Talk:List of ventriloquists

Dennis Spicer

If anyone has the info, please add an article to commemorate British ventriloquist, Dennis Spicer, who was a huge hit at the 1964 Royal Variety Performance with a corgi dummy, but was killed in a car crash shortly after. He may have been the most technically accomplished of them all. JMcC 17:52, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

Wayland Flowers

Is Wayland Flowers really considered a ventriloquist? —Preceding unsigned comment added by MattThePuppetGuy (talk • contribs) 14:49, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

I'm not knocking him, but he was a puppeteer, not a ventriloquist. He moved his lips shamelessly. Kostaki mou (talk) 18:05, 24 August 2018 (UTC)

List stripped

Given that this list is completely unreferenced, I have stripped out all those that have no article on Wikipedia. I think it would be prudent in the absence of any references whatsoever to make sure all names added to this list have articles attached to them to back them up. -- role^player 10:57, 2 November 2008 (UTC)

The names of ventriloquists stripped should be listed here, to encourage others to expand information about them. One notable not listed is Thelma Jean Graham, subject of a recent On Point story, as well as several internet articles:

1. Nashville's Cinderella (http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_1032_Mary_Ranson_.mp3/view) 2. Girl and her dummy catch eye of famous ventriloquist (http://159.54.227.69/learn-nashville/archives/05/03/47394599.shtml?Element_ID=47394599) 3. Family or showbiz? Which would it be? (http://159.54.227.69/learn-nashville/archives/05/03/47668141.shtml?Element_ID=47668141)

BobSchacht (talk) 13:52, 31 December 2010 (UTC)BobSchacht

Agree with need for referencing. Problem arises when references exist but there are no articles about the subject on Wikipedia. In substantial cases, the ventriloquist may have passed on. Notable figure makers such as Jack Coats and Frank Marshal come to mind. Both were vents are are considered by the profession as the greatest of the figure makers. Ventriloquists would include people such as Johnny Main or Bill Boley. Both were extremely well known, heavy contributors to the art with Boley writing some 4 books and 30 years of articles for the vent magazines. Same for Peter Rich and Warren Chaney. Chaney was a board member for the International Ventriloquists Association and Vent Haven. He wrote for years in the vent publications and was a television pioneer. Wikipedia has an article on his pioneering work in television (Magic Mansion) but not on him. If we take the approach that these vents should not be listed, then we are missing a historical opportunity.

All of this being said, I still strongly agree with you regarding referencing. Do we provide it adjacent to the name? I don't know. Neverland1 (talk) 14:04, 13 September 2011 (UTC)

Referencing for beginners will probably answer all of your questions about referencing Wikipedia-style. Shearonink (talk) 14:45, 13 September 2011 (UTC)

Prince

I've never seen the Purple Rain film but I have to ask, was Prince really a ventriloquist? I re-linked where it mentioned his name to go to the correct wikipages.Jeremy706 (talk) 04:24, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

• Well, I guess that answers my question Jeremy (talk) 09:39, 25 February 2010 (UTC)