Book Description
Originally published in the 1930s, this is a comprehensively detailed guide to ventriloquism by a master of the art. The first art relates to the mechanism of ventriloquial voice, and describes the principles on which the art of ventriloquism is based and the correct methods of applying those principles. The second part is devoted to imitations of animals, birds and musical instruments. The third part deals with ventriloquial entertainments with figures. It contains information as to the construction of figures, mechanical appliances for working them, and suitable dialogues between them and the performer. Contents Include: How Do You Do It? - Human Vocal Organs - Mouth and Teeth, The Nose, Jaw Exercises, Throat and Neck Exercises, Tongue Exercise, Rubbing - Head Voice Exercise, Chest Voice, Head To Chest Voice Exercised, Humming and Female Voice, Grunting and the Male Voice - The Far-Distant Voice, Pronouncing Words - The Ventriloquist Without the Figure, Friends Outside the Window, The Returning Roysterer and the Policeman - The Sleeping Child - A Distinct Novelty - Cow, Donkey, Lion, Dog, Puppy, Pig, Horse, Cock-Crowing, Hen Chuckling, Little Chicks, Parrot - Trombone, Cornet, Saxaphone and Basso, Clarinet, Banjo, One-String Fiddle, Harp, Xylophone, Violoncello - Fireworks - Bluebottle Fly - Personality of Your Figures - Buying Your Figure - Repairs - Short Dialogue - Smoking and Drinking - Performing in a Room - For Stage Work - Girl Dialogue - Dialogue Page and Footman - Ventriloquial Sketch - Mrs. Brown's Tea Party - Instructions For Working the Miniature Ventriloquial Figures - Ventdollie Dialogue for Boy and Girl Figures ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

great instructional/reference book
One of the few books ever published on the subject. This book features over 100 pages of detailed (yet easy to follow) text, illustrations, photos and diagrams on the art/craft of ventriloquism. Great for beginners (of any age) and for those who already some intermediate skills in the craft. ... Read more

Book Description
1904. Being a thoroughly reliable guide to the art of voice throwing and vocal mimicry by an entirely novel system of graded exercises. By ventriloquism, we mean the art, the act, or the practice of speaking or singing in such a manner that the voice appears to come, not from the person himself, but from some other place, as from the opposite side of the room, above or below, etc. A ventriloquist is the performer, the actor. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Reprint of very old book
I threw it in the garbage, it refered to african americans throughout the entire book as the N word.I realize at the time the book was written that was an acceptable practice.But it made me feel sick to see it in print, and it made me ashamed I would not want anyone to see that I owned the book.I could have resold it on ebay, but my preference was to destroy it. ... Read more

Book Description
Why can none of us hear our own recorded voice without wincing? Why is the telephone still full of such spookiness and erotic possibility? Why does the metaphor of ventriloquism, the art of 'seeming to speak where one is not', speak so resonantly to our contemporary technological condition? These are the kind of questions which impel Steven Connor's wide-ranging, restlessly inquisitive history of ventriloquism and the disembodied voice. He tracks his subject from its first recorded beginnings in ancient Israel and Greece, through the fulminations of early Christian writers against the unholy (and, they believed, obscenely produced) practices of pagan divination, the aberrations of the voice in mysticism, witchcraft and possession, and the strange obsession with the vagrant figure of the ventriloquist, newly conceived as male rather than female, during the Enlightenment. He retrieves the stories of some of the most popular and versatile ventriloquists and polyphonists of the nineteenth century, and investigates the survival of ventriloquial delusions and desires in spiritualism and the 'vocalic uncanny' of technologies like telephone, radio, film, and internet. Learned but lucid, brimming with anecdote and insight, this is much more than an archaeology of one of the most regularly derided but tenaciously enduring of popular arts. It is also a series of virtuoso philosophical and psychological reflections on the problems and astonishments, the raptures and absurdities of the unhoused voice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

How can this volume possibly sell for $96.00?
Does it come with a ventriloquist dummy... AND a ventriloquist?

HUH?
This book is an example of psuedo-intellectual overthinking of the highest order. It's dense, wordy and unreadable in every way. Why would any writer spend what appears to be LOTS of time and energy on this of all subjects: Ventriloquism's effect on CULTURE?!

The resultant product amounts to little more than an uninteresting mess.

Skip it.

cultural ventriloquism suddenly verrrry interesting
I enjoyed this text, recommended by a colleague, for other reasons, but thought of it immediately when the possibility of George W. Bush's use of a wire and "ear" during the first debate with John Kerry began to surface on the internet in the last day or so.Talk about the "vocalic uncanny"!Is "wiregate" merely(!) a part of the trend of increasing technological possibilities for problematizing the relation between voice and body?
Are you talking to me?
Is this thing on?
Steven Connor should write the next chapter.Meanwhile, read his deft connections and analysis of diverse phenomena associated with "cultural ventriloquism" and think about the (allleged) voice in our president's ear, and what that does to the (alleged) significance of his speech as he (allegedly) addresses the citizenry.
Is ventriloquism more acceptable if we are in on the trick?
Are we in on this (alleged) trick, anyway?I mean, we all know how packaged and predicted and rehearsed the responses to the questions posed in the debates are anyway--but a line has been (allegedly) crossed here, and that's the line Connor's book charts.Good stuff, and timely.
... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (7)

An awesome book!
Ventriloquism Made Easy, by Kolby King, is a well written book, which "covers it all"! This is a MUST-HAVE for anyone who is seriously considering taking up ventriloquism! Kolby takes you through the basics of ventriloquism, in a well written, fun-filled book, that is WELL WORTH READING!!

Save Your Money, Folks!

This book teaches ventriloquism about as well as a three-page pamphlet teaches nuclear physics.Sure, you will learn a trick or two, but I'd hate to perform with only this knowledge under my belt!

And why, WHY do some authors insist on injecting their personal religious beliefs into what are supposed to be secular works?Evangelize in a book written to that purpose, please!About 2000 years ago someone said something about praying quietly and privately in one's own room . . .

If you want to be a ventriloquist, there are plenty of sources far superior to this pap.Look for them.

not worth it
Has only a tiny section on the really important stuff about the hard letters.The rest is padding.I'm going to look for something more serious.

Great
I think that this book is great for beginers because it teaches basic stuff to advanced stuff.If there was anyone that was interested in becoming a ventriloquist this is the right book for you.

Great book for The Absolute Beginner
Cheery and breezy, this well written, easy to understandbook takes you from your first exercises on how to talk without moving your lips, to dealing with the "problem letters" (W, P, B, M, and F) to advanced techniquies such as the distant voice and echoed voice, to writing your own scripts and preparing for performance.Along the way. Mr. King provides you with several routines that you can use to sharpen and refine your skills as well as advice on giving your best when performing.Highly recommended, indeed! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

How to be a ventriloquist
For about five bucks you can't go wrong.It has some useful tips on ventriloquism for beginners, but there's not a lot of info in this book.I would suggest picking up something else in addition to this book.

Bergen and McCarthy, Our History and Art of Ventriloquism
Edgar Bergen takes us on a personal voyage through his world and beyond, Ventriloquism. Bergen tells us "there is no deep, dark mystery about Ventriloquism" and exposes the secrets andIllusions of Near and Distant Ventriloquism, figure making as well as the start of his showbiz companion Charlie McCarthy. A book well worth reading and a history worth knowing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good Intro
This is an easy to read and use book and a great activity to do with your kids, particularly if they have any speech difficulties. You can get started with a sock puppet if you like, so it's also inexpensive.

Great Book
I just got the book and already I am starting to get the hang of it. I am nowhere near good enough to take it on the road, but this book will give you the tools to feel confedent right from the start.

One of my favorite and FUNNIEST how to do "vent" books!
As someone who got interested in ventriloquism (and eventually dumped a 20 year newspaper career to work with WOODEN dummies) I was often frustrated reading how-to-do-ventriloquism books. Most were either amazingly boring, unknowingly pompous, or filled with cutsey-comments that seemingly padded an explanation of what I believe is actually a relatively easy "art" (if you are nutty enough to practice in front of a mirror until you perfect the "hard" letters). This is one of my FAVORITE now to do ventriloquism books -- and to this day it remains the funniest. I still do a routine in my show based on the structure of one of Paul Stadelman's classic bits (I have long since replaced the actual jokes). The late Paul Stadelman was a "classic" and I believe underrated vent who performed, taught and was on television for many years. And this book is worth it's price just for the zippy routines with Stadelman and his dummy Windy Higgins. These don't go on and on with long set-ups but are punchy, quick pay-off bits (and if Stadelman used a pun it was seldom groan-inducing). Stadelman was clearly more influenced by vaudeville and comedy teams than by other ventriloquists (which I think is GOOD). At the least these routines help readers understand routine construction and setup-joke structure. The late, wonderful Col. Bill Boley (another performer who deserved a higher national profile since there are zillions of ventriloquists running around doing bits of his published work and others who painstakingly "emulate" his original routines) was the only other ventriloquist whose published routines came CLOSE to doing this. And to TEACH you vent? This book has it all. It gives you the substitute letters (to say for the hard letters) and words to practice to perfect them. It also tells you how to make a puppet out of your hand, gives you performing tips, has some great ventriloquism-related photos, and and list of suppliers and organizations (some of this is outdated now). If someone was interested in "vent" and had this book, George Schindler's Ventriloquism: Magic With Your Voice and the in-its-own-class Maher Studios correspondence course they'd have it all. Plus, if they have this book they're going to also have some BIG laughs while reading it. Paul Stadelman is truly ventriloquism's unsung hero! ... Read more