Ventriloquist figures, or vent figures, are replicas of humans or animals with exaggerated physical characteristics used for entertainment. They have openings in the back for the ventriloquist to move the head, eyes, and jaw. Vent figures are still used today and can be customized.
Ventriloquist figures, popularly known as vent figures, are manufactured replicas of human beginnings that are used as part of an act of entertainment. Referred to as the ventriloquist’s dummy by the general public, the vent figure serves as the ventriloquist’s companion during the course of the act. Vent figures feature openings in the back that allow the ventriloquist to insert their hand and rotate the head on the figure, the eyes to move, and the lower jaw to move in a way that resembles natural human movements.
Vent figures are usually not designed to be perfect replicas of human beings. Rather, the vent figure will clearly be modeled after a human male or female, but possess some type of exaggerated physical characteristics. The forehead of the head may be larger than normal or the ears may be disproportionate to the rest of the head. It is not unusual for the nose, eyes or eyebrows on the figure to be constructed to convey visual cues of varying levels of mental acuity. The choice of clothing on the figure’s body usually helps create the perception of the mental and emotional state of the figure that the ventriloquist wants the audience to assume regarding the vent figure.
In recent decades, vent figures have also included replicas of various types of animals that are imbued with some human characteristics. As with human-molded figures, these recent innovations are usually constructed to allow for certain eye and jaw movements that allow ventriloquists to mimic common human emotions and movements during conversation.
While the use of ventriloquist figures and ventriloquist acts are often associated with the days of vaudeville and the early years of television, there are still a number of ventriloquists working today. Some go on to work in nightclubs or tour small supper clubs around the world. In many cases, the working ventriloquist will not use a single figure as part of the act. Instead, the comedy routine makes use of several outburst figures, adding a degree of diversity to the overall performance.
Due to the continued demand for vent figures, there are a number of companies that produce different types of these simple yet effective entertainment items. Although many of the figures are mass produced, it is also possible to order a vent figure made to specific customer requirements.
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