December
2006
Yes, this month is Dale Brown,
pictured with his original Chip Martin. The Chip Martin on the left
was made by Craig Lovik and now resides in Vent Haven Museum. The
current Chip that Dale uses was made by Alan Semok and is pictured above
on the right. Dale Brown started his marketing firm of Brown &
Martin, Inc. in 1984, and has been a leader in this field ever
since. According to his website, Dale is
a "business owner, marketing professional, author, keynote
speaker, ventriloquist, racecar driver, Harley Davidson enthusiast …
B&M’s humble leader is a busy individual. With almost 30 years of
experience in marketing and public relations, both on the corporate side
and the agency side, Dale is able to provide expert advice to clients. But
let’s face it … he’s where he is today because of his wife … who
tells him to go to work everyday."
Thanks to
everyone who guessed this month:
Gary
Owen
Al Stevens
Val Hilliker
Jerry Layne
Matt Bronsil
Rodger Perkins
Neale
Bacon
Ken Florentine
Pete
Michaels
Tom Basso
(Back to Top)
November
2006
If you guessed Ronn Lucas, you guessed
right. With those suspenders and that mustache, Ronn said, "What
can I say? I was victimized by the 80s."
Ronn's website biography (www.ronnlucas.com)
states: "Ronn currently headlines year round t the RIO Hotel in Las
Vegas in his own afternoon comedy show. He sells out 4-6 days a
week...Before he evolved into this wonderful amalgamation of comedy,
improv, vocalism, and audience interaction,...Ronn Lucas was just a
ventriloquist. As a young man, he had put in over 13 thousand hours
practicing his art. It all began when he was seven years old and
discovered a TV program in which ventriloquist Edgar Bergen appeared to
make a baby talk. Bergen then brought his wooden companion Charlie
McCarthy to life and provided Charlie with an acerbic personality.
The audience loved Edgar and Charlie, and they became one of America's
most beloved duos."
"Young Ronn Lucas purchased the novelty album, 'Instant
Ventriloquism' by Jimmy Nelson, and spent three years diligently working
on mastering the art of talking without moving his mouth...By the time he
was in high school, he found he could call himself out of class by making
his voice sound like an announcement on the school's PA system, 'Mr.
Lucas, come to the principal's office now!' The teachers never
knew."
"While in college, he took his act, the traditional
ventriloquist/dummy routine, and played bars, honky-tonks, nightclubs,
shopping mall openings, retail store promotions, private parties, and
anything else that came along. He logged 500 performances in one
year. The experience was invaluable."
Today, Ronn has created his own unique show and cast of
characters. As you can see, success like Ronn's doesn't happen
overnight and takes a tremendous amount of hard work and imagination!
Thanks to the following people who submitted
guesses. Everyone guessed correctly!
Evelyn Hickam
Liz VonSeggen
Donald Woodford
Tom Basso
George Boosey
Gary Koepke
Neale
Bacon
Al Stevens
Jerry
Layne
Bill DeMar
Gary
Owen
Pete Michaels
(Back to Top)
October
2006
Even that wig and sunglasses can't
hide the fact that that Skinny Elvis is really Gary Owen! Gary
writes, "The
'Skinny Elvis' came about in a rather humorous way. Several years ago I
was asked to host an 'Elvis' night at the Oklahoma Opry, a family country
music show held weekly in
Oklahoma City
. I thought it would be FUNNY to do a COMEDIC Elvis impersonation. It went
over BIG time.
Anyway, I’ve done this routine as a show opener for other shows
throughout
Oklahoma
and
Texas
. The show starts with the 2001 Odyssey theme with floating stage lighting
and spots. As the band goes into the C C Rider theme…I always come from
the back of the auditorium with FOUR security guards or body guards down
the isle in SPOT light only. Waving, shaking hands with audience members,
comically kissing and hugging a few of the ladies….then I rush to the
stage and sing the song. I usually do two or three more numbers and hand
off a scarf to a STAGED girl in the show. The
audience gets big belly laughs as I OVER ACCENTUATE Elvis moves with my
skinny butt. The voice is a GOOD Elvis which goes over well." If we know
anything about Gary Owen's vocal talents, we know he does Elvis better
than 'good.'
Gary hails from Oklahoma City, OK. He serves on the
Vent Haven Board of Advisors and conducted the Advanced Ventriloquism
workshop at the 2006 ConVENTion.
Thanks to everyone who guessed
(everyone guessed correctly!). There were more responses this month
than ever before! It's great to hear from people checking out the
website.
This month's guessers were: George
Boosey, John Byrd, Barbara Guyll, Clinton Detweiler, Ray Guyll, Matt
Bronsil, Bill DeMar, Pete Michaels, Val Hilliker, Al Stevens, Lee Cornell,
Tom Basso, Curtis Jones, Laverne Seibert, Doc Lowery, Liz Von Seggen, and
John Parisi.
(Back to Top)
September
2006
Yes, this is none other than Bill
DeMar from 1952. Several who responded with guesses said this was
too easy. Nick Pawlow and Ray Guyll even recognized that the figure
was made by J.C. Turner.
Thanks to Lee Cornell for submitting
this picture and he even sent some Bill DeMar Fun Facts. Here they
are:
1.) Built his first "Chuck Norwood" figure
in 1949, out of balsa wood, using a saw and a kitchen knife as tools.
2.) Within a weeks time in 1949, Bill
learned to perform ventriloquism well enough to win a local talent
contest with "Chuck."
3.) The Chuck Norwood he uses today is a Frank
Marshall figure, which he purchased in the 1950's.
4.) Edgar Bergen was his inspiration to become a
ventriloquist.
5.) Has been a professional ventriloquist,
entertainer and comedian since 1951.
6.) Has also performed as an impressionist, magician,
fire-eater, mind reader, hypnotist, escape artist and actor.
7.) He toured with many famous performers of his era
- Frank Gorshen, Lash LaRue, Homer and Jethro, The Ink Spots, The Four
Aces, and many more.
8.) Bill is known in the world of ventriloquism as
one of the best figure and puppet manipulators - ever. During the late
1970's and early 1980's, the Vent Haven convention awarded a "Bill
DeMar Manipulation" trophy as a prize to the contest performer
with the best manipulation skills. Jeff Dunham won several times.
9.) Bill is the author of "Ventriloquism for
Dummies and Related Subjects" book, and has produced two DVD's -
"The Bill DeMar Show" and "Bill DeMar: Upside Down and
Backwards on Ventriloquism," both available (and autographed) from
www.ventriloquism101.com
This is Bill DeMar at the Vent Haven
ConVENTion 2006. Thanks to Al Stevens, Ray Guyll, Val Hilliker,
Conrad Hartz, Ed Leahy, and Nick Pawlow for guessing.
(Back to Top)
June
2006
Yes, this month is Phillip Jones, the official
photographer of the Vent Haven ConVENTion. Many of you recognized
him even without his camera. Phillip is pictured above in another
role for which he is well-known at our convention, and that is as host of
the Hospitality Suite and member of the Hospitality Committee.
Phillip, along with Bob and Marty Hamill, welcome all ventriloquists to
room 181 during the convention. Be sure to stop in and say
hello. Also pictured above is Phillip Jones and Bob Hamill,
puppet-style. These look-alike creations were done by Verna Finly,
and this was sent out as a Christmas card in 1995. Pretty
amazing.
(Back to Top)
February
2006
February
features Lynn Trefzger-Joy, pictured here with Chloe whom she introduced
to vents at her lecture at the ConVENTion last year. Three year old
Chloe has been a popular addition to the act when Lynn performs on the
Disney family cruises. Her vocal illusion talents were first brought
to national audiences on TV’s popular “Star Search” and she has
since performed with artists including Jeff Foxworthy, Ray Romano,
Smothers Brothers, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. Her performances are
tailored for both family and adult audiences. Lynn has been a
long-time attendee of the Vent Haven ConVENTions and we look forward to
seeing her back in 2006 as the "Women in Vent" Panel Discussion
moderator.
Thanks
to everyone who guessed and kudos to Tom Basso who even knew that the
figure on the right was made by John Arvites. In fact, that figure
now resides in Vent Haven Museum. Uncle Johnny, made in 1979 by Arvites,
was awarded to Lynn at the age of 12 when she won "Most Deserving
Young Vent."
(Back to Top)
December
2005
December Blast
from the Past Revealed
The December Blast from the Past was...you guessed it,
Bob Rumba! The master of creative promo shots himself with his
turkey figure, Tobadia Turkey. Bob was also seen at last year's
convention emceeing as Barney Fife and entertaining the kids with balloon
sculptures before the Saturday Night Show dressed as Charlie
Chaplin. In addition, Bob can do hundreds of cartoon
voices. Like most vents, he is multi-talented.
(Back to Top)
November
2005
Jerry
Layne is a familiar face to many as everyone who responded guessed
correctly. I reinserted the original signed picture as it appears in
the Vent Haven archives. Jerry is well-known at the Vent Haven
Convention as an excellent emcee, lecturer, and performer. Also,
many of you may know him from his figures in the dealers' room. Like
most people in this business, Jerry Layne is multi-talented.
W.S. Berger prided
himself on collecting 8x10's of ventriloquists from all over the
world. He called it his Rogues Gallery. Vent Haven
today carries on the tradition by displaying pictures of current vents,
both amateur and professional. Have you autographed an 8x10 for Vent
Haven Museum?
Thanks
to the following people who responded this month:
Mike
Brose
Stacey
Michaels
Lee
Cornell
Madison
Faile
Liz
VonSeggen
Curtis
Jones
Pete
Michaels
Les Lamborn
Tom
Basso
(Back to Top)
October
2005
Several
people emailed and guessed correctly. October featured our good
friend, Bob Isaacson at the tender age of 16 with his J.C. Turner
figure. Bob is well-known at our convention for emceeing the Junior
Open Mic session and for his classes on Vent Basics. He is pictured
above with his figures Orville Sweet and Speedy Wheeler. Bob made
Orville Sweet in 1962 and Speedy Wheeler was made by
Frank Marshall. Thanks to Tom Ladshaw for
submitting this month's Mystery Vent photo.
(Back to Top)
August
2005
This young vent is Greg Pakarklis.
Unfortunately, I was unable to get an updated picture of Greg and find out
what he's doing currently. Perhaps we'll hear from him soon.
(Back to Top)
July
2005
This
month is convention favorite Jimmy Nelson and Jeff Dunham as a young
lad. As you can probably tell, the picture was taken by the outdoor
pool at the Drawbridge back in the late 1970's. You might have
thought the picture was taken after the Group Photo picture, but that
convention tradition didn't start until the mid-1980's. The early
Group Photos were taken outside London Hall until the group got too large
for that location. The Group Photo has been by the outdoor pool ever
since. Jeff is holding his Finis Robinson figure, Monty
Ballew. Monty currently resides in Vent Haven Museum in the W.S.
Berger Building (where Jacko is), so be sure to check out Monty on the
tours. By the way, nice hair-do...uh, Monty.
(Back to Top)
June
2005
Well, this month was just
too easy. The Party Team is the Hospitality Suite crew, of
course! Bob Hamill emailed with the figures' names. Pictured
below from left to right are J.T. & Mr. Jim Ellis, Chew Cho and
Carlos Maldonaldo, Clyde and Bob Hamill, Phillip Jones with Hogeye.
This year will be their 21st year in suite 181. Congratulations on a
great tradition of hosting the party room. Anyone planning to attend
the conVENTion this year, be sure to stop by the Hospitality Suite,
especially if it's your first time at the conVENTion. It's a great
place to meet other vents casually and talk shop in comfort, plus they
provide yummy snacks!
Thanks, Bob, for letting
us know who the wooden guys are and for continuing a terrific tradition at
our conVENTion!
(Back to Top)
May
2005
That's Al Getler pictured above with his
three characters at the time. Here's what he writes about the
picture:
I want to say this picture was taken about 1980 at
a playground across the street from the church where I was working at as a
Youth Minister. The horrid looking monkey was my first entry into using a
monkey character. Each has never had a name, always been just 'Monkey' or
'Monkee'. I made this puppet from a carnival stuffed animal. Today's
monkey is a Mary Ann Taylor puppet. The bird puppet was named Jay Bird and
he was purchased from Maher Studios. Floyd, my Semok figure, is the sole
survivor in the shot. This is about the time he joined the act.
I spent the summer that year touring park programs in a state funded
program. I was teamed up with a musician and an artist doing two shows per
day. Our 'tour bus' was a 70's vintage, black, county-owned, Chevy Impala
that had served as a sheriff's car previously. Our roadie was a guy that
eventually became a studio sound man who works with Doug Pries in NYC from
time to time.
Today I primarily work business/corporate type shows but do the occasional
family show or special event. Currently the Getlers are moving to the
Boston area where I will re-establish my regionally base performing
business. I have always combined my newspaper career and my performing.
That is a group
of Naval Reserves that were on their way to Iraq. This was the second wave
of the unit and the second time I performed for the families as they spent
their informational day on what to expect there and how to cope at home.
One fun thing is that for two of the guys, nicknames that Floyd called
them in the act stuck and became their names while in Iraq. I am told that
several other lines became running gags as well. I have had a good
relationship with the government's DSCC (Defense Supply Center,
Columbus) and the Naval base (logistics) in Columbus where I've
not only entertained, but have spoken on management and leadership to
their leaders.
Great
job, Al! Thanks!
(Back to Top)
April
2005
That bearded face this month is none other than Alan
Semok, the Dummy Doctor. Alan is pictured with the original Howdy
Doody which he restored. Read his story below:
"He first came for a short visit for
minor work in 1990, prior to a rare TV appearance. The boy arrived here
again in April of 1995, showing the signs of numerous temporary emergency
repairs and hurried patch-jobs and touch-ups, not to mention two fairly
recent total repaintings that just didn't do him justice. Howdy had been
refurbished and repaired over the years with little sensitivity to his
historical "look".
After some very thorough research and
careful preparation (using scores of vintage photographs, and after
numerous telephone conversations with the original artists who created
him), the lad was carefully restored (preserving the original elements)
to the way he looked when he took his final bow at NBC in 1960...he was
once, after all, THE biggest star on television. He deserved nothing less.
The end result was that Howdy's facelift was more a restoration than a
renovation.
To say it was an honor to have him as a
houseguest would be an understatement. Suffice it to say that it was a
pleasure to have a part in bringing him back to the way we all remember
him, ready to entertain again!"
Thanks, Alan!
(Back to Top)
March
2005
This month's Blast from the Past was too easy for some
of you. Of course, it's Don Bryan and Noseworthy from Canada who appeared
on the International show at the convention last year. It's nice to
know Noseworthy got to get his hair cut too, keeping him more in current
style. Let's hope we see them again at this year's convention.
Thanks, Don!
(Back to Top)
February
2005
If you guessed this was figure maker extraordinaire Tim
Selberg, you were right! That blast from the past picture goes back to
1983. Tim writes of the figure in the picture:
"The figure pictured was finished in
January 1982 for a person named Mike Henson who lived in
Noblesville, IN. The entirely hand-carved figure (down to the
hand-carved teeth, tongue, hands and head and handmade basswood body)
went for a whopping $550! The even more interesting thing is that
I took a trade from him on a Ken Spencer figure that needed to be
seriously reworked and gave him a $500 credit so I actually only
received 50 bucks in actual payment!! I reworked the Spenser
figure extensively and several years later sold it for less than $700
I believe. This was only the 8th figure I'd ever carved but I
still look back on it now and like the look of him - I named him
Quinton. If Mr. Henson should happen to read this I will gladly
buy him back for $550! I might even throw in a Spenser to boot!!"
This current picture of Tim and fiance Kimberly Yeager was
taken this past September on the night of their engagement.
Congratulations!
(Back to Top)
January
2005
Is that Liz
VonSeggen and Mark Wade? Yep, it sure is. The picture was taken at the
1977 ConVENTion back when Liz and Dale VonSeggen's One Way Street was
still pretty new. Last year, 2004, marked the 30th Anniversary of
One Way Street. Congratulations! Our hairstyles may get wacky,
but our smiles never change.
(Back
to Top)
December
2004
Our
rock star ventriloquist is none other than Pete Michaels! Thanks to those
who responded and recognized that Pete smile!
Thanks Pete!
(Back
to Top)
November
2004
Krusader
Identity Revealed!
Have
you spent the whole month wondering who this dashing hero in tights with
his wooden, caped sidekick is? Well, it's none other than our own
Bob Hamill who performed on the Saturday Night Show last year. Bob
and Clyde worked as the national mascot for Tastykake, a snack-cake
company, doing promotions, commercials, and personal appearances.
What a gig!
(Back
to Top)
[copyright.htm]
|