Every year, ventriloquists, or vents, meet for the annual Vent Haven Ventriloquist ConVENTion at the Holiday Inn in Erlanger, Kentucky, home of the Vent Haven Ventriloquist Museum. Ventriloquism is an art form that's a humorous conversation between a performer and a puppet, or dummy. The magic happens when all eyes are on the dummy, while the vent is trying his best to speak without moving his lips. Ventriloquism was a standard type of entertainment in the vaudeville days, but is rapidly dying out in the age of movies and computer-generated magic. Today's ventriloquists perform on cruise ships and in churches or children's hospitals, or just among friends for the fun of it.
Mina Tavakoli attended the 2024 convention and got to know the attendees. They fell into two main groups: older men who have been vents for many years and all know each other, and children who want to learn the art, along with their families. She introduces us to long-time vents and their dummies and attended classes with those just starting to learn how to "throw their voice." Her story is the type of journalism that makes a very niche activity you never thought much about seem absolutely fascinating. Read about the masters of ventriloquism and the youngsters who are learning it at N+1. -via Metafilter
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