When you are learning how to become a ventriloquist, a convenient and effective “set-up” for ventriloquism entertainments in parlors, churches, small halls and lodge-rooms, where there is not much stage room, may be made up of the larger Irish and Negro character knee figures, and Old Man and Old Woman character heads.

The two latter have no body, the neck being simply nailed or screwed to a flat board, oval in shape, the length of this oval giving the shape of the shoulders. In the middle of this, on the under side, a hole is made large enough to allow the insertion of an iron rod about two feet long, the opposite end of which fits into the tripod of an ordinary music-stand.

To the shoulder-piece is attached a small coat, buttoned in front so that no vest is necessary. A white shirt bosom is fastened underneath the V-shaped opening of the coat, and the neck is dressed with a collar and large flowing necktie.

The Old Woman is rigged similarly, with a waist instead of a coat, and a stiffly-starched frill around the neck. The sleeves in both cases are given shape with wire rings and there are no hands, these figures being placed behind a table at such height that the lower ends of the sleeves are not visible from the front.

The mouth-moving mechanism is as follows. The floor of the lower jaw projects a little beyond the pivoting wire and is operated by a wooden lever running through a slot in the back of the head, from which it projects an inch or two. This lever is itself pivoted in such a way that, on pressing it down from behind, it tilts up against the projecting inner end of the jaw, which of course throws its outer end, or lip, down, thus causing the mouth to open.

A spiral spring from above causes it to shut again when the pressure on the lever is relaxed, or a spring made of a bent piece of thin steel may be fastened underneath the movable floor to push it up into place again. The former method is generally preferred on account of the fact that the spiral spring may be easily adjusted from above by simply removing the wig from the head, while it is almost impossible to get at the lower spring if by chance it should become misplaced.

If you want to learn how to become a ventriloquist, the table, back of which these figures are placed, should be draped so low in front that the stands cannot be seen. After the performance is over, the heads are taken off the stands and the latter are folded together and strapped on the outside of the carrying-case.

If the bodies of the knee figures are made to consist simply of a top and bottom board to which is firmly tacked a piece of silesia to form the cloth sides and front, with removable wooden sides, they may be made readily collapsible.

The side pieces of wood should of course be just long enough to fully stretch the top and bottom boards when inserted at the back; and on the under side of the top board and the upper side of the bottom, near their outer edges, should be glued small cleats to prevent the removable side-boards slipping inward when they are in place.

Of course the silesia prevents the boards from pressing outward and also forms the front of the box, and to this the clothing is sewn. When the sides are drawn out the shoulders of the figure readily shut down on the bottom piece, thus enabling the body to be packed in very small compass. To still further facilitate this, the clothing is made thin and unlined, and the arms and legs are stuffed with cotton so as to readily double up.

With such an outfit the performer is independent of express companies and baggage-cars, as all the figures may be carried in two extension cases, and where he does not make his ventriloquism a means of livelihood it answers very well. Where he employs other figures and is sufficiently advanced to get important engagements in vaudeville houses, a more novel fit-up should be used.

Learn how to become a ventriloquist, and you will never look back. Good luck!