Both ventriloquism and 45 rpm records were long staples or entertainment; both are less popular these days. 45 rpm records by ventriloquists, however, were always somewhat of a rarity. Here are seven examples of this curious genre. (Please click on them to enlarge them).
Peter Brough and his dummy Archie Andrews starred in the BBC Radio show Educating Archie, from 1950 to 1960. It’s remembered now mostly for its supporting cast, which included such veterans as Harry Secombe, Julie Andrews, and Benny Hill. Max Bygraves played Archie’s tutor; these two songs, “Dummy Song” and “Lovely Dollar Lolly,” were taken from the show. The B side offers two solo numbers by Bygraves, “Cowpuncher’s Cantata” and “You’re a Pink Tooth Brush.”
Billy Earl, a ventriloquist in Nashville, released this single of a live performance with his chicken puppet, Henrietta. Henrietta sings the mildly bawdy “Chicken Song” to an enthusiastic crowd.
Keith Harris had several TV series on the BBC, including The Keith Harris Show in the ’80s. This record features his characters Orville, a green duck, and Dippy Dragonaurus. Orville is a sort of falsetto child, and Dippy is firmly in the Goofy-Mortimer Snerd-Beaky Buzzard-Eccles line of cheerful idiots. The A side is “Come to My Party,” and the B side is “Thank You for Telling Me ‘Bout Christmas.”
Shari Lewis had a long career in all fields of show business. This record showcases four off her puppets: Lambchop, Charley Horse, Wing Ding, and Hush Puppy. The first side includes “Favorite Song Medley” and “Waiting’ for the Robert E. Lee,” and the second “Back in Your Own Backyard” and “Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella.”
The French ventriloquist David Michel performed for decades with a penguin puppet named Nestor. He’s now 76, and apparently still working. This record has two songs, “Le Chibidibidi” and “Une Petite Fille, un Pingouin.”
Señor Wences also had a long career, including numerous TV appearances and commercials. He continued performing up until his death at 103. This rec0rd, from 1959, includes songs based on two of his catchphrases, “Deefeecult for You–Easy for Me” and “‘S-All Right?–‘S-All Right!”
And lastly, Paul Winchell, who had great success as a ventriloquist in the ’50s, and later turned to doing voice work for cartoons. He was also an acupuncturist, and held several patents, including one for an artificial heart. This record, on his own label, features both his dummies: Jerry Mahoney sings “When You Come to the End of a Lollipop,” and Knucklehead Smiff sings “Run, Little Rabbit.”
(Posted by Doug Skinner)