THE GRANDFATHER OF MODERN DAY VENTRILOQUISM

The Title of 'Father of modern day Vent' was passed on to Edgar Bergen, who had learned his craft from Harry Lester Known as The Great Lester 'The Grandfather of Modern Vent' 1878-1956 he was one of the first to drink water and have his character Frank Byron Jr. speak at the same time. He walked amongst the audience and had Frank whistle . "The Tongue is quicker then the ear" We would have to say that The Great Lester was the Golden Boy of Vaudeville. Charlie Mack and Sons was the figure maker of Harry's idea who would on to make Charlie McCarthy. But before that Mack and Sons began making wooden puppets for the other Vents, because it became the rage, papier mache was becoming a thing of the past. When the telephone was becomming the rage in America Harry developed the distant voice known as the telephone voice.Before Lester, the style in vaudeville was to create distraction from the lips by elaborately outfitting the stage with many different characters, fancy scenery, sets and props. ‘The Great’ Lester would change all that. In comparison Lester's satge was empty except for a small table a bottle a wine glass a telephone. By doing this he standardized what was to come in the world of ventriloquism. You may never have had a chance to see him for his act was strickly stage , not tv or radio, but every ventriloquist you see today brings you some of the Great Lester. Does anyone have any recollection of anything regarding him.. njay254@aol.com

Hi N Jay

At Ventriloquist Central we have a complete page dedicated to "The Great Lester". You can find it here: http://www.ventriloquistcentral.com/tribute/lester/lester.htm

BTW love your blog and the information you provide.Steve Hurst 'Webmaster' http://www.ventriloquistcentral.com