Called "the quintessential ventriloquist of the twetieth century," Edgar Bergan (1903-1978) more than anyone else pioneered modern day ventriloquism. At age eleven he taught himself ventriloquisim; when he sixteen he received daily lessons from famed ventriloquist Harry lest; and later that year he paid 436 to have a dummy carved for him in the likeness of a red-haird newspeper boy he knew -- and thus was Charlie McCarthy born. Two other major creations were added as his career progressed -- Mortimer Snerd and Effie Klinker.
Beginning in vaudeville, Bergen soon appeared at the famous Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center; there he was seen by two rppoducers who booked Bergan (and mcCathy) for an appearance on Rudy Valee's radio show in December 1936. The pair were so popular that the following year they became part of the cast of The Chase and Sanborn Hour, a gig that lasted from 1937 to 1956. (Part of the so-called War of the Worlds Panic from Orson Welles' infamous 1938 broadcast was due to the fact that many of Welles' listeners tuned in halfway through the show because they had been listening to Bergan and McCarthy and did not ealize the program was emtirely fictional.) Bergen also had a CBS radio program, The Charlie McCarthy Hour (later The Edgar Bergen Hour) from 1949 to 1956.
The fact that Bergen was a star ventriloquist on radio, where no one could see the act was part of itss charm. (In fact, some listeners thought the McCathy was real person and not a dummy.)
the other part of Bergen's popularity was due to his comedic timing and the personality he gave to his puppets.
Truth to tell, Bergan was not a very good ventriloquist. Filmed appeatances clearly showed Bergan's move moving, but few people cared. Bergen even had Charlie McCarthy occasionally mention how his mouth was moving. Above all, bergen brought a certain innocence and good-tempered humor to his act.
On this episode of The Chase and Sanborn Hour, Ronald Colman, Dale Evans, Victor Moore, and Billy Gaxton.
Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h--kfyx8Mtc&t=2s
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