Collecting Ventriloquist Dolls

A development in ventriloquism 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 ventriloquist dolls, while the arm which appears to be his is a false one.

Sometimes the ventriloquial pedestrian appears as a soldier on crutches which 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.

There are countless other ways in which your ventriloquist dolls may be arranged. You might have the representation of a police court, and as the judge work from behind your desk a miscellaneous assortment of characters, including policemen, witnesses, culprits and hangers-on; or you could act as the teacher of a district school with your figures as scholars. You might even make yourself the interlocutor of a small minstrel troupe by blacking your face, and using a pair of false arms that would allow your real ones to work the strings for the rest of the company.

Animal automata are occasionally used by the ventriloquial entertainer. Of these the cat is the most common, and may be made to spit, yowl and claw in the most lifelike manner, the spitting and yowling of course being supplied by the performer. A French ventriloquist who appeared in America a few years ago, carried with him a large papier-mache cow which opened its mouth and moo'd quite naturally.