All Born Ventriloquists

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Ventriloquism in a Month
All Born Ventriloquists
Initial Stages
Breathing Exercises
Automaton or Man?
Speaking Still Lips
Two Kinds of Ventriloquism
Ventriloquism Voices
Ventriloquist Figures
Ventriloquist Figure Manipulation
Near Voices
Ventriloquist Distant Voices
Ventriloquist Imitations
Complete Entertainment

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By Cecil H. Bullivant

ALL BORN VENTRILOQUISTS

Unhappily there are other very prevalent misconceptions to be removed before instruction can be either given or undertaken. The marvelous and almost incomprehensible powers attributed by some professional entertainers to their " dolls," probably once gave rise to the idea that ventriloquism was a gift natural only to those possessing unusual formation of the throat and vocal organs. Modern research and investigation, however, have proved that every one is a born ventriloquist, that the power to make sounds appear to emanate at a point remote from the speaker is universal--and that all those who study the subject from a proper and sensible standpoint can easily acquire the art. 

Then, again, it has long been supposed by the uninitiated that ventriloquist practice is injurious to the throat, and capable of harming the lungs. Exactly the opposite is the case ; the exercises necessitated by the proper study of the art are such as will serve not only to train the vocal organs, but also to induce proper breathing a practice neglected by many--and to strengthen and invigorate the lungs. 

From many years' personal experience the author can testify to the truth of this fact ; he has known a number of young men who, possessing lung and throat troubles, and acting on the foregoing advice, have followed out a practical course of ventriloquist training, and have obtained much material benefit thereby. 

Of course it cannot be denied that some possess a natural aptitude for the correct expression of ventriloquist sound, and it is they who make the cleverest exponents. Therefore, from the start it should be assumed that a ventriloquist has only to cultivate the vocal qualifications with which he has been endowed in order to shine as a popular entertainer. 

Careful and systematic attention to the instructions subjoined will not only strengthen the throat and respiratory organs, but will also endow any one young man, or young woman, with the power of giving a highly amusing entertainment. Probably many who give this chapter attention will do so with the idea of " taking up" the subject for the purpose of making a living, and in that respect it may truthfully be said that ventriloquism is one of the most paying forms of entertainment. While the number of conjurors, comic singers, &c., is legion, those capable of giving a really good ventriloquist entertainment are comparatively few, with the result that a clever ventriloquist is always certain of obtaining engagements at fees which he, himself, can fix and command. The popularity of the subject is so widespread that the chances of exhibiting it have increased in recent years.

THE INITIAL STAGES