Featured Figures
Art Anteak
Billy
Cecil
Champagne Charlie
Charlie McCarthy
Cleo
Clyde
Coach
Coram Head
Elmer
Farfel
Farmer's Wife
George
George
Granny
Gutters
Hanley Head
Jacko
Jane Jones
Jerry
Jerry J. Jerrie
Jerry O'Brien
Jerry O'Leary
Joe Flip
Joe Nemo
Johnny
Johnny Jordan
Junior
Junior
Kenny Talk
Knucklhead Smiff
Lester Boy
Little
Joe
Maisie
Max
Oscar
Quitz
Reagan
Red Flannels
Rosita
Sammy
Selberg Boy
Shorty Jones
Skinny Hamilton
Terry
Tommy Baloney
Windsor Boy
Woody DeForest
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Featured Figure:
Junior
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Created by: Finis Robinson
Used by: Robert Andrews
Trivia:
1. Junior was used by amateur ventriloquist Bob Andrews, who
was born on May 3, 1950.
2. According to Andrews' sister Susan, Andrews became interested in
ventriloquism when he was seven and a half years old. Andrews
received a Charlie McCarthy doll for Christmas that year and used
the included instruction manual to teach himself ventriloquism.
3. Soon after, Andrews learned of
Vent Haven founder W.S. Berger and began to correspond with him.
In the correspondence, Andrews stated that he would love to see Vent
Haven at some point.
4. In 1963, Andrews traded in his toy dummy for Junior, a
professional figure created by Finis Robinson. He sent a photo of
himself and Junior to Berger, who wrote back that "You are a fine
looking young man and Mrs. Berger bragged about how nice you look
and your companion likewise."
5. In June of 1966, Andrews was finally able to visit Vent Haven
with his parents. He wrote to Berger afterward, "Thank you so much
for the wonderful time you gave me and my parents at Vent Haven.
None of us will ever forget your warm hospitality. This trip was
especially meaningful to me. I had heard so much about you and your
museum and I really could not believe it. Now I still find it rather
hard to believe."
6. Andrews goes on to say that his mother liked
Muzz's Monkey the best of all of the figures. He also thanks
Berger for the performance advice Andrews received from him.
7. Andrews also created his own figure, Draco the Dragon, which was
a sock puppet (Draco can be seen resting on Junior's left shoulder).
8. Andrews died of accidental drowning in 1999. In his will he
bequeathed Junior and the rest of his ventriloquist items to Vent
Haven Museum. Junior joined the collection in the summer of 2000.
9. In the letter accompanying the donation, Andrews' sister Susan
wrote, "A vibrant, talented man, he had much life still to live. He
didn't have time to review his life before it ended. Had he had that
time, I'm sure he would have given Junior a starring role on the
acknowledgements page of that review."
10. Junior is on display in Building Two of Vent Haven Museum. He is
visible in the
second QuickTime Virtual tour of the building. After the page
loads, "turn" to your right and look into the other side of the
building. Junior is one of the first figures visible in the room
(his right shoulder is partially cut off by the doorway).
Do you have additional information about this
figure? Do you have a suggestion for a future Figure of the Month? Is there a figure
maker whose work you would like to see featured? Let us know by emailing
the Vent Haven staff. |
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