Rating: 
Summary: It's Winchell - Mahoney Time!
Review: Words will not suffice...., but here's an attempt. Kelly Asbury has brought back some of the warmest memories so many of us have, some a little suppressed by this fast paced, high tech world. Meeting Paul Winchell when I was a youth was, and continues to be, one of my fondest memories of all time. Coming home each day from school and faithfully watching 'Winchell Mahoney Time'. Ahhhhhhh........., those were the days. Dummy Days! How I wanted to be like Winch. Warm and fuzzy memories at their best! When Jimmy Nelson would be on TV, time just stood still. Couldn't pry me away from the tube. Kelly brings all this back and so much more. Things I never knew about these vents and their careers (even though I thought I knew quite a bit), that is so fascinating to read about now, in a time where I mostly end up turning the TV off (sometimes the radio too!). Senior Wences, Shari Lewis, and Edgar Bergen are so wonderfully brought back to life in the pages of Kelly Asbury's wonderful book, and in such marvelous detail. Growing up, how many of us carted around their equally if not more famous counterparts, i.e, the Juro dummies (Danny O'Day, Jerry Mahoney, etc., vent dolls), hoping someday we would be able to do what these famous vents did (bring entertainment and joy to millions with such a unique craft). Kelly even dug up some cool info on those historic puppets that so many of us owned or still own today. He has truly captured the heyday of vents, their famous dummies and the impact they had on so many people over the years that they reigned supreme in our hearts. You can really tell that Kelly put his heart and soul into this publication, making it the best volume of it's kind. Time was just waiting for someone of his caliber, with his unique writing skills, thorough research ability and other entertainment 'know how', to bring such a wonderful book to print. What more can I say? Get the book! Jealously protect your copy (don't lend it out! <G>), but be sure to give someone else you care about their own copy as a truly unique gift....., which is exactly what this book is! Mike Brose
Rating:
Summary: It's Winchell - Mahoney Time!
Review: Words will not suffice...., but here's an attempt. Kelly Asbury has brought back some of the warmest memories so many of us have, some a little suppressed by this fast paced, high tech world. Meeting Paul Winchell when I was a youth was, and continues to be, one of my fondest memories of all time. Coming home each day from school and faithfully watching 'Winchell Mahoney Time'. Ahhhhhhh........., those were the days. Dummy Days! How I wanted to be like Winch. Warm and fuzzy memories at their best! When Jimmy Nelson would be on TV, time just stood still. Couldn't pry me away from the tube. Kelly brings all this back and so much more. Things I never knew about these vents and their careers (even though I thought I knew quite a bit), that is so fascinating to read about now, in a time where I mostly end up turning the TV off (sometimes the radio too!). Senior Wences, Shari Lewis, and Edgar Bergen are so wonderfully brought back to life in the pages of Kelly Asbury's wonderful book, and in such marvelous detail. Growing up, how many of us carted around their equally if not more famous counterparts, i.e, the Juro dummies (Danny O'Day, Jerry Mahoney, etc., vent dolls), hoping someday we would be able to do what these famous vents did (bring entertainment and joy to millions with such a unique craft). Kelly even dug up some cool info on those historic puppets that so many of us owned or still own today. He has truly captured the heyday of vents, their famous dummies and the impact they had on so many people over the years that they reigned supreme in our hearts. You can really tell that Kelly put his heart and soul into this publication, making it the best volume of it's kind. Time was just waiting for someone of his caliber, with his unique writing skills, thorough research ability and other entertainment 'know how', to bring such a wonderful book to print. What more can I say? Get the book! Jealously protect your copy (don't lend it out! ), but be sure to give someone else you care about their own copy as a truly unique gift....., which is exactly what this book is!Mike Brose
Rating:
Summary: An Old Art - Memories the Modern Way
Review: Yes yes yes, some people think ventriloquism is a dying art. It is not, and this wonderful book "Dummy Days" tells the reader why. Golden Memories for bay boomers, but a lot more. Well researched info, lots and lots of rare photographs, written to be read with pleasure and layed out to be looked at with delight.
It is a very American book, in the best sense. Proud of the uniqueness of history, written with love for detail. Highly recommended - a gift that will make many an eyebrow go up , and stay up !
Rating:
Summary: WOW!!
Review: You don't just have to be a fan of puppets or ventriloquism to LOVE this book. A friend recommended it to me and I gave it a try, not knowing anything about the art of "vent", as practitioners of the craft refer to it. DUMMY DAYS was a complete joy from beginning to end - which came too soon, it left me wanting more! AND THE DESIGN...BEAUTIFUL. It feels good just holding the book amd looking at the amazing photos. I've never written one of these reviews, but I had to make sure I got my two cents in on behalf of the wonderful new book. It will be gifted to all my friends all year long. DUMMY DAYS is a book for all ages and all readers. A must!
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