Ventriloquism

Ventriloquism is the art of vocal illusion that uses the skill of "throwing" your voice to make it appear that sounds are coming from somewhere else. It usually involves the ventriloquist speaking or singing without moving their lips while manipulating a puppet or prop "doll" that appears to be talking.

Ventriloquists utilize this voice illusion to entertain and bring their dolls or puppets to life as unique characters.

History and Origins

Ventriloquism dates back thousands of years, with roots in ritual and religious ceremony. The ability to produce sound without moving the lips was historically thought to be associated with spiritual forces and divine voices. Earliest references come from 1000 BCE in Biblical descriptions of necromancers "speaking from their bellies."

As an entertainment art, ventriloquism is believed to have originated during the Renaissance. Performance troupes travelled around Europe, amazing crowds with the mysterious disembodied voice illusion. The term "ventriloquist" was coined in the late 18th century, based on the misconception that they were speaking "from the belly" rather than moving breath and voice subtly between mouth and nasal cavities.

Performing Ventriloquism

The main skill of ventriloquists is to speak clearly without visibly moving their lips through precise breath and mouth control. Subtle mouth and face movements help form sounds that audiences perceive as coming directly from the puppet rather than the ventriloquist. They refocus the listener's ear from the directionless sounds to attributing them to the doll speaker.

Ventriloquists develop a witty comedic double-act between themselves and their puppet partners. The dolls each have their own persona which banters with the ventriloquist and other characters. Successful routines require superb verbal and physical choreography between the speaking puppet and human puppeteer.

Puppets and Dummies

Iconic features of most ventriloquist routines include the puppets and dolls brought to life by the performer:

Puppets - Hand puppets with empty heads and a moving felt mouth are common. The ventriloquist slips a hand inside to mime the puppet talking.

Dummies - Handheld dolls designed with an inanimate human-like head and upper torso. Movable jaws and lips help animate speech. The classic dummy features slicked black hair and a painted face.

Novelty Dolls - Objects like carved skulls, plush animals, and other unique items can be animated as part of novel ventriloquist illusions and double acts.

Notable Ventriloquists

• Edgar Bergen  - Most influential 20th century ventriloquist. His popular act featured his quick-witted dummy Charlie McCarthy exchanging comedic banter with guests.

• Jeff Dunham  - Huge contemporary ventriloquism star recognized for his diverse cast of crass and colorful puppet partners like Peanut, Bubba J, and Walter. His comedy specials have garnered enormous attention and popularity for the art.

• Terry Fator  - Multi-talented ventriloquist who astounded audiences by perfectly mimicking famous singers through his puppets. He won season 2 of America's Got Talent, evidencing mainstream interest in ventriloquism entertainment today.

Ventriloquism persists as a staple variety art that impresses all ages with its novel illusion. Blending vocal mime, sly humor, puppetry, and sonic trickery, ventriloquists continue conveying the centuries-old magic of the "thrown voice."