#254 Pro-Value Figure

He's back on the market.  Due to lack of follow-through from my customer in Singapore, I have again placed this figure on my page of figure's for sale: http://mrdsfigures.blogspot.com/

Rare Opportunity!

Periodically I receive an inquiry from persons wanting to purchase back issues of Newsy Vents ventriloquist newsletters.  Unfortunately, I have none at all - the overruns on any one issue were used as samples until the next issue was printed.  But now, thanks to George Boosey, I do have one-time availability of a good number of back issues.

Among the many ventriloquist items George sent to me for disbursement are several sets of printed ventriloquist publications, newsletters, magazines, journals, etc.  It was my advice to George that these be kept and sold as sets to insure that they would end up in the hands of people who valued them for the historical works which they are.  Many of the articles are as fresh and useful today as the day they were written.  So today we are offering for sale the back issues of Newsy Vents and Maher Messengers.  All are listed for eBay auction now and each auction includes photos of the actual newsletters with an itemized list of all issues included in the auction:

37 different issues Newsy Vents from 1983-1989: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290628787018

19 different issues Newsy Vents from 1990-'91 and 1997-'99: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290628791544

15 different issues Newsy Vents from 2000-2005:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260887010121

12 different issues The Maher Messenger 1992-1996*: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290628798781
*For this six year period the name was temporarily changed on Maher Studios' newsletter.  Then
in the year 2000 publication was resumed under the original name, Newsy Vents. 

The Outlaw Abe Buzzard

I am not pleased at Abe's denial of lifting the ventriloquail assistant's
wallet on the way out to the stage.

By Del Burkholder



Abe in his prison uniform



Years ago an old professor friend asked my assistance with tracking his genealogy. During this I kept finding reference to the outlaw Buzzard family; this began my study of the once famous Pennsylvania outlaw Abe Buzzard - the leading figure of five of his brothers and 10 to 15 other dangerous outlaws who operated as horse and chicken thieves in the late 1800’s. History has largely forgotten this outlaw but it is said that in the east at his time only the president received more newspaper coverage than he did. There was more reward posted for Abe than was ever posted for Jesse James. Abe spent 45 of his 80 some odd years behind bars with most of those years at the historical Eastern Penn. He was saved in prison, then got out and held bogus revival meetings. When the people came out to hear his teary sermons of “Ruin and Reformation” the Buzzard Gang would be robbing the homes of attendees of the revival.

Starting ventriloquism in an already established ministry with a decent number of people in every service was a concern, so I decided I needed niche characters where I could tell interesting stories until my vent skills caught up. I asked Clinton if he could create this character from an old 1880s picture of Abe. My idea was instead of writing vent scripts I just needed to portray Abe through me; his script is actual historical fact. I planned to use Abe only in churches and other venues and not in prison with our prison ministry (Streams of Life). It was Mr. D who suggested I should use my characters inside prison also. I was concerned that ventriloquism would not be accepted by the inmates who are very serious about their church and who see me as a fire and brimstone evangelist. Mr. D talked of Al Lacy, an evangelist he knew, who was very successful with his vent figure Clyde Hyde and drew a very good balance between the serious and the absurd. This encouraged me greatly that it could possibly work. Abe has quickly become a favorite in prison. His background of 45 years in prison (and my last 10 years experience in many different prisons) allows him to talk the lingo in his boastful, but loveable manner.

I have seen tears in the eyes of harden convicts when Abe tells how in the 1880s his wife Julia brought his newly born twin daughters to see him in prison and how he hung on the bars and wept. Today’s hardened convicts can relate to being separated from their own families. Shortly after tearing up, they are roaring in laughter from one of Abe’s demonstrative raves. When you can make people laugh and cry in the same talk, I have been told you are truly communicating to the heart.



Meet John and Stanley



From my hands ...




.... to your hands!


Meet aspiring ventriloquist, John Cassidy, with his new pal, "Stanley" (right).

One of the things that most pleases me in this business is seeing enthusiastic youth take up the art.  And that describes this young man perfectly.

For Sale

The head of this 30"  doll is a vintage composition head from the late '40s (perhaps earlier).  I restored and repainted the head.  While not restored as original, it is a very nice display figure, fully operational.

This doll is unique in that I added a headstick to the doll, with lever control for mouth open & close.  Head turns, tilts, and nods.  The hollow body is fully lined.  Hands are modern molded vinyl, painted to match the finish of the head.  Tux and hat are brand new, taken from one of the current Goldberger Charlie dolls. 

This beautiful one-of-a-kind figure is listed now for sale on eBay auction where you will find several other photos including one of the headpost w/lever and one of the undressed body.  I have one only - don't let it get away.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290628265593

NOTE:  I've deleted the name "Charlie McCarthy from the above for the following reason.   I'm certainly no expert on vintage ventriloquist dolls, but I've been told by an expert that this head was not a licensed Charlie head.  It is more likely one of the Charlie look-alikes produced by K&S.  (I cannot double check any markings on the back of the neck as they were obliterated during the restoration process of sandings and fillings.)  I can tell you that when it was sold new, it was sold with monocle and tux so the restoration appearance here is quite accurate.  While it could be rightfully called a Charlie "tribute" doll, and has been restored to appear as the original doll, I was in error to call it "Charlie McCarthy" - my apologies.   Let me just say, "it is what it is" and I fully guarantee all my auctions and will refund buyer's payment if unsatisfied in any way. 

Best Career Investment!

Dave Miller, like many of you who are reading this, began his career in the 1950s.  And when Dave began, his first vent figure was one of the small Charlie dolls being sold in the stores at that time.  "Best $5.00 investment I ever made!", Dave once told me.  This picture from the front cover of a 1988 Newsy Vents shows that same doll which is now preserved in a glass showcase in the Miller home and appears to be the same model doll as that I'm selling. 

Update from Romania

Corky (#251) has arrived safely in Romania and is now in the good hands of his ventriloquist partner, Crina.  His official name is now "Romeo" - a comic Romanian name.  Crina is studying ventriloquism via Taylor Mason's, The Complete Idiot's Guide To Ventriloquism, (an excellent book, by the way).  And it would appear Romeo has joined Crina's book study as I see he is wearing a new pair of reading glasses.  He's also dressed for the upcoming Romanian Winter weather holiday shows.  Excellent!  Good luck to the both of you.

Shop Talk

The head in the foreground is one I started years ago and never completed (Plastic Wood construction).  Perhaps now is the time - I thought I'd check it over to see how big a job it would be, wondering if it would make a good "spare time" winter project.

The head hanging in the background is even older, an early '40s Charlie.  I have restored and repainted the head which originally was fitted with a stuffed body, but I decided  to mount it on a head post.  I'm finishing a body for it today.  Completed, it will not be as original, but it will be a very nice, unique one-of-a-kind.  I hope to have pictures very soon.

More Vent "Goodies"!

Yesterday I received from George Boosey a large box filled with ventriloquist printed memorabilia covering much of the past 30 years.  He provided the material to be distributed to blog readers, collectors, etc.  My job is finding fun ways to do this.   Some will be offered for sale on eBay, introduced here first.  And there will be more prize drawings as well.  If you entered your name previously for the drawings there is no need to do so again as I will still have you registered.  If you have never asked to be signed up for the blog prize drawings you can do so at any time with an email to me: mahertalk@aol.com   There is no cost, no obligation.

Note from Deputy Walsh

I just received a note from Deputy Bob Walsh who is currently on tour in China.  He just completed  a stretch of 20 school programs in four cities.  In the city of Kunming, someone broke into the Principal's office but none of his dummies were taken or damaged even though a lock was broken off his trunk.  Nothing of his was taken although some things moved around.  Bob thought the intruder must have thought they were just toys.  I'd prefer to think the dummies frightened the bad guy(s) away!  :)

"From here, nearly everywhere

Adelia and I are Hesston College alumni, and the school has a trademark phrase: Start here, go everywhere.  I've often thought I should hang the same or similar slogan over my shop door.  Because that's exactly what takes place with the puppets and figures built within the four walls of that small building.  They start there, and from there, go more places than I would ever have imagined.  Just recently I started a photo listing of figures sold and where they went.  Even I am amazed as I watch the listing advance.  You can see them in the margin of the page: http://mrdsfigures.blogspot.com/

"eye" spy

Ralph Green (photo right) and I got our start in ventriloquism in a very similar manner.  Both of us took up ventriloquism in the late '50s at nearly the same age (Ralph is a couple years younger than me).  I built my first dummy using the directions in Paul Winchell's Fun & Profit book.  Ralph use the information in Winchell's book to add moving eyes to his original dummy, a Jerry Mahoney purchased at a toy store.

Ralph uses his figure mainly in church services and tells the following story:

"On one occasion (while using his first dummy), one of his eyes fell back into his head during a performance and I had to have him put his face down between my neck and shoulder.  He continued to "talk" for a while and was complaining about a bad head ache so he wanted to go to bed.  I could not let the kids see a puppet with a missing eye."

A few years ago when I unboxed my original vent figure built from the Winchell instructions, I, too, found one eye had fallen back into his head!  Do you suppose there was a defect in the instructions?  (Not likely.) Ralph's current figure seen in the picture is Danny DoLittle, made by Lovik and sold by the now defunct California Maher Workshop.

Trick? Or treat?

Today being Halloween, I looked around for something appropriate to picture on this post.   I do have several heads hanging in my shop, but that's the norm - I find nothing spooky about that.  Then I spotted the head in my shop vise.  It belongs to my ventriloquist lawyer cousin who brought it to me this past Thursday for repair.  Now, THAT job is a frightening sight!  For me, at least.  Not to imply that the workings are so repulsive in appearance.  No, it is the nature of the required repair itself  that is a bit daunting.

The maker of this figure built the jaw unit from a block of rigid styrofoam (my screwdriver points to the back of the styrofoam in the picture).  Clever idea, but styrofoam simply will not provide long lasting support for the control arm which was inserted and glued into the styro.  I find it amazing that method even withstood the several thousand openings and closings of the mouth this long (according to the date on the head post it was built in 2004).  So, finding a permanent repair will be the trick, and when finished successfully, my treat.

Those in need

Joe Overfelt is children's minister at one of the largest homeless shelters in Virginia.  Currently he is working with 50-75 homeless children as well as their parents.  He also works with homeless men and women in the drug and alcohol rehab program using the characters you see in the photo above.

But Joe feels an old man figure could be very effective in communicating with those he ministers to who sometimes are very angry.  Through a vent figure with similar character issues he could demonstrate in a fun way how God can transform lives. 

While Joe is a paid staff member, the shelter receives no government funds.  Rather the shelter, http://www.rescuemission.net/, is entirely supported by donations.  As you might imagine, the staff salaries are meager.  So I am wondering if there is someone reading this who might have just the hard figure character Joe is looking for that they would be willing to sell at a discount, or even donate.  I know it's a long shot, but I thought I'd mention it.

What I've suggested to Joe is what I've suggested to many in the past who have similar need, and that is that he make his need known to local volunteers who either tour or give some hours' time to the shelter.  It is not uncommon for a person or group of persons to take on the project of funding a new vent figure for a worthy recipient.  Over the period of 40 years I'd estimate we sell one or two figures each year that were paid for in this manner.  The funds are much more likely to come from a local contributor who knows firsthand the ventriloquist and his or her service ministry.

#256 and counting

Digital cameras are great!   I've been able to document with photos almost all the jobs that come through my shop since acquiring such a camera.  Of course I'm thankful for the trusty Nikon 33mm camera I used for many years, and with it I captured hundreds of images, but that was only a fraction of all the characters that passed through/from my hands over the course of 30+ years.

July 10, 2007 was the day I once again started numbering each figure I built, and documenting the character with a photo.   I began with number one, and this week I will complete #256. 

#254 is pictured here.  I've just completed #255 and #256.  You can see these and others on my page of figures for sale:  http://mrdsfigures.blogspot.com/

The time is now

Reader Comment and Question:  I am currently unemployed and I have considered doing vent shows full time as an alternative career.  I have performed vent in the past for churches, civic organizations, senior citizens and so on as opportunities came along.  I am 54.  Any advice as to my chances of beginning a full time vent career?  Is the idea feasible, and if so, how and where should I begin?
*  *  *  *  *
From Mr. D:  I'm going to invite readers to comment on your questions, but I'll begin by saying realistically, one does not, at any age, simply one day decide to "go full time" as a ventriloquist and do it.  Rather, you start with one show followed by another and then another.  One show performed well most likely will lead to one or more additional future opportunities.  As your calendar fills with advance bookings, a full time career may develop over time.  But initially, you will have to get the ball rolling by deciding to whom you would like to offer your services and then make yourself known to them.  People cannot request or accept your services as a ventriloquist until they know of them.

You have named three very logical venues/groups.  Your past experience in these venues is an obvious plus.  You may still have the names of some contact persons.  You may have to offer your services free to a couple select groups to help get your name out there (see Mark Wade's post 10/24/11).  It will take some time, effort, and legwork to get things off and rolling, but now is the time to do it.

Triple treat

Salvation Army Officer Major Wes Green sent me this photo showing his three vent figures with the new outfits and hairdos he has provided for them.  The two Selberg figures on the right certainly have greater dollar value than the refurbished Lovik figure on the left.  But I have to say, I'm still partial to the guy in uniform - and not because of his hair style (although I do feel a sense of kinship in that regard as well).

Bug outta here!

Chances are, you've had the experience of having one of your shows interrupted unexpectedly, but probably nothing quite like what Deputy Bob Walsh experienced last week.  Bob is China and was doing a show for staff and students of the Hong Kong Yew Chung International School.  While using "Grandpa" for the finale of his presentation, a giant flying Chinese cockroach flew across the room causing one of the students to jump up which in turn caused the whole row to stand up!  Bob had Grandpa improvise until the big bug was silenced and the show could resume as planned!  Grandpa must certainly claim that audience bugged him more than most!

Mark Wade Writes

USING "PRO BONO" SHOWS AS A MARKETING STRATEGY

I took two years of Latin in high school and I'm still not sure what Julius Caesar said in all of his written documents!  But I found out that "pro bono" means virtually "for the public good", or in layman's terms ... FREE.  That's right, I am advocating using strategically placed free shows to help build your vent business.  Usually speaking I don't think much of free shows.  I don't want free shows to upset the balance of my fee structure.  But if you have serious plans, and control the "pro bono" shows in the correct way, the occasional free show can help your regular business grow.

Let's say you want to work a certain market but have no way to capitalize on it to do a show.  A free show given to a group, especially one that has many contacts like a Rotary Club, Lions, etc., can be viewed as a showcase.  Because the club has many well connected members, a free show is a good way to introduce yourself.  When I first moved to Grove City, Ohio, I did a free show for the local Rotary Club.  The show was a rousing success ... and it led to at least three paid shows at full fee.

"Pro bono" programs can also be used to help a loyal client who has been hit hard by the recession, especially if this is an "every year" customer.  I will give them a free show because we have established a bond, a friendship.  What kind of friend would turn his or her back on a friend when they are having troubles?  I do the show and chalk it up to good will.  More than once has my loyal customer remembered how I helped them and they came back to me with paid shows when things straightened up.  This means I had to look beyond the immediate dollars and look to the future with this company.  When things got better they brought me back.  I had staying power with them.

Consider ways in which a free show can help you and others.  If you use your free show as a win-win with your clients you will definitely be in the game of performing for a long, long time!

markwade@kidshowvent.com