7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
BEST BOOK EVER on great ventriloquists -- and MUCH MORE, July 10, 2003
This review is from: Dummy Days: America's Favorite Ventriloquists from Radio and Early TV (Hardcover)
It has been said a book about ventriloquists could never attract interest beyond the small clique of ventriloquists practicing the quirky art today. A major publisher's book would more likely be a "best smeller" than a "best seller," with little "cross-over" (non-ventriloquist) appeal -- a nostalgia piece with little relevance to modern day generations.
They said it couldn't be done. And DreamWorks' animation maven Kelly Asbury, author of Dummy Days, has proven them totally WRONG. Dummy Days matters-- and it works on every level.
Dummy Days is a book with INCREDIBLY wide appeal. In wonderful, painstaking detail, Asbury takes you through the lives of the 20th century's greatest "belly talkers" Edgar Bergen, Paul Winchell, Jimmy Nelson, Senor Wences, and Shari Lewis. Lovingly crafted bios of these five performers (plus mini-bios on variety show host Ed Sullivan and legendary dummy builder Frank Marshall) make you feel you actually KNOW them personally, and you learn surprising never-before-disclosed details about them and the evolution of their acts.
But the underlying and skillfully developed subtext is the entertainment industry's brutal, take-no-prisoners evolution through the early to mid-late 20th century and how top "vents" adapted to it, then largely vanished from mainstream entertainment media's radar screen once Sullivan's landmark CBS TV show (a vaudeville show) was canceled in 1971.
Dummy Days is a book about highly-adaptable performers' sometimes roller-coast-like lives -- but it's also a vital entertainment history book. This makes it of interest not only to
ventriloquists and aspiring ventriloquists, but to ANYONE seeking to understand modern entertainment's roots -- from vaudeville, to radio, to vaudeville-influenced early TV. Each
time a dominant new entertainment medium eclipsed the previously dominant one, tastes shifted and successful performers had to adjust (their attire, their act, their persona) to survive.
Asbury, a highly acclaimed children's author, focuses on the five most famous ventriloquists:
--EDGAR BERGEN: He details the father of 20th century ventriloquism's evolution, from his adaptations to survive, to his big breaks, to his poignant last show and death shortly
afterwards. "For the first time in the history of ventriloquism,' he writes, "the art took a non-visual form'' with Bergen's hit radio show featuring life-like, carefully-etched characters. Asbury answers the raging question about whether Bergen ever had good lip control and shows why Bergen was the Gold Standard for ventriloquists.
--SENOR WENCES: A loving look at what Asbury calls the "surrealist" Spanish ventriloquist. An Ed Sullivan darling (48 appearances), Wences was pitchforked into national cultural consciousness by his hand-as-puppet Johnny and his head-in-the-box Pedro. Asbury tells you HOW and WHY these beloved 20th century characters came about . Superb account of Wences performing into his nineties (he died at 103).
--PAUL WINCHELL: The chapter is bittersweet since so little remains of pioneer Winchell's wonderful TV work. A great account of Winchell's rise from talent show contestant, to TV star, creator of innovative puppet/ventriloquism techniques, and interest in medicine, which led him to invent the first patented version of the artificial human heart. According to Asbury, Winchell, known as "The Television Ventriloquist," shaped early TV and "practically invented the idea of children's programming." .
--JIMMY NELSON: Called "Gentleman Jim" by peers, Nelson, who Asbury calls the "consummate professional," is most famous for his early TV work and legendary Nestles commercials with dummy Danny O'Day and dummy dog Farfel (N-E-S-T-L-E-S).
He recounts the accident that won Nelson the lucrative Nestles contract, propelling Nelson into ventriloquism (and advertising) immortality. This most affectionate chapter traces
Nelson's big breaks, savvy adaptation to changing venues, and key role in helping keep ventriloquism alive by ceaselessly promoting it, the Vent Haven ventriloquists' convention and
encouraging every aspiring ventriloquist who approached him (he even encouraged some like ME to go into ventriloquism fulltime).
--SHARI LEWIS: The most poignant chapter, due to her untimely death. Asbury calls the former Phyllis Hurwitz "the First Lady of Puppeteering." He offers NEW insights into why Lewis dumped using a dummy for sock-puppet Lamb Chop, how she tirelessly worked other entertainment areas when her TV worked ended, her extending her art beyond ventriloquism, and her work to educate kids. Superb account of a talent successfully re-inventing herself.
With its rare photos, short articles, multi-colored pages -- even page-corner animated flip photos so ventriloquists and dummies move -- Dummy Days is a feast for the eyes. From Dummy Days' meticulous research, to its superb writing, and creative design, Asbury gets everything perfectly right. Dummy Days is the best book ever written about ventriloquists -- and will likely remain the best book ever written about ventriloquists.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What A Trip!, September 6, 2003
This review is from: Dummy Days: America's Favorite Ventriloquists from Radio and Early TV (Hardcover)
Whether you're a practicing ventriloquist, a baby-boomer who grew up watching ventriloquists on TV, a ventriloquism aficionado, TV buff, or just a little curious about the art of venting, there is no better book for you than "Dummy Days" by Kelly Asbury.
For those of us that fit 2 or more of those catagories, Asbury's work represents something that we've always wanted in one package, but could never find.
"Dummy Days" is a history book, a biograpy, (of several people),
a picture book, (complete with MOVING pictures, no less), all in one. And...it's just plain entertaining!
With broad appeal, you'll find it to be a hard read...hard to put down and hard to not smile every few seconds, that is. You could call it a "feel-good" book.
Plenty of research went into this labor of love by a true vent aficionado who has been embraced by the vent community as family.
Do yourself a favor and check this book out. You'll even be impressed by the quality of the paper stock. The photos alone are worth the purchase price!
"Dummy Days" is a trip down memory lane everyone should take.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating, November 2, 2003
This review is from: Dummy Days: America's Favorite Ventriloquists from Radio and Early TV (Hardcover)
Okay, I admit it: I grew up watching Paul Winchell on TV. And my best friend carved his own dummy, and practiced ventriloquism, while I acted as "audience". So, dummies and ventriliquists formed my warped view of life, later leading to Monte Python and Firesign Theater. What makes ventriliquists fascinating is their combination of surrealism, fantasy and real-life issues, projected into their own, small theater. By "suspending disbelief", these performed create real persons and real stories. If you love imagination and those who create imaginary worlds, you'll enjoy this book.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
