Rob Compton

Then of course there's Sandy Powell and his very funny "vent" act....

apricot

:Thanks for confirming that for me Dave, always a relief to know memory not completely confused!

GRAEME

Terry Hall was a well known figure in Coventry and could often be found walking his dog in the Memorial Park. He died last year aged 80.

Oddly he was apparently not related to the other Coventry Terry Hall of The Specials fame.

All men leak.

EHV_Emmetts

I remember Roger DeCourcey and Nookie Bear.

Harry

Out of interest it was Laurel & Hardy that persuaded him to give up the vent act and, due to him being so nervous about it when going on stage for the first time without the dummies, his nervous bumbling manner was born.

Husky

I always thought Harry Corbett had the right idea - don't bother with years of perfecting a vent act, just use the "What's that, Sooty - you want to play your xylophone?" approach.

Jackdaw

Never quote from one of your own posts, they say, but I must correct my mistake.
The trans-sexual vent was Bobbie Kimber, and the lady with the profane doll was Terri Rogers IIRC.

Harleybloke

Scorch the Dragon!

.....You couldn't hear it, if they were shooting at me with howitzers!

Marky B

What was the name of the vent?
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

Jackdaw

Some very good footage of Neville King and Arthur Worsley here.

YouTube - Paul Merton's PERFECT NIGHT IN featuring Ventriloquists

Santonix

Ronn Lucas.

Marky B

Thanks Santonix
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

ronald colman 1

If you want to see a very funny vent act go on to you tube and search for Jeff Dunham

TommyTV

Saveen worked as a support for Morcambe & Wise when they (rarely) did cabaret. They included a hilarious ventriloquism sketch in their live show. Eric would attempt to sing 'When your sniling, the whole world sniles with you'. Also don't forget Ken Dodd - he used a 'Diddyman' as his doll. He did a routine - Ken -"Would you like a big bottle of brown beer and a slice of brown bread and butter, or a shandy? Diddyman - "A shandy".
The two worst vents were Peter Brough and Edgar Bergen (Candice's Dad). The only way you couldn't see their lips move was if you faced the other way!

cymro glan

About ten years ago, I wrote to Terry Hall, and we eventually met up for a bit of a chat in a Coventry eaterie. The deal was that I paid and he talked! It was fascinating to hear his memories. He had started out with a cheeky boy doll, a type of act that was two a penny. Then, on a visit to Blackpool Zoo, he noticed a lanuid, bored looking lion, which was the genesis of the ever so lightly camp Lenny. The original figure was made by someone who worked at Tussauds. When that bacame tatty, a second was made. I do hope they have both gone to a good home.

Which reminds me, there used to be some old vent dolls on display in the hq of a showbiz charity(waterrats?), near Kings Cross station. I was once given permission to view the collection.