Paul Winchell, ("Talk to the Snail") has passed away at age 82. In addition to being a renowned ventriloquist, he was also an inventor holding many patents, including one for an early artificial heart he built in 1963.

That's right, JudgeGarth.
He was another great voice talent for cartoons. His career included a great deal of voice-over acting, including the Hanna-Barbera character Dick Dastardly from Wacky Races, and Gargamel from The Smurfs. He is best known today for voicing the character Tigger from Disney's Winnie the Pooh films.

Steve

That's right, JudgeGarth.
He was another great voice talent for cartoons. His career included a great deal of voice-over acting, including the Hanna-Barbera character Dick Dastardly from Wacky Races, and Gargamel from The Smurfs. He is best known today for voicing the character Tigger from Disney's Winnie the Pooh films.

Steve


I also remember his voice as that of "Fleagle" from the Banana Splits.


Scott

My sister and I used to watch his TV show when we were little. I don't remember much about it except one of his dummies was named Knucklehead Smith.

I remember wanting to learn ventriloquism because of Paul Winchell and practiced talking without moving my lips when I was a kid. Unlike Paul Winchell, I could never say words with M, P or B without moving my lips. He was a master of the art and I still don't know how he made the B sound without his lips moving at all!

My sister and I used to watch his TV show when we were little. I don't remember much about it except one of his dummies was named Knucklehead Smith.

I remember wanting to learn ventriloquism because of Paul Winchell and practiced talking without moving my lips when I was a kid. Unlike Paul Winchell, I could never say words with M, P or B without moving my lips. He was a master of the art and I still don't know how he made the B sound without his lips moving at all!

His other dummy was named Jerry Mahoney. It said in the obituary that his idol was Edgar Bergen, but he was a much better ventriloquist than Edgar Bergen.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Winchell. So many of the great talents from the Golden Age are leaving us now. How blessed we were to have them!

Lolac
:so

My sister and I used to watch his TV show when we were little. I don't remember much about it except one of his dummies was named Knucklehead Smith.

I remember wanting to learn ventriloquism because of Paul Winchell and practiced talking without moving my lips when I was a kid. Unlike Paul Winchell, I could never say words with M, P or B without moving my lips. He was a master of the art and I still don't know how he made the B sound without his lips moving at all!

I was the same way - he got me interested in it and trying to do it after the Talk To The Snail episode.
With ventriloquism, you actually make the M, P, and B sounds in your throat or towards the back of your mouth. You start off with a T or D sound, but warp it to a P or B using the tongue on the soft palatte of your mouth. M is formed from an N in a similar way. It takes TONS of practice!

he also starred in "Lucy and Paul Winchell", an episode of Lucille Ball's third comedic television series, The Lucy Show. He was great in the episode. I've yet to see "Talk to the Snail", but once i get the dvd, i'll look for him. Mr. Winchell was a marvelous ventriloquist and is sorely missed. :(


pat

Rest in Peace, Mr. Winchell. So many of the great talents from the Golden Age are leaving us now. How blessed we were to have them!

Lolac
:so
Isn't that the truth!!!