. It shows Everything you would need and in some cases demonstrates two mechanical choices for the same movement.It is worth every penny. I continue to refer to it often."McElroy Magic" is essential, if you are building a McElroy replica or if you are intrigued buy the mechanical nature of the brothers work. The schematic style drawing are unbeatable. They are both great books but "figure making can be fun" is a better Value. It has a lot more information for your dollar.

VAUDEVILLE COMEDY TEAMS ARE THE GRANDPARENTS OF TODAYS VENTRILOQUISTS

Teams like Abbott and Costello Abbott being the vent and Costello the figure, a good example that many vents use is "Who's On First" or Burns the Str8 man to Gracies silly replys Like Bob and Marty Hamill, picture it, even a Martin and Lewis where Martin could be the singer (str8 man) and Lewis the comic impersonator, How about Terry Fator and a few different vent pieces... How about Laurel and Hardy Dan Horn and Orson picture it...How about Bill Damar with his frog Feldon, doing Pantomime..the list can go on and on Tony I seldom disagree with what you have to offer except at this time I very much agree that the teams of the vaudeville days,radio and early television were the forerunners of what a ventriloquist and his figure are today and if you look at the team of Jay Johnson and Bob that makes for a great example. Can you picture the teams, a vent with many characters can do either a marx Brothers routine, or maybe the three stooges using slap stick (its not dead, dorment maybe)any good vent can do a Weber and Fields or Olsen and Johnson, So very much yes Vaudeville is todays ventriloquism's grand daddy, you can't escape it, but you can make it better...So single handedly ventriloquism can bring back the variety show...work on it, make something from Vaude your very own.

MARK GARRETT JOHN HOPMAN WANTS YOU TO CONTACT HIM VIA HIS E MAIL

John I will copy this rewrite from you and post it hopefully he will make contact with you directly jhopman4@cogeco.ca good luck

WANLU HAS A NEW ITEM FOR YOU VENTS OUT THERE MAKE CONTACT WITH HIM

If you aren't familia with my freind Wanlu...he is from the Philipines...click on the link below and find out more about him...

I tried giving away some T-shirts with a picture of me and my figure but the shirts were kinda expensive :)

I found these pens...with animated hands and mouth :) My show helpers love them and they are less than a dollar each...

http://kadoopsypupp%20ets.multiply.%20com/photos/%20album/19#

http://kadoopsypupp%20ets.multiply.%20com/photos/%20album/19#

http://kadoopsypupp%20ets.multiply.%20com/photos/%20album/19#

I'm planning to have my name and website printed on the pen...

Wanlu http://www.wanlu.net/

A REQUEST FOR AN AUTOGRAPH WITHOUT A RETURN ADDRESS

Dear Sir,
Hi, myself Abhijeet (age 22), I'm from India. I am an amateur
Ventriloquism student. I have performed some shows in my town.
I am a regular reader of your blog. I like your blog very much. Your
blog gives me information about Ventriloquism world. It is always fun
to read about Ventriloquism and about Ventriloquist. Will you please
mail me your autographed picture? It will be a souvenir for me.
Thank you! Best Wishes!
Abhijeet Deshpand

Thank you for the request of an autographed picture it would my pleasure but you must supply me with your return address unless you want me to e mail it to you.

TODAY ALSO MARKED THE PASSING OF VENTRILOQUIST NEVILLE KING THIS WAS SUPPLIED BY BOB ALBANO

http://www.thisisno%20ttingham.%20co.uk/homenews/%20Ventriloquist-%20Neville-King-%20dies-aged-%2081/article-%201283701-detail/%20article.html

Ventriloquist Neville King dies, aged 81Wednesday, August 26, 2009, 07:00

POPULAR Notts ventriloquist and Royal Variety Show performer Neville King has died at 81.

He performed on stage and screen at the height of his fame and was a regular on the Black and White Minstrels show in the 1960s.

The Notts-born performer delighted audiences across the country with his act featuring his dummy Old Boy.Brian Hart, who worked as Mr King's showbusiness agent for 20 years, paid tribute to his friend.He said: "I hated artists because they are a horrible lot, apart from Neville King. He was a lovely guy."

If you were a friend of his, you were a friend. He was a very funny man, both on and off-stage."Fellow performer Jimmy Willan, said Mr King, of Cropwell Butler, would be a "sad loss".

He said: "He had this routine with the dummy which was ideal for the television but he could do other things."

He was a true variety performer of a very high standard."

Mr King died on Saturday at City Hospital a month after being admitted after a stroke.

While in hospital he received letters from showbusiness friends Jimmy Tarbuck and Tom O'Connor.

Wife Joanie said: "He had all the staff laughing right up to the very end. He was a very naturally funny man."

He always used to say you should have a laugh every day and he never lost his ability to entertain and be funny."

Mr King is said to have started his career in ventriloquism as a youngster living in Radford after begging his parents for a baby brother.

His father bought him a ventriloquist' s dummy and he applied himself to learning how to throw his voice.

He made his first public appearance at a Methodist church harvest festival where he sang accompanied by a Charlie McCarthy doll.

He and then-wife June got their inspiration for the famed Old Boy dummy from a "boozy old man" they met outside a Sheffield pub.

In 1964 he joined The Black and White Minstrel Show and stayed for 11 years. He also did a season in Malta as well as a record breaking tour of Australia during this period.

In 1965 he appeared before the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the Royal Variety Performance. Two years later he was back at the London Palladium in front of Princess Margaret at the Royal Gala.

Mr King entertained the troops for Combined Services Entertainments in Ireland, South America, Cyprus and Germany. He did five world tours and worked in Johannesburg, Canada, Malta and Tasmania as well as at the Sporting Club in Monte Carlo.

The-father-of- one was still performing as recently as November 2007, when he appeared in an Equity show for the Salvation Army in Beeston.

In 1993 he collected 120 names for a petition calling for private security patrols to beat crime in Cropwell Butler.mailto:robert.parsons%40nottinghameveningpost.co.uk

LAST OF THE CAMELOT DYNESTY BROTHERS

EARLY THIS MORNING AT THE HYANISPORT COMPOUND TED KENNEDY THE LAST OF THE KENNEDY BROTHERS HAS PASSED ON TO A PLACE FAR BETTER THEN WHAT WE CALL THE BIG BLUE MARBLE.

A FAMILY PLAGUES WITH ONE HORROR AFTER ANOTHER FROM JOSEPH KENNEDY WHO WAS KILLED DURING WORLD WAR 2 IN A AIRCRAFT FLYING A MISSION...THEN HIS BROTHER JOHN F KENNEDY WHO BECAME PRESIDENT WAS ASSASSINATED IN 1963 FOLLOWED 5 YEARS LATER BY ROBERT F KENNEDY AGAIN ASSASSINATED WHILE CAMPAIGNING IN CALIFORNIA AND THEN HIMSELF IN A PLANE ACCIDENT AND NURSING A BROKEN BACK, AN AUTO ACCIDENT IN CHAPAQUIDIC AND HIS FEMALE COMPANION DROWNING. HIS CAMPAIGNING FOR THE PRESIDENCY HIMSELF IN 1976 AND 1980 BOTH ON THE LOSING END.

JUST TWO WEEKS AGO HIS SISTER EUNICE KENNEDY SHRIVER THE CREATOR FOR THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS PASSED AWAY.

IN 1963 I WROTE A POEM FOR JFK WHICH IS HOUSED IN THE KENNEDY ARCHIEVES IS FITTING TO REPEAT HER ONCE AGAIN...... HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEDGE AND HONOR OF MEETING THIS MAN ON MORE THEN ONE OCCASION FOR RALLIES AND MARCHES IN WASHINGTON DC AS WELL AS CENTRAL PARK IN NYC...I ALSO MET AND WAS HONORED TO HAVE SHAKENED THE HANDS OF BOTH OF HIS BROTHERS IN MANHATTEN AT THE CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENCY COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE HONORED.. I HAVE BEEN A KENNEDY PERSON ALL OF THEIR LIVES....

JFK WAS A MAN TO ME

A MAN OF GREAT INTEGRITY

HE HAD US GOING VERY FAR

HE SAID SOME DAY WE'D REACH THAT STAR

SO TAKE IN MIND THIS MAN IN DEED

AND DON'T FORGET THAT HE DID LEAD

HE LED US FAR HE LED US WIDE

HE SAID THIS COUNTRY HAS SO MUCH PRIDE

IT HAS TO ME BEAUTY AND GRACE

NO MATTER BLACK OR WHITE IN FACE

SO MR. K YOU SAVED THE DAY

BUT WHO SAVED YOU ...NOW WE MUST PRAY

DAVID CRONE AS GONE PUBLIC WITH HIS FIRST DVD

David Crone - "He's Big In Zanesville"
Director: David Crone
Studio: I'm No Dummy Productions LLC
Producer: I'm No Dummy Productions LLC
Starring: David Crone
Genre: Comedy
Rated: PG
Run time: 41:20
UPC bar code: 845029097033
Disc: dvd
Release date: August 17 2009

Get ready to laugh as comedian-ventriloquist and magican David Crone takes you on a wild ride with his mix of crazy characters.

MONTANA SANTA HAS CHANGED HIS ADDRESS, I DIDN'T KNOW SANTA WAS ALLOWED TO DO THAT

Mediocre Magic & Ventriloquy is now The Montana Magic & Ventriloquy Company. website is changed to www.montana-magic.com and the e-mail address is now john@montana-magic.com. Please note the changes for future reference (if needed). I've been told I made history Friday night by doing a live magic and ventriloquism show on Skype for some folks in Adelaide, Australia...always wanted to be a trailblazer...

THANK YOU MARK BUT HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THEM YOURSELF

Hi NJay,Could you please let the vents that read your blog know how much I and my staff appreciated having everyone at the Vent Haven ConVENTion a few weeks ago. I always try to take about 6 weeks off to let me brain cool down before answering any mail or emails related to the ConVENTion, but I wanted everyone to know.Thanks for your posting!Best..MarkMark Wade-Executive DirectorVent Haven ConVENTion

CMT DOES A COMEDY NIGHT AND HEADLINING TERRY FATOR

Show Time
Fri., Aug. 28 10:00 PM ET/PT

Remind Me
TV Schedule
Experience why America has fallen in love with Terry Fator's irresistible combination of humor and music and his hilarious cast of characters. The million-dollar winner of America's Got Talent...
Read More-->

All CMT Comedy Stage Presents Terry Fator Live From Las Vegas Episodes

BOB ISAACSON TO ME YOU WERE THE HIGHEST HIGHLIGHT OF THE 2009 VENT HAVEN CONVENTION THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORIES

Bob Issacson Jimmy Nelson Sammy King

Hello NJ...Thanks for your kind comments. It was a pleasure meeting you at the convention. You sure were a busy fellow; meeting people, taking photos , etc. I enjoyed your blog; didn't even know it existed until you wrote to me. A very comprehensive site & quite interesteing. Thanks again for your letter...kindest regards, Bob Isaacson

NEALE HAS DONE IT AGAIN- ONE OF THE BEST FROM CANANDA

Neale Bacon
Golden Star - Summer reading program features ventriloquist
Source: www.bclocalnews.com
To encourage open exchange of ideas in the BCLocalNews.com community, we ask that you follow our guidelines and respect standards. Simply, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. More on etiquette...

ANOTHER REMINDER OF BERT TILLSTOM K-F & O

THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BELOVED KF AND O NO ITS NOT KENTUCKY FRIED OWL ITS KUKLA FRAN AND OLLIE EVERYTHING INCLUDED SONGS JOKES AND GUESTS.

PALM BEACH COUNTY STORYTELLING GUILD

My first visit to the Palm Beach Storytellers guild was a pleasure to attend.. I was informed that the founder as well as first president of the guild was Caron Neile, followed by Midge and then the current president Adele. I was welcomed by the group as they each told their different storys. I must admit I was searching for a childrens storytime type of story to share with the children during ventriloquist storytime... There was one that came close to the product I was looking for and that was 'The way you are is good enough.' Other stories that were shared was a visit to Woodstock 1969, Greg & The Night Watchman, A short intermission was given. When everyone returned Adele informed us of the Storybox she was given at Literacy For The Arts, Broward Cultural, Dillard Center. I found this to be a great idea for vent storytime, you fill up the basket with different items and talk about them by putting them into a story format as you remove them one at a time...Adele went on to talk about upside down fairytales, sort of a backwards forwards story, the next story was Expressions As A Tour Director...If I left anyone out please inform me by clicking on comment or sending me an e mail at njay254@aol.com

Adele and N Jay &members of PB Storytellers Guild

MY APOGIZES THE VOTING METER IS NOT WORKING

For what ever reason the voting meter has ceased to work correctly so I am letting everyone know that due to this problem I will get a concensus and make a decission at the end of the year as to who should win this years peoples choice award sorry for this inconvience. I will post the winner at the end of the year. you simply reply to it....again my regrets for the mechanical problem.

HERE'S AN IDEA... LETS WORK IT

Came up with this concept can anyone come up with dialog to fit it?
Puppet 1 is out with a parent and wants something, and the parent gives in. It's an expensive something frivolus that won't last. He/she seems to think he/she needs it to fit in with the other kids. (self-esteem)

He/she shows it off to puppet 2 who explains that she/he too has whatever it is, BUT that she/he earned it by doing extra chores around the house. At first she/he was upset that she/he couldn't just get it, but after awhile she/he enjoyed the extra participation that made her/him feel like a part of the household, she/he liked feeling like she/he did the job best and that she/he got MONEY for it. Then she/he was able to make the decision if she/he really wanted that overpriced item or not, she/he could make up her/his own mind. She/he learned impulse control, decision making, money making and all this roled into long-lasting self esteem. Puppet 1 felt sad and puppet 2 saw it and gave him/her a job to do....for his/her own good, of course! hee hee

VENTRILOQUIST TO THE MILITARY HANGS UP HIS DUMMY AFTER 70 YEARS SERVICE

Seven decades after they first took to the stage, the soldier-turned-ventriloquist Walter Huntley and his dummy "Gunner Turner" were the stars of the show for one last time yesterday.
Surrounded by curious children and autograph-hunters, the pair basked in the glory of an act that began in the Blitz.
The Article was written in the Independant by Terri Judd on Friday August 7th its a great story read it sure your gonna like it. If you need, google it, put into google enough information.. Does anyone remember him.

ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW

I HAVE VIEWED THIS ABOUT 6 TIMES AND STILL SAY WOW!! YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS TO BELIEVE IT...ENJOY IT
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=CICDRmUJHqY

THIS IS A VERY SAD YEAR FOR THE MANY TALENTS THAT HAVE LEFT HERE IS ANOTHER

Les Paul has taken that long rest he so deserves, but it hurts to see another talent the likes of Les leave is, he will be missed. So many of the great talents have passed this year, it makes a body hurt to feel such losses. I can still hear him singing with his wife Mary, Now they are singing for the angels...Rest in peace Les.Ventriloquially YoursN JayNo Person Is Too Tall Not To Stoop To Help Any Child

Hey if you are a Texan or going to Texas make sure one of your stops is Galveston

Kevin Johnson is flying to Galvestion, TX for 4 days and nights of shows starting tomorrow! Moody Gardens Hotel, Here we come!

MY NEW FRIEND PETE MICHAELS IS HAVING ANOTHER VENTRILOQUIST CLINIC IN NEW YORK

Hi all!
Please make plans to attend my ALL DAY VENT CLINIC which will be hald on SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2009!This is an up-close and personal, hands-on learning and sharing Ventriloquism Clinic.Topics:Lip Control (The Good, The Bad & The Ugly)Enunciation (What did he say??}Choosing a puppet/figure (Did I just waste my money on this thing?)Character Development (Who ARE you?)Manipulation (It's ALIVE!)The Voice (MUST they ALL sound alike?)Singing (You DON'T have to be Terry Fator!)Distant/Muffled Voice (Can I REALLY do that?)Comedy Writing (Aren't you supposed to be FUNNY?)Wardrobe (THIS is how you dress for a SHOW?)Publicity (Do's and Don'ts)And MUCH MORE!!Please email me for price and location. Space is LIMITED.Be sure to visit my site for the Video Of The Month!Cheers!Pete Michaelswww.petemichaels. com

HAPPY ANNIVERSITY TO KUKLA FRAN AND OLLIE AND THE GREAT BURR TILLSTROM

On August 11, 2009 KFO WILL BE TURNING 60 A new DVD will also be making its debut in honor of the show and they will be commenorated on a postage stamp as well. What better way to say thank you for all the many great moments some or most of us spent in their village of The debut was on NBC, Kukla, Fran and Ollie 12th 1949 we spent 5 exciting days a week for 10 years with the puppets. Which mean I grew up with them as my baby sitter. Uncle Burr Tillstrom was the one and only puppeteer on the show who gave voice and character to the 12 puppets. Fran Allison was the only live person on the show who was the go between for the puppets and the tv followers. Burt manipulated all the puppets on the show, unlike puppeteers today, who manipulate just one puppet, Kukla, Ollie, Buelah Witch, Madame Ooglepuss, Colonel Crackie, Fletcher Rabbit to name a few All the jokes on the show was for real, remember this was live TV no tape in those days, so when a joke was made it was heard for the first time. This shi=ow was so popular that it attracted many of the top names in show business to there world. I remember the first time I saw this program I was awe struck I think I might have been all of 2 or 3 and we just got our 1st TV, everyone in the apartment building came to watch at 7 p.m. KFO thank you for the great times and of course the memories. Anyone with some memories of this great show that wish to share please leave your comment...

Dave Goboff South Florida Puppet Guild Has A Message For You

Hi I'm not planning to go to Israel anytime soon, but if I was on my waythere, I'd stop off to see this festival at the Train Theater. The secondlink below is to the theater site and while it is in Hebrew, there are abunch of video links to click on. Some nice puppetry. dgPuppets from all over the world will be swept up from their chests, to gracetheater stages for The International Puppet Theater Festival by Jerusalem'sTrain Theater between August 9 and 14. Whether hanging from strings or madeout of string, puppets from Russia, Germany, Holland and Spain are coming tothe Jerusalem Khan Theater, the Train Theater and The Lab (Hama'abada) ,mixing the right ingredients for entertainment, education and enlightenment.http://www.jpost. com/servlet/ Satellite? cid=124941853847 8&pagename= JPost/JPArticle/ ShowFullhttp://traintheater .co.il/english/Dave Goboff(954) 667-3283

AMERICA'S GOT TALENT WED 8/5/2009

Well they certainly do in the likes of Terry Fator in the short time he had on the show he thanked all the judges for putting him in the hot seat of ventriloquism... His short show was wonderful...Be sure to purchase his new DVD comming out in Oct. Thank you Terry for a few minutes of fun, again.

VENTRILOQUIST CENTRAL

Always be sure to visit the other sites like my friends Dan Willinger at ventriloquist Central and Steve Axtell at Axtell Expressions both can be reached from here by linking or google them. Sure to enjoy both of them.

THIS IS MAKE ME LAUGH WEEK SO MAKE ME LAUGH SEND A JOKE

Spread the Stupidity Only in America ….....
do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.
Only in America ………. do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke...
Only in America …..... do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters. Only in America ……. do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.
Only in America..... do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.
Only in America …..…do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering.
Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkensour skin?
Why can't women put on mascara with their mouth closed?
Why don't you ever see the headline 'Psychic Wins Lottery'?
Why is 'abbreviated' such a long word?
Why is it that doctors call what they do 'practice'?
Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons? Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?
Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?
Why didn't Noah swat those two mosquitoes?
Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?
You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don't they make the whole plane out of that stuff?!
Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?
Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?
I like this one!!!If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?
If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

WANLU GETS INTO THE 5TH ROUND OF THE HALL OF FAME AND WINS

After winning 5 consecutive weeks in a local talent contest...I got the "Hall of Fame" award. I am the 2nd who got this award...the first was a family of acrobats...and the third was a yoyo expert.I was the 4th ventriloquist who joined...unfortunat ely, the first 3 lost in their first round. God gave me the talent and skills to make it to 5 rounds :)1st week. I used Nicolo my Kem Poyner figure2nd Week: I was with Cong. Dom my Dan Payes figure3rd week: I was with Lola Osna and the vent mask...Lola Osna is my Conrad Hartz figure4th week: I was with PP and Santiago...my Axtell Ostrich and Parrot5th week: Mackoy (Mack) Osna (Hartz) Dom (Payes) and Nicolo (Poyner)

DISCRIBING A TROLLEY FOR THOSE WHO NEVER SAW ONE BEFORE

For the sake of history tell everyone what a trolley car is.... was it electrical or diesel powered

A trolley car is part train and part bus but most stay on a set of railroad tracks and attached to overhead wires to move. A trackless trolley is a bus that runs on overhead wires but no tracks. Both are electrical and the trackless trolleys back in Dad's day didn't have speedometers in them plus a trolley car and a trackless trolley didn't need a driver's license to operate. Many times my Dad would tell me that he didn't take a trolley or trackless trolley out on his route because it was filthy, fleas infested or bug infested. Since these vehicles weren't classified as motored vehicles, they never were inspected. Frightening I assure you.

WILMA SWARTZ IT WAS A PLEASURE TO MEET WITH YOU AT THE 2009 VH CONVENTION A SHORT BIO

1-what was your growing up years like that includes school and your friends and the vent influence?
My school years I was a very shy child and I hated going to Speech Class because I couldn't pronounce my "R's" and "L's". When they did away with the A's and B's for each grade, I was moved up ahead to the following year. I had many friends and many bullies. During elementary school is when I saw Paul Winchell on TV and told my Mom that that was what I wanted to do. Dad was rarely home because he was working long hours driving a trolley car and then a trackless trolley before he became a supervisor. I remember my first vent figure was Jerry Mahoney and we got it out of the Sears catalog. I, then, found a toy store next to my parents' favorite furniture store that sold all types of hand puppets. Whenever I got my allowance, a new puppet was added and the furniture store supplied the refrigerator boxes that later became my puppet stages. The thing that really amazed me was that when I was performing in the schools, the bullies were my friends because they wanted to help assist me. It was a total transformation of the bullies because they asked politely if they could assist me. From then on, I had no problems except with one bully. My vent influence was definitely Paul Winchell who in later years became my mentor, my friend and fellow vent. Jimmy Nelson was someone I used to imitate when he did the Nestles' commercials. Also Shari Lewis brought ventriloquism to a different level by her characters like Lamb Chop, Hush Puppy and Charlie Horse. However Edgar Bergen I steered clear of. He just wasn't inventive enough for me.What is a trolley car for the sake of our younger readers...I bet when you were younger you watched many other vents on Hollywood Palace, Ed Sullivan and other variety shows and talk shows tell us your feelings about that

I did watch Hollywood Palace because it was forced on us by our Mom. Ed Sullivan was watched off and on if there was someone we wanted to see.

2-Are there any siblings? What was their feelings of your interest in ventriloquist?

Oh, there are siblings but now that Mom and Dad have passed away, they keep to themselves. I'm the oldest with my brother, Rick, coming 3 years after wards followed 3 years later by my sister, Cathy. On Mom's death bed, I asked my Mom if she could have any wish in the world, what would it be? Her response was that she wanted to talk to Jeff Dunham and Walter. After putting an APB out on Jeff, Steve Axtell got hold of Jeff who called me at my home and we set everything up. At 5 P.M. that day, Jeff called my cell phone and I put the speaker on and Jeff and Mom talked for about 5 minutes then Jeff put Walter on the phone. Mom caught Walter in a Kodak moment where Walter didn't have a comeback for Mom. By the end of the call, Mom had gotten new strength and my Dad was so thankful that I could grant Mom's last wish. This didn't go over at all well with Rick or Cathy though. Jeff even sent an autograph picture and an autographed talking Walter doll. As soon as Mom passed away, Rick and Cathy came up to me and told me that if I didn't remove all of Jeff's stuff from the house, they were going to destroy them. It was at this time I asked them what would happen when I pass away? Their answers were that they'd totally destroy all my characters. I had Rick and Cathy removed from my will. I know that I did right by granting Mom her last wish and many thanks go out to Jeff and Walter for their part. I'm curious though when this docuVENTary movie comes out called "Figures of Speech" because it's very possible that there will be a picture of me and my characters on signs attached to the buses my brother drives.
IT GIVES ONE MUCH PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO SOMEONE'S LAST REQUEST ESPECIALLY YOUR MOMS HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF DOING VENT OR A PUPPET SHOW FOR 'MAKE A WISH'

I have thought of doing a show for various organizations including the local Salvation Army's kettle drive however the SA has never responded to any of my requests. As for the "Make A Wish" foundation, I'd like to do that although I'm not sure who the right contact person is near me.

3-Did you perform in your school shows, was it in puppetry or ventriloquism?
When I performed in my schools, I actually did both. One time it was vent and the next time it was puppetry.
WHAT TYPE OF SHOW DID YOU PERFORM IN SCHOOL ELEMENTARY-MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH..DID YOU GO TO COLLEGE WITH YOUR ACT

My school shows had themes and you got graded on it however I never performed while I was in college for a short time. Since turning pro, I have done one college in Hartford, Connecticut and this Christmas season will be performing for the staff of Suny College, Canton, N.Y.

4-Who was your first vent here/heroine?
Without a doubt it was Paul Winchell.
WHAT TURNED YOU ON TO PAUL WINCHELL I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE IN ONE OF HIS SHOWS AS WELL AS HOWDY DOODY'S PEANUT GALLERY..WERE YOU?

What turned me on to Paul Winchell was his unique style of venting using live arms and hands, having Jerry dance with him etc. Paul was a real inventive vent which I try to be as inventive in my shows and give the public something no other vent has given them in a show. Unfortunately I never met Paul Winchell in person however we talked every month on the phone for one or two hours. I really would have liked to meet my mentor, fellow vent and friend but it never happened because of how sick and frail Paul was in later years. Howdy Doody I never got a chance to be in the Peanut Gallery.

5-How did Ventriloquism change or your younger years?
Venting actually helped my speech problems by finding new ways to pronounce words I had trouble with.
MANY PEOPLE TURN TO VENTRILOQUISM OR IS TAUGHT DICTION BECAUSE THEY HAD A SPEECH IMPEDIMENT, I HAD A VERY BAD LISP SO I TURNED TO THE STAGE AND SINGING AS A YOUNGER CHILD IT CARRIED ME THROUGH SCHOOL....

6-Was Vent part of your growing up years in school and out?
Vent was part of me while growing up in school however I became an Art Major because my dream was to draw animated cartoons for Disney however at that time Disney only hired male cartoonists. Women were only good as secretaries. When I graduated, I put venting on the back burner but it came in handy sometimes when I needed to tell off a boss. It, also, saved my life once when I had a burglar point a gun at me point blank range and I had no help. That voice inside of me came up with a plan and I threw my voice and made it seem like my assistant was pointing a gun right behind the burglar. The burglar turned to see and that's when I forcibly removed the gun from his hand.
YOU SAID YOU PUT VENT ON THE BACK BURNER.....FOR HOW LONG AND WHAT DREW YOU BACK TO IT...

After high school and a bit of college, I became a private investigator so even though ventriloquism was still with me, it rarely was used except for the time I had a gun pointed point blank range and I used ventriloquism to fool the burglar. I returned to my vent roots after a life and death fight I was in when I surprised two burglars at the Chart House Restaurant on Penn's Landing in Philadelphia. I was knocked down a two story waterless, concrete, waterfall landing in critical condition. The doctors told me that I should have laid there until help arrived but I didn't have that option. The burglars were coming downstairs to finish me off. I did manage to handcuff one of the burglars but the other got into a row boat and rowed across the Delaware River to New Jersey. I had to tie a blanket around the head rest and my neck just to keep my head up. The list of injuries was plentiful but for 1 1/2 years I had my mouth wired shut. The only way to speak was using my ventriloquist skills. When my mouth was freed from the wires, my late husband, George, told me that I should go pro so after putting venting on the back burner since 1968, I went pro in 1993.

7-When was your first professional gig and for who?
My first gig as a professional was in early 1993 for Re Max who managed a trailer park in Quakertown, PA. It went over really great and I was loved by all who attended.
PLEASE ELABORATE ON THE GIG WHAT DID YOU DO AS A PERFORMER AND HOW LONG WAS IT?

I used mostly vaudevillian skits like the "Makeup! skit where Pinelope tricked me three times into saying the word, "Makeup" and then an audience member would hit me with a big powder puff. I did songs, and near the end of the show, did something I haven't done since which was open the floor to questions put to Pinelope. The show lasted for around one hour with plenty of photos taken after wards.

8-What type of vent do you prefer?

I'm presuming you're referring to the figure type. Lately I mostly use the soft figures however later this month, I'll be performing with both my soft and hard figures down in Bridgewater, Virginia. The soft figures have more facial features you can use and in walkarounds, they are a lot lighter.
DO YOU FIND MANIPULATING THE HARD PUPPET MORE DIFFICULT THEN THE SOFT

Manipulating a hard figure is more difficult because the face is not as flexible as a soft puppet which can give you many more facial expressions without additional cost to have installed.
9-tell us a little about how a typical show runs for you how does it open, how you involve your different characters is there songs a how does it close?
Most of my shows start with Sandy Twinkletoes, my 6' ostrich and I walking through the audience and greeting them followed by Sandy getting the entire audience to dance either The Ostrich Dance (Chicken Dance without the chicken), The Mr. Six Dance (from 6 Flags), The Mummers' Strut (a Philadelphia tradition at New Years), The Hora, Zorba The Greek Dance and The Holy Bible (Hokey Pokey with the words changed in it). I, then, go into several skits using audience members with surprise endings for them. I do have songs in my shows that work with the particular theme I'm doing. The closing, if it's religious, ends in a hymn. If it's not religious then I usually play the theme to Young and The Restless as I tell the audience that I'm now giving them enough time to drive home to see their favorite soaps.
DOES YOUR PERFORMANCE HAVE A SET ROUTINE THAT YOU STICK TO WHEN YOU DO YOUR DIALOG? HOW DOES THAT GO?

I don't like the word, "set" because I basically create my shows using an outline then I put in the substance then go back and insert the jokes. Because my shows are interactive with the audience, each show is different but does follow a pattern.
10-Who were your favorite ventriloquists then and now and who do you see coming up for the further of vent.
My favorites then were Paul Winchell Shari Lewis and Jimmy Nelson and now I like Jeff Dunham, Jim Barber (who didn't live very far from where I live now before he went to Branson), Bob and Marty Hamill and Terry Fator. As to who I see coming up in the future of venting, why me of course!
AND THERE MUST BE OTHER VENTS THAT WERE LESS POPULAR THAT YOU MUST HAVE LIKED WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER DUE TO THE WORLD OF TELEVISION WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN'S SHOWS THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A REGIONAL SHOW OR TWO YOU LIKED

There were tons of children's shows here being produced out of Philadelphia. Shows like Bertie The Bunyip with vent, Lee Dexter (met and became friends in my adulthood), Captain Noah and His Magical Ark (Met him and his wife where I worked in a camera store and it was Captain Noah who talked me into doing puppet ministries. On his 35th anniversary of show business, I presented him the first puppet ministry script I had ever wrote.) Cartoon Corners General Store with Gene London was a must see on Saturday mornings, Sally Starr and the Popeye Theater (a favorite of Moe Howard's), Lorenzo (a clown looking similar to Emmet Kelly and did the Lorenzo Stump).

11- If there is one thing you want to share with the readers that could help them in the world of puppetry and vent what would it be?
Don't get discouraged if one of your shows doesn't go over as you hoped. Keep performing and don't give up. You can do it.
OK AND A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO THE YOUNGER VENTS IN THE WORLD HOW WOULD THEY LEARN, WHO WOULD BE THEIR MENTORS AND HOW WOULD THEY FIND THEM

All they need to do is one of several things...get a Maher Course....go to Vent Haven Ventriloquist ConVENTion one year (and they;ll want to return year after year)...or join Christianvents@Yahoo.com or Christpup@Yahoo.com or Worldvents@ Yahoo.com.

12-Tell us what Wilma has in store for the futher in ventriloquism...
Wilma's going to be seen in England on the TV special that Nina Conti's doing. We filmed the spot outside in the parking lot of the Drawbridge Inn during the ConVENTion and after talking with Nina and her crew, managed to get the Rev. John Lutton a part in it too. I'll, also, be seen in the mid 2010 docuVENTary, "Figures of Speech" full length feature film. I'm, also, working on several possibilities of starring in a children's TV show as well as a TV Variety Show starring my characters and me. That one I'm trying to get a different vent to guest star with me each week.BE MORE ELABORATE
At this moment I can't be more elaborate because of confidentiality reasons. We don't want someone to rip us off.

13-Thank you Wilma for sharing with us your world of ventriloquism

You're quite welcome. My goal in life is to get at least one person to forget their troubles and laugh during one of my shows. The world's too stressed out and needs to have us there to break the stress hold on them. DOES WILMA HAVE A WILMAISM THAT IS STRICKLY WILMA'S LIKE MINE IS NO PERSON IS TOO TALL THAT THEY CAN'T STOOP TO HELP ANY CHILD WHAT IS YOURS?

My "Wilmaism is, "Where's there a Wilma, there's a way!"

Wilma Has left the building. Thank you and good night.

HEY WILMA 'WHERE YA GOIN??'

To rest all my characters roaming and playing in my head.

THERE IS SOMEONE MISSING FROM THIS PICTURE CAN YOU GUESS WHO IT IS YOU GUESSED RIGHT IT WAS ME,

That's right I am bad I forgot my Storyteller, who I call claude and my Vern who I call Looney Toons Louie, shame on me.... there's always next year but by next year I will have already added at least one other member to the family Oreo the skunk who I call Petunia who will be doing her first gig in about 1 month. Ax who I call the Walt Disney of ventriloquism keep up the great ideas and we will continue to make your stop one of the first when it comes to soft puppets. Happy Birthday AX

BEFORE I FORGET AND LEAVE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE OUT

Eric I want to thank you for all your hard work and dedication in taking most of these pictures, your work should not go without a great big thank you, I know that the readers of this blog also thank you for your hard work. I see by you being in this picture your slacking, just kidding can say how much I am grateful. N J

FINALLY GOT TO PRESENT YOUR AWARD TO JEFF DUNHAM AT THE CONVENTION

Jeff was more then pleased, and need I say surprised, when I presented the First People's Choice Award for 2008 given to him after he had his stage show on Saturday late afternoon. I almost had to chase him down to be able to present it to him, but must say it was an honor and a privilege when I did.

MY ASSISTANT ERIC AND BARB PHOENIX'S OTTO AT THE GATES OF HEAVEN

As we got off the bus to make our first visit though the hollow halls of the Ventriloquist Haven... it was like entering the gates of heaven with all the greats of the world of Ventriloquism. If ever you make a journey to the Northern part of Kentucky(Ft Mitchell) its a must see, these were actually the homes of W S Berger the founder of the museum, there are over 500 vent figures seated and standing here, There are displays of the very top vents like Edgar Bergen, Paul Winchell, Jimmy Nelson, Shari Lewis Jeff Dunham and Terry Fator and soon to be entered Sammy King and his owl ... During the dedication 2 other greats were also given lifetime achievement awards, Bob Isaacson and Jimmy Nelson, I was always curious about lifetime awards is that something final, scary isn't it?This is where I hope someday to make CJ's final resting place, but thats not to be for a while yet, he still has a lot of carrying on to do first. Hundreds of pictures cover most of the walls in all the buildings. I thought I had a lot of pictures, well I think I have competition. There also was a room dedicated to Jay Johnson and there was the home of the staff which we were not allowed to enter...Make it a point to see this place everyone will have some memories here. There is a Library here as well, ask the curator about it. If you have your own memories share them....

A PICTURES WORTH A 1000 WORDS YOU CAN EITHER PLACE YOURS HERE OR EXCEPT MINE

While visting Vent Haven Con I happened to run into Jay's Room Dedicated to his history in ventriloquism and figured he's had many a vent figure on his knee and it would make a great picture to put him on mine. Hope you all are laughing as much as we are. No Jay didn't grow another head, can you guess who that mysterious lady behind Jay is??... Vent is so much fun...

INDIA'S GOT TALENT FINALS WILL HAVE A VENTRILOQUIST

Ramdas Padhye's son Satyajit has made it to the finals on the talent variety program India's Got talent. Be sure to go to youtube via my blog and watch his talent on ballyzone.tv august 1st semi finals 7 of 8 he combines ventriloquism and puppetry...Good luck to one of our own.