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Ventriloquist and Dummies Collection

You can never be sure their lips aren't moving on the radio, but these ventriloquists and their dummies are entertaining, insulting, and creating meyhem on the airwaves!

Ventriloquist and Dummies

31 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 15 hours, 4 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
18 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from March 24, 1947:

"Escape: Dead of Night"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Bergen & McCarthy

"He's a ventriloquist on the radio -
how do you know he's not moving his lips?"

- Woody Allen's Film "Radio Days" (1987)

Ventriloquism has its roots in an ancient Grecian form of divination known as gastromancy, or the practice of interpreting "belly noises" as messages from the gods.

Bergen & McCarthyJust as Spiritualism eventually led to Stage Magic, Ventriloquism became a popular form of stage craft. Artists who could "throw". their voice were a hit with audiences through the years. The Great Lester, a popular vaudeville ventriloquist, described his craft: "Ventriloquism is a matter of artful deception wherein the tongue is quicker than the ear." By the end of the Vaudeville era audiences were pretty much "in" on the trick, and ventriloquist acts began to put greater emphasis on the comic potential of their acts; the dummy could say and do things that a live person could never get away with.

Although audiences "got" the idea that the ventriloquist was supposedly operating a puppet and talking without moving his lips, fiction writers, and especially horror and mystery writers, chose not to suspend their disbelief in a number of stories. Having a midget or dwarf take the place of a wooden dummy is a very popular pot device, often when there is murder involved, like in  the  Quiet, Please episode "3000 Words". Sometimes the evil ventriloquist and his false dummy are merely out to rob, as in the case of Blackstone the Magician and "The Educated Dummy". Off course the best can combine the two like "The Ventriloquist" does in The Cisco Kid.

The trick of "throwing the voice", making the ventriloquist's voice seem to come from an inanimate object, is always an audience favorite, but as a plot device it is well used by Heroes looking for an edge. Captain Midnight, and Superman both used the trick to get one over on the bad guys.

Paul Winchell & Jerry MahoneyNothing says classic radio and ventriloquism than two little word: Bergen & McCarthy.

Edgar Bergen learned ventriloquism at the age of 11 from a pamphlet. He used the image of a sassy newspaper boy as a model for a figure he had made by a Chicago woodcarver. He named the dummy for both the paperboy and the carver: Charlie McCarthy.

Bergen performed with McCarthy to put himself through college, but became too entranced with performing to give it up, and dropped out of college. When he travelled to NY he was found by Rudy Vallee, who booked him on his show. Bergen and McCarthy were such a hit that they became regulars on the Chase and Sanborn Hour, beginning in 1937, beginning what would be an 11 year run.

This collection contains episodes from all various series featuring scripts and broadcasts featuring ventriloquists and their dummies: entertaining, insulting, and creating and meyhem over the airwaves!

One last Old time Radio fact about Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy: in the popular TV drama, The Waltons, which took place during the Great Depression, the Bergen and McCarthy program are often heard playing in the background as Grandpa listens to the family radio. This is a forgivable anachronism, even when it happened in the show's pilot, the TV Christmas movie, The Home Coming. Do you know who played Grandpa Walton in that pilot? That's right, Edgar Bergen!

See also: Paul Winchell & Jerry Mahoney Show, Bergen & McCarthy, Educating Archie, and the article, Ventriloquists in Old Time Radio.

Dick Powell can't take any more Charlie McCarthy

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    31 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 15 hours, 4 min
    31 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 15 hours, 4 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 31 shows - total playtime 15 hours 4 minutes
    2. Bergen Mccarthy 370606 W C Fields Joan Blondell.mp3
    3. Bergen McCarthy 371212 Adam Eve Guest Mae West.mp3
    4. Bergen McCarthy 410921 W W C Fields.mp3
    5. Bergen McCarthy 411207 W Judy Garland.mp3
    6. Bergen McCarthy 421005 Rosemary Clooney.mp3
    7. Bergen McCarthy 430912 Humphrey Bogart.mp3
    8. Bergen McCarthy 440220 Edgars Birthday W Wc Fields.mp3
    9. Bergen McCarthy 440402 Orson Welles Jane Powell.mp3
    10. Bergen McCarthy 461103 419 Fred Allen Tribute.mp3
    11. Bergen McCarthy 551218 Candy Bergen Xmas.mp3
    12. Bergen McCarthy 560415 Ben Him.mp3
    13. Blackstone 481031 05 Educated Dummy.mp3
    14. Bob Ray 590901 47 Unrehearsed Courtroom Of Air.mp3
    15. Captain Midnight 391122 Episode 27.mp3
    16. Cdnp 501016 E 53 Voice Of Death.mp3
    17. Cisco Kid 550908 328 Ventriloquist.mp3
    18. Escape 470324 000 Aud 2 Dead Of Night.mp3
    19. Every Days A Holiday 490813 Game Show.mp3
    20. Favorite Story 490101 068 Glass Eye.mp3
    21. Ghostc 12 Knives of El Malek 12.mp3
    22. Inner Sanctum 490124 406 Deadly Dummy.mp3
    23. Nelson Eddy Electric Hour 450114 018 Wild Rose.mp3
    24. Out Of This World 470228 Aud Dead Of Night.mp3
    25. Paul Winchell Jerry Mahoney 440710 Jerrys Birthday Bicycle.mp3
    26. Phyl Coe 10 Laughing Ghost.mp3
    27. Quiet Please 480823 E 062 3000 Words.mp3
    28. Rudy Vallee 360806 355 Belief Ricardo Cortez Luise Rainer.mp3
    29. Superman 401122 E 0123 Invisiblemanthepart 6.mp3
    30. Suspense 471113 271 Riabouchinska.mp3
    31. Suspense 491117 359 Red Headed Woman Lucy And Desi Arnez.mp3
    32. Suspense 570804 710 Fleshpeddler.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    31 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 15 hours, 4 min
    31 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    total playtime 15 hours, 4 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 31 shows - total playtime 15 hours 4 minutes
    2. Bergen Mccarthy 370606 W C Fields Joan Blondell.mp3
    3. Bergen McCarthy 371212 Adam Eve Guest Mae West.mp3
    4. Bergen McCarthy 410921 W W C Fields.mp3
    5. Bergen McCarthy 411207 W Judy Garland.mp3
    6. Bergen McCarthy 421005 Rosemary Clooney.mp3
    7. Bergen McCarthy 430912 Humphrey Bogart.mp3
    8. Bergen McCarthy 440220 Edgars Birthday W Wc Fields.mp3
    9. Bergen McCarthy 440402 Orson Welles Jane Powell.mp3
    10. Bergen McCarthy 461103 419 Fred Allen Tribute.mp3
    11. Bergen McCarthy 551218 Candy Bergen Xmas.mp3
    12. Bergen McCarthy 560415 Ben Him.mp3
    13. Blackstone 481031 05 Educated Dummy.mp3
    14. Bob Ray 590901 47 Unrehearsed Courtroom Of Air.mp3
    15. Captain Midnight 391122 Episode 27.mp3
    16. Cdnp 501016 E 53 Voice Of Death.mp3
    17. Cisco Kid 550908 328 Ventriloquist.mp3
    18. Escape 470324 000 Aud 2 Dead Of Night.mp3
    19. Every Days A Holiday 490813 Game Show.mp3
    20. Favorite Story 490101 068 Glass Eye.mp3
    21. Ghostc 12 Knives of El Malek 12.mp3
    22. Inner Sanctum 490124 406 Deadly Dummy.mp3
    23. Nelson Eddy Electric Hour 450114 018 Wild Rose.mp3
    24. Out Of This World 470228 Aud Dead Of Night.mp3
    25. Paul Winchell Jerry Mahoney 440710 Jerrys Birthday Bicycle.mp3
    26. Phyl Coe 10 Laughing Ghost.mp3
    27. Quiet Please 480823 E 062 3000 Words.mp3
    28. Rudy Vallee 360806 355 Belief Ricardo Cortez Luise Rainer.mp3
    29. Superman 401122 E 0123 Invisiblemanthepart 6.mp3
    30. Suspense 471113 271 Riabouchinska.mp3
    31. Suspense 491117 359 Red Headed Woman Lucy And Desi Arnez.mp3
    32. Suspense 570804 710 Fleshpeddler.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    31 recordings on 18 Audio CDs. Total playtime 15 hours, 4 min
    31 recordings on 18 Audio CDs
    total playtime 15 hours, 4 min

    Ventriloquist and Dummies Disc A001

    1. Ghostc 12 Knives of El Malek 12
    2. Phyl Coe 10 Laughing Ghost

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ventriloquist and Dummies Disc A002

    1. Rudy Vallee 360806 355 Belief Ricardo Cortez Luise Rainer

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ventriloquist and Dummies Disc A003

    1. Bergen Mccarthy 370606 W C Fields Joan Blondell

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ventriloquist and Dummies Disc A004

    1. Bergen McCarthy 371212 Adam Eve Guest Mae West

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ventriloquist and Dummies Disc A005

    1. Captain Midnight 391122 Episode 27
    2. Superman 401122 E 0123 Invisiblemanthepart 6
    3. Bergen McCarthy 410921 W W C Fields

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ventriloquist and Dummies Disc A006

    1. Bergen McCarthy 411207 W Judy Garland
    2. Bergen McCarthy 421005 Rosemary Clooney

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ventriloquist and Dummies Disc A007

    1. Bergen McCarthy 430912 Humphrey Bogart
    2. Bergen McCarthy 440220 Edgars Birthday W Wc Fields

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ventriloquist and Dummies Disc A008

    1. Bergen McCarthy 440402 Orson Welles Jane Powell
    2. Paul Winchell Jerry Mahoney 440710 Jerrys Birthday Bicycle

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ventriloquist and Dummies Disc A009

    1. Nelson Eddy Electric Hour 450114 018 Wild Rose

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ventriloquist and Dummies Disc A010

    1. Bergen McCarthy 461103 419 Fred Allen Tribute

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ventriloquist and Dummies Disc A011

    1. Out Of This World 470228 Aud Dead Of Night
    2. Escape 470324 000 Aud 2 Dead Of Night

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ventriloquist and Dummies Disc A012

    1. Suspense 471113 271 Riabouchinska
    2. Quiet Please 480823 E 062 3000 Words
    3. Blackstone 481031 05 Educated Dummy

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ventriloquist and Dummies Disc A013

    1. Favorite Story 490101 068 Glass Eye
    2. Inner Sanctum 490124 406 Deadly Dummy

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ventriloquist and Dummies Disc A014

    1. Every Days A Holiday 490813 Game Show
    2. Suspense 491117 359 Red Headed Woman Lucy And Desi Arnez

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ventriloquist and Dummies Disc A015

    1. Cdnp 501016 E 53 Voice Of Death
    2. Cisco Kid 550908 328 Ventriloquist

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ventriloquist and Dummies Disc A016

    1. Bergen McCarthy 551218 Candy Bergen Xmas

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ventriloquist and Dummies Disc A017

    1. Bergen McCarthy 560415 Ben Him

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Ventriloquist and Dummies Disc A018

    1. Suspense 570804 710 Fleshpeddler
    2. Bob Ray 590901 47 Unrehearsed Courtroom Of Air

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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