Meet Our Friends
A Dummy's Puppet's Ramblings - from Chip Martin, Puppet (Mannequin American views and guidelines on marketing/PR trends plus bits of humor and interesting but useless information.)
Is There a Doctor in the House?
There's not enough room on this blog or any blog to list what Adelia and Clinton Detweiler have achieved as ambassadors for the art of ventriloquism. Through the Maher Home Study Course they have helped teach and encourage thousands of people to become ventriloquists. (The guy who puts his hand in my back attributes his career as a ventriloquist to the Detweilers. So you can blame them.) More importantly, the Maher Course and Maher Studios were conduits that allowed thousands of people to become acquainted with, and more-than-likely, become friends with Clinton and Adelia. (Although Adelia usually worked behind the scenes, it's impossible to reflect on Maher Studios without thinking of both her and Clinton.)
Clinton "retired" a few years ago ... (he really didn't; but he says he did). He is still incredibly busy creating unique puppets, building figures, repairing figures, and continuing to teach and support those who take the Maher Home Study Course.
Leslie, Dale and I recently celebrated Leslie's birthday by flying to Denver and visiting the Detweilers. No matter where on the globe you are from, if you have the opportunity to be invited to the Detweiler's house, I guarantee that you will be made to feel at "home," ... that is if you are a "person." If you're a puppet ... watch out!
We weren't in Clinton's workshop two minutes before Dale handed me over for surgery and refurbishing. Although it was a traumatic experience for me, I have to admit that with his deft skills and years of experience, it didn't take Clinton long to make me look and function better. I actually feel fortunate to have been in his hands. Let me tell you, it's way better than being in Dale's hands.
Dale, Leslie, Adelia and Clinton inside the famous, El Rancho restaurant. Moments after this photo was taken, the panther pounced on Clinton's head.
Anyway, the Detweilers took us on a beautiful tour of the historic gold mining areas in the mountains above Denver. We stopped at the famous El Rancho restaurant where some of the party partook of rabbit and rattlesnake sausage ... which, as Clinton pointed out, proves you can make sausage out of anything if you use enough spices.
Our visit was way too short ... but it was a blessing. You couldn't ask for better friends, or imagine nicer people.
If you've ever wondered what the inside of a dummy's head looks like ... you'll have to knock Dale out and cut him open. But this photo shows Clinton performing some minor surgery and restringing some of my "vital components." (I was afraid to ask what happened to the puppet whose arm is hanging in the background.)
After surgery the three of us shared a smile ... I was still a little high from the anesthesia.
Terry Fator Signs $100 Million Dollar Deal
Terry Fator, winner of NBC's "America's Got Talent," and The Mirage have announced that Terry has signed a five-year deal, worth $100 million with an option for an additional five years, which makes the entire deal worth over $200 million. That's two hundred million dollars! Not too shabby for a puppeteer who not so long ago was playing to half-empty theatres and at county fairs. (At least Dale and I have that in common with him.) For more information on Terry and the new contract click here.
Fator will perform five shows a week in the 1,265-seat Terry Fator Theatre (currently the Danny Gans Theatre) beginning in February 2009. Tickets will go on sale later this year. Terry is currently appearing at the Las Vegas Hilton. He recently appeared on Oprah with Simon Cowell, who called him "two of the most talented people on the planet. He also appeared as a guest on David Letterman last week.
I'm waiting for the "trickle down" ventriloquist popularity to kick in so that Dale and I can start getting more banquet and theatre work. Frankly, I think Dale is holding me back. (I know he's holding something...)
Would You Vote to Replace Implants?
Common workers' comp claims probably include wrenched backs, torn ligaments, pulled muscles, etc. Here's one you may not have heard before. Implants.
Penny Richardson was in an on-the-job accident that ruptured her right *** implant. The plastic surgeon said the left one showed signs of rippling, so he replaced both. The North Carolina Workers' Comp Commission awarded Penny compensation for both ... so her employer had to pay. But the company, Maxim Healthcare (no, I didn't make that up) appealed, claiming the "rippling in the left implant most likely happened because it was under filled." How would you vote?
The state appeals court said, "Pay for the ruptured implant, but not for the rippled one." A dissenting opinion said, "Both needed to be replaced to ensure the implants were symmetrical and evenly matched."
Sprayed and Neutered
I ran across the following product on http://www.stunninginnovations.com/. It's ring bling with a sting. (I should send them that idea for a tag line.) The rings contain tiny replaceable canisters of the strongest pepper spray available. A thumb-operated safety prevents accidental pepperings. Can a ring stun gun be far behind?
