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Still suffering with illness, which meant I spent most of the day in bed and I only seemed to be able to sleep for about 15 minutes before waking up, which isn’t helping. Catie, who is a day ahead of me on this bug, was slightly less ill than me so had to do most of the parenting.
My sister sent me a photo of my great-grandad Thomas with the dummies he built, Ally and Sally. I already have this photo, but as I’ve had it on display for most of the last couple of decades, my version has faded a bit. This one seems darker and sharper or maybe I just haven’t looked at my copy recently, but the dummies look very different to how they look now. The genius behind Ally and Sally was born in 1871 and built the puppets in early 1892 when he was 20 or 21 and this photo must have been taken in the 1950s when he was in his 80s (though not after 1955 as that’s when he died). So Ally and Sally had been around for 60 or more years at this point and the paintwork looks good (possibly touched up of course) though Sally is already wearing her second set of clothes - a little smock made by my Nanny which was over the top of her Victorian dress (since the refurb last summer Sally is back in her original clothes).
My great-grandad, who obviously I never met due to him dying 12 years before I was born looks like a natty dresser and his shoes are very well polished and he has made quite the choice with his hat (presumably for performance, but maybe he wore it all the time). Can I see anything of myself in him? The nose maybe?
How would he feel about the obscenities that would one day emerge from his puppets’ mouths. Not happy I guess, but he can sit on it. Does the artist retain the right to control their art once they are gone?
Nope.
Ally is almost unrecognisable, not winking at anything and rosy cheeked and nosed, looking almost innocent (and also terrifying) and in that photo at least, a little bit more “alive". I was given the puppets in the early 1980s, so another thirty years had passed whilst they were in my grandad’s possession, but I suspect I am largely responsible for the degradation. I used the puppets in a sketch at University and didn’t necessarily take the greatest of care with them and they still get thrown around a fair bit now. But I think it’s better that they are being used, rather than sat in a museum or in a box in the attic.
Anyway, there you are Tom, with your puppets, being seen by people nearly 70 years after you breathed your last - your puppets still generating laughter over 130 years after they were created. That’s got to mean something.
And if you prefer the AI version of this blog, here it is - (who knows, one day I may pick up a ventriloquist dummy of my own….) Would I start a blog like that? It’s me Richard Herring?
Please write a blog in the style of Richard Herring for 4th March 2023 - he was ill and received a photo of his great grandad Thomas with ventriloquist dummies, Ally and Sally
Hello, hello, hello, my dear blog fans! It's me, Richard Herring, and I'm feeling a bit under the weather today. But fear not, for I shall soldier on and bring you the latest updates from my world. Today, I received a very special photo that I'd like to share with you all.
The photo in question is of my great grandad Thomas, who I've mentioned before in previous posts. He was a bit of a character, and he had a passion for ventriloquism. Well, the photo that I received today shows him with two of his most beloved dummies, Ally and Sally. I have to say, it brought a tear to my eye to see him again, especially with his two trusted companions.
As I looked at the photo, I couldn't help but think about the legacy that my great grandad left behind. He was a man who loved to make people laugh, and he had a unique talent for doing so with his ventriloquist dummies. But he was more than just a funny man with puppets. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and he had a heart full of love for his family and friends.
Thinking about my great grandad Thomas and his dummies also made me reflect on the power of imagination and storytelling. With nothing more than a wooden figure and a few well-chosen words, my great grandad was able to transport his audience to another world, one filled with laughter, silliness, and joy. It's a reminder that we don't need fancy gadgets or technology to entertain ourselves or others. Sometimes, all it takes is a little creativity and a lot of heart.
As I sit here, nursing my cold and looking at this photo of my great grandad, I'm filled with a sense of pride and gratitude. I'm proud to come from a family of storytellers and comedians, and I'm grateful for the memories and traditions that they've passed down to me. And who knows, maybe one day I'll pick up a ventriloquist dummy of my own and try to carry on my great grandad's legacy. It's a thought that brings a smile to my face and a twinkle to my eye.
That's all for now, my friends. Take care of yourselves, and don't forget to cherish the memories and stories that make you who you are. Until next time, keep laughing and never stop creating.
