What Do 525 Ventriloquists Do at a Convention? Ask Their Dummies

If there is such a phenomenon as an “alternative” ventriloquist, it is without a doubt the peerless Nina Conti from the UK, who is currently doing a month at the Edinburgh Fringe. Check her out on You Tube (as well as the HBO series Family Tree from a few years ago).

525 ventriloquists? Shouldn't that be 1050?

Love this story! I know nothing about the subject, but found it fascinating and entertaining. Good writing and lots of interesting photos. I learned some new things, and that is rare at my age! Thanks!

Fun and rich article. Made me remember the joke of the vent who couldn't find work. After some years a friend bumped into him and was told he is now a successful clairvoyant. "What do you charge?" the friend asked. The ex-ventriloquist replied. "I charge 50 bucks to have someone speak to their dead relatives and 100 dollars to speak to them while I drink a glass of water."

Is it a thing for vents to hide half their face?

I remember as a child sending away a whole quarter for a tool that was going to help me become a vent. It was a small piece of leather with a piece of scotch tape over a cut out half ovaled center that fit on top of your tongue between your upper roof. You exhaled and it made a shrill bird-like sound. What a rip-off.

Wasn't Albert Brooks the first alt-ventriloquist?

This is a more appreciated art form in Germany — see Sebastian and Amanda the hippo.

If you love ventriloquism... HBO - Family Tree - Nina Conti - Monk... A wonderfully entertaining Christopher Guest series highlighted by the fabulous Nina Conti and Monk.

It's so weird, I'd love to see them. I can remember when, as kids in the 50's, based on Ed Sullivan performers most likely, local kids would try to "throw " our voices. Never had a clue how the people did it or how they created the illusion that they did. The more complex magic of Jim Henson's Muppets really eclipsed them -- but here's to anyone continuing a live performance tradition. Why do so many look have to look like the progeny of Howdy Doody?

These things terrify me yet I am drawn to "ventriloquist dummy run amok" movies (Dead of Night, Magic) and television episodes of Twilight Zone and Hitchcock.

I swear to God there are times when I amaze myself. I'm just one step ahead of the zeitgeist. This past weekend I was waiting at a red light in Wilmington, VT and when I looked in the rearview I saw a guy throwing his voice to his puppet who was in the backseat sitting in a car seat. I got home and started writing. I thought it might be a blog but then it fit in the story I am writing and I said, "Forget that, get paid for your work." Whether it makes the final version in the yet to be determined 5th novel, I wrote an entire chapter from a ventriloquist sighting. It's magic when stories fall into your lap.

Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney were popular 40 odd years ago. In my opinion it takes a funny looking dummy and a great script along with the mechanics and "voice throwing" to be a real success as a ventriloquist. When it's done well, audiences really enjoy themselves and the performers.

How absolutely wonderful. Yet a little weird.

A big problem with evaluating the quality of a ventriloquist and his dummy occurs when the dummy is exceptionally funny but his ventriloquist is a dull laggard , so that you only enjoy or react to the dummy. You know the story about the dummy who insults dumb blondes and a blonde takes umbrage and protests; the ventriloquist begins to apologize , but is cut off by the blonde, " I'm not talking to you , stupid! I'm talking the little fellow on your lap!!" How can you honor or reward the master when his underling is doing all the fine work?

I never was a big fan of ventriloquism until I watched the adorable, funny and extremely talented Darci Lynne perform and eventually win the 2017 "America's Got Talent" competition. Not only did she make this art form "cool", she is an incredible role model for millions of kids and aspiring ventriloquists. I had no idea there was even a convention for these talented individuals. What's really neat to see are the various detailed and interesting co-partners in the acts. Those are indeed incredible works of art, skill and talent.