A development of recent years is the walking figure, whose legs and feet move quite naturally as it marches about the stage, its arm linked in that of the performer. At least, that is the way it appears, but in reality the performer’s arm is concealed under the dress of the automaton, while the arm which appears to be his is a false one. Sometimes the ventriloquial pedestrian ap­pears as a soldier on crutches that he uses very naturally, and again it may be a stout lady of color who, with one hand, lifts her skirt daintily as she walks and talks with her exhibitor. Of course the fingers are attached to the skirt so that any lifting of the arm by a concealed wire will lift the garment also, but it is all very ­ inter­esting and very natural and adds much to the effect of a, performance. These figures are costly, however, and usually must be made to order.

A laudable attempt has been made by profes­sional ventriloquists during recent years to get away from the conventional by giving their fig­ures novel surroundings and characteristics. One set-up, for instance, represents a country grocery store, with the puppets seated on barrels and boxes in front of the counter, from behind which, in the guise of the storekeeper in shirt sleeves, ” high-water ” trousers, boots and battered straw hat, the ventriloquist discusses with them famil­iarly about the gossip of the village. Another performer gives his figures an airing at a mimic seashore resort, where they are presently joined by an automaton nurse maid, who trundles her infant charge in a perambulator on the beach without any visible assistance except a small rub­ber hose which drags at her heels. One also has a soldiers’ camp, with a walking figure as a one-legged colonel, while as the camp mascot Jerry interrupts the conversation from behind a loose flap in the side of a tent.

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Ray Alan has died suddenly at the age of 79.

He was described by his agent as being “Technically he was regarded as Britain’s top ventriloquist. You just couldn’t see his mouth moving.”

Ray started his ventriloquism career during his teen years by creating the illusion that voices were coming from boxes. In 1954 he worked with Laurel and Hardy.

He was regularly on TV during the 1950s – 1970s. He also performed at Bob Hope’s 82nd birthday bash.

His best known puppet was Lord Charles, known for the catch-phrase “you silly arse” and with an eye for the ladies. He was based on an upper-class toff with a liking for the ladies and booze. His face was based on Laurel Hardy.

He was a great talent and will be missed. Here is a video of him performing at his best with Lord Charles.

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Here is a link to his obituary on the BBC;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment_and_arts/10147436.stm

Also on the BBC is an article inspired by Ray Alan about the recent history of ventriloquism:-

It Starts:

The death of British comedian Ray Alan recalls a lost age when ventriloquists were cosy family entertainment favourites. Today, they are more likely to be found at the cutting edge of subversive alternative comedy.

You can read the rest here;-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8702845.stm

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              Fig. 7           

Figure 7 shows the back view of such a body without the clothing, which of course overlaps and conceals the opening without preventing the insertion of the neck and head in A or the per­former’s hand in B. The spike C is fixed on the bottom of the figure and is hidden by the dra­pery. This spike fits loosely into a hole made in the stand or chair upon which the figure is seated, and, being loose, the body can be made to sway about by a push with the wrist when the hand is manipulating the mouth.

The neck is dropped into the body through the opening A; when the small spike of the neck-stick touches bottom the head is in position and will remain so, as shown in the figure. The right hand of the performer in the interior of the pup­pet (which in this case would be on his right) clutches the neck-stick and the thumb is inserted in the wire ring at the left, which by a down­ward movement pulls the mouth open by means of a picture wire or gut string as in the smaller knee dolls, a spring causing the jaw to close as the wire is related.    It will be understood without further illustration that if the neck-stick be held in the hand, any upward movement raises the head, a movement to the left causes it to turn to the right and vice versa. By tilting the stick toward you the head is made to look down, and by pushing it from you the head looks up. The mouth-moving head and neck is detachable, and, when packed, fits inside the body, where, wrapped in a cover, it travels without risk of in­jury. In order to make them compact for this purpose, the backs of bodies, heads, etc., are made flat, as also are the buttons on the coat.

Technorati Tags: Ventriloquism, ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Dummies, ventriloquist figures, ventriloquist puppets