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Jerry Mahoney Ventriloquist Puppet

Jerry Mahoney Ventriloquist Puppet

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Description (Brief)
Ventriloquist dummy Jerry Mahoney, created by Paul Winchell around 1938. This is the first of many "Jerrys" which the puppeteer used over the course of his decades-long career as a performer on stage and screen. This original Jerry is made of plastic wood and was sculpted by Frank Marshall; he has a detachable carved wooden head and is dressed in a red sport coat and a bow tie.
Ventriloquist Dr. Paul Winchell and his puppets, Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff, were popular acts from 1938 through the 1980s, appearing on stage in variety acts, in their own television show, "The Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney Show," and in guest appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show and other variety programs. Jerry’s wise-cracking, outspoken persona would exasperate straight man partner Winchell in comical songs, skits, and quiz segments on these programs.
In addition to his ventriloquist skills, Winchell was an inventor and holds a patent on an early version of the artificial heart. He was also a well known voiceover actor for children's movies and television shows. One of his most memorable characters included acting as the voice of Tigger in the Disney movie, "Winnie the Pooh" for which he received a Grammy award.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
puppet
Date made
1938
user
Winchell, Paul
maker
Marshall, Frank
Winchell, Dr. Paul
place made
United States: Illinois, Chicago
Physical Description
wood (overall material)
plastic (overall material)
hair (overall material)
fabric (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 43 in x 20 in x 6 1/2 in; 109.22 cm x 50.8 cm x 16.51 cm
ID Number
1981.0395.01
catalog number
1981.0395.01
accession number
1981.0395
Credit Line
Dr. Paul Winchell
subject
Puppetry
Television broadcasts
Radio and television broadcasting
Children's television programs
Television
See more items in
Cultural and Community Life: Entertainment
Puppets
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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Comments

reply
My Grandmother, Vera Griglak Mihalik (1902-1976) was a friend of Frank Marshall. She lived in Chicago with her family from ca 1903 to ca 1917. The Griglak family lived on Winchester Avenue not far from the Marshall (Marszalkiewicz) family. Frank Marshall made a dummy for my father, Edward Mihalik, at my grandma's request. "Oscar" is about 80 years old. My father was about fifteen when he received the dummy. My father kept a scrapbook about dummies, written on a page is a note to my grandma dated 1938 from Frank Marshall calling her a "real friend." Also there is a picture of Frank Marshall and my father in Chicago dated 1949. I have the dummy in my possession and with it a piece of history.

Donna Barron

Wed, 2018-08-15 12:23

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