Anybody ever dabbled with ventriloquist dummies?

[DuLake]

Hi, if this is the wrong section, forgive me, I'm new. But as for my conundrum... I've been thinking toward making a Scarface Dummy (from Batman's Ventriloquist villain) but have absolutely no idea what the inside of a dummy looks like. Has anyone played around or seen diagrams? I'd very much appreciate any wisdom anyone could pass on. Thanks!

 

[Rusty85]

Re: Anybody ever dabbled with ventriloguist dummies?

I build Billy from Saw, and used the kit they sell on this site. They show some good pics so you can get a good idea.

http://braylu.com/index.html

 

[DuLake]

Re: Anybody ever dabbled with ventriloguist dummies?

Wow, thanks a lot. It looks like they have some pretty inexpensive 'guts' for dummies. Did you get a complete dummy or just the control parts?

 

[troopermatthew]

Re: Anybody ever dabbled with ventriloguist dummies?

Fantastic build idea...got me thinking about it aswell! I believe at the moment Scarface actually resides in the Batcave so making a Batcave style display cabinet would be a intresting way to display him

 

[DuLake]

Re: Anybody ever dabbled with ventriloguist dummies?

I've thought about it, but I think that's another project altogether. If I do a batcave version, it would have to be done up with all the bullet holes and battle damage that the batcave one has (to do it right anyway ). That being said, if I use this as the motivation I've needed to learn the fine art of casting... Batcave Scarface may not be that far a stretch off a standard Scarface.

 

[yodakiller1138]

The PICS of the mass marketed dummies sure brought back memories. I used to have Otis O'Brian in 1975. :lol

 

[DuLake]

You don't by any chance know the rough composition of the mouth mechanism do you? Or at least enough to explain what the controls do. I honestly could probably jerry rig the whole thing, I just honestly have no idea how to operate/what there is to operate on one of these guys.

 

[clonesix]

That is a great link. Lot's of good stuff there.

The mouth mechanisms are very straight forward, a hinged jaw with a spring to close it, and a string to open it.

Honestly, Google and Youtube would be the best places to go for information and demonstrations. try Googling "puppet mechanisms" and go from there.

Be sure to post pics here when you get going.

 

[DuLake]

Good call on the search terms and thanks for the general specs. I'll definitely post pictures. I'm thinking I'm going to try carving the head out of foam for simplicity (easier to get an angular look when carving than in sculpting, for me anyway) and then recasting in some undecided material. Any suggestions on good materials for a final piece? I would like it to look wouldgrain (or stained wood) when finished, but I figure that can be replicated without the hassle of actual wood.

EDIT: Got to thinking, and from what I'm reading, it seems that the main purpose of the rod is to turn the dummy's head, but considering that the ventriloquist holds his puppet while standing, letting legs and such dangle, would that rod give enough support to the dummy's body while maintaining functionality?

 

[clonesix]

As far as I know, (which is limited) The body and head are two separate entities. The main rod is the puppet, meaning that it is your handle, you mechanism, and does all the work. The body is just window dressing for the head. The head can't move downward due to the head is bigger than the opening, and it can't move too far up, because your hand is there.

 

[Apollo]

darthbilly here has built one.

hopefully he will see this and chime in!

 

[troopermatthew]

I was wondering about Scarfaces head and i dont think its supposed to be wood, prehaps the body is but when his head is stepped on it shatters as opposed to breaking and splintering. Just a thought

 

[DuLake]

@Clonesix
I see your point, but would I be able to do all that and make him talk properly at the same time? I'm actually starting to think that for pure functionality, a faux dummy that worked more like a hand puppet might be better.

@TrooperMatthew
In DC comics continuum, the first Scarface puppet was built by Arnold Whesker's cellmate by carving him out of wood from the gallows on Arkham (I'm guessing they haven't been used in a while). Several replacement dummies were made by Whesker and the new ventriloquist, Peyton Riley, Whesker is shown with in process carvings of the Scarface. Now, I don't know what Riley uses for her dummy (she also puts bombs and stuff in hers so it's pretty much a guess), but it seems that Whesker liked wood to keep it original-like. Granted he usually painted them to look like a dummy (depending on the artist), I've always liked the creepy wooden design myself (which isn't entirely factual but I don't entirely mind that).
...And yes, the head does shatter in strange ways, always annoyed me too (kind of like Batman and his confusing Kevlar plated glass, his Kevlar weaved suit, his Kevlar batarangs, etc).

 

[Laffo]

Dabbled?
I'm up to my Elbow in Ventriloquist Dummy.

I get old ones off of EBay all the time. So if you want to cut one up to mess with, that's the cheap way to go. I also find em at Thrift Stores all the time, I found a whole Trash Bag of them. I sold tons of Zombie ones years ago made out of Charlie McCarthys and the like.

My best one in the collection is my Carol Channing Ventriloquist Dummy. I have no idea how anyone thought a child other than Lil' Liberace would want to play with Carol Channing, but there she is. My Sister ordered her from a J.C. Penny's Catalog 5 years ago for me. What?

Still puzzling, oh, the Wife loathes them. That's saying something in our house.

Laffo.

 

[OB10]

I always thought it'd be fun to robotocize a Charlie McCarthy. And that was in the days long before digital sounds, cheap microcontrollers... Still haven't done anything.
But here are a couple old school links:

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007...ummy-for-the-amateur-ventriloquist/#more-3252

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/02/19/from-block-to-blockhead-in-two-days-time/#more-1954

 

[darth billy]

darthbilly here has built one.

hopefully he will see this and chime in!

Yep this thread got my attention im actully going into buisness this year selling my figures.Im going to be selling one of a kind custom built pro figures that are pretty much carved. (Not converted toys)

I'll post some pics of my work later tonight if anyone ever has any qushtions about vent figures let me know.

BTW-My avatar is me with my very fist vent figure I made.

Billy

 

[darth billy]

Here's my favorite vent links.

http://www.puppetsandprops.com/home.html im in the photo section this is where it all started for me.Great building info and parts very high quality.

http://www.ventriloquistcentral.com/
http://www.ventdj.blogspot.com/
http://www.upperlipsneer.blogspot.com/

DuLake-Good luck on your scareface project if you ever need any help just let me know.

Ive thought about makeing scareface how many versions of him are their ?
Ive only seen the animated series episode.

Laffo-are you a member of any vent forums ?

Billy

 

[Laffo]

No I'm not. It's strictly one of my creepy collections. I always have a vent doll in my Stage case that I rumble through while we play. I throw him over the top looking for something in the Suitcase.
Giant Bra
Giant Panties
Vent Doll in Bra and Panties
You get the gag...
Laffo.

 

[darth billy]

HAHAHA I get it they are fun to have around I have my dummies sitting on a bench in my room.I have parts all over the place my room.garage,basement etc.:lol

Billy

 

[Pumpernickel]

If you don't have it, I highly recommend the DVD of the Anthony Hopkins movie, "Magic." The special features on the DVD include "Fats & Friends," hosted by original "Magic" ventriloquist and voice of Fats, Dennis Alwood. The 30-minute feature is sort of a history of ventriliquist dummies in the movies, but largely focuses on behind-the-scenes during the filming of Magic with Fats, Alwood, etc. The original Fats dummy appears in the DVD special, operated and voiced by Alwood. It's fascinating and very creepy.

There was going to be a licensed dummy of Fats, but after an executive at the studio saw a rough cut of the movie, and heard Fat's most famous line from the movie ("fan ***kin-tastic, we're gonna be a staaaaaaar!"), the merchandising was cancelled.

In a vintage tv commercial for the movie, Fats recited a creepy poem:

Abra-cadabra, I sit on his knee;
Prest-o, change-o, and now he is me.
Hocus-Pocus, we take 'er to bed;
Magic is fun, we're dead.

The tv ad scared the hell out of kids and it was pulled.

I always wanted a dummy of Fats, but settled for Pee-Wee Herman, Billy Baloney (Pee Wee's Playhouse), and Charlie McCarthy.

Pumpernickel