IDENTIFYING "TOY" VENTRILOQUIST  FIGURES FROM THE 1960'S TO THE 1990'S (AND ON) 

Main Guide - The Basics and Identifying Jerry Mahoney

This series of guides is about correctly identifying the ventriloquist figures or dolls made during the 1960's and 70's, and on.  This guide will focus on the basics of identifying figures.  Specifically, it will focus on identifying Jerry Mahoney and the several look-alikes he is often confused with on eBay.  The major figure producing companies were Juro/Eegee/Goldberger and Horsman.  Other companies produced figures as well.  These guides will try to sort out the confusion and put a picture to the name so that a seller can correctly list their item and a buyer will know he/she is buying the correct item.  (Note- I dislike the term "dummy" or "doll" for vent figures... so I will use the term "figure".)

INTRODUCTION

First off, I do not claim to be an expert.   The word "expert" intones a "know-it-all", and that is not me, I am still researching these items.  I collect and restore these figures and most of the photos, where possible, will be from my collection.  NONE of these figures are for sell.  I have a private collection.  This is an area of vast interest to me as a ventriloquist, but also as a collector of vent history.  Most of these items were available when I was young.  Now I wish to collect and preserve as much information on them as possible.  I have taken the time to research these items and realize how little information is out there, and what a confusing mess it is.  

I call these "toy" ventriloquist figures because most of them have a string that comes out of the back of the neck.  This works the mouth.  That is usually the only function the figure has.  As a ventriloquist figure, this setup does not work very well.  That is why some models will have the head on a stick and will be operated through the back.  The chest area is hollow and a cavity is created.    Usually the chest is hollow plastic. This is known as a semi-pro set-up.  These figures are usually 30" to 32" long.  Some restorers and retailers refit the original figure so that the head is on a stick, and the mouth works by a lever.  You enter through the back to work the figure. They build a hollow chest cavity, hopefully with wood or plastic/fiberglass material, but some use cardboard.   You can buy them on web this way.  But the quality varies by the refitter, and there is not any standard except that set by Maher (the best).  So it is buyer beware here.  But if you wish to use one of these "toy" figures for ventriloquism, the semi-pro set-up is an excellent way to go.

GOAL

This guide's main purpose is to help the seller or buyer identify the ventriloquist toy figure or doll they wish to sell/buy.  Way too many of these are mislabeled on eBay.  This is the real reason I am writing this guide.  For a causal seller to mislabel some figure they found at a yard sell is understandable, for a vender who routinely sells these figures to mislabel them is seriously wrong.  Unforunately buyers may try to get a "Jerry Mahoney" doll and end up with a similar but different item.   A resource was needed to help each side know who the figures are.

Ultimately, my hope is the alleviate some of this confusion as to the name of the figures as well as to provide a resource for the seller to check and verify they have listed the correct name.  For the buyer, I want them to get the vent figure they actually want.  If they want "Jerry Mahoney", they should bid on and receive "Jerry Mahoney", NOT a "Little Ricky", "Charlie McCarthy", or "Danny O'Day" which has been mislabeled.

FIGURE INFORMATION

Basically, I have listed the figure's names and any information about them.  I have added a measurement right after the name.  This is generally an estimate because figures will shrink or expand over time ( we are talking about items that could easily be 30 to 40+ years old).  Also, the manufacturers own listed measurement will vary for the same exact figure.  Actually, measurement is not very critical except to tell us if the figure is small (around 24") or larger (30" being a good norm, with 32" for a rare few).  I will also try to add the name or names of any figures that the listed figure is most often confused with.   I will tell you ways to tell them apart.  A picture generally follow, showing the face of the figure or important identification information.

Photographs will be the major part of this guide because we are trying to identify an item.  Where possible, I have used photographs of my own figures.  However, some photographs were originally collected during research over the years.  I have lost the names of whose's photo it was (as I originally only used it to help me keep all the figure's names straight).  Now that I am trying to help others with this guide, I wish I had kept the names so I could ask permission to use it for this guide.  If a photo is yours and you object to it's use, contact me. I will remove it.  I am not claiming ownership of any of these photos, other that those actually listed as mine.  As mentioned earlier, I am not selling anything (especially the figures shown so do not ask), only trying to help clarify things.   I would like to thank all those who allowed their photos to be used.   This guide would be incomplete without them.

ORGANIZATION

This series of guides will be split due to limitations imposed by the rules for eBay guides.  I am only allowed to post 10 pictures and have 20,000 characters in a guide.  This is very limiting as there are over forty types of these figures, that means at least five guides are required to have a picture of each figure.  This series of guides will be organized basically as a Main Guide, with Supplements adding more pictures and figure information.  The list of guides are as follows:

Main Guide -The Basics.. Identification 101...Identifying Jerry Mahoney.  This Guide covers Jerry Mahoney (5 models), Little Ricky, Jolly Jim and Danny O'Day (2 models).

Guide 2 - Juro/Eegee/Goldberger A through K  (actually Bozo through Knucklehead Smiff). 

Guide 3 - Juro/Eegee/Goldberger L through Z (actually Lester through W.C. Fields).  

Guide 4 - Horsman Company - Willie Talk, Simon Sez, Tessie Talk and others.

Guide 5 - The Other "Toy" Ventriloquist Figures - Tommy Talker, Raggedy Ann, PeeWee Herman, Mr. Parlanchin, and others.      

To view these guides, click here

IDENTIFICATION 101 - THE BASICS

1.   Forget the clothes.  Do not count on them to tell you who the figure is.  They could have been changed and may not be the original clothes.  Also, even "original" clothes changed through the years on some models so forget the "overall look".  This is where most people make the confusing mistakes.  They see a tux and think Charley McCarthy. 

2.  Look at the FACE details.  This is the best way to identify figures.  Compare the features with your figure versus who you think it is.  Look at the details.  Which side is the hair parted on, the left or the right?  This one little point will almost split the field of pretenders down the middle.  What color is the original color of the hair?  Has the hair on your figure been repainted by someone who owned it before you?  Look at the eyes.  Which way do they point, straight or to the side? 

NOTE - For the purpose of identification, left and right refer to the direction from the figure's point of view, his/her right or left side.  Example ... hair parted on the left means the left side of the figure's head, as it looks forward (now you are really confused, sorry).  To make it easy on you, I use straight-on photos, so the directions will always be the same, just opposite..............<<<< Figure's right, your left << <<<     ......................>>>>>>>Figure's left, your right >>>>>>..................

If you are trying to figure out which version of a model you have, such as which Jerry Mahoney, then check the size versus other versions.  Check the figures composition, is the head plastic or composite?  Is the head mounted on a stick for in-the-body control?

a. Hair parted on the LEFT - Jerry Mahoney (all), Jolly Jim, Charley McCarthy, Willie Talk, Simon Sez, Tommy Talker

b. Hair parted on the RIGHT - Little Ricky, Danny O'Day (note-Danny has a curl of hair down on the front left, no others do - (Danny... part on right, curl on left)

c.  Red or Orange Hair - Jerry Mahoney, Jolly Jim

d.  Dark Hair - Jolly Jim, Charley McCarthy, Little Ricky, Danny O'Day

e.  Light colored and Blond hair - Willie Talk (light brown), Simon Sez (larger, head on stick), Tommy Talker (blond hair, Regal product)

f.  Eyes point to side - Jerry Mahoney (orange/red hair), Jolly Jim (dark hair, orange/red)

3.  Check for copyright date and/or Company Name - Look at the back of the neck, near the hole where the string comes out.  Is there any marking and/or a date?  Some figures will have the manufacturer and a copyright date molded at this part of the neck.  Step 2 should have already settled matters, this just lets you know how old the figure is, if it is marked.  With some figures, as discussed later, it will rule them out as Jerry Mahoney.

JERRY MAHONEY AND THOSE MOST LIKELY CONFUSED AS JERRY MAHONEY

A)  Jerry Mahoney  - the main 5  Jerry Mahoney models available 1950's thru 60's -NOTE - there are other less common Jerry Mahoney figures that are not covered in this guide. 

Jerry Mahoney (1) - 24"   This is the "composition" Jerry available during the 50's.  His hands are usually plastic but may be composition as well.  These were replaced by plastic Jerry Mahoney (2) in the late 50's, very early 60s. 

  Jerry Mahoney - composition head *

Jerry Mahoney (2) - 24"  This model has a plastic head and plastic hands.  It is exactly like Jerry Mahoney (1) in facial appearance.  In 1966, Paul Winchell ended his contract with Juro because he believed he could do a better job and have a more realistic reproduction of Jerry Mahoney.  That ended the Juro Jerry Mahoney's. 

     Jerry Mahoney (2) *

Jerry Mahoney (3) - 32"  This is a semi-pro figure that has the head mounted on a stick.  The head is plastic.  The body cavity is hollow and allows you to stick your hand in the back and control the head/mouth.  This model was originally offered in the mid-fifties. Note- This picture shows the lock of hair that turns down on the right side of Jerry's head.  It is a small lock of hair, not a big group of hair like Danny O'Day's, which turns down on the left side of Danny's head.  Also note that the eyes appear to look straight ahead in this model but are actually looking slightly to the side.

      Jerry Mahoney (3) *

Jerry Mahoney (4) - 32"  This was the deluxe version of the above Jerry Mahoney, with moving eyes in addition to the moving mouth.  This model is rarely a victim of confusion.  The moving eyes set this model apart.  It is similar to the Jerry Mahoney (3) but has 2 strings on the stick instead of one string (extra string to control the eyes).  The eyes often did not work very well.

   Jerry Mahoney (4)*     Deluxe version

Jerry Mahoney (5) - 24"  Paul Winchell marketed Jerry Mahoney's himself after he ended his contract with Juro in 1966.  These models usually have a Paul Winchell copyright mark on the neck (not Juro) and the date 1966.  I include this model here under Juro only for the reader's ease of use.  The hair is definitely orange/red, the eyes look off to the side.  To me, the figure looks more like the 'real' Jerry of that era as seen in the shows.  The head is shaped different and is smaller as well.

 Jerry Mahoney (5) - Paul Winchell version *

B) Dark Haired Jerry Mahoney figures - There are Jerry figures that have dark hair.  These are usually the 24" Jerry (#2) and the 32" semi-pro version (#3).  Collectors recognize these as Jerry Mahoneys as well (with some exceptions).  Why they have dark hair instead of orange involves several explanations/theories.  One explanation given is that Juro used whatever paint they had to finish spraying figures before reloading the sprayer with red.  So if they had been spraying Velvel's and had black left over, some of the Jerrys would get black hair.  Sam Jupiter, the founder/owner of Juro was known for not wasting material.  After the loss of the Winchell contract to produce Mahoney's, he was left with stock 32'' heads, and I the 24" heads as well.  It is known that he used up this stock of 32" heads up by spraying the hair dark, adding freckles, and marketing it as a generic figure.  The 24" dark haired Jerry's are often confused with Jolly Jims, but are actually from the Jerry molds as well.    The reason for some of these Jerrys having dark hair is similar to the previous explanation of using up left over paint.  Another reason is that with the end of the contract with Wenchell, Juro had 24" heads left over as well.  The hair of these were painted black and they were sold, usually with the red jacket and tan pants that Little Ricky wore.  Due to the similarity in clothing, I guess most of the dark haired 24" Jerrys to have been sold around the time of release of Little Ricky (1967), and after the Jerry contract ended (1966).  Supposedly, Sears and a few other retailers sold these as Tommy dolls (but I am still trying to verify the name).

  Dark haired Jerry Mahoney

C)  The Figures most likely to be confused with Jerry Mahoney  - notice that none of these figures have the orange or reddish orange hair.

Little Ricky - 24"  This model was introduced in 1966.  Look at the back of the neck on this figure and you may see a 1966 Juro copyright.  Little Ricky is often confused with Jerry Mahoney.  It is easy to notice the difference as the eyes point forward and the hair is brown.  Some people get Little Ricky confused with Danny O'Day.  It is quite easy to look at the hair and tell the difference.  Danny O'Day has hair that turns down (onto the forehead) on the left side, whereas, Little Ricky has a very well kept hair style that combs up and back on the left.  From 1966 to 1968, he was advertised as being Danny O'Day's friend.  In the early 70's, he was advertised as "Ventriloquist's Friend", sometimes his name was not even mentioned.

 Little Ricky *

Danny O'Day (1) - 24"  This figure is modeled after the vent figure created by ventriloquist Jimmy Nelson.  He has the string coming out of the back of the neck like most of the others listed.  As all Danny O'Day like similar, a photo is not needed.  These were sold during the 60's.  The head on this model is similar to the head on the next model

Danny O'Day (2) - 28"-30"   This version of Danny O'Day is still in production.  Note- notice that Danny parts his hair on the right hand side.  Most other figures part on the left.  More important, notice the big clump of hair combed down in front on the left side.  This makes Danny stand out and easy to tell apart.  Once you know what he looks like, that covers it for Danny.  Remember- part on right, down on left.

  Danny O'Day (2) *

Danny O'Day (3) - 32"  semi-pro   This model has the head on a stick and a hollow chest.  The figure is 32".  The head is actually quite larger than the head on Danny O'Day 1 and 2.  The stick allows you to move the head and the mouth moves by pulling a string.  This model was introduced in 1967. 

     Danny O'Day (2) *

PHRASES TO HELP WITH IDENTIFICATION

Jerry Mahoney - Orange/red hair, part on left, eyes to side (on most models)

Little Ricky - Part on right, eyes straight

Danny O'Day - part on right, down on left (see Danny O'Day 2 above)

Here are some phrases to help with figures mentioned in this guide, but to be covered in other guides, due to the lack of picture and character space.

Charley McCarthy - Dark hair, part on left, look for the monocle slots over and under the right eye

Willie Talk - Light colored hair, part on the left (there is a dark skin version as well)

Simon Sez - Light colored hair, part on the left, head is on a stick, looks like Willie Talk but hair partially covers the top of the ears and is a larger, semi-pro version

FINAL NOTE

All of these figures are worth owning in their own right.  There were other, less known, versions of Jerry produced.  This guide is about those most often seen.  The guide was made possible by the help of others, whether it was photos or information.   Thank you for reading this guide, I hope it helps.