A Tribute to Ventriloquism Doubles Its Size

The website A Tribute to Ventriloquism (http://CosterJoe.com) has more than doubled its size since it reopened in June of 2007.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 6, 2008 -- The website A Tribute to Ventriloquism (http://CosterJoe.com) has more than doubled its size since it reopened in June of 2007. Then it had only 23 sections (or htm pages). Now it has 46 sections. There are thousands of photos and dozens of video clips and audio clips. All free! All easily downloaded! New photos are added each week. New video clips are also added every month or two. The website is the largest and most comprehensive of its kind.

The site began back in 2004 (at a different web address) as a simple one-page tribute to a handful of great ventriloquists of the past. But in a matter of months, the website owner and creator, Bob Albano, discovered more and more photos of great ventriloquists dating back to the 18th century. The website quickly grew to five pages. And a few months after that, it expanded once again to twelve pages. Albano then decided to change the focus of the site. It no longer is just a tribute to a few great ventriloquists of the past. Now it is also a Pictorial History of Ventriloquism; and a photo of nearly every great ventriloquist of the past, as well as many of today, is included.

There are still some lesser-known ventriloquists of the past that are not unavailable, but Albano hopes that in time every ventriloquist from the 20th century will be listed eventually. Unfortunately, photos for most of the ventriloquists of the 18th and 19th centuries do not exist. But A Tribute to Ventriloquism still has a great many pictures from these centuries for those interested in the history and development of this wonderful and enchanting art form.

The website is divided into several parts. The first part includes the historical pages listing names with photos of the ventriloquist of the past and of today. This part is subdivided into the following: (1) ventriloquists of the 18th and 19th centuries, (2) vaudeville ventriloquists, 1900-1930, (3) ventriloquists of the movie and TV eras, 1930-2000, and (4) ventriloquists of the 21st century.

Next is a section covering figure or dummy makers and puppet makers. And following that is a section of various topics: ventriloquist toy figures, ventriloquist books, ventriloquism in comedy and dramatic films, ventriloquism and horror, ventriloquist DVDs, and more. Audio files providing instruction in ventriloquism are also available, for free!

The final section of the site focuses on the really great names in ventriloquism, the men and women who have made outstanding contributions to the art. Included in these pages are Paul Winchell (with his dummies Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff), Edgar Bergen (and dummies Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd), Fred Russell, Harry Lester, Peter Brough, Jimmy Nelson, Shari Lewis, Buffalo Bob Smith (and Howdy Doody), Wayland Flowers (and Madame), Willie Tyler (and Lester), Jay Johnson, Ronn Lucas, and Jeff Dunham. Dozens of photographs and at least one video clip is included for each of these great ventriloquists.

A Tribute to Ventriloquism closed down briefly in 2006-07 due to the owner's being too overwhelmed with other duties to work and family. But now the site is back and is here to stay, bigger and better than ever. Albano hopes anyone who is interested in ventriloquism and entertainment history will come by and take a look. But be warned: if you wish to see everything that this remarkable website has to offer, be prepared to spend many hours. You will not be disappointed! The site is located at http://CosterJoe.com.

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