The NEW MAHER VENTRILOQUIST STUDIOS

The Clinton Detweiler family is happy to announce the legacy of Maher Ventriloquist Studios lives on. 

Visit the New website:  www.maherstudios.com

The New Maher Ventriloquist Studios carries on the great traditions set forth by Fred and Madeline Maher, the founders, and Clinton and Adelia Detweiler, who took it to the next level.
 
Mark and Jody Wade, along with partners Tom Crowl and Ken Groves, have developed some wonderful products and have made available again in Kindle form the Detweiler "Classic" Version of the Maher Course of Ventriloquism.

They have also created the NEW Maher Interactive Course in Ventriloquism that applies some of the latest technologies such as video lessons, "Skype" and "Face to Face", along with streamlining and reworking the course to make it perfect for you.

For Products available, visit:
maherstudios.com/maher-catalog/

Current Catalog offerings include:

• Ventriloquism Courses
• Instant Access Videos and Courses
• Props
• Collectibles

SAD, SAD NEWS...

It is with heavy hearts we inform you that Clinton Detweiler passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on January 22, 2013.

 

His love for ventriloquism and the many ways it allowed him to not just create objects but to connect with people was evident in all that he did.

Thank-you for being a part of his life...he enjoyed posting on the blog and trying to help those that had questions.  We are so sad that this blog will no longer continue.

 

Please know that if you have an order outstanding with him, we are doing our best to fill those in a timely manner. Please be patient with us.

As far as the contest of Darl Bennett's figure, we are closing the contest and returning the figure. We are unable to fulfill this wish.

 

 

We loved this man, husband, father, grandfather, friend.

Sincerely, Joy Detweiler Scheuerman

I purchased a circle cutter from Wal-mart and spent some time today trying to cut a neat circle of the proper size to display a coin (front and back) in a piece of mat board. Not happy with the results. I'll try again tomorrow. If I ever do get it, it may be the last one I try to do.

Email note from K. S. Gode (India):
 "Pleased to inform you that first Ventriloquism Festival took place in India at Hyderabad on 23rd of December 2012. I was the Guest of Honor. Ventriloquists in and around the region attended this Festival. Most of them were using figures made by me. I was felicitated for my contribution towards promoting this art in India."

To DC:  The maximum number of animations the majority of todays' professional ventriloquist would have on a figure would be: eyes, and raising eyebrows - perhaps winkers.

But if you think about the characters being used by today's pros, there are some of the characters being used have no animations at all.

It's not the puppet used nor the number of animations on a figure that makes a professional. It's how the puppet/figure is manipulated in synchronization with the skillful presentation of a creative, humorous dialogue conversation. Delivery is more important than mechanics

Day 6 -
I have not viewed the DVD that comes with the Little Jeff ventriloquiust doll, but I understand the content is "kid friendly".  However, Kevin told me he talked with a mother who didn't even want their son to be seen using the Little Jeff doll for fear others might recognize the doll's source and somehow get the idea that by letting their son use the doll, they approved of the (adult) content Jeff's show.    Perhaps reaching a bit, but oh, the tangled web we weave....

To JD: Your Skinny is one of Mrs. Maher's earlier ones. I can tell by the mechanics. It would have been very rough on the outer surface as she would have finished it. But at some point it had come to me for refinishing and repainting, so it is super nice in appearance. Now it's making its second trip through my shop! Two trips to the "Dr" in 50 years - not bad at all! It still has the original wig. Mrs. Maher always had the maker of the wig (Meyer Jacoby of NY) write the last name of her customer on the underside of the wig - I noticed that name was "Watkins". Another curiosity - she wrote the name of the figure as "Skiny Dugan" (Only one "n" in Skinny) on top the head, under the wig - I guess she was in a hurry like we all get sometimes. There was no date. Probably early 1960s. but that's just a guess.

PS:  Yes, Adelia injured her leg last October and still has limited mobility.  So I'm
"chief cook and bottle washer".  I worked on your Skinny yesterday between loads of laundry.  :-)

I just took a look at an audition video Phil Nichols did for a new local Christian Kid's Show: Keys For Kiddos.  Phil will be doing 20 spots for the show.  Music and laugh track will be added, but you can see the piece at the link below.  It reminded me of a routine from Bill Boley's Gospel Routine book which I used myself a few times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4Xbzzglmso

So on January 27 the USPS is raising postage rates again.  And while they hope to have the public distracted by a 1 cent increase on postage stamps and postcards (my assessment), they will raise the priority rates some 10%!   My goodness - so that's how you do it - when business drops off, just raise your prices!  I could still be in business!

To DC:  Wow - I'm so sorry to learn of the loss of your home and belongings, including ventriloquist dummy, in a fire. I can't imagine the heartache and headache experienced by such a tragedy! Yes, I do still build some 40" figures and thank you for thinking of me. But to try to create a figure in a likeness of you at age 4-5 (from a photo) would require building what I refer to as a custom "portrait" figure and that is not a service I provide. Nor do I offer some of the various animations you list. Have you checked with Tim Selberg or Tim Cowles?

You may have noticed - at the moment I'm treating my blog during my "Blog vacation" in sort of a "Facebook/Twitter" manner - simple posts with few bells and whistles... sorta fun again. We'll see where it leads. In the meantime, I hope to get a little more time in my shop, too.

My eBay buyer failed to follow through and does not reply to my email, so after 6 weeks of waiting, I have relisted my big 36" comical bird puppet (Buzzard) on eBay.  One-of-kind.  See current eBay listing for photos a full description:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290846166290

Congratulations to Anne Wilson (IL).  Anne has now completed both the Basic and Advanced sections of the Maher Course, and her Completion Certificate for the final section will go into tomorrow's mail  Anne expressed one of her goals is to "share this amazing art with others," helping "keep an ancient art alive into the 21st century."  I have to tell you that to someone who has made a career of teaching the art of ventriloquism, those words are music to my ears! 

Well, I just sold another book on ebay for 99 cents that will cost $1.61 in postage to ship.  I don't know how much longer I'll be able to afford my retirement hobbies!

Day 4 -
I still own an industrial paper cutter, but I keep it in a storage unit.  So I told Adelia I was going to be gone for a bit as I needed to trim some Course Lessons.
"Can't you just take one day off and do something other than ventriloquism?" was her response.

That brought me up short.  "I don't know what I would do that I enjoy as much", I said.  But I told myself maybe I should think about it.

That was yesterday - I still haven't thought of anything...  I think I'll go to my shop.

Okay - I'm on "vacation" from the blog in the same manner that I'm "retired" from Maher Studios. All my days (and emails) are filled with vent related minutes and activities. I'm just trying a couple new ways to make my life easier by spending less time at the keyboard.

From Dave Ferdinand:
 I purchased my Clipper figure from you about 14yrs ago in Littleton. I adore him. I know you have a Clipper and was wondering if you have made any adjustments to the length of his arms or legs to make him a little more proportional?

Dave:  Yes, I actually made several adjustments.  Clipper came to me as a 38" figure.  But I actually prefer a more petite size body - even if the head is a little oversize in proportion.  I think it gives the figure an "impish", "pixie" appearance which adds to the character's appeal.  Not to mention that it is easier to handle- less unwieldy.  So I first shortened the body torso itself by about 1.5 inches.  Then I shortened the arms. (I prefer arms to hang at a length so the  base of the thumb is even with the bottom of the torso.)  And I shortened the legs as well - I don't remember how much - just to where I was satisfied with his appearance and handling.  Clinton

From Wolfgang Meyer, Hamburg Germany: 

I did not find your homepage for some time. But just now I saw that you are back in business?

Or is that an old page?  I made the Course with you many years ago.That was the best. Have you got them still or again for sale?  I am still working with one of your puppetts.

  

Dear Wolfgang: 

It is good to hear from you again. We closed Maher Studios in 2006, but I'm still here. I still build a few figures, and yes, I still sell and provide student support for the Maher Course (www.mahercourse.blogspot.com) In fact, I completely revised and expanded the Course content in 2002. I do have a discounted price on the new version for Maher Course "alumni" such as yourself, if you are interested. I so glad to know your study of the lessons is continuing to serve you well after all these years! And I pray it will continue to do so far into the future!  Clinton

I've always been concerned about the matter of placing the same mask on various persons from act to act.  How sanitary can that be?  I know the conscientious vent will sanitize the mask between each and every use, but how does the audience volunteer know (unless prearranged). I can promise you if I was unexpectedly called up as an assistant during this worse that usual flu season, and the vent produced a mask for me to put over my face, I'd find a way to tactfully refuse.  Maybe it's just me?

I spent most of today preparing five Maher Courses.  I've been at this a long time and it still takes about one hour per Course with all the various components to: print, collate, staple, fold, gather, trim, bundle, drill, insert, seal, cut, assemble, sticker, register, double-check, box, label.  And now that that's done, I need to pack one Course for shipment to Pakistan.  More bundling, wrapping, boxing, labeling, custom's forms - not to mention $43 in required postage.  I'll order USPS pickup at the door - I'm ready for a nap!

I have a request here for a method to display both front and back sides of a Hall of Fame coin in a clear plastic case - with an autograph.  I'm working on it...

By the way, I do still have Set #3 available.  I'm shipping one out today and would be happy to accept more orders.

Well, I just sent off the order for Set #4 Hall of Fame Coins (2013-A)!  I should have coins for you in 5-6 weeks.

Day 3 -
I spent yesterday printing lessons for the Maher Course.  I printed and stapled them at Kinkos, but brought them home to fold.  As I was working at our kitchen table (don't have another place in the house to do such work) I was thinking, this is what you were doing 43 years ago when you started out - sitting at the kitchen table preparing lessons for Maher students!  I guess we've come full circle!

To WM: Having trouble keeping/finding a constant ventriloquial voice is pretty typical.  And that's why you need what the Maher Course calls a "benchmark" word or phrase. I can tell you that I used the word "shay" as a starting point for voice placement. I learned to easily say it consistently at the same tonal pitch and with the same resonance. Then I would start each practice session by saying "shay, shay, shay", and then go on with sentences. All in the puppet's voice of course. It helps with voice placement, by the way, to practice with puppet/figure in hand.

To DE:  Yes, I remember your dummy.  Time, weather, usage, temperatures - any can change the shape of a head just enough to cause a mouth to stick.  Try inserting a metal fingernail file into the slots along sides the mouth and file in and out where you can feel the mouth is tight or wedging. That should help.