http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050626/
ap_en_tv/obit_winchell

He was 82.

Paul Winchell, a ventriloquist, inventor and children's TV show host, Dies at 82

RIP to one of my earliest influences into the ART's,
Oh how I remember those Saturday Morning with "The Paul Winchell-Jerry Mahoney Show" and one of my favorite of all time Knucklehead Smiff.
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES. You will be missed!

kOnO

A sad loss indeed. I learned ventriloquism from his book and long admired him as a performer.

An amazing man - ventriloquist, author, voiceover specialist, inventor of an artificial heart (no kidding, he created and PATENTED one in the 1960's!), was in the forefront for fish farming in Africa (to feed the people) and much more. And a Grammy Award winner for his song as the voice of Tigger.

Now he's "up there" cutting up jackpots with Edgar Bergen and Jay Marshall and the laughs just keep coming for everyone "up above."

But down here, the world is a sadder place, for "Tigger" has passed on.

Now "Lefty, Knucklehead Smiff, Farfel and Charlie McCarthy" can all romp and play together in the Eleysian fields (or are those the W.C. Fields? Bergen was never sure, neither was Charlie from what I'm told), forever, while Paul, Jay and Edgar enjoy their well-earned rest.

Here's to them all!

Lee Darrow, C.H.

I remmber his Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smith show fondly.

I think he was also an inventor and had a breakthrough in an artificial heart valve.

He was one of the best ventriloquists ever !!!!!!

If Paul is cutting up with Bergen and the others, it's only after getting over the shock. Winch was a deist who believed death led to a peaceful void of nonexistence.
But moving on, Winch was a true original. As a former, card-carrying member of the Jerry Mahoney Club, I'll always have fond memories.

Steve

You remember the show, "Runaround"? Early 70's, I believe. Kind of an 'active' game show for kids.

Always watched just so I could see him work with Jerry and Knucklehead.

Mark

IMO, THE BEST ever, closely followed by Sherry Lewis, and whoever is next,
is a far distant third......

Which reminds me, is Jimmy Nelson (of Danny O'Day & Farfel fame) still alive?

Steve

Dr., look HERE for a short bio., but no date of death is listed yet....

Jimmy Nelson is still with us.

Another weird note about Winchell's death...most Bio's mentioned he was the voice of Tigger. The day after he passed away, actor John Fiedler passed away. He was the voice of Piglet.

Winch brought many many hours of joy to my childhood. I especially loved the episode where Jerry and Knuck had a soda pop or something, and Winch told them not to touch it and left the room, and the dummies stuck the straws up their noses and started drinking that way. It was hilarious..at least to me as a kid it was.

Ans some pinheads erased most of those episodes over a dispute with winch over royalties or some such thing. They erased television history all over greed. Pitiful, isn't it?

I think those folks have their own special place reserved in....well, can't say that word on the Café.

Anyway, Jerry was my first vent figure, and I'd give a million to have that doll back.

Thanks, Winch, for the precious memories.

I too was inspired as a youth by Mr. Winchell.

I seem to recall watching the opening of his show and there seemed to be a dozen Jerry Mahoneys sitting around the studio on top of (or behind) grocery crates...is that right?

And the theme song went something like...Hooray, Hoorrah, it's Winchell Mahoney time, Winchell Mahoney time, Winchell Mahoney time, ...lot's of laughs, so much fun, horray, hooraah."...Is that right?? or did I dream this memory up?

Anyway, I still have the library book I took out of school in 6th grade, written by Alexander Van Rensselaer (c 1955), Fun with Ventriloquism. Paul Winchell, Edgar Bergen, Shari Lewis, The great (Harry Lester), there photos and inpirations are still in there, but sadly, they are no longer with us (in the physical sense).

Jonathan

Paul Winchell was technically the greatest ventriloquist and his voices were amazing. As a young 'whipper' I was heavily influenced by watching him on the "Lucy Show" where he guessed appeared, his routine with Jerry and Knucklehead was really great, very funny. Paul was probably the first vent to delve into the sort of 'muppet' scene by using the vent figures arms to move, etc.

Paul's lip control was amazing by contrast to good ol' Edger Bergen.
Honestly, the only thing I did not like about Mr. Winchell was that his severe privacy was bordering on hermit-like actions, if you have ever written him a letter or e-mail you know what I mean, he NEVER responded to anyone! Well, to each his own. I try to make it a point to personally never be like that!!!