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49-475: Ventriloquism or ventriloquy is an act of stagecraft in which a person (a ventriloquist ) speaks in such a way that it looks like their voice is coming from a different location, usually through a puppet known as a "dummy". The act of ventriloquism is ventriloquizing , and in English it is commonly called the ability to "throw" one's voice. Originally, ventriloquism was a religious practice. The name comes from

98-587: A cameo in the 1938 Disney cartoon Mother Goose Goes Hollywood , tormenting W.C. Fields , who appeared as Humpty Dumpty . In 1977, Charlie appeared with Bergen and Mortimer Snerd on Episode 207 of The Muppet Show . Fozzie's dummy "Chuckie" is based on Charlie. Bergen and McCarthy made their final film appearance in The Muppet Movie , as guest judges of the Bogen County Fair beauty contest. Bergen died in 1978 shortly after filming this sequence, and

147-456: A contemporary wagon , was used to present the death of a character by rolling out their dead body, instead of showing their death onstage. The mechane , a crane for lifting actors over the skene, supported the conclusions of plays, whose storylines were often suddenly resolved by the introduction of a god. The mechane is the literal source for the contemporary phrase deus ex machina . Performances were lit by sunlight, often taking advantage of

196-404: A difference. Modern ventriloquists use multiple types of puppets in their presentations, ranging from soft cloth or foam puppets (Verna Finly's work is a pioneering example), flexible latex puppets (such as Steve Axtell's creations) and the traditional and familiar hard-headed knee figure ( Tim Selberg 's mechanized carvings). The classic dummies used by ventriloquists (the technical name for which

245-431: A form lamp using a blowpipe to heat lime to incandescence was developed, for navigation purposes – it was soon adapted to theatrical performances and the limelight became a widespread form of artificial light for theaters. To control the focus of the light, a Fresnel lens was used. After candles, came gas lighting, using pipes with small openings which were lit before every performance, and could be dimmed by controlling

294-456: A fresh Irish kid, resembling a newsboy that he knew, and the present Charlie McCarthy was made and sold to Bergen for $ 35 in 1923. However, it was not until 1933 that Charlie and Bergen breezed into Broadway and were an instantaneous hit which was climaxed by their appearance on the radio.” Charlie and Bergen made their radio debut on NBC 's The Royal Gelatin Hour in 1936, where they proved such

343-412: A hit that the following year the network gave them a starring role on The Chase and Sanborn Hour , where they were initially supported by emcee Don Ameche , singer Nelson Eddy , actress Dorothy Lamour and comedian W. C. Fields . The following year Charlie would be joined by a much dumber dummy, "Mortimer Snerd". After a famous mock feud with Fields on the program (during which Charlie often vowed to

392-406: A profound impact on audiences all over the world. Stagecraft comprises many disciplines, typically divided into a number of main disciplines: The theater designer, responsible for orchestrating the visual and auditory aspects of a stage production, is traditionally known as the set designer. This convention has emerged for practical reasons, ensuring efficiency in the design process. Upon entering

441-521: A room on the roof to lower and raise scenery or actors, and used the raised stage by developing the practice of using trap-doors in theatrical productions. Most of the theaters had circular-design, with an open area above the pit to allow sunlight to enter and light the stage. Proscenium stages, or picture-box stages, were constructed in France around the time of the English Restoration , and maintain

490-443: A technical director and a complement of designers, each of whom has a direct hand in their respective designs. Within significantly larger productions, for example a modern Broadway show, effectively bringing a show to opening night requires the work of skilled carpenters, painters, electricians, stagehands , stitchers, wigmakers, and the like. Modern stagecraft is highly technical and specialized: it comprises many sub-disciplines and

539-406: A technical rather than an artistic field, it is primarily the practical implementation of a scenic designer 's artistic vision. In its most basic form, stagecraft may be executed by a single person (often the stage manager of a smaller production) who arranges all scenery, costumes, lighting, and sound, and organizes the cast. Regional theaters and larger community theaters will generally have

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588-472: A theater, viewers are immediately drawn to the set design, shaping their initial impression of the show. In this moment, designers establish the show's concept, define its style, evoke mood and atmosphere, and establish the tone by revealing the date and setting. Stage designers intentionally select elements to craft the audience's perception of the depicted worlds in a play, rather than simply replicating settings realistically. For much of theatrical history, there

637-433: A vast trove of history and tradition. Greek theatre made extensive use of stagecraft, and Greek vocabulary and practice continue to influence contemporary Western stagecraft. The defining element of a Greek theatre's stage was the skene , a structure at the back of the stage, often featuring three doors. The usual setting for a classical Greek tragedy was a palace, and skenes were decorated to support that setting. On

686-423: Is ventriloquial figure ) vary in size anywhere from twelve inches tall to human-size and larger, with the height usually 34–42 in (86–107 cm). Traditionally, this type of puppet has been made from papier-mâché or wood. In modern times, other materials are often employed, including fiberglass -reinforced resins , urethanes , filled (rigid) latex , and neoprene . Traditionally, the ventriloquist’s dummy

735-570: Is given a flippant personality who unapologetically insults their ventriloquist and often members of the audience as well. Great names in the history of dummy making include Jeff Dunham, Frank Marshall (the Chicago creator of Bergen's Charlie McCarthy , Nelson's Danny O'Day, and Winchell's Jerry Mahoney), Theo Mack and Son (Mack carved Charlie McCarthy's head), Revello Petee, Kenneth Spencer, Cecil Gough, and Glen & George McElroy. The McElroy brothers' figures are still considered by many ventriloquists as

784-455: Is that all the sounds that they make must be made with lips slightly separated. For the labial sounds f , v , b , p , and m , the only choice is to replace them with others. A widely parodied example of this difficulty is the "gottle o' gear", from the reputed inability of less-skilled practitioners to pronounce "bottle of beer". If variations of the sounds th , d , t , and n are spoken quickly, it can be difficult for listeners to notice

833-655: The Sadler's Wells Theatre in London in the 1790s advertised his act as "curious ad libitum Dialogues between himself and his invisible familiar, Little Tommy". However, other performers were beginning to incorporate dolls or puppets into their performance, notably the Irishman James Burne who "carries in his pocket, an ill-shaped doll, with a broad face, which he exhibits ... as giving utterance to his own childish jargon," and Thomas Garbutt. The entertainment came of age during

882-524: The Zulu , Inuit , and Māori peoples. The shift from ventriloquism as manifestation of spiritual forces toward ventriloquism as entertainment happened in the eighteenth century at travelling funfairs and market towns. An early depiction of a ventriloquist dates to 1754 in England, where Sir John Parnell is depicted in the painting An Election Entertainment by William Hogarth as speaking via his hand. In 1757,

931-737: The 1950s and 1960s. A number of modern ventriloquists have developed a following as the public taste for live comedy grows. In 2007, Zillah & Totte won the first season of Sweden's Got Talent and became one of Sweden 's most popular family/children entertainers. A feature-length documentary about ventriloquism, I'm No Dummy , was released in 2010. Three ventriloquists have won America's Got Talent : Terry Fator in 2007, Paul Zerdin in 2015 and Darci Lynne in 2017. Two ventriloquists, Damien James and Christine Barger , have appeared on Penn & Teller: Fool Us . Several ventriloquists have grown large followings on popular social media apps like TikTok, as well. One difficulty ventriloquists face

980-483: The 1978 film Magic , the 1945 anthology film Dead of Night , and the Ventriloquist from Batman comics and other Batman media. Literary examples of frightening ventriloquist dummies include Gerald Kersh 's The Horrible Dummy and the story "The Glass Eye" by John Keir Cross. In music, NRBQ's video for their song "Dummy" (2004) features four ventriloquist dummies modelled after the band members who 'lip-sync'

1029-499: The Austrian Baron de Mengen performed with a small doll. By the late 18th century, ventriloquist performances were an established form of entertainment in England, although most performers "threw their voice" to make it appear that it emanated from far away (known as distant ventriloquism ), rather than the modern method of using a puppet ( near ventriloquism ). A well-known ventriloquist of the period, Joseph Askins, who performed at

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1078-641: The Crypt ; Gotham (the episode " Nothing's Shocking "); Friday the 13th: The Series ; Toy Story 4 ; and Doctor Who in different episodes. This genre has also been satirized on television in ALF (the episode "I'm Your Puppet"); Seinfeld (the episode " The Chicken Roaster "); and the comic strip Monty . Some psychological horror films and other works feature psychotic ventriloquists who believe their dummies are alive and use them as surrogates to commit frightening acts including murder. Examples of this include

1127-529: The Funny which features in a television advertisement for Lijjat Papad, an Indian snack. Ramdas Padhye's son Satyajit Padhye is also a ventriloquist. The popularity of ventriloquism fluctuates. Comedian Jeff Dunham has been credited with reviving the artform and is said to done more promoting it than anyone since Edgar Bergen. In the UK in 2010, there were only 15 full-time professional ventriloquists, down from around 400 in

1176-473: The Latin for 'to speak from the stomach: Venter (belly) and loqui (speak). The Greeks called this engastromythia ( Ancient Greek : εγγαστριμυθία ). The noises produced by the stomach were thought to be the voices of the unliving, who took up residence in the stomach of the ventriloquist. The ventriloquist would then interpret the sounds, as they were thought to be able to speak to the dead, as well as foretell

1225-577: The United States in the 1950s and 1960s was Señor Wences . In south India, the art of ventriloquism was popularized by Y. K. Padhye and M. M. Roy, who are believed to be the pioneers of this field in India. Y. K. Padhye's son Ramdas Padhye borrowed from him and made the art popular amongst the masses through his performance on television. Ramdas Padhye's name is synonymous with puppet characters like Ardhavatrao (also known as Mr. Crazy), Tatya Vinchu and Bunny

1274-494: The apex of complex movement mechanics, with as many as fifteen facial and head movements controlled by interior finger keys and switches. Jeff Dunham referred to his McElroy figure Skinny Duggan as "the Stradivarius of dummies." The Juro Novelty Company also manufactured dummies. Geoffrey Moran of Australia has built foam puppets Koala (Kevin) and Billy Baby. He has also built a wooden Irish Dancing Donut puppet along with Plunger

1323-442: The audience-side of the skene, what are now known as flats could be hung. Flats evolved from one-sided to two-sided painted flats, which would be mounted and centered on a rotating pin. Rope would run around each consecutive pin, allowing the flats to be turned for scene changes. The double-sided-flat eventually evolved into the periaktos . Greek stagecraft was essential to the storytelling of its works. An ekkyklema , similar to

1372-479: The cheeky-boy dummy "Coster Joe" that would sit in his lap and 'engage in a dialogue' with him was highly influential for the entertainment format and was adopted by the next generation of performers. A blue plaque has been embedded in a former residence of Russell by the British Heritage Society which reads 'Fred Russell the father of ventriloquism lived here'. Fred Russell's successful comedy team format

1421-455: The comedian that he would "mow him down"), the dummy soon became a true icon. By 1939, Charlie was commanding 35.7% of the audience share and was referenced by Barbara Stanwyck in 1945's hit comedy Christmas in Connecticut . Though shortened to thirty minutes as The Chase and Sanborn Program , it wasn't until 1947, in a rare case of star taking precedent over sponsor in the title, that

1470-437: The course of the production. As a result, even if the actors and directors receive most of the attention, the stage manager's hard work and knowledge behind the scenes preserves the integrity and professionalism of live theater production. Charlie McCarthy Charlie's personality was that of a mischievous little boy, who could wisecrack, misbehave and flirt shamelessly in a way that Bergen could not. Bergen's original dummy

1519-456: The emotional impact of storytelling by coordinating the interaction of visual and aural elements. Stagecraft is essential to producing captivating and unforgettable theatrical moments, whether it is through the creative application of makeup and wigs, the inventive use of mechanical scenery, or the well-planned fusion of sound and visual effects. Stagecraft brings dramatic dreams to life by a fusion of artistic innovation and technical mastery, making

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1568-628: The era of the music hall in the United Kingdom and vaudeville in the United States . George Sutton began to incorporate a puppet act into his routine at Nottingham in the 1830s, followed by Fred Neiman later in the century, but it is Fred Russell who is regarded as the father of modern ventriloquism. In 1886, he was offered a professional engagement at the Palace Theatre in London and took up his stage career permanently. His act, based on

1617-474: The field is rapidly becoming one of the most diverse and complex in the industry. A wide range of disciplines are included in stagecraft, all of which are crucial to creating compelling and immersive theatrical productions. Stagecraft is the foundation of any theatrical play, impacting the audience's experience, from the skilled application of lighting to the elaborate creation of scenery and costumes. Stagecraft promotes flawless performance execution and amplifies

1666-644: The film is dedicated to his memory. One of the original Charlie dummies is now part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History . Charlie and Bergen were programmed opposite The Mercury Theatre on the Air on CBS , a program helmed by Orson Welles . On October 30, 1938, many listeners fiddled with the dial during Nelson Eddy's musical interlude, intending to switch back for Charlie's next comedy spot, and stumbled on Welles' production of The War of

1715-411: The flow of gas, so long as the flame never went out. With the turn of the 20th century, many theater companies making the transition from gas to electricity would install the new system right next to the old one, resulting in many explosions and fires due to the electricity igniting the gas lines. Modern theatrical lighting is electrically-based. Many lamps and lighting instruments are in use today, and

1764-666: The future. One of the earliest recorded group of prophets to use this technique was the Pythia , the priestess at the temple of Apollo in Delphi , who acted as the conduit for the Delphic Oracle. One of the most successful early gastromancers was Eurykles, a prophet at Athens ; gastromancers came to be referred to as Euryklides in his honour. Other parts of the world also have a tradition of ventriloquism for ritual or religious purposes; historically there have been adepts of this practice among

1813-478: The greater London area, Parliament was forced to do away with previous licensing laws and allowed all theaters to perform straight plays in 1843. Electric lighting and hydraulics were introduced to draw large audiences to see on-stage storms, explosions, and miraculous transformations. Technologies developed during the latter part of the 19th-century paved the way for the development of special effects to be used in film. Lighting continued to develop. In England,

1862-524: The particular time of day to support the story. Plays of Medieval times were held in different places such as the streets of towns and cities, performed by traveling, secular troupes. Some were also held in monasteries, performed by church-controlled groups, often portraying religious scenes. The playing place could represent many different things such as indoors or outdoors (as in the Cornish plen-an-gwary amphitheatres). They were played in certain places so

1911-524: The place of the most popular form of stage in use to-date, and originally combined elements of the skene in design, essentially building a skene on-stage. Lighting of the period would have consisted of candles, used as foot-lights, and hanging from chandeliers above the stage. Stagecraft during the Victorian era in England developed rapidly with the emergence of the West End . Prompted by and influx of urbanites in

1960-513: The props could be used for the play. Songs and spectacles were often used in plays to enhance participation. More modern stagecraft was developed in England between 1576 and 1642. There were three different types of theaters in London – public, private and court. The size and shape varied but many were suggested to be round theaters. Public playhouses such as the Globe Theatre used rigging housed in

2009-754: The pull apart puppet, Ernie (from Tasmania) and Siegfried the World's Greatest Marching Band Leader. Other puppets, such as George, Darryl the Dinosaur, Goggles the bird, Barry the Box and Bruce the Robotic Bucket have been made by other associates. The plots of some films and television programs are based on " killer toy " dummies that are alive and horrific. These include " The Dummy ", a May 4, 1962 episode of The Twilight Zone ; Devil Doll ; Dead Silence ; Zapatlela ; Buffy The Vampire Slayer ; Goosebumps ; Tales from

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2058-466: The series was officially renamed The Charlie McCarthy Show . After a year's hiatus while the duo toured onstage, 1949 brought a switch to CBS and change of sponsors to Coca-Cola . In 1955, Charlie and Bergen entered their last format, with the ventriloquist taking top billing for once, in The New Edgar Bergen Hour , which ran until 1956. During this lengthy tenure, Charlie's guest roster

2107-440: The song while wandering around a dark, abandoned house. Stagecraft Stagecraft is a technical aspect of theatrical , film , and video production . It includes constructing and rigging scenery; hanging and focusing of lighting; design and procurement of costumes; make-up; stage management ; audio engineering ; and procurement of props . Stagecraft is distinct from the wider umbrella term of scenography . Considered

2156-414: The stage manager makes sure that every aspect, from staff to materials, works in unison to realize the theatrical concept. Their responsibilities are broad and include managing backstage operations, organizing technical cues, and arranging rehearsals. In addition, the stage manager plays a pivotal role in mediating issues and fostering constructive communication between the actors and the creative team during

2205-470: Was #1 on the nights it aired, popularizing the idea of the comedic ventriloquist. Bergen continued performing until his death in 1978, and his popularity inspired many other famous ventriloquists who followed him, including Paul Winchell , Jimmy Nelson , David Strassman , Jeff Dunham , Terry Fator , Ronn Lucas , Wayland Flowers , Shari Lewis , Willie Tyler , Jay Johnson , Nina Conti , Paul Zerdin , and Darci Lynne . Another ventriloquist act popular in

2254-550: Was applied by the next generation of ventriloquists. It was taken forward by the British Arthur Prince with his dummy Sailor Jim, who became one of the highest paid entertainers on the music hall circuit, and by the Americans The Great Lester , Frank Byron Jr., and Edgar Bergen . Bergen, together with his favorite figure Charlie McCarthy , hosted a radio program that was broadcast from 1937 to 1956 and which

2303-403: Was built by noted carpenter/dummy-maker Theodore Mack, and was later rebuilt by Frank Marshall. A 1938 magazine article reported that “When Edgar Bergen was a high school student in Chicago in the post-war [WWI] period, he got the notion that he wanted a dummy so that he could become a ventriloquist. He came to Mr. [Charlie] Mack’s workshop who assigned [Frank] Marshall to the problem. Bergen wanted

2352-496: Was filled by many of the biggest stars of the day, including Henry Fonda , the Andrews Sisters , Rosemary Clooney , Roy Rogers , Frank Sinatra , Carol Channing , Groucho Marx , Dinah Shore , Liberace , Bergen's wife Frances Bergen , and in occasional appearances, Charlie's " sister " Candice Bergen . Bergen and McCarthy also co-starred with Mickey Mouse in the 1947 Disney film Fun and Fancy Free . McCarthy also had

2401-403: Was no dedicated scenic designer role. Instead, theater practitioners relied on stock scenery or utilized the space itself to establish settings. While playwrights, producers, directors, designers, and performers all have specific roles to play, the stage manager is the one who manages the intricate collaboration between all of these important participants. Serving as the production's center point,

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