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Archive Photos for Ventriloquists
(If you aren't a ventriloquist, quit reading, you won't get the inside jokes--and there are many---on this page.)
- Random Vent Photos
- Photos from the 2009 Vent Haven ConVENTion
- Photos from the 2007 Vent Haven ConVENTion
Random Vent Photos
This photo is many years old...taken at a wedding at Walt Disney. Verna Finley was a fabulous puppet-maker...I share my case with several of her creations.
Photos from the 2009 Vent Haven ConVENTion
The big photo from the ConVENTion with Mark and Jodi Wade holding the sign. Above at the far right, in the red shirt, is our friend Jay Johnson and his original Mannequin American, Squeaky. When Jay appeared on the TV sit com, Soap, the network replaced Squeaky with Bob (pictured below.) That story is detailed in Jay's Tony Award Winning Broadway show, The Two and Only.
In the yellow shirt at the bottom right of the photo above is Pete Michaels, a talented New York area vent who has appeared many times at the Apollo Theatre and throughout the east coast. He's very talented and very funny. Go to his Web site to learn more. To the upper left is retired Chicago vent, Bob Isacson. To say the Bob is one of the "nice guys" doesn't do him justice.
One of the highlights of the International Ventriloquists Convention is getting the opportunity to talk with Jimmy Nelson who is pictured in the center above with his wife Betty along with Danny O'Day and Farfel the dog. Jimmy, who is 80, gave Dale a boost early in our career and we have been forever indebted to him.
Dale met Nina Conti at the Vent ConVENTion in July. You may not be familiar with Nina, but she's incredibly famous in the United Kingdom. She's also incredibly funny and very original. Nina has toured the world with her monkey. (I'll let you drop in your own joke there ... I have too much class to do it.) Her 30 minute routine at the convention provided non-stop laughter and proved that you don't need a $5,000 puppet to be successful (something Dale learned too late). Nina demonstrated that all you need is an inexpensive monkey and a lot of talent. (Insert your own "Dale" joke, here.)
Close friend Bob Rumba and his two look-a-like Mannequin Americans. Bob is more than a vent. He is a talented juggler, magician and balloon sculptor extraordinaire. He's perhaps best known for his walk-around impressions of Charlie Chaplin, Groucho Marks and Barney Fife ... all hilarious.
On the left is Bill DeMar, who is regarded by other vents as the "master" of puppet manipulation. In fact, in his ventriloquist act, Bill uses a frog that never speaks ... but is very funny none-the-less and it's entirely due to Bill's phenomenal manipulation skills. In the middle of the photo is Bill's Mannequin American double, made by Mary Ann Taylor. On the far right is Roy White, who owns the Bill DeMar character and who provides the puppet with a remarkably accurate Bill DeMar voice and many DeMarism anecdotes.
Kevin Johnson. Kevin is mostly recognized from his 2006 appearance on NBC's primetime show America's Got Talent. More than 18 million viewers were amazed by his "Godzilla Theater" and Simon Cowell told Kevin, "America loves you." You can click here to see Kevin's 2007 appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman which includes "Godzilla Theater." You'll see that Kevin is very original and has a lot of talent.
Steve, Dale and Leslie (she's not holding a puppet.)
Here's a photo of Dale with a replica of Fats, the puppet that starred in the movie, Magic, with Anthony Hopkins, Ann Margaret and Burgess Meredith. Magic single handedly set ventriloquism back 20 years by making "dummies" scarier than clowns.
Photos from the 2007 Vent Haven ConVENTion
At far right, Jeff Dunham, whose DVD "Arguing with Myself" just went quintuple platinum, listens intently to his mentor, Dale Brown, shown in the middle. Actually, Jeff is wondering who Dale is and why he's on the same panel. Also shown from left to right, Pete Michaels, Mark Wade, ConVENTion chairman, Dale, Tom Ladshaw (Gottle O'Geer Collectibles) and Jeff.
Dale was honored to be the opening act for the 31st Annual International Ventriloquists’ Convention.
This is Dale with Meghan Miller (left), you'll remember
Meghan from America's Got Talent!
Like the other 300 male vents at the convention, Dale hopes to mentor Meghan.
This is Dale with Dan
Horn, a very fun vent that works many cruise ships.
He's already told Dale that he isn't looking for a mentor.
Dale with Nick Pawlow, a well
known vent who specializes in unusual characters to say the least.
This photo just amused us. Dr. Stevo Schüling is showing
his puppet to Bill DeMar,
Chip and Dale look on amused and confused.
Each year, a photo is taken of all the Ventriloquist that
attend the Vent Haven ConVENTion.
Here, the photo is still in the
process of being organized.
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We were able to participate in special tour of the Vent Haven Museum...the only museum of its kind dedicated to the art of Ventriloquism. From left to right, Jeff Dunham--yes, THE Jeff Dunham, Lisa Sweasy, curator of the museum, Alan Semok, Adelia Detweiler, Dale, Leslie Brown (my wife) and Clinton Detweiler. For those who do not know, the Detweilers are responsible for the "birth" of many ventriloquists through the Maher Course. If you want to learn the art of vent, you need to start with this course.