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Fonsy Regular user 187 Posts	Posted: Jul 14, 2013 09:47 am 0 Here's a pic of David Copperfield with two Charlies -- including the famous frowning Charlie. . Click here to view attached image.
Aussie Special user Australia 623 Posts	Posted: Jul 14, 2013 07:57 pm 0 I know he says he's a ventriloquist, has anyone actually seen him perform as one? Australia's Most Original Ventriloquist http://www.ladymaceentertainment.com
Dickens & Dave Inner circle North Central Florida 1813 Posts	Posted: Jul 14, 2013 08:29 pm 0 I don't ever recall hearing he claims to be a ventriloquist, according to the site "All About Magicians", he was "Originally planning to be a ventriloquist," but "was diverted to magic when he visited a magic shop to purchase a ventriloquial figure." It seems to me, what I heard was that he wanted to be a ventriloquist but wasn't very good at it and decided to become a magician instead. http://dickensndave.bravehost.com/index.html "Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest."
Mike Maturen Inner circle Michigan's Beautiful Sunrise Side 2726 Posts	Posted: Jul 29, 2013 02:54 pm 0 That was the impression I got as well. Quote: On 2013-07-14 16:29, Dickens & Dave wrote: I don't ever recall hearing he claims to be a ventriloquist, according to the site "All About Magicians", he was "Originally planning to be a ventriloquist," but "was diverted to magic when he visited a magic shop to purchase a ventriloquial figure." It seems to me, what I heard was that he wanted to be a ventriloquist but wasn't very good at it and decided to become a magician instead. Mike Maturen World of Wonder Entertainment The Magic and Mayhem of Mike Maturen 989-335-1661 mikematuren@gmail.com AUTHOR OF "A NEW DAWN--Weekly Wisdom From Everyday Life" member: International Magician's Society
Joseph_Then Special user 747 Posts	Posted: Jul 29, 2013 03:54 pm 0 Quote: On 2013-07-14 16:29, Dickens & Dave wrote: I don't ever recall hearing he claims to be a ventriloquist, according to the site "All About Magicians", he was "Originally planning to be a ventriloquist," but "was diverted to magic when he visited a magic shop to purchase a ventriloquial figure." It seems to me, what I heard was that he wanted to be a ventriloquist but wasn't very good at it and decided to become a magician instead. I tried to be a magician but I wasn't very good at it and so I decided to become a ventriloquist instead. Man, I do better talking to dolls. ----- Joseph Then Singapore Ventriloquist Singapore Birthday Party
Mr. Pitts Inner circle David Pitts 1058 Posts	Posted: Jul 30, 2013 03:06 am 0 Here's an article that mentions his early attempts at ventriloquism. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/sep......-brush-/ David Pitts The Astonishing Mr. Pitts Comedy Magician and Ventriloquist http://www.mrpitts.com
TheDummyDoctor New user U S A 76 Posts	Posted: Jul 30, 2013 05:48 am 0 Fascinating stuff. David and I grew up in Central NJ, within just 3-4 miles of each other (I'm a few years older). While we've been in communication in recent years (I've restored some rare puppets for him) we never met 'back in the day' even though we lived so close to each other and our paths seemed to cross quite a bit. I often heard references to him (when he was still working under his birth name)...sometimes I would show up for a show and invariably, the people that hired me would mention that he had recently performed for their group. Funny thing is that It took more than 40 years before we were finally formally introduced by a mutual friend and had a chance to chat about the old 'hood' , and even mutual acquaintances we didn't even know we shared!. It is a very small world sometimes. ------- Alan Semok, Ph.D (honoris causa) THE DUMMY DOCTOR Building Pro Vent Figures since 1966 web: www.AlanSemok.com/dummies
manal Inner circle York ,PA. 1412 Posts	Posted: Jul 30, 2013 02:41 pm 0 Is the frowning Charlie made by Nelson? Life is too important to take seriously. james@jamesmanalli.com www.jamesmanalli.com
TheDummyDoctor New user U S A 76 Posts	Posted: Jul 30, 2013 03:43 pm 0 I'm pretty certain that the 'frowning' Charlie is the original one made for Bergen in the 1940s used in the Disney film "Fun And Fancy Free" (as well as the television specials in the '50s). ------- Alan Semok, Ph.D (honoris causa) THE DUMMY DOCTOR Building Pro Vent Figures since 1966 web: www.AlanSemok.com/dummies
Dickens & Dave Inner circle North Central Florida 1813 Posts	Posted: Jul 30, 2013 04:12 pm 0 Did Nelson even actually make a frowning Charlie or just do a painting of him? I can't remember now. http://dickensndave.bravehost.com/index.html "Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest."
Fonsy Regular user 187 Posts	Posted: Jul 30, 2013 07:11 pm 0 Quote: On 2013-07-30 12:12, Dickens & Dave wrote: Did Nelson even actually make a frowning Charlie or just do a painting of him? I can't remember now. I believe it was just a painting. Frowning Charlie was the inspiration for Horowitz. On page 95 of the "Yorick Yodelsap History of Ventriloquism" (I gave out free eboooks of it several years ago) I had written the following: Quote: Back in 1947 Edgar Bergen made a special frowning version of Charlie McCarthy for "Fun and Fancy Free." Many years later a master ilustrator and figure maker named Bill Nelson created a fine portrait of frowning Charlie, which was reproduced and sold commercially. Shortly after that, Nelson teamed up with another great ventriloquist figure maker by the name of Chuck Jackson. Nelson and Jackson created their own frowning dummy, which they named Mr. Horowitz. The partnership created about half a dozen of these Horowitz figures, and they are highly prized by collectors today. Jackson then went on to make more copies of the Horowitz figure on his own. #
manal Inner circle York ,PA. 1412 Posts	Posted: Jul 30, 2013 09:28 pm 0 Thanks for the info guys! Life is too important to take seriously. james@jamesmanalli.com www.jamesmanalli.com
Matt_24 Loyal user 208 Posts	Posted: Jul 30, 2013 10:14 pm 0 Frowning Charlie was owned by Bill Nelson and later sold to David Copperfield.
manal Inner circle York ,PA. 1412 Posts	Posted: Jul 31, 2013 02:06 am 0 Quote: On 2013-07-30 18:14, Matt_24 wrote: Frowning Charlie was owned by Bill Nelson and later sold to David Copperfield. I guess that is why I was confused and thought perhaps Bill Nelson had built the frowning Charlie. Life is too important to take seriously. james@jamesmanalli.com www.jamesmanalli.com
Matt_24 Loyal user 208 Posts	Posted: Jul 31, 2013 08:43 pm 0 Frowning Charlie originally appeared in the Disney movie, "Fun and Fancy Free".
Aussie Special user Australia 623 Posts	Posted: Jul 31, 2013 09:29 pm 0 Actually Frowning Charlie was first seen on the very episode of the Edgar Bergen Show. Australia's Most Original Ventriloquist http://www.ladymaceentertainment.com
Matt_24 Loyal user 208 Posts	Posted: Aug 1, 2013 12:05 am 0 Good call, Aussie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqBMr6vSvF4 at 22:28 we see Frowning Charlie. Although filmed in black and white and the Disney in fancy (no pun intended) "color" -- I'm quite certain the Disney movie pre-dates this appearance. Of course, I have been wrong before. Not very often....but once, or twice.
Fonsy Regular user 187 Posts	Posted: Aug 1, 2013 12:38 am 0 Quote: On 2013-07-31 20:05, Matt_24 wrote: Good call, Aussie. I'm quite certain the Disney movie pre-dates this appearance. Yes, the TV show was made in 1950. "Fun and Fancy Free" (1947) pre-dates it by three years. #
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