Okay now here's the deal: Your challenge is to read this email out loud but...... without moving your lips. Say what? Yes this is so you can get into the true spirit of our afternoon's activities. For those of you with more advanced skills, try doing this while eating, drinking or smoking.
In Fort Mitchell, KY we had an appointment for 1:00 at "Vent Haven" -- The Ventriloquism Museum. As we pulled into a mid to upper class suburban neighborhood, it seemed an unlikely locale for any sort of business, let alone a museum of such a quirky nature. We were met in the driveway by the smiling face of Jen Dawson, the curator of the non-profit organization. We would be sharing the adventure with 7 other curious visitors. After a brief introduction, we were lead to one of the small garage-like buildings.
Now let us pause a minute to ponder certain realities...... There are many odd phobias available to the human psyche. Be it heights, snakes or spiders, there is a cornucopia of things or circumstances that can make one more than a little uncomfortable. Some people are freaked out by something as silly as clowns - Coulrophobia. Ever hear of "Pupaphobia" or "Pediophobia" or "Automotonophobia"? Well, apparently some people are terribly frightened by puppets, dolls and/or especially dummies. This may seem odd and irrational but let me say that when we entered the first of three buildings, our initial smiles where instantly replaced with, "Yikes creeeepy!" Okay now you get the idea.
This museum is filled to the gills with hundreds of ventriloquism dummies (sometimes referred to as figures but either is acceptable). There are very old, even, historical, ones. Some are famous but most known only within the "talking dummy" field. It was fun to see many figures from our youth and even current stars like Jeff Dunham's. There were the biggies like Charlie McCarthy, Jerry Mahoney, Lambchop, Farfel and many many more. Susan especially like the one made from an 1865 porcelain doll.
As mentioned above, even though Jen was very informative and entertaining, there was that underlying creepy feeling. Some of the dummies are genuinely spooky. I swear to God some of their eyes followed me around the room. I can also guarantee you that at night these little people are moving about, partying and planning the take over of the world. Don't believe me, take a look at couple of the portraits below, i.e., Check out #10 -- this guy makes Jack Nicholson's "Joker" or "Here's.... Johnny (The Shining) look like a kitten. And look at #12 - Sweet Mother Mary, that thing is horrific. Then what about #32 -- if the dummie thing is not enough, how about adding in the scary monkeys from the Wizard of Oz -- jeeez!! Take a look at #28 -- Ever wonder what Michael Jackson was hoping for with all the surgeries and "whitening"? Keep in mind this figure was from the 30s or 40s.The winner, though, goes to one little guy, #33 -- the freakin' thing has human hair and teeth; not good. You can feel the rabies and mayhem wish just looking out it's psychotic little eyes..... OMG!!! Susan -- creepy yes but the story is -- the vent guy dressed like a woman nurse and the dummy was the patient in a bed on stage and the audience didn't know the child was not real until "she" pulled him from the bed. But so strange I didn't want to get close to him.
Well, that's enough. Let's let he photos speak (really -- listen carefully) for themselves. In the name of sharing as many faces as possible, in some cases the scale of the photos are smaller to facilitate more images. Enjoy..... but don't turn your back.
"Read my lips"- with love,
Rodney and Susan
