Ventriloquism Made Easy: How to Talk to Your Hand Without Looking Stupid! Second Edition by Paul Stadelman and Bruce Fife

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tips, has some great ventriloquism-related photos, and and list of suppliers and organizations (some of this is outdated now).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!

How to Become a Ventriloquist (Try Your Hand at Ventriloquism) by Edgar Bergen

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 and Illusions 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.

Better Living Through Ventriloquism (Running Press Kits) by Ronn Lucas and Chris Clobber

The book is just what I needed. Prompt delivery. The book was in great condition.

Dumbstruck: A Cultural History of Ventriloquism by Steven Connor

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.

“… to issue from elsewhere than their source: the practice of ventriloquism. We are going to see that ventriloquism has an active …”

Ventriloquism Made Easy by Kolby King

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!!

Ventriloquism for Dummies: Life of a Comedian by John Wing

For anyone interested in what the life of a standup is really like, this is an excellent book. The stories of John Wing’s development as a comic are both entertaining and interesting. His assessments of others involved in the business are very frank, sometimes brutally so (did I mention it was interesting?). This book will also be of interest to those starting out in the standup field. Although it’s not written as a how to book, it contains excellent advice. A thoroughly enjoyable read from one of the top working standup comics today.

Tags: Ventriloquism