Become A Ventriloquist: Key To Applause
So you want to be a ventriloquist? I don’t blame you! It’s a wonderful hobby and can give you and everyone else much pleasure and enjoyment. It takes some work to master the basic techniques though- hopefully these tips and tricks will help.
When you are learning how to become a ventriloquist, a convenient and effective “set-up” for ventriloquism entertainments in parlors, churches, small halls and lodge-rooms, where there is not much stage room, may be made up of the larger Irish and Negro character knee figures, and Old Man and Old Woman character heads.
To the shoulder-piece is attached a small coat, buttoned in front so that no vest is necessary. A white shirt bosom is fastened underneath the V-shaped opening of the coat, and the neck is dressed with a collar and large flowing necktie.
The sleeves in both cases are given shape with wire rings and there are no hands, these figures being placed behind a table at such height that the lower ends of the sleeves are not visible from the front.
The floor of the lower jaw projects a little beyond the pivoting wire and is operated by a wooden lever running through a slot in the back of the head, from which it projects an inch or two. A spiral spring from above causes it to shut again when the pressure on the lever is relaxed, or a spring made of a bent piece of thin steel may be fastened underneath the movable floor to push it up into place again. If the bodies of the knee figures are made to consist simply of a top and bottom board to which is firmly tacked a piece of silesia to form the cloth sides and front, with removable wooden sides, they may be made readily collapsible.
The side pieces of wood should of course be just long enough to fully stretch the top and bottom boards when inserted at the back; and on the under side of the top board and the upper side of the bottom, near their outer edges, should be glued small cleats to prevent the removable side-boards slipping inward when they are in place.
When the sides are drawn out the shoulders of the figure readily shut down on the bottom piece, thus enabling the body to be packed in very small compass.
Learn how to become a ventriloquist, and you will never look back. Good luck!
