Editing Ventriloquism (section)

==Ventriloquist's dummy==
[[File:Ventriloquist by David Shankbone-Cropped.jpg|thumb|left|A ventriloquist entertaining children at the [[Pueblo, Colorado]], Buell Children's Museum]]

Modern ventriloquists use multiple types of puppets in their presentations, ranging from soft cloth or foam puppets (Verna Finly's work is a pioneering example), flexible latex puppets (such as Steve Axtell's creations) and the traditional and familiar hard-headed knee figure ([[Tim Selberg]]'s mechanized carvings). The classic dummies used by ventriloquists (the technical name for which is '''ventriloquial figure''') vary in size anywhere from twelve inches tall to human-size and larger, with the height usually {{cvt|34|–|42|in|cm}}. Traditionally, this type of puppet has been made from [[papier-mâché]] or wood. In modern times, other materials are often employed, including [[fiberglass]]-reinforced [[resin]]s, [[polyurethane|urethane]]s, filled (rigid) [[latex]], and [[neoprene]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=yt0DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA154 "Look Inside A Dummy's Head."] ''Popular Mechanics'', December 1954, pp.&nbsp;154–157.</ref> Traditionally, the ventriloquist’s dummy is given a flippant personality who unapologetically insults their ventriloquist and often members of the audience as well.

Great names in the history of dummy making include Jeff Dunham, Frank Marshall (the Chicago creator of Bergen's [[Charlie McCarthy]],<ref name=TalkingComedy>{{cite magazine |title= Ventriloquism LEGEND Profile: Jimmy Nelson |publisher= | website= TalkingComedy.com | date= 2005 |volume= 4| number= 2 |url= http://www.talkingcomedy.com/SI-Vent-2005/legends-siVENT05/JN-LGND-siVENT05.html | url-status= unfit| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20111126113434/http://www.talkingcomedy.com/SI-Vent-2005/legends-siVENT05/JN-LGND-siVENT05.html| archivedate= 2011-11-26| access-date= 2022-08-23}}</ref> Nelson's Danny O'Day,<ref name=TalkingComedy/> and Winchell's Jerry Mahoney), Theo Mack and Son (Mack carved Charlie McCarthy's head), Revello Petee, Kenneth Spencer, Cecil Gough,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.howtodoventriloquism.com/ventriloquists/jeff-dunham-21st-century-ventriloquist/ |title=Jeff Dunham - 21st Century Ventriloquist |publisher=How To Do Ventriloquism |access-date=29 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130427064550/http://howtodoventriloquism.com/ventriloquists/jeff-dunham-21st-century-ventriloquist/ |archive-date=27 April 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and Glen & George McElroy. The McElroy brothers' figures are still considered by many ventriloquists as the apex of complex movement mechanics, with as many as fifteen facial and head movements controlled by interior finger keys and switches. Jeff Dunham referred to his McElroy figure Skinny Duggan as "the [[Stradivarius]] of dummies."<ref>Dunham, Jeff (2010). ''Jeff Dunham: All By My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed, and Me''. New American Library. p. 107. {{ISBN|978-0-451-23469-8}}</ref> The [[Juro Novelty Company]] also manufactured dummies. Geoffrey Moran of Australia has built foam puppets Koala (Kevin) and Billy Baby. He has also built a wooden Irish Dancing Donut puppet along with Plunger the pull apart puppet, Ernie (from Tasmania) and Siegfried the World's Greatest Marching Band Leader. Other puppets, such as George, Darryl the Dinosaur, Goggles the bird, Barry the Box and Bruce the Robotic Bucket have been made by other associates.

=== In popular culture ===
[[File:Antique male ventriloquial figure.jpg|thumb|upright|Ventriloquist dummy in the shape of a young boy]]
The plots of some [[Horror film|films and television program]]s are based on "[[killer toy]]" dummies that are alive and horrific. These include "[[The Dummy]]", a May 4, 1962 episode of ''[[The Twilight Zone]]'';<ref name="Andrews">{{cite news| url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/archie-andrews-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-ventriloquists-dummy-516992.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220811/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/archie-andrews-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-ventriloquists-dummy-516992.html |archive-date=11 August 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | location=London | work=The Independent | title=Archie Andrews: The rise and fall of a ventriloquist's dummy | date=26 November 2005}}</ref> ''[[Devil Doll (film)|Devil Doll]]'';<ref>Young, R. G. (2000). ''The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film: Ali Baba to Zombies''. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 155. {{ISBN|1-55783-269-2}}</ref> ''[[Dead Silence]]''; ''[[Zapatlela]]'';<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/no-strings-attached/1129554/| title = Zapatlela uses possessed doll Tatya Vinchu| website= indianexpress.com| date= 20 November 2009| first= | last= | access-date= }}</ref> ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|Buffy The Vampire Slayer]]''; ''[[Goosebumps (original series)|Goosebumps]]''; ''[[Tales from the Crypt (TV series)|Tales from the Crypt]]''; ''[[Gotham (TV series)|Gotham]]'' (the episode "[[Nothing's Shocking (Gotham)|Nothing's Shocking]]"); ''[[Friday the 13th: The Series]]''; ''[[Toy Story 4]]''; and ''[[Doctor Who]]'' in different episodes. This genre has also been satirized on television in ''[[ALF (TV series)|ALF]]'' (the episode "I'm Your Puppet"); ''[[Seinfeld]]'' (the episode "[[The Chicken Roaster]]"); and the [[Monty (comic strip)|comic strip ''Monty'']].

Some [[psychological horror]] films and other works feature [[psychotic]] ventriloquists who believe their dummies are alive and use them as surrogates to commit frightening acts including murder. Examples of this include [[Magic (1978 film)|the 1978 film ''Magic'']], [[Dead of Night|the 1945 anthology film ''Dead of Night'']],<ref name="Andrews"/> and [[Ventriloquist (character)|the Ventriloquist]] from [[Batman]] comics and other Batman media.

Literary examples of frightening ventriloquist dummies include [[Gerald Kersh]]'s ''The Horrible Dummy'' and the story "The Glass Eye" by John Keir Cross. In music, [[NRBQ|NRBQ's]] video for their song "Dummy" (2004) features four ventriloquist dummies modelled after the band members who 'lip-sync' the song while wandering around a dark, abandoned house.